Eating your way through Bacolod City

Bacolod in southern Philippines is a melting pot of modernity, culture and history. The beautiful city, famous as a sugar county and as the City of Smiles, has numerous sights and incredibly hospitable people.

Their warmth extends to their cuisine – a perfect fusion of home-grown tradition and fresh culinary ideas. One of their most famous dishes is the grilled chicken inasal, and the best place to have it is at Aida’s Manokan in Manokan Country, a long line of carinderias selling a wide variety of delicious grilled food. Simply get your preferred cut – paa (thigh) and pakpak (wing) are the meatiest – and drizzle some sinfully delicious chicken oil over your rice for a filling lunch. For seafood, head to Hyksos Pala-Pala Seafood Restaurant, where you can pick a wide variety of fresh fishes, scallops, squid, prawns and more cooked in whatever way you want. The sweet chili crabs and the sizzling blue marlin is your best bet.

Get your snack fix from hole-in-the-wall Super Batchoy House, which has been serving the best batchoy in Bacolod for 35 years. Batchoy is a hot, rich pork noodle soup with pork and innards, chicharon, and egg. A good dinner would be at Pepe’s Grill, which specializes in sumptuous spareribs and beef salpicao. If you prefer something more upscale, try Cantina Mondo Artisanal Deli and Cafe, the prime purveyor of Bacolod’s artisan products.

For dessert, do not miss Calea. This bakeshop’s cakes and pastries are legendary in Bacolod’s food culture, and their Oreo Cheesecake and White Cake will surely not disappoint. This is also the perfect place to get pasalubong, as Calea will lovingly pack your precious cakes for your flight back. Wherever street you may be in Bacolod, you’ll hardly have a bad meal – if you know where to go.

Aida’s Manokan

Manokan Country, Fr. M. Ferrero Street cor Rizal Street

Hyksos Pala-Pala Seafood Restaurant

Door 1-3, Bayview Foodcourt, Burgos Street, BREDCO Reclamation Area

Super Batchoy House

Locsin Street in Bacolod City, beside the Central Market

Pepe’s Grill

2/F Piazza Sorrento, 13th Lacson Street

Cantina Mondo Artisanal Deli and Cafe

Central Citywalk, Robinsons Place

Calea

Lourdes – C Bldg., Lacson St. Bacolod City, Negros Occidental

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Photos and article by Jess Jacutan