(photo via Instagram, @jerishagarpao)
If you've been spending the day strolling along Calle Crisologo and find yourself in need of some nourishment, you don't have to look far. Cafe Leona is right on that strip, and its facade blends in perfectly with the colonial era architecture all around you. Inside, however, is a modern menu that features fusion cuisine. Check out dishes like bagnet maki and pinakbet pizza!
The empanada is one of the dishes the Ilocos region is best known for, and Irene's Vigan Empanada is regarded as the one that serves the best. You can immediately tell a Vigan empanada from other ones in the region because of its pale coloring. Irene's only employs 100% rice flour, and the dough for its coverings are always paper-thin in its flatness. If you want something big to bite into, try out theirJumbo Special Empanada, made with two eggs, a double portion of Vigan longanisa, and vegetables.
(photo via Facebook, @ViganBarTech)
Worked up quite the appetite while walking Vigan's historic streets? Head on onver to BarTech, which prides itself as being the first and only dinner buffet in Vigan. It also serves alcoholic drinks, which is fitting since BarTech takes its name from theIlocano word "bartek", which means "to be drunk". Try out theirBagnet Longganisa meal served with and KBL (kamatis, bagoong, lasona)!
If you're craving something a little fancier, check out the Vigan Plaza Hotel's Cafe Bigaa. Originally a gastropub, Cafe Bigaa now serves Ilocano dishes both traditionally and with a Western twist. Aside from standards like the Vigan longganisa and bagnet, they also use these ingredient in dishes like longganisa pasta with Arabiata sauce and longganisa in a blanket. If you want to take everything in, try out their Vigan sampler, which includeslongganisa, bagnet with KBL, igado, pinakbet and sinanglao.
Are you the kind of person who gets hungry in the middle of the night? There's no need to scrounge for any leftovers in your bag or hotel fridge because Kuboville is a 24-hour restaurant that serves Ilocano and international dishes throughout the day. You can take a bite out of their steak, their vegetable spring rolls or take a sip of their tom yum soup.
Another Calle Crisologo establishment to check out is Lampong's Restaurant. This cozy establishment gets full really quick, so be there before the lunch rush unless you're okay with eating al fresco. Try out their poqui-poqui, which is mashed eggplant mixed with eggs. If you're not adventurous, they also serves staples like pasta and sandwiches.
(photo via Facebook, @rhyssandrobins)
They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and Rhyss & Robin's Food Hub certainly took that to heart. The casual diner offers an all-day breakfast menu, so you can have waffles at any time of day. Alongside traditional Ilocano favorites like bagnet and longganisa are offerings like red velvet mugcakes and Doritos chicken poppers. Plus, their interiors are also a blast to look at, with decorations out of recycled materials.
It's a little farther away from Calle Crisologo, but Kusina Felicitas doesn't lose any of Vigan's colonial era charm. Its walls are actually original 18th century bricks, adorned with paintings that restaurant patrons can actually buy. Even its furniture is locally sourced. As for the food, it considers its offerings as authentic Ilocano cuisine, with ingredients like the bunog and ipon, both fish indigenous to the town and the Ilocos region. You can also try out their poqui-poqui balls, a twist on the original recipe.
(photo via Instagram, @tey.jin)
Looking to end your day in Vigan with a bottle of beer and pulutan? Head on over to Bistro 23. There'sa live acoustic band show every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, which you can enjoy while munching on their tokwa't bagnet and baby back ribs. Or if you're really adventurous, try out their sizzling balut.
If you're working with a budget, Tessie's Restaurant is less than 10 minutes away from Calle Crisologo. The two-storey budget restaurant is perfect if you're on a budget and craving for Filipino food. Aside from serving carinderiastandards like -silogmeals, you can also try their kimlo, a lomi dish infused with Korean kimchi.
Enjoy a fun experience and check out other tourist spots to visit, things to do and more in Vigan. Discover cheap hotel deals and cheap flights from carriers like Philippine Airlines, AirAsia, and more with Traveloka!]]>