Market Masters: Top 5 Grocery Stores in Pasig & Ortigas for Your Household Cook
Empower your cook to shop smarter, fresher, and better. Here is the ultimate guide to the Pasig-Ortigas grocery landscape.
By Human+ Editorial
The secret to a happy household often starts in the kitchen. But even the best Household Cook cannot produce 5-star meals with subpar ingredients.
As an employer, you might not have time to do the weekly supermarket run. This means you are delegating a crucial task to your staff: The Grocery Run.
But where are you sending them?
Sending your cook to the right supermarket makes a massive difference. It affects the quality of your meals, the speed of the shopping trip, and most importantly, your monthly household budget.
If you live in the Pasig or Ortigas area, you have excellent options. We've ranked the top 5 supermarkets based on freshness, navigability for staff, and price point.
Quick Comparison Guide
Unimart (Capitol Commons) - Best For: Daily Fresh Produce | Price Point: ⭐⭐⭐ Mid | Freshness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent | Staff Ease: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ High
Pioneer Centre - Best For: Bulk & Wholesale | Price Point: ⭐⭐ Low-Mid | Freshness: ⭐⭐⭐ Good | Staff Ease: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ High
The Marketplace - Best For: Premium Ingredients | Price Point: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ High | Freshness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent | Staff Ease: ⭐⭐⭐ Moderate
SM Supermarket - Best For: Budget Warriors | Price Point: ⭐⭐ Low | Freshness: ⭐⭐⭐ Good | Staff Ease: ⭐⭐ Crowded
Landers (Arcovia) - Best For: Monthly Stock-up | Price Point: ⭐⭐⭐ Mid | Freshness: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good | Staff Ease: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ High
1. Unimart (Capitol Commons)
The Old Reliable
For decades, Greenhills moms swore by Unimart. Now that they are in Pasig, the legacy continues. This is arguably the most "cook-friendly" supermarket on the list.
Why Your Cook Will Love It: The layout is incredibly spacious (wide aisles mean no cart bumping), and the selection is straightforward. They have a massive "weighing section" for fresh goods which makes it easy to grab exactly 3 pieces of onions instead of a pre-packed bag.
The "Ma'am/Sir" Advantage: Unimart is famous for having the widest variety of local vegetables and reliable meat cuts that aren't overpriced. It feels like a wet market but with air-conditioning.
Pro Tip: Send them here for the "fresh" run—meats, fish, and veggies.
Best Time to Visit: Weekday mornings (8:00 AM - 10:00 AM).
2. Pioneer Centre Supermart (Kapitolyo)
The Cult Favorite
Located right on the border of Mandaluyong and Pasig, "Pioneer" is the secret weapon of many restaurateurs in Kapitolyo.
Why Your Cook Will Love It: The "Wholesale" section. Pioneer is unique because it offers shelf items (soy sauce, oil, canned goods) at near-wholesale prices without needing a membership card.
The "Ma'am/Sir" Advantage: If you are strict about the budget, this is your spot. You get more groceries for your Peso here than almost anywhere else in the Ortigas district.
Pro Tip: The parking is easy, so your driver won't complain about waiting while the cook shops.
3. The Marketplace (Shangri-La Plaza or The Grove)
The Premium Pantry
Sometimes, you want a steak night, or you need specific cheeses and organic pastas.
Why Your Cook Will Love It: It's quiet, organized, and not chaotic. The staff are very knowledgeable; if your cook asks, "Where is the balsamic vinegar?" the staff will point to the exact shelf immediately.
The "Ma'am/Sir" Advantage: Quality control. If you send your cook here to buy beef or seafood, you are almost guaranteed top-tier quality.
Pro Tip: Give your cook a specific list for specialty items only here, then have them do the basics (tissue, soap) elsewhere to save money.
4. SM Supermarket (Megamall or SM East Ortigas)
The Promo King
It's the giant for a reason. SM offers accessibility and the famous "SM Bonus" line.
Why Your Cook Will Love It: Familiarity. Most household staff are very comfortable navigating SM layouts. Plus, the "Turon" station is a nice treat for them after a hard shop!
The "Ma'am/Sir" Advantage: The "Yellow Tag" promos. If you instruct your cook to "look for the sale items," SM always has Buy-1-Take-1 deals on household essentials like laundry detergent and dishwashing liquid.
Pro Tip: Avoid weekends. Send your cook on a Tuesday morning (10:00 AM) to avoid the massive crowds and long cashier lines.
5. Landers Superstore (Arcovia City)
The Monthly Stock-Up
Located along C-5, this is perfect for the heavy items.
Why Your Cook Will Love It: One trip, done for the month. It reduces the mental load of having to remember to buy rice or toilet paper every week.
The "Ma'am/Sir" Advantage: You can control the big spending. Go with your cook once a month for the "big haul" (meats, sacks of rice, detergent), and then let them handle the small weekly fresh runs at a smaller store.
Pro Tip: Their rotisserie chicken is a great "emergency ulam" if the cook runs out of time to prepare dinner after a long shopping trip.
7 Tips for Empowering Your Cook to Shop
To make this process seamless, you need to set your "Market Master" up for success.
1. The "Fixed vs. Flex" Budget: Give them a fixed cash fund for wet market/fresh goods (where prices fluctuate) and consider a supplementary card (or GCash) for the grocery store so you can track the receipts digitally.
2. Brand Preference Training: Don't just say "buy tomato sauce." Teach them why you prefer Brand A over Brand B (e.g., "Brand A is less sweet").
3. The "Picture" List: Instead of writing "Sharp Cheddar," send a photo of the package to their Viber/Messenger. It eliminates confusion and prevents the dreaded text: "Ma'am, wala po yung kulay dilaw, pwede ba yung puti?"
4. Quality Check Guidelines: Teach them specific checks: Fish should have clear eyes; meat should not be gray; vegetables should be firm. Empower them to reject items that don't meet these standards.
5. Communication Protocol: Establish a rule: Call for approval on items over ₱500, but allow independent decisions for items under ₱100.
6. Receipt Management: Create a system where receipts are immediately photographed and sent to you, then stapled into a notebook upon return.
7. Time Management: Be realistic. A full grocery run takes 2 hours. Don't expect a 5-course meal to be ready immediately after they return from a heavy shop.
Safety Reminders for Your Cook
Shopping can present unexpected challenges. Review these basics:
Money: Keep cash in a secure inside pocket, not a backpack.
Transport: If taking a jeep/tricycle, avoid wearing headphones to stay alert.
Perishables: Use insulated bags for meats if the trip home takes longer than 30 minutes.
In Summary: Matching Stores to Your Needs
For Daily Fresh Marketing: Unimart
For Budget-Conscious Households: Pioneer Centre or SM Supermarket
For Premium Quality: The Marketplace
For Monthly Bulk Purchases: Landers
Final Thought
A skilled Household Cook is an asset, but a Household Cook who knows where and how to shop effectively is a treasure. By guiding them to the right store in Pasig or Ortigas, you aren't just filling the fridge—you're upgrading your home's lifestyle.
Happy Cooking!
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