Take a Break from Breakthrough- 30 Places to Eat in Iloilo

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Dessert Spread of Promenade Restaurant

 

A little interruption from my Mindanao Series. Dinagyang is coming up and you might be interested to know where to eat in Iloilo aside from Breakthrough.

Before anything else, I have nothing against Breakthrough Restaurant – no doubt, it serves one of the best food in Iloilo and I often bring visitors to Breakthrough. My title is simply to tell you that there are more dining options in Iloilo other than Breakthrough or batchoy.  I know, some visitors would ask ” Aside from Breakthrough, what are other restaurants in Iloilo?” or ” I have tried batchoy, what else should I eat?“.

 

This is my own list of restaurants that I have visited, recommending them based on my taste buds’ set of standards. Basically a list of where locals eat in Iloilo.  I added their links for you to click and get more information.

Apologies if I can’t blog all of them, sometimes I just want to eat and I don’t take photos everytime I’m out with my family and friends.

If you can’t find the restaurant here, it is either I don’t like it or I haven’t been there yet. Or I simply miss them, so please leave a comment so I can add the restaurant.

Let’s start?

 

 

HOTEL RESTAURANTS

In-house restaurants are our best bet, not just to redeem our complimentary breakfasts, but when you are tired, you should rely on them. Here are my picks

1. The Promenade Restaurant (General Luna Street)- The in-house dining venue of Days Hotel Iloilo, located at the 4th floor of Atrium. If you love buffet, this is the place. Plus, with its location, you can see the festivities below while you are enjoying your meals.

 

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Days Hotel’s Promenade Restaurant

 

2. Diversion21 Hotel Restaurant ( Diversion Road) – No idea how busy it will get during Dinagyang, but I love dining here if I want some peace and quiet. We often come here for coffee and dessert ( they serve Maridel’s cakes).

3. Freddy’s Bar (General Luna) – Our favorite dating place and yes, one of my favorite restaurants in Iloilo. Sarabia Manor’s Freddy’s Bar is cozy with diner set-up. Enjoy their sausage platter, nachos, baby-back ribs, and pizza. I really want to blog this place. Promise I’ll snap some photos next time!;)

4. Al Dente (General Luna) – Still at Sarabia Manor. Great pasta and pizza. Get a reservation, this place is often packed or reserved for events.

5. Ayanna Garden Restaurant (Oton,Iloilo)- Technically, this is already outside Iloilo City. Sheridan Boutique Resort’s restaurant is also a great place to unwind. Haven’t been there in a long time but I love their food.

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A glimpse of Ayanna Garden Restaurant of Sheridan Boutique Resort

 

6. Happy Kitchen (Iznart Street) – This is not an in-house restaurant, but it is one of the restaurants in Amigo Terrace Hotel. The food are simple and the place is for some light meals or some bites to go along while meeting up some friends. I like their coolers. Try their frozen margarita.

7. Gloria Maris ( Iznart Street). Same street and building as that of Happy Kitchen, those from Metro Manila may be familiar with Gloria Maris. Serving Chinese cuisine, price is higher than the usual food in Iloilo. Still, a great place to dine especially if you come in groups.

 

SMALLVILLE COMPLEX

The entertainment center of Iloilo, which is also home to many bars and restaurants in Iloilo.

The Venue – The Venue is a small strip within the complex, fronting Smallville 21 Hotel. It is lined with restaurants, many of them belonging to the same family like Mojave ( for meat lovers), Amalfi ( Italian cuisine) and Bourbon. Not to mention the famous coffee chain in Iloilo – Coffeebreak.

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KBL from Bauhinia Filipino Cuisine

 

 8.    Bauhinia Filipino Cuisine. If you want to enjoy Ilonggo specialties like             KBL, come here. Add their Beef Liver to your order.

9 Nothing but Desserts –  Save room for dessert. So far, the only dessert  place I know in Iloilo.

10. Ohana  – Located at the ground floor of Skinetics Spa and Boutique Hotel. Ohana serves Japanese cuisine. The restaurant is small, so better come here early or avoid rush hours.

11. Afrique’s – Maybe one of the most loved restaurants in Iloilo. I miss their old place at Hughes St. with the restaurant housed in an old house. Still, try their pasta, pizza, and baby back ribs.

12. Punot ( Boardwalk)- Punot is a favorite restaurant among tourists going to northern Iloilo. Its first restaurant is in Estancia Iloilo but their menu is a little bit different in Boardwalk. Try for some homegrown recipes.

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Punot’s Hearty brunch with longganisa, daing, spam, tocina and fried egg!

