What better place to start my travel blog than my home town Iloilo City!
Iloilo City is home to the most malambing (sweetest) Filipinos in the country. Ilonggos are naturally thoughtful and mellow- even when we're mad. haha I wasn't born in Iloilo, my parents aren't from Iloilo but I had my elementary and secondary education here that's why I consider myself pretty much an Ilonggo.
My 10 day stay in Iloilo was mainly focused on sleeping, revisiting my favorite restaurants, tagging along with mom whenever she'd do work at the shop and doing office work for dad. Warning: This first post is all about the restos I've eaten in. I actually had to rethink if this was a travel blog or a food blog. But then again, food is a crucial part of the travel. haha
Please forgive my photos as I am still shy to take shots of the places. I promise to improve the photos in my next destinations.
I arrived at the Iloilo International Airport around 7 in the evening. This new airport in Sta.Barbara, Iloilo is 45 minutes away from the city. From there, we headed to Imay's Bar and Restaurant- one of the relatively new restos in Iloilo City.
Imay's is located in Smallville. It's sort of like an Eastwood City or the Fort Strip - a wide area lined with restaurants, bars, cafes, ktv's, and a business hotel.
My favorite dish here is the Lengua. click the menu for a closer look.
The following are the other places I've eaten in during my stay.
Balbi's
Mom and I went to the shop. Before going home, we walked to Balbi's. A hole-in-the wall dining place that's known for their palabok and dinuguan. That on the photo is the owner. The lady is Mom- paying for my order. haha
Merienda at Iloilo Bird House
Iloilo Bird House is located in the same building as Balbi's only that this one is located in the building's facade and Balbi's is a little hidden. This snack house is known for their thin pizza. The place has 5 tables that can seat less than 20 people at one time. I guess that's the charm of the snack house. On the walls hang photographs taken by the owner which are being sold for 1500-ish per piece. I didn't take a photo coz maybe it was not allowed. I believe the owner has been into photography since the age of film SLRs. His old photog magazines are in a small box and are sold at 20 pesos each. haha
A very 'kind' gesture that makes you feel less guilty after eating.
Check out how thin that pizza is.
That's the gay personnel of the snack house. He's nice. And that one in red is my dad who loves taking photos too when he was young.
Ramboy's Manukan and Lechon
It's my first time to eat here. My high school friends were the ones who chose this place. I super loved their liempo (crispy and yummy!) and calamares. I am a sucker for great tasting calamares and this one sure passed my standards. The only problem I had here was the ventilation. It was pretty small place, they had no built in fans so it was quite hot when we ate there. Plus the flying creatures (aka mosquitos) were something to be bothered about. Nonetheless, I loved the food.
Nothing But Desserts, Smallville
We walked to this new dessert place after dinner. It's sort of like a little dessert cafe that has a Manila feel to it. The desserts had very nice presentations but the taste didn't match its appearance.
I can actually say that KFC's chocolate mousse tasted better. Sorry NBD! I hope they improve the taste of their desserts. Those above cost like 110 pesos each. On the other hand I bet their gelato was good because during the 30 minute stay we had, a looot of people came in and out of the place to grab a cup of gelato.
BREAKTHROUGH Restaurant, Villa
Breakthough is a 5 minute drive from our house. It's a beachside resto that's famous for so many things! It's a must for visitors and balikbayans to come at eat here. Must try's are the lechon, pantat (hito in Tagalog and catfish in English), Kinilaw, and the bangus sisig. Dining by the beach is also refreshing. You'll see manongs selling sweet kakanins, and kids skim boarding by the shore. This place is packed during weekends.
Oh, don't think of swimming though. The beach isn't 'clean' to swim in so don't bother bringing your bikinis and trunks. haha
Mom, Dad and Joop ordering our food
The lechon plate I could not resist. haha!
Other restaurants I recommend (and ate in) are:
Wok's Cooking- stuffed tofu, fried dumplings and salt and pepper spareribs
JD Bakeshop- the Roadhouse branch. Their mushroom soup is to die for. The fried chicken is an all-time favorite.
Ted's Batchoy
Mang Inasal - (both Ted's and Mang Inasal have branches in Manila)
Will post my last few photos of Iloilo soon.
Come and visit Iloilo- lots of food choices to taste and picturesque destinations that'll surely make you want to come back for more.
Til the next destination,
Adz
