Philippines’ Local Food Experience

A Long Weekend Food Trip Around Baler Aurora (+ Pantabangan)

November 16, 2025November 16, 2025Leave a comment

Every All Souls’ Day, we try to go home to Aurora to visit my late Dad and this year was no different. But instead of squeezing into traffic and stressing over parking, we decided to rent a motorcycle. Best decision ever. It made everything easier—from visiting my late Dad’s tomb, to squeezing through narrow roads, to spontaneously stopping wherever our stomachs told us to. And of course… our stomachs did a LOT of talking on this trip.

Ben’s Halo-Halo: The Signboard That Reeled Me In

Before checking in at Nalu Surf Camp, I spotted this huge, colorful sign for Ben’s Halo-Halo. I didn’t even know the brand, but apparently it’s originally from San Pablo, Laguna. The graphics on their signboard were so eye-catching that I told myself, “We have to try this later.”

Ben's Halo-halo Ice Cream Signage — Ben’s Halo-halo Ice Cream Signage

So after grabbing our rented motorcycle from El Dawn Surfing School near Punta Baler which by the way is PhP 800 for 24 hours, we went straight there. We ordered the Original and the Macapuno flavors (₱130 each), and they told us macapuno was their bestseller. But here’s what surprised me—the ice. It was so finely crushed it reminded me of an ice cream. Plus, the milk was already mixed in, so it was creamy from the first spoonful—unlike the usual halo-halo where you’re wrestling with ice chunks and pouring evaporated milk over a mini iceberg.

Ben's Halo-halo Ice Cream Menu — Ben’s Halo-halo Ice Cream Menu

The Original had that simple-but-yummy mix: leche flan ( I think), ube, macapuno, langka, corn syrup with tiny corn bits, and a few mystery additions that just worked. The Macapuno though? A bit too sweet for us, but maybe that’s because we’re not a fan of macapuno.

Ben's Original Halo-halo — Ben’s Original Halo-halo

Ben's Macapuno Con Yelo — Ben’s Macapuno Con Yelo

Still, it was the perfect “Welcome to Baler!” snack.

Gilliane’s Snack House and the Surprise Lomi Discovery

Somewhere near Quezon Park, we stumbled upon Gillian’s Snack Haus—plus a row of small stalls beside it. You can’t miss it. Just turn left from the main road if you’re coming from the town proper and it’s all right there.

Gilliane's Snack House Signage — Gilliane’s Snack House

The place was buzzling. Families, barkadas, locals, travelers—you name it. The prices were friendly and you could tell people actually enjoyed eating there.

Gilliane's Snack House Menu 1 — Gilliane’s Snack House Menu 1

Gilliane's Snack House Menu 2 — Gilliane’s Snack House Menu 2

Hubby ordered Beef Pares (₱110), which came with garlic rice, soup, and super spicy chili garlic. He liked alot of garlic and chunks of beef meat; for me, it leaned a little too sweet.

Beef Pares Order at Gilliane's Snack House — Beef Pares Order at Gilliane’s Snack House

I also grabbed Beef Mami for takeout, thinking I’d save it for later. Joke was on me—I ended up giving it to the hotel security guard because of what happened next…

The Big Bowl Lomi Story

Beside Gillian’s is another humble food stall selling Batangas Lomi. This stall deserves its own place for diners. I forgot to get their store’s name.

We ordered their Regular Lomi (₱160), expecting a normal-sized bowl… and then they handed us a bowl so big it could feed 3–4 people. We thought “Did they make a mistake?” But nope—that’s really the serving size.

The broth was thick, eggy, comforting, and loaded with toppings – like chicharon, kikiam, pork liver, squid balls, etc. The “Overload” version (₱220) uses the same bowl—just with more toppings. They also sell fried lumpiang shanghai and gulay, and it smelled so good we almost ordered, but at this point the lomi had already defeated us.

Batangas Lomi's Menu — Batangas Lomi’s Menu

This is why the Beef Mami I bought ended up with the friendly hotel guard. I didn’t want it to go to waste, and he happily took it.

Breakfast at Gillian’s

The next morning, guess where we went? Yup—back to Gillian’s. They were one of the few places open early.

Hubby got their “SpamSiLog” (₱80) which turned out to be ordinary luncheon meat, but the rice, soup, and fried egg made it filling. I ordered LongSiLog (PhP 80 for Pinoy sausage with fried garlic rice and egg) which was not included on the photos and Chicken Mami (₱70). Just with a few drops of chili garlic oil, it tasted so much better.

SpamSiLog from Gilliane's — SpamSiLog from Gilliane’s

Chicken Mami with boiled Egg at Gilliane's — Chicken Mami with boiled Egg

Bays-Inn Restaurant: A Familiar Restaurant

Later, when my craving for kinilaw kicked in, we headed to Akkaw Ihaw near Punta Baler—but no tuna that day. So we returned to the classic: Bays-Inn Restaurant, a place we’ve dined in multiple times already.

We ordered:

Sinuglaw (₱298) (combination of Pork Inasal and Tuna Kilawin, Sidak – their sisig + dinakdakan (₱308), Spanish Sardines Pasta Aglio Olio (₱238) plus a refreshing mango-skewer cold tea.

Bays-Inns's Sinuglaw — Bays-Inns’s Sinuglaw

But honestly? The Sinuglaw wasn’t as good as before. The pork inasal was too sweet, the fat-to-meat ratio wasn’t great, and the vinegar mix tasted different. Less ginger and onion than I remembered. Hubby enjoyed his Sidak though.

Bays-Inn's Sidak (Sisig + dinakdakan) — Bays-Inn’s Sidak (Sisig + dinakdakan)

Thankfully, the pasta and the mango tea saved the moment. Just wishing they added more parmesan cheese and crushed sardines than big pieces. It also has tomatoes and broccoli for added veggies.

