Classic Bistek Tagalog

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October 25, 2026 | 11:00am

MANILA, Philippines – There's nothing like indulging in a favorite comfort food, and classic Bistek Tagalog fits the bill only too well.

It has that warm, comforting sauce to drench not just the strips of tender meat with, but the hot, freshly cooked rice as well, crowned by almost caramelized onion rings.

Celebrity chef Myke "Tatung" Sarthou stays true to traditional Bistek Tagalog when he shares his recipe in his latest "Pinas Simpol" cookbook. It was also one of his three featured dishes when he gave a talk on Filipino cuisine, titled "From Plate to Pages," held alongside food researcher and book designer Ige Ramos at the Le Cordon Bleu-Ateneo de Manila University. Chef Tatung even prepared samples of the dish for the audience to try.

If you want to cook Bistek Tagalog just the way it was meant to be cooked, this recipe of Chef Tatung just might come in handy.     

Ingredients:

For Set A-Marinade:

500 grams beef sirloin, thinly sliced

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup calamansi juice

2 tsps. cracked black pepper

For Set B-Cooking:

3 tbsps. oil. divided

1 pc. large onion, sliced into rings

4 cloves garlic, minced

For Set C-Sauce:

Reserved marinade

1/2 cup water

1 tsp. brown sugar

Salt to taste

Procedure:

1. Marinate. Combine beef with soy sauce, calamansi juice, and pepper. Marinate for 30 minutes.

2. Cook. Fry onion rings in oil, then remove and set aside. In the same pan, sauté garlic. Add beef with marinade, water, and sugar. Simmer until tender.

3. Finish. Adjust seasoning. Plate and top with onion rings.

Makes 3 to 4 servings.

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