Where To Eat In Bataan : Must Eat in Bataan

 

A Food Lover’s Guide to Bataan

 

Bataan is one of our favorite destinations because of its historical sites and natural attractions. Located in the Central Luzon region, this tour also gave us a great experience for us to try their food.

I’ve prepared a food lover’s guide for those who want to explore Bataan’s food industry.

 

Joyous Tangway Grill & Restaurant

Location: Capitol Drive, City of Balanga ( maps)

Previously featured in “Ang Pinaka” as the number one of the top ten home-grown yummy restaurants to eat in Bataan, we gave it a shot as well.

The restaurant gives this fancy vibes which you typically find in home-grown restaurants from Manila. But this fancy looking restaurant serves comfort Filipino food that both locals and tourists love.

We tried the Sinigang na Manok sa Ayo (Soured Chicken), Krispy Pata, Bangus with Kamatis and Sibuyas, and Pinakbet from their menu.

My personal favorite among those that we tried is the Sinigang ng Manok sa Ayo. The soup is literally so good and heart-warming. It is best to drink the soup last, and I assure you that you will love it just as we did.

 

Marres Kitchen

Location: Gov. J. J. Linao National Road, Pilar (map)

This place came as a surprise.

The restaurant is a cute little green house that gives you a cozy and homey feeling. As we entered, the place is really clean and fully air-conditioned.

The food they serve slightly changes every day and are displayed behind a glass counter. It’s like a turo-turo style that one commonly experiences in a carenderia. But this one is definitely posh.

We tried Sinigang sa Miso, Sinigang na Bulalo, Lumpia, and Sizzling Tofu on our visit. The soup of the Sinigang na Bulalo is really delicious and well-made that we all agreed that it is one of our faves. Personally, I ultimately love the taste of their Sizzling Tofu which tasted like the sisig with mayo, only it was made with tofu.

Be warned though, the serving here is big. We ordered Lumpia thinking it was the normal size you usually get when in Manila. When it was served, the size of it was huge. You will definitely get your money’s worth.

 

Stregato Gelateria

Location: Galeria Victory Mall, Bonifacio Street, City of Balanga ( map)

The Italian ice cream shop is colorful with its wall decors and seat options that vary from common chairs and couches to swing sets and ice cream cones.

They offer classic and premium gelato that can be served in a cup or a cone. For the classic option, it costs Php 80 for one scoop and Php 135 for two scoops. While the premium gelato costs Php 95 for one scoop and Php 145 for two scoops.

Lee tried their best seller which is the Pistachio flavor. As for me, I obviously chose chocolate flavor because I’m a chocolate lover. We definitely enjoyed our ice cream as we took this short rest on our trip.

 

Café Kyoto 

Location: 2nd floor of The Plaza Hotel, Bonifacio Street, City of Balanga ( map)

Café Kyoto is a classy destination for Japanese food lovers.

We thought we’re not really in a Japanese restaurant with their dark wooden tables and velvety chairs. But the food served here told us otherwise.

The Japanese food that they serve here is strictly made with authentic ingredients by a Japanese chef. Knowing this, we are surely in for a treat.

Their must-try foods are Kani and Tobiko Salad, Spicy Tuna Maki, Tonkotsu Ramen, and Tempura Ice Cream.

We love the taste and the overall experience of their genuine Japanese food.

 

The Beanery

Location: Capitol Drive, City of Balanga (map)

This is a popular café in Bataan that serves coffee, pastries, and other dishes. We found two branches in one street.

One branch is located near Crown Hotel with a 7/11 beside it. The place is lively with a garden area in the middle. While the other branch is easily walkable from the other, it is located much closer to the Provincial Capitol. Both branches are big but the latter is a bit plain compared to the other.

We saw many people who ordered sisig rice but we opted to only have drinks and desserts.

The price of their items is affordable. For only Php 98, you can already enjoy a large coffee latte. Their muffins only cost Php 78. And you can have their regular Caramel Jelly Frost for only Php 128.

 

Esquinita Kitchen and Pub

Location: Magnolia Street, City of Balanga ( map)

We had more drinks here in Esquinita Kitchen and Pub, where they have a live band that we listened to as we enjoyed our food and drinks. The place is filled with fun energy that both locals and tourists enjoy.

The food that we chose with our drinks were great choices for pulutan. My favorite was the sizzling sisig. It was toasted but the taste was definitely good. We also ordered fried chicken with gravy which is a bit spicy but it goes well with the gravy. It seriously felt home-cooked while the gravy seems to remind you of childhood.

You can check out their drinks and challenges here.

 

Sybilla’s Restaurant

Location: Roman Superhighway, Barangay Camacho, City of Balanga ( map)

The place provides a mix of casual and fine dining that many customers enjoy. Their menu serves a wide variety of dishes that include appetizers, salad, soup, sandwiches, house specialties, desserts, and drinks.

We ordered a lot during our visit. We had Krispy Kangkong Sinigang, Sisig, Monte Cristo Sandwich, Mang Cesar Salad, Baked Bangus, Cheesy Jalapeño Dynamite, Vegetable Samosa Croquette, Thai-style Chicken, and Egg Drop Soup. The sisig was a bit spicy but it tastes good.

My favorite among those is the Dynamite and Thai-style Chicken. The chicken tasted like it has rosemary and ginger on it.

