Balaw Balaw Restaurant (Angono Rizal)

Authentic Filipino Eats at Balaw Balaw Restaurant and Art Gallery (Angono, Rizal)

A first class municipality in the province of Rizal, Angono is known to be an artist’s sanctuary. Unlike other places where museums and galleries are initiated by the government, Angono prides itself to be a haven of artists. Who push arts and creatives to the mainstream. In fact, museums and galleries are owned and run by families and generations of artists all across Angono. Some even creatively infusing it with other things like food. Such as in the case of Angono’s best-loved Balaw Balaw Restaurant. So come and have a taste of authentic Filipino Eats at the last stop of our Calabarzon Culinary Tour. 

The Story Behind Balaw Balaw Restaurant and Art Gallery

Balaw Balaw Restaurant was established by Established in 1982 by Angono locals Perdigon and Luzvimin Vocalan. It’s actually quite interesting how Balaw-Balaw got its name. As it’s coined after a popular Angono condiment concocted out of fermented rice, shrimps, and bamboo shoots. The sauce itself goes well with grilled and fish dishes.

Balaw Balaw Restaurant is also a creative space to behold. Its art gallery features the many hundred paintings , sculptures and woodcarvings by owner Perdigon Vocalan. Alongside those of other local artists. I personally loved the huge paper maches and masks displayed on top. Now who says you can’t have good food and art under the same roof?

What to Eat at Balaw Balaw Restaurant

To say we had a dinner feast at Balaw Balaw Restaurant and Art Gallery is a total understatement. Let me tell you why.

Appetizers

For starters, we had an enormous platter of tasty appetizers and sides.

These included the nilasing na hipon (alcohol-infused shrimps), ensalada, and binalot na itik sa pita (native duck wrapped in pita bread).

We also indulged on crispy alagaw (herbal mint leaves) and the extra creamy ginataang kuhol (snails in coconut milk).

Mains

Then came the biggest surprise of the night. Two huge baskets of the Minaluto Dish. This was the first time I’ve heard of such dish. And we were all so excited to try! The first version came in yellow rice. And the other in squid ink. Minaluto is sort of a local version of the Spanish Paella.

It’s a  rice dish mixed with seafood, fried chicken, and pork. And Balaw Balaw Restaurant’s take on the local delicacy was hearty, tasty, and filling. Both were actually good.

But it seemed that the squid ink was a crowd favorite.

We also tasted their famed Beef Lauya Soup (a sweet version of Nilaga). And it was the perfect compliment to the cold, drizzly night. The Sampaloc Juice for drinks (though it might have been better with ice).My favorite

Exotic Entrees at Balaw-Balaw

And if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, why don’t you dig into the Balaw Balaw’s exotic entrees? Like frog, tapang kabayo (horse jerky), sizzling balut (fertilized duck egg)? How about ants, snake, or the uok (beetle larvae) perhaps? Sadly, forgive me as I’m not the brave enough to taste such. So I’ll leave it up for you to try. Hehe 🙂 (But do check out the restaurant review of alwayshungry.ph for that!)

Overall, our dining experience at Balaw Balaw Restaurant and Art Gallery was one for the books. Such a delightful way to end a fun-filled, mouthwatering food and heritage tour of Calabarzon.

Where is Balaw-Balaw Restaurant and Gallery

Balaw-Balaw Restaraunt is located at Doña Justa Street, Angono, Rizal. For reservations, call (02) 651 0110 or follow their Facebook page for more info.

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Sources: Choose Philippines