December 05, 2024

Cafe Voi La in Tagaytay: A Southeast Asian Food Trip

Although the name might instantly ring French, Cafe Voi La is an Asian-fusion restaurant born out of a traveler’s culinary discoveries around Southeast Asia.

From the colorful picture-perfect interiors to the menu, the place is an artistic masterpiece in the form of a restaurant that will take you to a whole new level of dining experience.

Its interior is adorned with colorful hanging lanterns, intricate furnishings, and decorative plants that add a playful vibe to every corner. The eclectic mix of textures and patterns such as plush armchairs, vibrant decor, and tables set with floral arrangements and candlelit accents give the venue a festive and romantic touch.

IMAGES from Cafe Voi La Facebook page

The name of the restaurant was inspired by the Vietnamese phrase boi la, which means to cook with leaves. They use a lot of herbs and fresh ingredients that form exciting epicurean dishes.

We highly recommend Café Voi La Signature Chicken Satay (Php 545/3 pieces, Php 825/5 pieces) a delightful concoction of Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Cambodian flavors and spices like lemongrass, turmeric ginger, and kafir lime. Pungent flavors ooze from the skewered meat and while it is served with a special home-made peanut sauce, the meat itself creates a satisfying pleasure in the palate.

Café Voi La Signature Chicken Satay

The Pad Thai (Php 675) is a very familiar Thai dish but is an incredible discovery at Café Voi La. Temptingly presented, this stir-fried noodle dish is made with a piquant sauce, grilled tofu, bean sprouts, and crushed roasted peanuts, with a slice of lemon to balance out the flavors.

Pad Thai

The Special Senator’s Salad (Php 545) is made from assorted green lettuce, paper-thin slices of smoked salmon, grilled prawns, and shitake mushroom, garnished with parmesan shavings. On the other hand, the Seafood Curry (Php 755) is a mix of shrimp, salmon, and mussels in spicy curry sauce.

Special Senator’s Salad

Cafe Voi La Seafood Curry

For meat lovers, the Massaman Back Ribs (Php 765), slathered in a rich, aromatic sauce, and the Café Voi La Kare-Kare (Php 745) a Filipino staple with a creamy peanut-based stew, are absolute must-tries.

IMAGE from Cafe Voi La Facebook page

Vegetarians and light eaters also have plenty to choose from, like the Eggplant & Shallots Casserole (Php 435) and the crunchy Stir-Fried Morning Glory (Php 295). Rice dishes are a highlight, with options like the flavorful Pineapple Fried Rice (Php 495) and the Filipino classic Bagoong Rice (Php 470), perfect companions to their main dishes.

For pescatarians, order their Salmon Khao Soi (Php 655), a Northern Thai-inspired yellow curry and coconut cream flavored noodle soup.

While their menu mainly presents a fusion of various Asian flavors, they also offer Western favorites like steaks and pizzas. Don’t miss their Aloha Mia Surprise (Php 555), a pizza topped with ham and pineapple, or the loaded Meatlovers Pizza (Php 695).

Salmon Khao Soi

For dessert, must-orders are their Banana Caramel Soufflé (Php 395) or Halo-Halo Sariling Atin (Php225).

They also have a selection of artisanal coffee that takes inspiration from different Asian countries. A hot cup of Vietnamese Latte (Php 205) , refreshing Lychee & Pineapple Mocktail (Php 350) or a tempting Ripe Mango Shake (Php 280) would make a great finale to an incredibly filling meal.

Vietnamese Latte