Bistek (Filipino Beef Steak)

Combine soy sauce lime juice garlic sugar fish sauce and pepper in a bowl. Taste and adjust to your liking. Add sliced beef making sure it is coated evenly. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 1 hour.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a wok or pan over medium-high heat. Fry potatoes in the hot oil until the edges turn golden brown 7 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate.

Heat remaining oil in the same pan over medium-high heat and fry onions until edges turn brown 7 to 10 minutes. Transfer to the same plate.

Heat the same pan over medium-high heat. Reserve marinade and fry beef in batches adding more vegetable oil if necessary until browned and no longer pink in the centers 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to the plate and continue with remaining beef.

Pour the reserved marinade into the pan with water to deglaze scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan using a wooden spoon. Taste and adjust seasonings. Return beef back to the pan with some onion leaving remaining onion for garnish; reduce heat and let simmer until sauce has thickened 7 to 10 minutes.

Slide beef and sauce onto a serving plate. Garnish with remaining onion. Place potatoes on the side and serve.