Vigan City is famous not just because of its cultural heritage and Spanish style houses but also because of the rich Ilocano cuisine, ranging from simple vegetable dishes such as the pinakbet to tourist favorites bagnet (deep fried crispy pork belly) and longganisa (Filipino-style sausages).
Many restaurants and eateries in this heritage city offer a wide selection of meals and Vigan food products, but those at the city corners deserve our attention. Here are just a few of those that give both locals and tourists an authentic Vigan food trip feel.
Kusina de Kenyong
Price range: PhP100 to 200 per person
Kusina de Kenyong gives you that heritage city feel. (Image: Kusina de Kenyong)
Proclaimed as the home of the smallest and biggest burger in the country, Kusina de Kenyong’s menu is a mix of old favorites and new inventions. The restaurant offers rice meals and viands such as bagnet kare-kare and pork sisig to pasta dishes and burger varieties. Their smallest burgers are priced at PhP99 for a set of five. A challenge is also being given by the restaurant for those who can eat the biggest burger in less than 15 minutes.
How to get there:
Coming from Calle Crisologo, turn right to Salcedo St. It is two blocks away from Calle Crisologo.
Café Uno
Price range: PhP45-P145
The interior of Café Uno offers the same vibe of the tourist spot Calle Crisologo with its cobblestones. (Image: Café Uno)
Café Uno is located near Calle Crisologo. The café is part of Grandpa’s Inn’s line of eateries in its vicinity including Kusina Felicitas and Uno Grille. The café offers pasta, sandwiches, cakes, and coffee. Those who want to eat Ilocano dishes offered by Kusina Felicitas or grilled viands from Uno Grille can still do so because Café Uno gives guests the menu from all the restaurants.
How to get there:
From Calle Crisologo, turn left to Bonifacio St. Café Uno is near the lobby of Grandpa’s Inn, located at the corner of Bonifacio St. and Quirino Blvd.
Panganan Ken Ihawan Toy Ciudad Vigan
Price range: PhP50 to PhP80 per person
The eatery is also a local hang-out. (Image: Writer [L]; Mala Tubs [R])
Translated, the name of this eatery is “restaurant and grill in the city of Vigan.” It offers a number of Filipino and Ilocano vegetable and meat dishes. The place is cafeteria-like as diners would have to line up with trays in hand and pick the dish that they want to eat. During lunch time, the place can get pretty crowded as it is also a local hang-out. The locals call it by its former name Gaizel’s.
How to get there:
From Quezon Avenue, turn right to Bonifacio St. The eatery is at the corner of Bonifacio St. and Rizal St. Parking can be a problem during lunch time so riding a tricycle might be an option.
Click the store names to see their exact addresses and contact numbers.
Prices may change without prior notice.
