Ask Ilonggos (or just anybody who have been to), what to do in Iloilo City, the most likely answer would just be one word – punctuated with an exclamation point. Eat!
And it’s nonstop eating one will get with this list of 13 food places, which in my opinion, puts in a nutshell the gastronomic delights of Iloilo City. A useful guide for tourists who want to enjoy the heart of the Philippines through their stomach.
And it’s nonstop eating one will get with this list of 13 food places, which in my opinion, puts in a nutshell the gastronomic delights of Iloilo City. A useful guide for tourists who want to enjoy the heart of the Philippines through their stomach.
Among the easiest choice is this restaurant along Villa beach that combines good food and ambiance for a truly relaxing gastronomic experience. It is often one of the first stops for balikbayans and tourists; Breakthrough is synonymous with the freshest seafoods. A row of their cooked specialties is displayed for one to choose but check out their fresh seafood section. You won’t go wrong with grilled scallops, shrimp kinilaw, sizzling crabmeat and diwal on top of the usual grilled fish and squids plus crabs, prawns and oysters.
With a fifth branch already in the works, this pasta and pizza restaurant proves its popularity and worth in the Iloilo food scene. Afrique’s is one of those proudly homegrown restaurants that steered away from the usual Ilonggo menu and made quite a lasting impact in the taste of the locals. Its branch set in an old mansion in the heritage district of Downtown Iloilo City is a perfect place to enjoy the food in a setting reminiscent of Iloilo’s glorious past. Best sellers include its Special pizza, a variety of pasta, and meat dishes like ox tongue and osso buco .
Among the most iconic restaurant in the whole of Iloilo, this hole in the wall proves good food overcomes ambiance and competition. Roberto’s teems with people all the time that there seems no rush hour, for here is always one. Despite the presence of two fast food big times few steps away (read Jollibee and Mang Inasal), Roberto’s never seem to have felt the competition. Pancit dishes, fried items like meatballs and lumpia and simple burgers are among the best sellers. And of course, the royalties the Ilonggos bow to, the Queen and King sio pao.
An authentic Thai restaurant previously located amidst the rice fields, Peppy Thai Deli is now within reach, as it transferred into a more civilized location. Ilonggos have gladly embraced this foreign cuisine for it is served the traditional Filipino way - turo turo. Just one downside, they are only open during lunchtime - come a little late, you’ll contend with the “morsels” left. Be sure to be there early to enjoy nam tok (cold pork loin salad) and fried papered squid aside from the usual curries, barbecues, noodles and other dishes.
If not for the signage, one might miss this very alluring restaurant in the outskirts of Iloilo City. Impressive during the day but even more spectacular at night, the very relaxing ambiance makes it favorite haunt among Ilonggos. The Mango Tree Bar and Restaurant’s straightforward menu makes dining a leisurely experience and light on the pocket too. It combines the call of nature with the good taste of its offerings - a fusion of Asian, European, American and Filipino cuisines. Don’t forget to try their sizzling bulalo steak among others.
Its claim to fame – gigantic burgers! Only two years old but Perri Todd's has generated a big burger craze in Iloilo City as more restaurants started offering their own gigantic burgers. Operating as delivery or pick up only joint when it started, it now has a fully air conditioned area enough for fifty people. Its burgers are more appreciated “dine in” than “take out” or delivered but good luck in trying to find a seat from the afternoon onwards. Create your own gigantic burgers but also try their pasta and meat dishes. Or better yet their Premium Burger.
An upscale coffee shop, delicatessen to-go, a full service restaurant, a classy snack shop and one can even order among the best lechon de leche in town – all in a “coffee shop”. But what makes Bluejay Coffee and Deli stand out is their dessert line. Made with the finest imported ingredients and crafted to make it visually appealing, these cakes and baked goodies are dreams come true to those with a sweet tooth. Pastas, salad, sandwiches, steaks, sausages and wines complete Bluejay’s extensive menu offerings. And of course, it is just fitting to complete each visit with a cup of coffee.
Your peso will go a lot further and that’s among the reason why JD is among the most popular food stops. Non locals are always surprised to see its food items priced way below the usual tags. From snack items like sandwiches and pasta to combo meals and turo-turo items of Ilonggo favorites, one can certainly have a “personal buffet” in front of him every time he is at the food shop. And still that doesn’t include the cakes, desserts, drinks and pasalubong items JD has to offer. But remember to take home some desserts bars and squares for some cheap indulgence.
Named after one of the famous street in New Orleans, this bar and grill recreates the atmosphere of American bistro-styled restaurants. Located in the heart of the nightlife district of the city, Bourbon Street has two dining areas, a lounge, an alfresco balcony and a club where guests can enjoy the food and the booze all night long. To cater for everyone from a full course meal to the after dinner drinking crowd, it has a fine selection of steaks, pasta, pizza, salad and entrees. But it won’t be a complete Bourbon experience with it’s specialty - barbecue ribs!