 

13. Bluejay Coffee (Ayala Techno Hub)- Used to have a deli with their cold cuts,but still a good place to hang out with friends. I like their coffee and their breakfast.

 

INDEPENDENT RESTAURANTS

Iloilo now claims to be the “food haven in the Philippines” and I can’t totally disagree. Food here is great and the price is pocket-friendly. Iloilo is also home to many gourmands, opening their own restaurants.

14. Esca’s ( Aurora Subdivision) – Another homegrown restaurant. Local’s favorite when it comes to events like birthdays and baptism.

esca's liam

 

15. Lighthouse Resto + Bar (General Luna St.) – One of the newest restaurants in Iloilo. Serving is smaller compared to other restaurants, but I like their food and the family-restaurant ambiance of the place.

16. Kusina Tsina (Quezon St) – As the name suggests, they serve Chinese but since they revamped, they also serve Japanese (maki).

17. Emilion Roadhouse ( Quezon St. Near the flyover) –  Another family restaurant that I like. We come here earlier to ensure a very peaceful dining experience. We actually come here for their laswa ( local vegetable soup). From 3-5pm, they have a merienda buffet – great deal!

 18. Cilantro (Jalandoni Street) – For healthy eaters. Nice ambiance, friendly staff. Check their lobsters – one of the cheapest in the city.

19. The Oyster House Seafood Restaurant ( Arevalo, just beside the plaza) – Iloilo is famous for its talaba ( oyster) but if you are picky when it comes to where to eat these succulent shell, The Oyster House Seafood Restaurant is the place to go.

20. Rafael’s  (Alta Tierra Village) – As of this writing, the newest restaurant in Iloilo. Serving local cuisine and Spanish dishes. Try their lengua and pasta.

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Rafael’s, away from the busy streets of Iloilo, in a peaceful residential area of Alta Tierra Village

 

21. Bavaria German Restaurant – (Seminario St, Jaro). Across St. Vincent Ferrer Seminary and very close to Jaro Cathedral. Try their sausages, back ribs, mashed potato and most of all – beer.

22. Uncle Tom’s – It’s been a long time since I dined at Uncle Tom’s both in their Jaro and Diversion Road branches. Fried chicken is their speciality.

23. Markim’s –  Iloilo’s underated restaurant. Serves mainly Chinese dishes. Small serving, but just right for their affordable prices. I love their food, their humba (Chinese style braised pork) is the best!

24. Midway (Delgado St.)- The famous stop-over in Passi has a smaller place in Iloilo City. Midway is across SM City Delgado. Glad that they built more space to accommodate more diners. Their kansi is still my favourite, along with their fresh organic green salad. Yum!

25. Buto’t Balat ( near Plazuela) – For everything comfort food and local cuisine. I’m not sure if their other branches are still open. Love their kalderate, beef salpicao, and try their biga-biga ( Cebuanos find this dish funny. “biga” means “lust”, but the dish is actually made of pork innards and stomach.

 

AND MORE…

26. Pedbac’s Kusina (Manduarriao)- Pata is another Ilonggo specialty. Tastes like balbacua to me. But at Pedbac’s, I love their callos the most! This small diner is located close to Iloilo Business Park.

27. Camiña Balay nga Bato (Arevalo)- Not a restaurant per se,but you can enjoy the famous tsokolate E ,  Ilonggo biscuits and even molo soup. Come here and call in advance if you want to enjoy molo soup here. Their molo soup is from Kapitan Ising – the best and according to the city’s foodies, the most authentic molo soup.

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Camiña’s famous chocolate drink

 

28. Steps of Rome (Plazuela)- One of the restaurants in Plazuela. In fact, you go to Plazuela and you will find some options there. Belonging to the same family of Al Dente, Steps of Rome offers pasta, pizza and buffet. Check out their latest special menu from time to time.

29. JD Bakeshop – It is hard not to mention JD – Iloilo’s most popular budget food chain. I personally like JD. Great food and you ca eat for as low as Php60! The bad thing about JD is that food is good and price is cheap so you’ll end up eating more! So beware;)

30. Olé Spanish Tapas Bar and Restaurant (3rd floor Robinson’s Mall) – Malls are always haven for tourists, not just for shopping but for food and downtime like enjoying batchoy at Ted’s in SM CIty Iloilo. Olé is a familiar name in Boracay – their restaurant has been serving Spanish, Cuban, and Mexican food in the island for the past ten year. Try their fajiitas, nachos, appetizers, and paella. I love their gambas though too spicy for me ( because I don’t like spicy), I kept eating because it was good.

So there you have it. Hope I didn’t miss anything. Again, please do suggest some restaurants. Tell us what we should try too!

Thanks for reading!

 

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