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Travels and personal perspectives on Iloilo and Panay Island
Best Budget Dining in Iloilo
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Chicken Tinola - a classic Filipino dish
Generally speaking, the best food in Iloilo is Filipino cuisine. There are those who denigrate Filipino cooking as beneath notice when compared to the world’s great cuisines. We disagree. There is good Filipino cooking and, when well done, it usually outshines local efforts to imitate European cuisine.
Naturally, Filipino cuisine has very strong Chinese and Spanish influences. This can be seen in a list of some of my favorite dishes: lumpia (egg rolls), arroz caldo (chicken rice stew), apritada, (a stew with tomatoes and pimentos), sinigang (a pork or seafood sour soup flavored with fresh tamarind), the many variations of pancit noodles such as mami, kalderetta (beef or goat stew), lengua (tongue stew), empanadas (pastry filled with vegetables and meat), bibingka (a coconut baked-good), guisadong mongo (a stew based on mung beans) and so forth. All of these can be wonderful if cooked by a great cook. Some of my best meals have been in local eateries called carenderias — and some of my worst.
Then there’s the great grilled dishes. Native chicken stuffed with lemon grass and tamarind and then roasted over charcoal. Marinated and grilled marlin, tuna and local fish such as managat. Squid stuffed with tomato, onion and herbs and then grilled. There are several restaurants which serve good grilled Filipino dishes.
Here are our favorites. You will not find many upscale restaurants, restaurants with elaborate decor listed here except the Mango Tree. They don’t fit our budget or or preferences. If you do want to dine with more elegance give the hotel restaurants a try: Hotel del Rio, Sarabia Manor, or Day’s Hotel at the Atrium, the latter being our pick.
- Tatoy’s Restaurant, Villa Beach, Iloilo City, Philippines
Tatoy’s Restaurant on Villa Beach is probably the most famous restaurant in Iloilo City. The Ilonggo who returns to Iloilo often makes Tatoy’s his or her first stop. Reportedly, it’s a favorite of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo when she’s in Iloilo. Specialties include grilled fresh seafood of all kinds, marinated and grilled local chicken, if you like lechon baboy (whole roast pig) you’ll order it here. You have a choice of dining on the beach in a bamboo hut or in an air conditioned dining hall. Prices are moderate. Tatoy’s is easy to get to. Take any Villa jeepney. Every taxi driver should know where Tatoy’s is.
Villa Beach in front of Tatoy's Restaurant, Iloilo City
You can also take a stroll on the long sandy Villa beach. It’s easy to get to from Tatoy’s. I do not recommend night time beach walking at Villa.
Breakthrough Restaurant, also on Villa beach, before Tatoy’s if coming from Iloilo City. People argue whether the food is better at Tatoy’s or Breakthrough. One thing is for certain, Breakthrough is a great place to spend a lazy afternoon. Breakthrough feels more “on the beach” than does Tatoy’s. Any Villa jeepney will take you there. Even my wife and I argue about which is better. I prefer Breakthrough, Carol prefers Tatoy’s.
Breakthrough Restaurant, Villa Beach, Iloilo City, Philippines
Roberto’s is a long-established local favorite. It’s in Iloilo’s “Calle Real” historic district in a beautiful old building on J.M. Basa Street, right next to a Jolibee restaurant. Roberto’s, founded in the 1960s, offers Filipino fare at modest prices plus the best siopao (steamed buns filled with chicken, pork or other fillings) you’ll find anywhere, as well as hamburgers, cheeseburgers, double cheeseburgers etc. I’m not convinced they are 100% beef, but they are good – in our view, better and cheaper than at the chain next door. Roberto’s very busy at lunchtime.
Roberto's Restaurant, Iloilo City
Joy Joy’s Restaurant is on the Coastal Road leading from Iloilo City to Dumangas. It’s a native seafood restaurant with good seafood at very reasonable prices. It’s busy on weekends.
Joy-Joy's Restaurant, Iloilo
Smallville Entertainment Complex. This newly sprouted complex of hotels, restaurants, and clubs is on a suburban-like strip accessed from Diversion Road in Iloilo City, near the SM City mall. It’s likely the hippest nightlife destination in the city. Restaurants include Krua Thai, Bigby’s, Regatta and several others.
Smallville - the hottest entertainment district in Iloilo
A good downtown alternative to the somewhat manufactured ambiance of Smallville, is Buto’t Balat Restaurant on Solis Street in downtown Iloilo City. Just walk Solis street from SM Delgado toward the river and you’ll see it on the right. Its elegant-native outdoor dining is really pleasant. I’ve had the BBQ pork ribs there twice and they are excellent, as is the seafood. We also tried the bouillabaisse, a seafood soup. It was another example that it’s always better to stick with good Filipino cooking rather than efforts at European cuisine. But such advice is always subject to contradiction. Peppy Thai is an example, at least regarding Thai cooking.
The Mango Tree Restaurant in Mandurriao on Guzman Jesena Street near Mandurriao Plaza offers a delightful outdoor dining environment and decent food. You’ll dine under a Mango tree in a large landscaped private compound. You can also dine inside if you prefer. Prices are moderate.
