Beautiful destinations are more than just about visual treats. Most of the time, in between the spelunking and trekking escapade, travellers and visitors will sit down and look for the treat for the tummy and taste buds. Food, local cuisines and delicacies are also the best reasons why you need to come back and slowly realize you feel in love with the place. Take the case of Iloilo City, an old city built from rich cultural heritage and history, and claiming without contesting as the original “Queen City of the South” in Western Visayas have its own unique tale for gastronomy, that unquestionably tickle the taste buds of visitors.
Now pulsating with modern day developments, influx of infrastructure projects and investors, Iloilo City presented itself not only as an exciting destination that pleases the eyes - but for its old-world flavors. Take a trip with us and you’ll surely enjoy the treat for the hungry tummy in Iloilo City.
Pancit Molo: Deliciously good
Though it doesn’t look like pancit but it’s deliciously good. Originated in Molo District, the old Chinatown area of Iloilo City, this scrumptious treat is uniquely made of wonton noodles stuffed with delicious meat inside. When poured in a bowl of tasteful soup, this popular dish is heavenly good for your taste buds. Pancit Molo is a trademark Ilonggo food that you can find in most restaurant and high-end bistros in the city.
Photo from recipehubs.com
Batchoy: Scrumptiously Good
A legendary Ilonggo cuisine from leftover meat, secret spices, ginamos (shrimp paste), noodles and tasteful soup that was invented after World War II in the wet market of La Paz District in Iloilo City, it has become a trademark food of Ilonggos. Batchoy is a delicious concoction of unique ingredients that shows the ingenuity of Ilonggos combining influences from oriental food. Today, Batchoy is considered as one of the best fast food cuisine in the country with Ted’s Batchoy, Deco’s Batchoy and Netong’s Batchoy. In Iloilo City, you would find batchoy almost everywhere from street eateries to high-end restaurants and malls.
Photos from flavoursofiloilo.blogspot.com
Biscocho and Butterscotch: Crunchy and Yummy
From biscuits to business - this is success tale of Biscocho Haus that started in Iloilo City in 1975 as a small business venture owned by Dr. Carlos Guadarrama and Mrs. Therese Guadarrama in Jaro District. The sweet and tasteful biscocho are made of leftover breads, baked and topped with creamy milk topping. As soon as the business grow and earned a lot of patronage, a lot of bakeries especially followed the trend of the growing local delicacy. Soon, Biscocho Haus ventured to introduce other local sweet delicacies including their popular soft and chewy butterscotch.
Siopao: Mouthwatering Fare
Though Siopao is one of the best delicacies heavily influenced by Chinese cuisine, in Iloilo City it is one of its most popular local trademark food. Iloilo’s Calle Real features some of the best versions of Siopao in the country. Roberto’s Siopao stands out as the most followed and patronized restaurants of all by having all sorts of royalty versions of Siopao – from King to Queen Siopao, the flavors are heavenly scrumptious stuffed with deliciously-cooked meat (choice between pork and chicken), ham, egg and a lot more.
Tablea Chocolate Drink: Goodness up to the last sip
In Camina Balay na Bato (Camina Stone House), a heritage house museum reflecting Iloilo’s olden days located in Villa Arevalo, serves their famous mouth-watering tablea chocolate drink made of cocoa seeds, sugar, milk and natural ingredients. A visit in this beautifully-preserved heritage site will allow you to go back in time, experience the rich culture of the city and take a sip of their local chocolate beverage for a price of P150 entrance fee. They also serve lunch buffet and dinner for a minimum group of 5 pax.
Photos from flavoursofiloilo.blogspot.com
Cream Horn: Tasteful Treat
Another new popular pasalubong delicacy from Iloilo City is Margec’s Cream Horn with a store located in Jaro District just near the Colegio de San Jose school. It is perfect for a snack which looks like small horns with creamy milk filling inside. Slowly, this delicacy has been gaining of attention from locals, visitors and bloggers.
Photos from flavoursofiloilo.blogspot.com
Angelina Bakeshop: Soft and Creamy Breads
Ilonggos has so much fascination with breads. One of the city’s notable break products is Angelina known their soft and chewy pan and other bread products. Their popular butter toast is a long-time favorite among locals and visitors.
Seafood Escapade: Sinfully Luscious
Iloilo located near the sea coast and having a major river crossing through the metropolis is also known for having an abundance of seafood, most especially in Villa Arevalo District. Along the coast of Villa Beach, a long line up of local eateries and restaurants serves fresh catch fishes, oysters and other seafood favorites. For a low price of P40 to P60, you get the chance to consume a bucketful of oysters. There's the ever famous Tatoy's Manokan in Villa beach serves only the best seafood dishes.Their all-time popular dishes are their native chicken and chessy Baked Talaba. Explore the city’s major nightlife spots and leisure places, surely you'll get to enjoy seafood cuisine from high-end to middle class restaurants without hurting your pocket.