Food took about an hour to arrive (long weekend woes!), so it helped that we ate light snacks beforehand.

The tea with the mango skewer was surprisingly good. The mango cubes tasted almost like pastillas—soft, sweet, and a bit sour. The tea itself was mild and slightly bland, but taking a sip and then a bite of the mango completely changed the flavor – refreshing in a unique way.

I wish I remembered the name of the drink, but the experience definitely stood out.

Kabayan Batangas Lomi

After attending the Mass at Baler Church (San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Parish Church), we walked to a place we’d been curious about since Day 1: Kabayan Batangas Lomi. It was always full, and now we understood why.

Hubby ordered Special Lomi (₱80)—very affordable! It had 2 slices of boiled egg, crispy pork, and an eggy broth he enjoyed, though I found it thinner than the usual Batangas lomi.

I tried the Chami Special (₱80). Sweet, spicy, generous serving, and it instantly reminded me of the chami I had in Lopez, Quezon years ago. Such a nostalgic bite.

Hotel Eats: Nalu Surf Camp’s Sandbar Restaurant

At Nalu Surf Camp, we already scanned through their menu before seating and we ordered:

Sizzling Pakbet (₱195), Crispy Pako (₱175), Chicken Inasal (PhP 280), 1 serving of rice (which turned out to be huge—like 2 cups each!).

The Crispy Pako felt more like crispy breading than pako, especially compared to the rolled pako version from Baler Ortus Restaurant. It came with two dipping sauces – ranch-like sauce and sweet chili.

The Manok Inasal (PhP 280 for a quarter leg size) was on the salty and sweeter side.

Chicken Inasal with soy sauce and Atchara — Manok Inasal with soy sauce and Atchara

But the Sizzling Pakbet? Delicious. The alamang made all the difference and the vegetables still have their crisp texture with the right proportion of meat and fat. Small serving, but packed with flavor.

Here’s the Sandbar’s menu:

Ikigai: Not Japanese… But Quite a View

On our way home, we stopped by Ikigai, thinking it was a Japanese restaurant (because… the name). Turns out it’s a simple Filipino turo-turo. Nothing fancy with the food, but the view of Pantabangan Lake was stunning. Worth the stop.

Ikigai's Pantabangan Lake view — Ikigai’s Pantabangan Lake view

Wrapping Up

This short trip back home felt extra special because we got to try so many new places—but I’m convinced we wouldn’t have experienced even half of them if we didn’t rent a motorcycle. It gave us freedom to roam, stop, eat, and explore without stressing over parking—especially during a long weekend when everywhere is full.

Next time we’re back in Aurora, we’re definitely renting one again.

Looking for Something New: Our Ramen Wave Experience

August 28, 2025Leave a comment

My husband and I were in the mood for something different, preferably somewhere near Pioneer Corner Supermarket. We didn’t want to get stuck in traffic or deal with crowded spots, so we thought of checking out the food options near the grocery area—where Buffalo’s Wings N’ Things used to be.

To our surprise, the place had completely changed! It made us realize just how long it’s been since we last visited.

We checked a few restaurant menus, and one place stood out: Ramen Wave. There were already diners seated outside, which caught our attention. Curious, we peeked inside and saw even more people enjoying their meals. Then it started drizzling, so we took it as a sign to give the place a try.

Upon entering, we noticed the indoor setup was quite unique. Most of the tables were designed for solo dining, with high partitions that block your view of other diners. There’s a small sliding window in front of each seat—so if you want to see the person across from you, you’ll have to open it. It kind of reminded us of computer shops, where you’re in your own little space unless you lean sideways.

Outside, the tables cater more to groups—perfect for families or friends who want to chat and share meals without any dividers. There are also high chairs inside for side-by-side seating without partitions, but you’ll need to let the staff know your preference.

Since all the other seats were taken, we ended up in one of the partitioned booths and just opened the window in front of us to chat.

The interior also features a large menu board on the right as you enter, and beside it are black T-shirts with cute prints that are also for sale.

At the table, everything was already neatly arranged—chopsticks, a large ramen spoon, chili oil, red pepper powder, tissues on the right, and a stainless cup with a pitcher of room-temperature water on the left.

*Right of your table: chopsticks, a large ramen spoon, chili oil, red pepper powder, tissues on the right*

Ramen Wave's mini reception area — *Ramen Wave’s mini reception area*

*Sliding window to view the diner infront*

stainless cup with a pitcher of room-temperature water on the left. — *Stainless cup with a pitcher of room-temperature water on the left*

*Right side display of the partitioned dining booth*

Ramen Wave offers affordable Japanese food with good variety.

Among what we ordered, I liked the Katsu Curry the most. The curry sauce really brought out the flavor of the katsu — without it, the meat would’ve tasted a bit plain. The curry isn’t spicy at all, so it’s easy to enjoy, and you’ll want to scoop up every bit of the sauce. The katsu itself was tender, and the shredded cabbage on the side was fresh and crunchy.

The Karaage was also good. It had a light crunch on the outside with soft, juicy meat inside — and it’s boneless, which is a plus. The piece which was cut into smaller bite size were quite big. The breading wasn’t too thick, which we appreciated compared to other karaage we’ve tried before.

We also tried the Tonkotsu Ramen. The broth was flavorful and served at a manageable temperature — not too hot, but I personally prefer it a bit hotter. The noodles were firm, not soggy, which I really liked.

As for the Gyoza, it tasted like most gyoza, but it stood out because it had more meat inside and a nice chewy texture.

Overall, Ramen Wave is “sulit” (worth it) for the price, and we’ll definitely come back.