When the La Salette building reinvented itself as an urbane gastronomic destination, a café with its more distinct offering, quickly become another pit stop, or more aptly a sweet stop. Dulgies Café is favorite hang out for not only it provides a cozy ambiance but also a fine selection of cakes and pastries. Cheesecakes often are the safe orders – and they’re really good, but there are a lot more; ensaimada, fruity and, of course, chocolate cakes. But be certain to make room for their D’ Club sandwich!
A relatively new player in the Iloilo food scene and yet in a year and a half it already has six branches and plans of venturing in the big city (Manila). What made Green Mango click is the combination simple, good quality and yet less expensive food, in a well made atmosphere. Combo meals like bistek, adobo and caldereta to pork and bangus – fried, grilled or sinigang plus breakfast meals, cool drinks and snack items make this a reasonably priced food haven. Check out its Nelly Garden branch to dine with a view.
As the innovator of Lapaz batchoy, Ted’s Oldtimer is slowly but surely spreading its empire across the country. Striking new branches have sprouted and brought batchoy to a new level. Their 24/7 branch along Diversion Road in Iloilo City is among the best it has came up with. One can now enjoy in style, not only batchoy but combo meals and Dulgies’ cakes too. But at Ted’s, it’s always a piping hot bowl of extra super special of batchoy - whether meke, bihon, miswa or sotanghon, with puto on the side. Extra caldo please!
From a nipa shack with three tables to being one of the biggest and most popular restaurants in Iloilo, the rags to riches story of Tatoy’s Manukan and Seafoods is almost legendary. Despite this success, Mang Tatoy himself can sometimes be found wiping the tables or even serving the customers himself. Be it a plate of seafoods – fishes, crabs, squids, prawns, scallops and more, to meat dishes like lechon baboy and chicken binakol. But none of these nears the distinction of its specialty – native litsong manok.
Iloilo City certainly has more to offer than these 13 restaurants on my list. As I always say, taste is subjective - the best chef in the world can prepare a dish using the finest ingredients but in the end, it is still your taste buds that will determine if it's really worthy the praise and the accolade.
Restaurant Directory
Afrique's Restaurant
Castilla St. (behind Jaro Cathedral) Jaro Iloilo City Tel No. (033) 509-2811
MH Del Pilar St (In front of Hotel Del Rio), Molo Iloilo City
The Red Square, Smallville, Mandurriao, Iloilo City tel No. (033) 509-4900
Valeria St. (beside the Atrium mall), Iloilo City
SOON: Robinson's Place Iloilo
MH Del Pilar St (In front of Hotel Del Rio), Molo Iloilo City
The Red Square, Smallville, Mandurriao, Iloilo City tel No. (033) 509-4900
Valeria St. (beside the Atrium mall), Iloilo City
SOON: Robinson's Place Iloilo
Bluejay Coffee and Deli
Amigo Plaza Mall, Iznart Street Iloilo City
Gen Luna St. cor. San Agustin St. Iloilo City
Bourbon Street Bar and Grill
Red Square Garden, Glicerio Pison Avenue
Diversion Road, Mandurriao Iloilo City
Tel. No. (033) 320-3028
Breakthrough Restaurant
Sto. Nino Norte, Arevalo, Iloilo City
Tel. No. (033) 337-3027
Dulgies Cafe
La Salette Building, Valeria St. Iloilo City
Ted's Oldtimer, Diversion Road Iloilo City
Tel No. (033) 338-3701
Green Mango Filipino Fastfood
Valeria St. Iloilo City
E. Lopez St. (fronting Nelly Garden) Iloilo City
E. Lopez St. (near WVSU hospital) Iloilo City
SM City Iloilo
Commission Civil St. Jaro Plaza, Iloilo City
San Agustin St. Iloilo City
Delivery Hotline 508-1818
JD Bakerei and Cafe
The Roadhouse, Gen. Luna St. Iloilo City
Gen. Luna St. (in front of St Paul's Hospital), Iloilo City
The Citadel, Infante St. Molo, Iloilo City (033) 336-1368
E. Lopez St. Jaro, Iloilo City Tel No. (033) 320-1469
Grand Dame Hotel, Rizal cor. Huervana Sts. La Paz, Iloilo City
Peppy Thai Deli
Plazuela de Iloilo, Diversion Road, Mandurriao, Iloilo City
Perri Todd's Hamburgers
Cuartero cor. Sta. Isabel St. Jaro Iloilo City
Tel. No. (033) 508-2598-3028
SM Hypermarket, Jalandoni cor. Comm. Civil Jaro, Iloilo City
Roberto's House Inc.
61 JM Basa Street, Iloilo City
Tel No. (033) 335- 0484
Tatoy's Manukan and Seafoods
Sto. Nino Sur, Arevalo, Iloilo City
Tel. No. (033) 337-1360
The Mango Tree bar and Restaurant
28 Guzman St. Mandurriao, Iloilo City
tel No. (033) 325-5551
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The list comes in no particular order. It showcases the gastronomic scene of Iloilo; great food and delectable delicacies, nice and good ambiance, great value for money, great finds, wide variety of choices and a whole lot more - based on personal experience, reviews and reaction gathered online, the appeal to the locals and impressions some tourists have and will get.