Had managed to learn about the existence of SJD Carinderia Filipino Food whilst scrolling around the phone during our lull time — these folks had been a fairly recent addition to the Bedok neighbourhood. Situated within the coffeeshop at the foot of Blk 57 New Upper Changi Road, SJD Carinderia Filipino Food is situated pretty close to the The Marketplace @ 58 which houses both the wet market and food centre for the neighbourhood. Other notable stalls that also operate from the very same coffeeshop that SJD Carinderia Filipino Food is at would include that of Katong Jago which serves up fried carrot cake and Char Kway Teow — these folks had moved here ever since they had left the now-defunct Brunners Coffeeshop at East Coast Road. As the namesake suggests, SJD Carinderia Filipino Food serves up Filipino cuisine — whilst the menu does list quite a number of communal dishes, we did note that there is also the option to go for individually-portioned dishes served with rice as well.

For those whom are not aware, the Adobo is quite an iconic Filipino dish that typically involves elements like soy sauce, vinegar and garlic. For the Adobo at SJD Carinderia Filipino Food, they seem to have went for the use of pork — the cut of meat here being that of the pork belly. There is a good mix of fatty parts and lean parts here with the lean parts giving quite a good, meaty bite while the fatty parts come with a more gelatinous texture overall. Given the elements involved in the making of the Adobo, the Adobo does come round feeling pretty much similar to what we would typically identify as braised pork belly; there is definitely the caramelisation of the sauces which gives the dish a savoury touch without any undesirable porky stench. It also comes with a touch of black pepper that gives it a slightly spicy kick in the finishing notes — overall a good accompaniment to white rice on the side.