Here’s a clearer view of their menu from their Facebook Page:

*Ramen Wave Menu (clearer view form their FB Page).*

A Flavor-Packed Stop at The Coffee Library (San Fernando La Union)

August 2, 2025Leave a comment

I first heard about The Coffee Library from my father-in-law — he kept talking about how amazing their Tuna Steak was. So during our trip to San Juan, La Union (ElYu), we spotted their branch near a 7-Eleven. The café looked inviting, but parking was tight, so we skipped it.

On our way back, his kumpare mentioned another branch in San Fernando, tucked beside a SeaOil gas station. We got lucky with parking after lunch, so we finally gave it a go.

What We Ordered:

Cheese Burger (₱270)
Tuna Steak (₱300)
Baby Back Ribs (₱315)
Creamy Shrimp & Tuna Pasta (₱280)
Vietnamese Caphe Sua Da – Iced Milk Coffee (₱145)

The Coffee Library: 🍔 Cheese Burger

This burger didn’t feel like your usual fast-food kind — the patty was thick, juicy, and had a light char that gave it a smoky edge. The bun was soft but sturdy, not overly airy, and it balanced the meat well. What stood out? The white onions — they had a natural sweetness and umami that played perfectly with the crisp lettuce and tomatoes. Plus, there was a savory-sweet sauce (maybe from the meat juices?) that gave it that extra “what-is-this-it’s-so-good” flavor.

The Coffee Library: 🍖 Baby Back Ribs

A plate of baby back ribs served with a mound of white rice and a fresh salad containing lettuce, diced mango and strawberries, cucumber, and tomatoes. — *Baby Back Ribs served with a side of rice and fresh salad*

The meat was fall-off-the-bone in some parts, though a few bites near the bone needed extra effort. It was well-marinated with a rich, slightly smoky-sweet BBQ glaze. What really surprised me was the side salad — a refreshing mix of sweet mangoes, tangy strawberries, crisp lettuce, sesame seeds, raisins, and a tropical mango dressing. It felt like a mini “fresh” dessert on the side.

The Coffee Library: 🍝 Creamy Shrimp and Tuna Pasta

A plate of Creamy Shrimp and Tuna Pasta topped with shrimps, garnished with a basil leaf, served with two slices of grilled bread. — *A plate of Creamy Shrimp and Tuna Pasta topped with shrimps, garnished with basil leaf, served with two slices of grilled bread.*

This dish nailed the balance — creamy but not cloying (no “umay”), with a subtle seafood flavor from both shrimp and tuna. The shrimp brought that briny sweetness, while the tuna added depth. A little chili on top will give it a nice kick. I expected it to be heavy, but it was surprisingly light and flavorful from start to finish.

The Coffee Library: 🐟 Tuna Steak

A plated meal featuring a grilled tuna steak garnished with green onions, accompanied by a serving of white rice and colorful vegetables including green beans, potato and carrot. — *A plated meal featuring a tuna steak garnished with green onions, accompanied by a serving of white rice and colorful vegetables including green beans, potato and carrot.*

No fishy smell at all — even without lemon! The tuna was tender, moist inside, and had a clean, mild ocean flavor. The seasoning was simple, letting the freshness of the tuna shine. I now understand why both my father-in-law and his kumpare were raving about this dish.

The Coffee Library: ☕ Vietnamese Iced Coffee (Caphe Sua Da)

Vietnamese Coffee Caphe Sua Da (Iced Milk Coffee) at P145 — *Vietnamese Coffee Caphe Sua Da (Iced Milk Coffee)*

I had high hopes since I missed the one I tried in Vietnam. This one had that sweetened condensed milk richness, but the coffee wasn’t as bold or intense as I remembered. It leaned more on the sweet-milky side than the deep roasted flavor. Still refreshing, though the cup felt a bit small for the price.

✅ Final Verdict: The Coffee Library is worth the stop. Great flavors, decent prices, and a few standout dishes that are truly memorable. I’d happily go back to explore more from their menu — and maybe order that Tuna Steak again for myself.

Menu board featuring various coffee and beverage options, including Vietnamese coffee, iced coffee, blended beverages, fresh juices, smoothies, and tea with prices listed. — *The Coffee Library Menu board featuring various coffee and beverage options*

Menu board displaying various food options at The Coffee Library, including appetizers, salads, pasta, sandwiches, rice meals, pizza, and desserts, along with their prices. — *Menu board of various food options at The Coffee Library*

The Coffee Library counter featuring a modern espresso machine, various coffee supplies, and a bartender preparing drinks. — *The Coffee Library counter*

A Return to Comfort Food: Charlie Wanton Special in Mandaluyong City

May 17, 2025August 2, 2025Leave a comment

We just can’t get enough of Chinese food—our cravings brought us from the streets of Binondo all the way to Mandaluyong for a visit to Charlie Wanton Special. It’s a spot we’ve dined at many times before, and clearly, we’re not the only ones who keep coming back. Located just a few blocks from José Rizal University, Charlie’s has become a go-to for many, which makes finding a seat (and a parking spot!) more of a challenge these days.

Luckily, on this visit, just when we thought we’d have to skip dinner again due to the full house and tight parking, a staff member pointed us to their newly opened gated parking across the street—just past the nearby car wash. A small win that turned our night around.

Additional parking slots for Charlie Wanton Customers

Inside the extended parking slot of Charlie Wanton Customers

Once seated, we quickly ordered our favorites: the Beef Wanton Mami Special is always a must. The broth is rich and comforting, perfect for when you’re hungry and craving something warm. They even serve it with two extra bowls of soup, making the meal even more satisfying.

