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When in Iloilo City, one has to try the best-tasting dishes of its local cuisine. One of the most famous Ilonggo dishes is La Paz batchoy, or noodle soup with pork organs and beef loin in chicken stock. Even when you are somewhere else in the world, you will notice that batchoy is not the same if it’s not from La Paz.
Price Range: PhP55 to PhP135 (varies per location)
The best-tasting batchoy in town can be found inside the La Paz Public Market.
Image: Netong’s Restaurant
Batchoy at Netong’s Restaurant comes in special, super special, or extra special. They also offer batchoy made of miswa (thin wheat flour noodles), bihon (rice vermicelli noodles), or sotanghon (rice noodles).
The tale of how Netong’s batchoy came to be is also part of the history of batchoy. It began when the owner Netong married a butcher’s daughter. They took the unwanted meat parts and used them as ingredients to come up with the dish we now know as batchoy it is considered as one of the best-tasting dishes in Iloilo.
Locations: La Paz Market, La Paz, Iloilo City (main branch); The Shops at Atria, San Rafael, Mandurriao, Iloilo City; JM Basa, Iloilo City Proper, Iloilo City; Leonito’s by Netong’s, SM Southpoint, Mandurriao, Iloilo City
Operating Hours: 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM (varies per location)
Price Range: PhP110 to PhP165 (varies per location)
A caldo-all-you-can treat awaits diners at Ted’s Oldtimer Lapaz Batchoy
Image: Ted’s Oldtimer Lapaz Batchoy
Ted’s Oldtimer Lapaz Batchoy best represents the batchoy of Iloilo City because it has successfully branched out to several areas outside the province. In Iloilo City, one can find this brand of batchoy in almost all major shopping centers and public places. Ted’s offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee, and desserts. They also serve batchoy alongside set meals. Customers can ask for additional bowls of soup for free.
Ted’s has a wide parking space which can accommodate big and small groups.
Locations:SM City Iloilo, Iloilo Business Park, Diversion Road, Robinsons Iloilo
Operating Hours: Open anytime (Diversion Road branch); 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM (varies per location)
Foodies can satisfy their cravings for batchoy and silog at TEBanZ.
Staying near the airport? One of the most convenient restaurtants in Iloilo to visit when one craves for batchoy is TEBanZ La Paz Batchoy. Located in Mandurriao, hungry diners need not go to the La Paz district just to try the best-tasting batchoy. Other offerings at TEBanz include silog meals, or meals with fried rice, egg, and a viand. For short orders, they also have noodle dishes like bihon (stir-fried rice noodles) and pancit canton (stir-fried meat noodles).
Location: Q. Abeto Street, Mandurriao, Iloilo City
Deco’s Original La Paz Batchoy offers a taste of Ilonggo history.
Image: Deco’s Original La Paz Batchoy
The establishment of Deco’s Original La Paz Batchoy dates back to 1938. The restaurant is named after Federico “Deco” Guillergan, Sr. who concocted the now famous dish. His recipe of batchoy included a noodle soup made with pork organs, crushed pork cracklings, chicken stock, beef loin, and round noodles. Avid fans of batchoy will notice that this recipe has no alteration unlike the others, and is still used in the present time.
Locations: Southpoint, SM City Iloilo, JM Basa, Atria, La Paz Public Market
Operating Hours: 5:30 AM to 7:00 PM (varies per location)
TOTO Batchoy may be the newest in town but it’s also worth a try.
Image: TOTO Batchoy
TOTO Batchoy is a neophyte in the industry but its dishes and batchoy are worth tasting. The originators take pride in their products, which are guaranteed to have no monosodium glutamate (MSG). This makes it a good option for health-conscious tourists and locals. There is a parking lot nearby and street parking is also available.
Location:The Shops at Amigo, Corner Delgado-Iznart Street
Operating Hours: 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Lars Buko Batchoy & Eatery
Price Range: PhP30 to PhP75
Lars Buko Batchoy & Eatery fuses coconut with batchoy.
Image: LARS Buko Batchoy Mandurriao
Lars Buko Batchoy & Eatery is dubbed as the home of the best coconut-inspired fusion dishes. Lars offers nutchoy, a coined term combining the words coconut and batchoy. For this dish, batchoy is served with fresh coconut meat, and fresh or boiled egg. Coconut meat and coconut juice are also included in the batchoy broth. The restaurant serves other coconut-based fusion dishes like coco lomein guisado (stir-fried wheat noodles), buko pancit guisado (stir-fried coconut noodles), and coco burger.
Location: 122 Oñate De Leon Street, Mandurriao, Iloilo City
Now that you have many options, just choose whatever is convenient, affordable, and interesting for you to get a taste of the best batchoy in Iloilo.
Make sure to visit Yoorekka to learn and find out more about the best restaurants in Iloilo city
Click the store names to see their exact addresses and contact numbers.
Promo dates/Prices may change without prior notice.
About Hyacinth Bangero
She is a young broadcast journalism professor and marketing officer of the University of San Agustin. She's a proud volunteer of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines. Hyacinth is geared to educate, experience, and explore.
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