LIST: Must-Visit Food Spots in Banaue
Banaue is one of the most underrated travel destinations in the country. It’s more than just the cool weather, heritage rice terraces, and nature activities as this is also a good place to make your tummy happy.
Although there are limited cafes and restaurants in the area, a few gems still exist—waiting for you to be discovered. Here are some of them:
7th Heaven’s Cafe
One of the most popular homegrown restaurants in Banaue is 7th Heaven’s Cafe, located a few minutes outside of town. This casual cafe-restaurant is actually named after the owner’s favorite TV Series of the same name.
They boast a sweeping view of the town—particularly the rice terraces—from their veranda, where most tourists stay to relax with a hot cup of coffee.
An all-time favorite dish is their Honey Cured Liempo (Php 180), a platter of grilled slices of pork belly marinated in honey and spices.
Honey Cured Liempo
Also read: 7th Heaven’s Café: A Curbside Gourmet Stop in Banaue
Address: Brgy. Poblacion, Banaue, Ifugao
Business hours: 6:30 am to 7:30 pm
Hagabi Restauarant
Established in 2015 by a native Ifugao couple, Hagabi Restaurant offers a good food born from fruitful and inspiring stories. It is named after an Ifugao symbol of wealth that has a man’s head adjacent to a woman’s head.
Their menu is composed of mouthwatering dishes unique to Ifugao. One of their proud dishes is the Hagabi Rice, a plate full of marinated chicken with rice, egg, and sauteéd mixed vegetables.
Also read: Hagabi Restaurant in Banaue Embodies the Healthy & Hearty Ifugao Lifestyle
Address: #28, Brgy. Poblacion, Town Center, Banaue, Ifugao
Business hours: 8 am to 8:30 pm
Batad Pension and Restaurant
First started as a souvenir shop, Batad Pension and Restaurant is actually the home of the first ever wood carver in Batad, Emiliano Blas, and his wife, Mary. With an idea to build a pension house and restaurant in Banaue, the couple established this place.
Visitors of Emiliano Blas Quality Wood Arts are also told to drop by this pension house and restaurant for them to taste their special dishes, such as the Sizzling Pork and Sizzling Chicken (Php 200). These sizzling plates are best served with Caramelized Banana (Php 80)
Sizzling plate
Caramelized Banana
Just in case you cannot go back to Batad Junction before nighttime, you may choose between their 8 rooms or their native lodging to experience the town in its glory.
Address: Batad Trail, Banaue, Ifugao
Business hours: 6:30 am to 10 pm
Al’s Place
One of the newest dining spots in Banaue is Al’s Place. Located near the Municipal Tourism Center of Banaue, this restaurant is the perfect place for brunch and unlimited coffee, frequently visited by tourists.
The whole place features an overwhelming homey vibe that will remind you of the traditional Kubo or bale house—all thanks to the woodworks from the flooring up to the fixtures and decors.
A recommended dish is the Monte Christo Sandwich (Php 80), a fried three-layered ham and cheese sandwich almost similar to French toast. This dish goes perfectly with a cup of unlimited Benguet coffee.
Monte Christo Sandwich with fries on the side
Also read: Al’s Place in Banaue Is the Perfect Brunch Spot With Unlimited Coffee
Address: Brgy. Poblacion, Banaue, Ifugao
Business hours: 10 am to 9 pm
House of Ekolife
House of Ekolife was a brainchild of an OFW group that established a souvenir center showcasing local products. They later on opened a cafe and restaurant, serving diners a majestic overlooking view of the Banaue Rice Terraces.
They developed a menu that caters to both locals and foreigners with their familiar Filipino and Western dishes. One of them is their Pork Kare-Kare, a unique deconstructed version of the classic Filipino dish.
Pork Kare-Kare
Meanwhile, the souvenir shop offers a wide array of Ifugao products. These include coffee, cookies, accessories, and even paintings that extend House of Ekolife’s commitment to supporting local.
Kel’s Coffee: Kabunyan Blend
Address: Brgy. Poblacion, Banaue, Ifugao
Business hours: 7 am to 9 pm
Le Bistro
Who knew that falling in love with the local community would push a French native to run a restaurant with her Ifugao husband? Le Bistro is a restaurant in Banaue that specializes mostly in European cuisine, with recipes coming from owner Zélie’s family heritage.
Among their best-sellers is the Spaghetti Bolognese (Php 220) made with tomato sauce, ground beef, and carrots, sprinkled with parmesan.
Le Bistro’s Spaghetti Bolognese
Address: Brgy. Viewpoint, Banaue, Ifugao
Business hours: 4 pm to 9 pm
Simon’s Viewpoint Inn and Pizza Restaurant
Situated in one of Banaue’s prime travel spots comes a well-known stopover restaurant for hikers who need to replenish their energy.
Simon’s Viewpoint Inn and Pizza Restaurant offers the greatest view of Batad Rice Terraces from its open area that overlooks the Cordillera Mountains. In order to enjoy the view, you must also indulge in their entrees much like the Tuna Vegetable Pizza (Php 190).
Taco-like Tuna Vegetable Pizza
This unlikely pizza is a fusion between taco and pizza due to its crunchy crust. It is topped with tuna, vegetables, and cheese.
Also read: Simon’s Viewpoint Inn and Pizza Restaurant in Banaue: A Quick Stop-Over Along The Trail
Address: Batad, Banaue, Ifugao
Business hours: 6 am to 10 pm
Las Vegas Lodge and Restaurant
Aside from being a well-known budget lodge for backpackers in Banaue, Las Vegas Lodge and Restaurant is also popular for its variety of food offerings that both locals and foreigners enjoy.
Chicken ala Japs
One of their best-selling dishes is the garlic fried chicken with a tangy marinate-like sauce called the Chicken ala Japs (Php 125). On the other hand, their guests can delight themselves with a bowl of their house-made Las Vegas Soup (Php 75).
Las Vegas Soup
Also read: Las Vegas Lodge and Restaurant in Banaue: A Budget Accommodation for Backpackers
Address: Banaue-Mayoyao-Alfonso Lista – Isabela Boundary Rd., Banaue, Ifugao
Business hours: 6 am to 9 pm
Uyami’s Greenview Lodge
Being blessed with a view of the Banaue Rice Terraces, this lodge and restaurant offer savory home-cooked meals.
Uyami’s Greenview Lodge offers the best dishes from the native Ifugao dishes to the classic Filipino entrees. One of which is their Green View Express (Php 140), a spicy pork and pepper dish that would remind you of Bicol Express.
Green View Express
Also read: Uyami’s Green View Lodge in Banaue: Every Traveler’s Go-To Downtown Stay
Address: Brgy. Poblacion, Banaue, Ifugao
Business hours: 6:30 am to 9 pm
Which of these restaurants do you want to visit in Banaue? We’d love to hear in the comments below!
Written by Deneca Ordinanza