Closer look to Beef Wanton Mami + Soup — Beef Wanton Mami + Soup

We also tried their Green Chicken Curry Rice Bowl, which looked promising and came in a big, shareable serving. While it had generous toppings and came out piping hot (we had to poke holes in the rice just to release the steam!), I found the flavor a bit mild for my taste. A little more spice—or maybe a few green chilies—could’ve given it that curry kick I was looking for. I ended up bringing it home and tweaking it a bit.

We originally wanted the Tofu with Lechon, but by 7:30 PM on a Sunday, it was already sold out. As a backup, we went for the Fried Pinsec—crispy little bites of minced pork wrapped in wonton skin and deep fried to perfection. We didn’t even need the dipping sauce; it was that flavorful. My husband almost polished off the whole plate!

Here’s the pricelist of our orders:

Chicken Curry Rice (₱285) – big portion, but again, mild on spice.
Beef Wanton Mami Special (₱350) – still a winner.
Tofu with Lechon (₱350) – when available, a must-try!
Fried Pinsec (₱300) – our unexpected favorite
Asado Siopao (₱95) and Bola-Bola Siopao Special (₱130)

Both siopaos are massive and delicious. The asado had just the right balance of dough and filling, not too sweet. The bola-bola, with its thick meat filling and salted egg, was still delicious the next day, reheated on top of rice in the rice cooker.

Overall, our return to Charlie’s Wanton reminded us why we keep coming back. The food is comforting, the servings generous, and the experience always satisfying—even if you have to circle the block a few times for parking.

Plan your orders ahead with this menu copies:

More foods in Cebu and Lapu-Lapu Cities

March 14, 2025March 14, 2025Leave a comment

Exploring Cebu City

One of the must-visit spots in Cebu City is the Temple of Leah. It’s a bit far from the city center, so renting a car or motorcycle is a smart move to make the most of your time. We made the mistake of commuting and walking on our first days, which ate up a lot of time. If your budget allows, I highly recommend renting a vehicle upon arrival for convenience.

For the best experience, visit the Temple of Leah around sunset—the view is stunning, and it stays open later than other attractions nearby. When we arrived around 4 PM on a weekday, it was already bustling with tourists.

Dining at Ristorante Teodorico

After exploring the temple, we grabbed a meal at Ristorante Teodorico, located in the semi-basement of the temple. While there’s no view from the restaurant, it’s a cozy spot with elegant chandeliers, plenty of plants, and an open-air setting.

Ristorante Teodorico Menu at Temple of Leah — Ristorante Teodorico Menu

Here’s what we ordered:

Our Orders at Ristorante Teodorico, Temple of Leah — Our Orders at Ristorante Teodorico

• Lumpiang Shanghai (P250) – 16 crispy spring rolls, perfect for sharing.

• Carbonara (P350) with two slices of toasted garlic bread– Good flavor but a bit too saucy, making it mushy over time.

• Pancit (P220) – Lightly sauced, well-balanced flavors with generous vegetables.

• Honey Lemon Tea (P220) – Similar to the ones sold at S&R, a bit too sweet for my taste.

The food is reasonably priced for the location, and the servings (except for the pasta) are great for sharing.

Cebu Lechon at The Barracks

Cebu Lechon at The Barack's — Cebu Lechon at The Barack’s

Cebu is famous for its lechon, so we had to stop by The Barracks for another round. We ordered 1kg of Cebu Lechon (P320), and while the free taste came with crispy skin, the actual order wasn’t as crispy. Still, the vinegar dip made up for it.

While waiting for our Cebu de Lechon Order at The Barack's — While waiting for our Lechon de Cebu Order

Lapu-Lapu City Eats

We stayed at Pacific Cebu Resort, located on the quieter side of Lapu-Lapu City. Of course, we had to try their in-house Bloom’s Bar and Café. It’s a bit on the pricey side, but the food quality and ambiance made it worth it.

Plated Breakfast meal at Bloom’s Bar and Café

Here’s what we tried:

• Margarita Pizza (P450) – Thin and crispy, simple but flavorful

• Gnocchi Formagie Pasta (P520) – Soft potato dumplings in white sauce, surprisingly filling

Gnocchi Formagie Pasta at Bloom’s Bar and Café

• Squid Calamari (P540) – Crunchy on the outside, soft and fresh inside, served with Marinara Sauce and Roasted Garlic Aioli

Squid Calamari at Bloom’s Bar and Café — Squid Calamar

Their service was excellent, and the peaceful ambiance made us want to come back. I’m not sure if they offer buffet breakfast on all Sundays since we experienced it during our stay.

Local Food Stop: Mica’s Turo-Turo

For an affordable local food experience, we stopped by Mica’s Turo-Turo along the highway. It’s easy to spot with the number of motorcycles parked outside. The food was budget-friendly and flavorful. My favorite? Their grilled chorizo—juicy and smoky, a must-try! They often serve freshly cooked dishes on batches so we’re lucky to have hot- served viands.

Final Thoughts

Our Cebu trip was a great mix of sightseeing and food adventures. Next time, we hope to bring family along to explore more beaches and hidden gems. If you have any questions about car rentals or food spots, feel free to comment below. Happy travels!

P.S. some photos of Bloom’s Bar and Café Menu and our view at Pacific Cebu Resort 😘.

This is the 3rd pool since there’s a main pool and diving pool. No photos taken, sorry.

Pacific Cebu Resort 3rd Pool — Pool No.3

Bloom’s Bar and Café buffet breakfast table on a Sunday — Bloom’s Bar and Café buffet breakfast on a Sunday

Clear Sky at Pacific Cebu Resort — Clear sky at Pacific Cebu Resort

Cebu’s Esmen Carinderia: A Must-Try for Fish Soup Lovers

February 6, 2025March 7, 2025Leave a comment

Our first day in Cebu had been a series of near misses when it came to food, so we made it our mission to redeem our taste buds on Day 2.

