Right in the middle of Lapaz Market in Iloilo City stands among the more authentic batchoyans in town. There you'll find a busy eatery/batchoyan that proudly announces "The Pride of Iloilo". Welcome to Netong's Original Lapaz Batchoy, where batchoy is still what it was like more than 50 years ago, thus many claim it to be one of the most authentic Lapaz Batchoy.
When I dine at Netong's, I just love how their batchoy still looks original or to be "safe", the batchoy look I grew up with. The noodles form the base and the pork, liver and intestines for a heap in the middle sprinkled with chicharon, garlic and chives. Then you'll see the bone marrows floating around on the caldo.I almost always complain of the "lost art" of batchoy preparation but good thing there's still Netong's, among others, where the art is still alive.
And I never season my bowl of Netong's batchoy with soy sauce and/or pepper since I already am very much satisfied with their concoction. At first it may taste light but when you mix what's in your bowl, all the flavours seem to burst! The chicharon mixing with the garlic plus the meat and the noodles -all in perfect harmony in aroma and taste.
Even just the caldo (broth), which is bottomless is loaded with flavour. Authentic batchoyans have this large container containing broth in constant boil all throughout the day where the meats are placed to add more authentic flavour at the same time maintaining its texture. Most batchoyans have guinamos (the local bago-ong) infused in their broth and other ingredients too. Onions give the batchoy a distinct sweetness that sugar can't give. Though sugar is added in the broth concoction (and not when being served like soy sauce and pepper) to balance the guinamos' saltiness.
Netong's Original Lapaz Batchoy is located inside the Lapaz Market and is accessible from both Rizal and Huervana Streets. It is open around 7am until 7pm. The best way to find it is to ask the vendors inside the market.