Ima Flora’s Pamangan

Location: Alauli, Pilar ( Map)

This family-owned restaurant is a great place to eat Kapampangan style dishes when you are in Pilar. You can easily get here if you take the route to Mt. Samat National Shrine.

The restaurant’s humble appearance is mostly made of wood. The rooms inside are fully air-conditioned and have Wi-Fi access.

If you prefer to eat more, you can try their buffet at a cheap price. Some of their choices include Adobo, Chop suey, Bicol express, Dinuguan, Adobong Balut, Pancit Guisadao, and fried dishes like tuyo, crablets, and seafood. The buttered shrimps that we tried really taste great. Their tilapia is also good and tasted fresh.

 

Loleng’s Hu Tieu-An

Location: Barangay Binaritan, Morong (map)

This is a simple Vietnamese eatery where you can enjoy casual dining. We learned that Aling Loleng is a Filipina who worked in a refugee camp who took in refugees from the Vietnam War during the 70s and 80s. This experience led her to gain expertise in cooking Vietnamese cuisine.

Their specialty is Hu Tieu that they sell for only Php 80.

They also serve Banh Mi, Bun Tit Nuong, Bun Cha Gio, and Bun Ga Nuong. We recently revisited Bataan (Bataan Travel Guide here soon!), and discovered a second shop has been opened called Loleng’s Plus Food House. It’s a much bigger location located near the Morong Town Market and just beside the main bus terminal.

Other must try’s we had at Loleng’s were the Banh Mi Special (Php 70), Combo Vietnamese Salad (Php 149), and Fresh Shrimp Rolls (Php 120). 

Despite the low prices, everything is generous in size and can be shared. If you are looking for a cheap experience of authentic Vietnamese cuisine, Loleng’s is the place to go to in Bataan.

 

Choco-late de Batirol

Location: Alauli, Pilar (map)

We immediately smelled the scent of chocolate in the air as we entered Choco-late de Batirol. Inside, there have wooden tables and chairs, and a mini snacks store at the counter where you can buy some of their other snacks.

They are known for their hot chocolate drink that is made with batirol where the cacao seeds are brewed and grinded manually. They have snacks like Turon de Langka, Suman sa Lihia, Palabok.

What we love in this place is the homey feeling it gives off as you eat delicious local delicacies and enjoy a chocolate drink. This is definitely the place to rest and eat merienda in Pilar.

Nico’s Terrace Grill

Location: Kinatawan Road, City of Balanga (map)

They serve traditional Filipino food and alcoholic beverage. At night time, they feature live bands that you can listen to as you eat. And they also have televisions inside the resto.

We ordered Chopsuey, Tokwa’t Baboy, whole Fried Chicken, Pork Sisig, Mixed Pancit, and Sinigang na Belly. The price range per meal is Php 100 to Php 500.

Overall, it is a good place to hang out with friends after a long day of touring.

 

Celina’s Artisan Gelato

Location: City of Balanga

This is owned by the same owner of Nico’s Terrace Grill. So when we visited Nico’s Terrace Grill, we also found Celina’s Artisan Gelato.

Celina’s Artisan Gelato doesn’t have its own separate location but they do nearby deliveries. You can easily inquire on their Facebook page.

They do artisan gelato which offers various flavors of Taro, Mango, Kapeng Barako, Pistachio, and Tsokolate.

We tried their gelato as our desserts after eating food from Nico’s Terrace Grill. We had Taro and Mango flavor which cost Php 55 per scoop, and of course Chocolate for the price of Php 65 per scoop.

I loved all the flavors we tried. This is a place I would like to go back to for desserts. Next time, I will be trying their other flavors.

The Silver Room Restaurant – Crown Royale Hotel

Location: Capitol Drive, City of Balanga

A stay at Crown Royale Hotel will grant you a 10% privileged discount in the Silver Room Restaurant. They offer a casual dining experience that includes both international and local cuisines.

Among the food they served, what caught our attention and ended up loving are the Tapas, Omelettes, Arroz ala Cubana, Kalderetang Balanga, Crispy Pata, and Sisig.

Crown Royale Hotel is a great package of comfortable resting place and delicious food that you should visit.

Wooden Leaf Cafe

Location: Market Road Barangay San Jose, Balanga City, Luzon 2100 PH

Looking for healthy eats in Bataan? Consider yourself lucky because Wooden Leaf Cafe has just opened catering to those looking for healthy food.  Wooden Leaf Cafe is a casual restaurant offering freshly prepared healthy dishes called in Bataan’s provincial capital of Balanga City. 

And the best part? You’re nestled in a cozy ambiance filled with greens and rustic decor as if you’re in an actual rainforest. Totally IG worthy, if I must say!

Must try’s include the: Open Faced Burrito (ala Shawarma), Beef Tapa Bibimbap, and Chicken Waldorf Salad (light flavors yet filling). Not to be missed too are their Specialty Drinks like Katy Berry, Matcha Colada, and Banapple Pie. They’re basically smoothies made from purely natural ingredients and superfoods.

Exciting right? My top picks were Katy Berry , the Tropikale , Honey Heist, and 50 Shades of Green.

Hopefully, we were able to help you plan your trip to Bataan. Touring is of course fun, but going to other places is more enjoyable with great food to accompany it.