After a morning visit to a museum, we set out on a quest for Esmen Carinderia, a humble eatery tucked away on Rallos Street, known for its famed fish tinola. I had read about it in multiple blogs, and knew it wouldn’t be for everyone—especially those who aren’t keen on dining in an open-air, no-frills setup.

Finding the carinderia proved to be a challenge. We had unknowingly walked past it, only realizing our mistake when we doubled back and spotted groups of people dining outside. A tarpaulin sign finally confirmed that we were in the right place. The eatery was bustling before lunch time, with only a few seats available. It was clear this place was a local favorite.

Front of Esmens Carenderia — Front of Esmens Carinderia

Hubby ordered two bowls of fish soup. At first glance, they looked identical—both featuring medium servings of fish heads submerged in steaming broth. But as soon as I took a sip, I understood the difference. One was made with porcupine fish, its broth rich and flavorful, the meat unbelievably tender. The other had a unique taste, distinct but just as satisfying. Three large kawa (woks) stood at the front, each brimming with a different variety of broth, ladled out according to the customer’s order.

Two orders of different linarang (fish stew)

One thing that stood out was their attentiveness. The staff quickly offers a refill of the hot, comforting broth whenever a bowl was nearing empty—a heartwarming gesture that added to the experience.

Noticing that many customers were ordering a small plate of kilawin, I decided to try one myself. It was unlike the kilawin I had in Davao back in 2023. This version had chopped white onions and tomatoes, but no trace of the usual calamansi or vinegar. Instead, it had a distinct fermented taste—almost like tuba (palm wine). The fish used in the dish was porcupine fish as well, which added to its unique flavor profile.

For two bowls of fish head soup, a small plate of kilawin, one order each of corn rice and regular rice, plus two bottles of soda, our total bill came to just around ₱467—a great deal for such a satisfying meal. More than the price, though, it was the warm service and the honest, comforting flavors that made this dining experience memorable.

Cebu Food Adventure: From Lechon to Pater ni Aki

December 5, 2024March 8, 2025Leave a comment

Our flight from Clark, Pampanga, departed at 11:30 AM, so by the time we arrived in Cebu, it was almost lunchtime. Instead of eating at the airport, we decided to save our appetites for Cebu’s iconic lechon. Luckily, as we exited Cebu Mactan International Airport, we spotted a small queue at a stall selling Ayers Cebu Lechon. We couldn’t resist and ordered 1/4 kg of lechon (₱335) with two servings of rice. While the lechon skin wasn’t crunchy anymore, it was still tender and easy to chew, even for those with dentures. The real star was their flavorful vinegar, which elevated the taste of the lechon.

Cebu's Ayers Lechon — Cebu’s Ayers Lechon

Cebu's Ayers 1/4 kg Lechon — Cebu’s Ayers 1/4 kg Lechon

3A’s Makabusog Grill Original Larsian BBQ

After checking into our hotel, we decided to explore Larsian BBQ at Fuente Osmeña, about a 23-minute walk away. Arriving at 4:30 PM, the place seemed uninviting, with only a few open stalls and no diners in sight. Based on online recommendations, we tried 3A’s Makabusog Grill Original Larsian BBQ. Our order included grilled tuna panga, a squid skewer, two chorizo de Cebu sticks, and rice (₱475 total). Unfortunately, the panga and squid tasted stale, lacked seasoning, and had a raw, unpleasant flavor. The rice was cold and hard, and only the chorizo de Cebu met our expectations. It was a disappointing experience that left us regretting the long walk.

Our Orders at 3A’s Makabusog Grill Original Larsian BBQ

Shamrock Pasalubong Center

We then headed to the Shamrock Pasalubong Center at Fuente Osmeña Circle to buy local delicacies as pasalubong. Although their items came highly recommended, we were surprised by the steep prices—more than ₱3,000 for just a few treats.

Pungko-Pungko at Fuente

Still unsatisfied, we searched for pungko-pungko, a popular Cebuano street food experience near the circle. The first thing we noticed was the energetic staff in matching orange shirts, enthusiastically welcoming customers. The setup was simple, humid, and lacked basic amenities like tissues. We ordered an assortment of fried foods, including 4 pieces Ginanot (chicharong bulaklak), 1 piece liempo, half shell of rellenong crab, 1 piece sausage, 2 lumpia, and a soda (₱249 total). The dipping vinegar is too sour on my palate and a bit salty. Unfortunately, none of the items were crispy or flavorful, leaving me puzzled about how vloggers rave about this experience.

Pater ni Aki Stall

As the day wound down, we stumbled upon a lively program near the circle with several food stalls. Here, we found two dishes that redeemed our culinary adventure: grilled scallops and Chicken Pater, a Maranao dish. The scallops, priced at just ₱99 for 18 pieces, were small but perfectly grilled with butter and garlic. Meanwhile, the Chicken Pater (₱80) featured fragrant rice cooked with coconut milk (I assume), tender shredded chicken, and a spicy sambal-like side dish. It was a satisfying end to an otherwise mixed food journey. They also sells spider snail with vinegar as the dipping sauce but haven’t tried it. It’s only PhP 25 per piece.

While our Cebu trip had its ups and downs, the grilled scallops and manok pater made the long walks worth it. As they say, food is an adventure, and sometimes it’s the surprises that make it memorable.

Wildspices Cafe Infinity at Angeles Pampanga

April 20, 2024September 12, 2024Leave a comment

When craving for some non-fast food while travelling via NLEX (going south bound), try stopping at The Shoppe in Pampanga. It’s near Landers so if you’re on an errand to buy something, this is the place to be.

