Kuboville in Vigan: An All-Day Food Stop Serving Ilocano Favorites
Whether you’re in a hunt for something local past midnight or just roaming around and taking in the beauty of Vigan, Kuboville is just around the corner serving Ilocano favorites twenty-four hours a day.
Kuboville has an open-area setting under a nipa hut ceiling / IMAGE from Philippine Primer
Unlike any other restaurants with air-conditioning and ancient yet fancy decorations in Vigan, Kuboville’s humble abode embraces Filipino authenticity. It is designed with wooden dining tables and chairs under the traditional nipa hut.
Along with the native vibe of this restaurant are the Ilocano servings on their table, such as their version of the famous Ilocano mashed eggplant, Poqui-Poqui.
Poqui-Poqui / IMAGE from Philippine Primer
This dish has a flavorful blend of creamy yet roasted finish brought by the sauteed and grilled shallots, tomatoes, and eggplants. The roasting process adds a different aroma to the sauteed vegetables while the mashing brings out its creaminess.
Further, there’s the famed pasalubong and local favorite Bagnet. Their Bagnet serving is topped with tomatoes and onions, served with fish paste on the side, which gives an additional taste of both sweetness and saltiness to the crispy pork.
Bagnet / IMAGE from Philippine Primer
Aside from Ilocano main dishes mentioned above, Kuboville also serves authentic Ilocano vegetables like Pinakbet.
This vegetable stew is made up of string beans, squash, eggplant, okra and bitter melon, sauteed with garlic, onion and tomato.
Pinakbet / IMAGE from Philippine Primer
Along with the vegetables are small chunks of pork, combined and steamed in shrimp paste. The mushy, sweet taste of the squash mixed with the crunchy greens make it a staple food in every Filipino household, as it is healthy and definitely a burst of flavors in your mouth.
IMAGE from Philippine Primer
Kuboville is as simple as its name. It serves Ilocano favorites under the traditional Filipino home of a nipa hut setting.
It serves as a humble space that’s open for everyone who wishes to feast on local food even on the wee hours of the night!
IMAGE from Philippine Primer
So the next time you’re stuck along the streets of Calle Crisologo past midnight, find Kuboville at Salcedo Street, Vigan City, just a few mins away from Calle Crisologo.
How to get there:
- By car: From Calle Crisologo, head north towards Liberation Blvd, turn right onto Quezon Ave and turn left to Salcedo Street. Kuboville is on your right side,
- By public transport: You can hire a tricycle along the streets of Calle Crisologo to bring you to Kuboville. The ride costs Php 30.
This first appeared in Philippine Primer Japanese magazine’s February 2019 issue.
Written by Denisse Tenorio