- The Mango Tree Restaurant in Mandurriao, Iloilo City
Peppy Thai Restaurant, Diversion Road, Iloilo City
Peppy Thai Restaurant is a top pick Iloilo restaurant. Looking at the photos below, I hope you’ll get a sense of why.
Peppy Thai used to be on Diversion Road, but it has moved to a new location in a lovely renovated historic house opposite the Jaro “big” public market. We’re so happy to see Iloilo restaurants saving and putting these landmarks back into use.
We noticed another Thai restaurant in Jaro, from memory the name is Sawasdee. Has anyone tried it?
Good efforts at Peppy Thai Restaurant, Crispy chicken, tofu, beef curry and the very spicy cold pork salad -- my favorite.
Chinese restaurants in Iloilo City. We can suggest some possibilities for decent, standard Cantonese fare, the Hong Kong Kitchen Restaurant in Robinson’s Mall downtown and David’s Tea House Restaurant at the SM City Mall.
You get better Chinese cuisine for less money the Kusina Tsina on the east side of Quezon Street near the Payless Plaza, not far from Gen. Luna. The restaurant has been remodeled and is now quite attractive. Every time we go there the food is better. Check the daily specials. The seafood always seems very fresh. Try the dim sum platter for P168 (more than enough for two), steamed broccoli with special sauce and steamed fish, both less that P90. The seafood with noodles which serves three is also a favorite. Kunsina Tsina offers delivery.
Beef. If you want a good steak, eat it Chicago before you come to Iloilo City. I hope someone can prove me wrong!
Alan’s Talabaon Restaurant on the National Highway in Oton, just as you’re leaving town heading toward Tigbauan. This is an economical, dirt-floored and popular local eatery specializing in oysters. My wife is an oyster aficionado and says Alan’s are the best. There are other choices, whole BBQ native chicken stuffed with lemon grass and various kinds of grilled fish. The Pantat is especially good.
Allan's Talabahan Restaurant, Oton Iloilo - Oyster Paradise
Bong’s 8 Restaurant is an economical, friendly local eatery/restaurant in Oton, Iloilo which we really enjoy. They have excellent arroz caldo (native chicken with rice soup) and good, inexpensive siopao (Chinese-style steamed pork bun) for P12. We buy them by the dozen for take out. Bong’s is located on the back side of Oton plaza.
Bong's 8 - an unassuming eatery in Oton
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Posted by GOIloilo on 09.06.08 5:25PM under Iloilo City, Where to Dine?
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Posted by dave on 10.08.08 2:39 am
nice find.. ill surely visit these resto when i get home. Ü
Posted by Angel Obar on 10.08.08 6:27 am
Hello, I get to check your webpage when I was googling Dentists in Iloilo. I am glad that you find Iloilo to be a nice place and coming from a foreigner is really something. I also know that “some” just go to any Asian countries (like Philippines) just to get some young Filipinas desperate to marry any “Kano” (any Caucasians) for a chance of a better life. Thank you also for the nice observation of an Ilonggo trait, although I might say there are some rotten apples too. I’ve been away for some time now but looking at your post and whatnot, I’m like googling for the cheapest airfare to Philippines ha..ha..ha…Seriously, thank you for the nice posts here, I think I will go home next year, thanks to you (if I can get away from work and school that is.).
Posted by Jorp on 10.09.08 1:36 pm
very nice entry about the gastronomical delights of iloilo. thanks to this write up i have found out abotu some restaurants in the city and province of iloilo.
Posted by Thea on 12.10.08 8:32 am
Hi Bob, we haven’t been to Pepe Thai. We’ll check it out. Thank you for this post– very informative.
Posted by Helen on 04.13.09 9:26 pm
thank you for this very informative website about iloilo. i am an iloilo resident all my 42 years but i still find your entries very refreshing and useful.
by the way, regarding your food selection from peppy thai deli, that spicy cold pork salad is called “nam tok” – it’s my favorite, too. i used to work just a stone’s throw from peppy and we often had lunch there. another favorite of mine is called “kiaw” (not sure of spelling), a kind of fried wonton – looks like fried pancit molo balls
Posted by GOIloilo on 04.14.09 2:27 am
April 14, 2009. Pepe Thai appears to be closed. We’re not sure if it’s being renovated, is moving to a new location or (we hope not!) is really closed for good.
Posted by natie on 05.22.09 6:44 am
Pepe Thai is moving to a new location, but manangement remains the same…..it will be near the Jaro Market. check exact location at Flavours of Iloilo. they were supposed to open this month.
Posted by Helen on 06.04.09 12:01 pm
Peppy Thai Deli is now located in El 98 Street, Jaro (or is that Desamparados?), fronting the Jaro big market. They opened May 18, I think.
Posted by GOIloilo on 06.04.09 12:14 pm
Helen,
Thanks. We’ll have to check out the Jaro location. As noted above, yesterday (June 4, 2009) we passed the “old” Diversion Road Pepe Thai. We were delighted to see it was open for business. Are there two branches now?
Bob
Posted by JORP on 07.12.09 2:15 am
BOB
The Peppy Thai we all love is now alogn El 98 street in front of Jaro market.
The other resto that remains in the old location is NOT peppy thai.
They seemed to have some problems that resulted to this transfer.
Mark is a good friend of mine. he posted all those info in my blog hehehe