There are alot of food establishments in the area from Inasal Chicken, Filipino Food, American, Grilled Meats, Korean, you name it and I bet there’s always a place for you there. We discovered this place after visiting Landers in Angeles Pampanga with cravings for Birria Tacos and Chicken Biriani for hubby.

We were lucky to come across a Tiktok Account that featured Wildspices Cafe Infinity and it happened to be within the vicinity. We ordered the Birria Tacos for just PhP 290. They served two pieces which is almost half the price of Army Navy – Beef Birria Taco is PhP405. The only difference is that Army Navy offers a picked jalapeno with loads of onions and a tasty diluted dipping sauce. For this version of Birria Tacos, they have this mild-spiced sauce with lemon on the side. It tasted good except it’s a bit oily. They could’ve placed it on an absorbent paper towel a bit longer before serving but overall, I liked it.

Birria Tacos for PhP 290 — Birria Tacos at Wildspices Cafe Infinity for PhP 290

Next is the Chicken Biryani for hubby. The photo didn’t do justice with regard to the size of the actual chicken – it’s not this small and big neither. It’s on the medium size served with slices of cucumber and tomato plus the sauce that’s not too empowering. I love chicken biryani and have tried it from numerous restaurants within and outside Metro Manila so I can say that this can be one reason I’ll go back to this restaurant. The price + serving size + taste…thumbs up.

Chicken Biriani at Wildspices Cafe Infinity for PhP 300 — Chicken Biryani at Wildspices Cafe Infinity for PhP 300

Aside from the two, we also tried their Kani Salad, Chicken Pesto Pasta, Chicken Tikka Masala, Porterhouse Steak, Blackened Salmon with Aligue Cream Sauce and Calamari Bites.

Kani Salad @ Wildspices Cafe Infinity for PhP 240

The Chicken Pesto we had is bland and the pasta is a bit soggy. It’s a small serving like 5 fork-full then it’s gone. This is the only order we didn’t quite like.

Chicken Pesto at Wildspices cafe Infinity for PhP240

Their Chicken Tikka Masala is a dish that you would come back for many times. The saltiness and creaminess of the sauce goes well with the bread. It’s love at first bite for hubby. Like you can imagine the invisible hearts through his eyes when he tasted this.

For their Blackened Salmon with Aligue Cream Sauce, I was expecting a charcoaled-like salmon as in black but it’s not. We opt for the mushed potato instead of rice because we already have too much carbs on our orders. It was good for a few bites but after some time, it’s kind of “nakakaumay”. Maybe because of the Aligue Sauce – it’s on the salty side. This is just a small portion but wasn’t able to consume all. The price is okay for the serving size as Salmon is really an expensive dish on restaurants.

Blackened Salmon with Aligue Cream Sauce for PhP380 at Wildspices Cafe Infinity — Blackened Salmon with Aligue Cream Sauce for PhP380

The Porterhouse Steak – the meat attached to the bone is somewhat hard to chew or cut although this is medium rare. The gravy sauce is good and so with the mushed potato on the side. If I have to choose between this or the Blackened Salmon, I’ll go with this one.

Porterhouse Steak for PhP380 at Wildspices Cafe Infinity — Porterhouse Steak for PhP380

And last but definitely not the least is their Calamari Bites with potato chips. The calamari is well cooked – it’s texture is chewable and not rubbery. You know when a squid is overcooked, it tends to be rubbery and really difficult to munch. Also the garlic sauce ( I guess) is a good partner of both the calamari and potato chips. I even used the sauce on my Blackened Salmon to negate the saltiness of the Aligue Sauce.

Calamari Bites for PhP230 at Wildspices Cafe Infinity — Calamari Bites for PhP 230

Our overall experience with Wildspices Cafe Infinity is a good one. Aside from the food, the servers and owners were friendly. We’ll definitely come back for their Chicken Tikka Masala and maybe Chicken Biryani. Else, we’ll try other food establishments in the area.

Siargao Food Experience (Isla de las Palmas)

March 11, 2024September 12, 2024Leave a comment

Spent a long and nice weekend in the island of Siargao or what was originally “Isla de las Palmas”. ‘Tried different food varieties and I think the average meal price is around PhP 300 – 350 which is quite expensive. This maybe reasonable as the island doesn’t grow their own food. We weren’t able to scout for other food establishments outside Gen. Luna – where most hotels are situated, so the post below is within the touristy area.

Lunch at Apsaras Tribe Hotel where we stayed: Sky Restaurant. They have special menu for Chinese New Year on 2nd week of February by the way. We tried their steamed fish Lapu-lapu in sesame oil. Herbs were generously scattered that makes this dish so fragrant. The fish is medium in size and tasted good at first but the saltiness of soy sauce is too much after consuming half of it.

Steamed Fish Lapu-lapu in Sesame Oil for PhP588

Breakfast: Apsaras – Our breakfast is part of our hotel accommodation and I must say that these ones are good. The serving plate is big enough that makes it a heavy meal. You can also request how your eggs are cooked. And since food is a bit expensive in this area, might as well consider a package with breakfast inclusion.

Apsaras Tribe Fried Milk Fish Breakfast Plate (Filipino Breakfast)

Apsaras Tribe Bacon Breakfast Plate (American Breakfast)

The Food Truck Tacos – before going to Siargao, I did my homework on different restaurants or food that we ‘must’ try – meaning where there are lots of good reviews. So when we saw the Food Truck, we tried their sampler tacos. Almost all samplers from other restaurants include best-sellers so this is what I thought when I ordered. Not sure if it’s just a hype or I didn’t order the right one.

The taco is soft but I can still taste the fresh flour and it’s so visible to the naked eye- it’s a no for me. I don’t remember which one tasted best among the four – there’ s chicken intestine (1st taco), then the fish fillet (2nd), pure veggies and can’t remember the last one. No hot sauce was offered and the calamansi didn’t go well with the tacos – I preferred lemon or lime.

Dinner: Wellington Grilling Station – This is one of the best grilled meat I had as the marinade was so flavourful. This is a “karinderya-style” or “small eatery”turu-turo” and their grilled menu is only available in the afternoon until the evening. If I’m to rate this, it would be 10/5. I think nobody has reviewed this yet but it’s good – the meat is cooked to perfection, soft, tasty and affordable. We ended up ordering 2 plates of Chicken Barbeque, Chicken Intestine (isaw ng manok) and Pork BBQ. Other options are chicken leg and wings, pork intestine (isaw ng baboy), squid and not sure of the others as we had our dinner a bit late.

Wellington Grill House in Siargao — Wellington Grill House

Grilled Chicken, Pork Bbq and Chicken intestine Barbeque

Day 2 Lunch at Happiness. We dined here at around 11-ish and they still serves breakfast. I think they offer lunch menu at 12pm so on our 2nd day, we had two breakfast.

Super Banana is a combination of Chia seeds, peanut butter, tahini and ofcourse banana fruit. Ice was well blended and the sweetness is not too much. We liked this one. By the way, that’s a toasted banana garnish.

The Green Power Bowl is an energy booster made from Puree of mango, banana, pineapple, ginger, coconut milk topped with moringa, chia seeds, goji berries, banana, toasted coconut flakes and home-made-granola served in a wooden bowl. It’s a bit pricey for the serving size but I must say that this was surprisingly good. On my last scoop, that’s when I realiazed that the sourness of pineapple is overpowering.

Better Together Sourdough – It doesn’t matter if you eat this together or separately coz it plays with your taste buds. As the name suggests, it tasted better together. Both sourdough has their unique taste but the one with tomato overload is better for me. Maybe the spread complements the sourness of the tomatoes, I don’t know. It magically enhances the fruit. Yes, tomatoes are fruits. Although this one is delicious, the price is not affordable.

Better Together Toasted Sour Dough for PhP 320

Snack at Atabai Snack Bar is a snack bar at the roadside. They can only accommodate like 8 persons at a time – 4 seats at the front and another four on the side. We ordered the Nachos, Snow Special Burger with Fries, Winter Special Burger, Chocolate Milkshake and Caramel Macchiato. Their prices are reasonable for how it tasted and the service sizes.

The Nachos is not that tasty but for the price of PhP120, it can be considered an okay appetizer for a medium-sized plate.

Their burgers are bigger in person so don’t be fooled by my small photos. These were tasty burgers and the patties are thick with generous veggies. Although I’m still wondering how they come up with the burger names.

Atabai Snack Bar Snow Special with Fries for PhP 149

Atabai Snack Bar Winter Special for PhP 189

The glasses used on our drinks are bigger and as per the photos below, both drinks were overflowing. The caramel Macchiato is sweeter than the chocolate milkshake so I preferred the latter. Both drinks were good for the price.

Atabai Snack Bar Caramel Macchiato for PhP 120

Atabai Snack Bar Milk Chocolate for PhP 129

Dinner at Kanin Baboy on Day 2. Hubby and I tried our luck going to Cev (Ceviche and Kilawin) and since it’s crowded and fully-booked, we roamed around and ended up at Kanin Baboy. We ordered the spicy (for me) and non-spicy platter for hubby. When our orders arrived, the servings looked familiar and yes, it’s the same with what we had when we’re in Bali Indonesia. I’m sorry but this one is incomparable from what we had. Aside from the serving size and price, this one lacks the aroma and spices. This is just like you took a plate on a Filipino Buffet Restaurant and stuffed it with all pork dishes. Even the sambal sauce didn’t add anything on the pork dish. You can check my Bali Food here – .Warung Babi Guling Dolbi (https://myeatsperience.com/2023/11/22/bali-indonesia-food-experience/)

Day 3 lunch at Thai Foon. Their Papaya Salad is very fresh with good crunch from the nuts. Papaya was shredded to perfection and so with other vegetables in it. The only down side for me is the sourness of the vinegar which was too much maybe because it’s almost like a soupy dressing as shown on the photo below.

Som Tam Thai Foon's Papaya Salad — Som Tam (Papaya Salad) for PhP 190

Their fried spring rolls are nothing special and the common thing that should make it stand out is the dipping vinegar sauce paired with it. This lacks garlic and the sweet and sour taste. I’m also surprised that they didn’t cut their spring rolls which adds feast to the eyes when you’re able to see the filling.

Thai Foon's Fried Spring Rolls — Thai Foon’s Fried Spring Rolls for PhP 170

The Chicken Cashew is soy-based flavor and as per hubby, it tasted more like our Adobo. The good thing here is they didn’t skimp on bell peppers, cashew nuts and the other greens.

Thai Foon's Chicken Cashew — Thai Foon’s Chicken Cashew for PhP 280

Thai Foon’s Mango Sticky Rice is the best order we had, well for me. Let’s explain in detail: First the presentation. The white, blue and yellow color combination looked appetising. Agree? The blue rice color is from the blue ternate flower that is edible. The rice and coconut milk were unsweetened. I’m not sure which one has a hint of saltiness but it balanced the sweetness of ripe mango. We could have ordered another plate but we’re so full.

Their Coconut Juice is just so-so. For the price, I think I’m not just paying for the juice but also the coconut meat but wasn’t able to because of how it was presented. Too bad I didn’t ask them to open it. I also expected that coconuts are cheaper here because they have plantation everywhere.

Dinner at Cev (Ceviche and Kilawin) – We initially visited this on our 2nd night in the island but it’s full house so we’re advised to reserved a slot the next day. Almost all customers are non-Filipino and I got excited because they all seemed chilled, relaxed and enjoying the food. Fast forward, we came a bit earlier for our reserved 8:00pm slot but were immediately seated. On to our food orders:

I’m a bit bias on my review here because I compared it to the taste I’m familiar with while growing up. Fish Ball for 5 pieces – as a Filipino I still preferred the local taste of home-made fish ball made from Galunggong. I actually can’t remember how this tasted but I think sauce made it better and there’s no fishy after taste.

CEV: Ceviche & Kinilaw Shack's Fish Ball — CEV’s Fish Ball for PhP 200

The Ceviche or Peruvian version of our Kilawin is consist of sweet potato (kamote), squash and bits of corn to lessen the spicyness of the dish. There’s crunchy onion on top. In short, I think our kilawin version or the one I tried in Davao is better (https://myeatsperience.com/2023/03/11/luz-inihaw-kinilaw-place/). Less ingredients but more flavor.

CEV: Ceviche & Kinilaw Shack's Pacifico Ceviche — CEV’s Pacifico Ceviche for PhP 360

CEV: Ceviche & Kinilaw Shack's General Luna Kinilaw — CEV’s General Luna Kinilaw for PhP 360

CEV: Ceviche & Kinilaw Shack's Garlic Rice — CEV’s Garlic Rice

Their Kilawin version has so much ingredients paired with garlic rice. Aside from the fresh fish meat, there’s mushed grilled eggplant, fresh and toasted onions, onion chives, mango, white and green sauces. The taste was foreign to me not like the regular kilawin I had so it’s a bit difficult to appreciate it but I give thumbs up on how they present their dishes. So far, their garlic rice was the star of my orders – no kidding. Ofcourse I finished all our orders because it’s pricey.

My food experience in Siargao is both a hit and a miss – mostly expensive but this is expected as Siargao Island is a tourist destination so prices are targeted to foreigners. There are other food establishments in Gen. Luna which we weren’t able to try so if I’ll be returning to the island in the future, I will surely have a different list. Food reviews are really subjective, but it’s still helpful when trying food on a new place for the first time. Again, these are based from my experience so one may agree or disagree.

By the way, prices of the dishes above are from February 2024 so it may differ when you visit Siargao.

Best Pasta-Pizza in Baler (Aurora Province)…so far…

February 19, 2024September 12, 2024Leave a comment

Two of the many foods I really enjoyed while growing up were pizza and pasta and there was never a good restaurant as far I can remember in (my) Aurora Province. I only have my mom’s pasta (Pinoy Style Spaghetti) on Christmas Day. Pizza? I can’t think of any. When Aurora opened its doors to tourists because roads became accessible to any vehicle type, alot of business establishments opened and one of those was the best Pizza and Pasta Restaurant named Happy Huts. Does it make its customers happy? I believe so..

My brother in law (BIL) and sister discovered this hidden on a secret place somewhere in Baler and keep on asking me – do you know where the best pizza in Aurora is? It’s like exaggerating something that sounds unreal. My hubby and I didn’t try it first because the street to where ’twas previously located was narrow so it’s a no. Fast forward after a year when Happy Huts transferred to their new location – Smart Beach House, Querijero St. along Sabang Beach in Baler, that’s when we finally gave it a try. Although the street is still narrow, it’s passable passable and more accessible (1 vehicle at a time) than the previous one.

What we ordered? Not much, really…

For the appetizer: we had Sloppy Potato (PhP 269) and Chicken N’ Wedges (PhP 359) – photos below. The serving sizes are good for sharing as per the menu which is true if you have other orders, but if just one of these, then it’s not. The crispy shoestring potatoes with thick potato wedges smothered with ground meat, ranch and melted mozarella are good combination – though the photo didn’t justify how appetizing this was. The crispy Chicken tenders and potato wedges has two dips – ranch and honey mustard. The chicken meat is tender and goes well with the dips but I still preferred the Sloppy Potato over this. Oh and by the way, this is part of their “Mains” but it’s more of an appetizer for me.

For the Pasta orders, we had the Tuna Aglio Olio Pasta (Solo for PhP 189) and Creamy Tandoori Chicken or Leon’s Carbonara (Solo for PhP 189) – sorry I really can’t remember which one we ordered but the taste is more of a chicken carbonara and lacks saltiness on my palate. I’m a bit bias here as I really love anything about tuna so I vote for the Tuna Aglio Olio eventhough I can’t remember which one has a mild spicy taste (plus point if the tune pasta). The taste is simple but clean and leaves no fishy taste unlike in other restaurants. The solo servings are generous for its price so you’re a winner in either pasta meal.

This visit to the best pizza and pasta in Baler Aurora won’t be complete without the Pizza. We had the Duo Pizza which costed around PhP 339 for two flavors in one. It’s Texas Chicken BBQ and Margherita. It’s thin crust so it’s crunchy and loses it’s charm when left cold. Surprisingly, the crunchiness didn’t leave until we consume everything – I think around 30 minutes or so. 🙂 The combination was good ‘coz I’m not a fan of pure meat so this is better for my taste.

Last and definitely not the least, is their Pan-seared Fish Curry which was around PhP 299. The sauce topping is well blended on the fish and my hubby liked this. I can’t really identify the ingredients of the curry sauce but I’m sure there’s lots of tomatoes in it like sarciado but in a good way. The serving size is also big enough for its price.

Overall, I can say that this pizza-pasta joint is a must try when you’re in Baler. The prices are affordable for the quality and serving sizes of their offerings. They occupy two floors – air-conditioned on the ground floor and open-air on the second. The owners and servers are friendly and attentive so it’s a plus x2.

Prices above are from 2023 so to give you an idea, here’s their 2023 menu book: