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Famous Iloilo Delicacies and Pasalubong to Take Home
Take some of the sweetness with you when you buy one of these Iloilo pasalubong delicacies!
By: Karen Bermejo | April 15, 2020
Take home some sweetness from Iloilo with these classic treats.
Image: Original Biscocho Haus Facebook Page
Iloilo is not known as the City of Love for nothing. The Ilonggos, or people from this city, are known for having a charming accent and a kind manner of speaking. In fact, it is impossible to see if they have already been cursing.
One more thing that makes the Ilonggos sweet is the Iloilo Delicacies Pasalubong, which anyone and everyone should taste. If you are traveling to Iloilo for the first time or are already a frequent visitor, here are some Iloilo pasalubong, to bring home to your loved ones.
But another thing that makes Ilonggos sweet are the Iloilo Delicacies Pasalubong from Iloilo City that that anyone and everyone should taste.
If you yourself are traveling to Iloilo for the first time or are already a frequent visitor, here are some Iloilo Sweet Delicacies Pasalubong from Iloilo City to bring home to your loved ones.
1. Biscocho
Where to find it: Original Biscocho Haus (multiple branches)
Operating hours: 6 AM to 8 PM daily
Recommended budget for one: PhP500
With its crisp texture, biscocho is perfect for a hot drink.
Image: Original Biscocho Haus Facebook Page
The iconic sweet Iloilo delicacy, the Biscocho, can be found at the very top of the list of sweet Iloilo pasalubong. This one of the Iloilo delicacies is a slice of toasted bread with butter and sugar. It is perfectly paired with coffee because of its distinct crispiness. In addition to this Iloilo pasalubong delicacy, as a result of its low weight, it is possible to transport boxes of Biscocho without having to pay additional fees for having excess baggage. Although there is now a wide selection of this Iloilo delicacies to choose from, the one from the Original Biscocho Haus remains the most popular. You can find this one of the favorite Iloilo sweet delicacies at their pasalubong store in malls and various city locations. The main branch of this one of favorite Iloilo delicacies is in Jaro, which has been there for four decades already.
How to get to the Original Biscocho Haus: If you’re coming from the City Proper, take a Jaro CPU jeepney and get off at Jaro Plaza. Walk towards Lopez Jaena Street for at least two to three minutes to reach the shop.
2. Butterscotch
Where to find it: RGies Delicacies, Kamantigue Street, Gran Plains Subdivision, Jaro, Iloilo City
Operating hours:
8 AM to 5:30 PM on Mondays to Thursdays and Saturdays
9 AM to 5:30 PM on Fridays
Closed on Sundays
Recommended budget for one: PhP500
Aside from original, you can now enjoy butterscotch in other flavors such as walnut.
Image: RGies Delicacies Facebook Page
One of the favorite Iloilo delicacies you should not miss is butterscotch or the soft and chewy brownies. Usually wrapped in bite-sized form, butterscotch is perfect as snacks or desserts. With its popularity of this one of the favorite Iloilo pasalubong delicacies, there are also numerous versions available in the market. The original butterscotch flavor only has cashews. Nowadays, there are also other variants of this Iloilo delicacies you can try, such as with mango, almonds, dates, calamansi (local lime), and other local fruits; the sweet Iloilo delicacies are perfect pasalubong to take home.
How to get to RGies Delicacies: From Iloilo City Proper, you can take a Jarol Liko Tagbak or Leganes jeepney and get off at Gran Plains Subdivision. The store is at the residence of the owner along Kamantigue Street.
3. Cream Horn
Where to find it: Margec’s Deli, E. Lopez Street, Jaro, Iloilo City
Operating hours: 7:30 AM to 8 PM daily
Recommended budget for one: PhP500
If you’re a yema lover, you’ll surely like this cream horn with cream filling.
Image: Margec’s Cream Horn Facebook Page
Cream horns may not be as famous as Biscocho and butterscotch; that’s why it’s a perfect Iloilo pasalubong delicacies to take home and a must-have for travelers visiting the city. It is a pastry in the shape of a horn, and its insides are filled with a sweet and milky cream filling. Their regular filling flavor is yema which is a sweet confectionary made of egg yolk, milk, and sugar. But unlike the regular yema, this Iloilo delicacies it is less sweet, so that you can eat it with less guilt too. There are a variety of fillings available of this Iloilo sweet delicacies, including chocolate, strawberry, and buko pandan, in addition to yema.
How to get to Margec’s Deli: Whether you are from City Proper or Jaro area, take a Jaro-CPU jeepney and get off in front of this Iloilo pasalubong store along E. Lopez Street in Jaro district.
4. Tablea
Where to find it: Camiña Balay Nga Bato, 20 Osmena Street, Villa de Arevalo, Iloilo City
Operating hours: 8 AM to 6 PM daily
Recommended budget for one: PhP500
Tablea is a type of chocolate drink with less guilt.
Image: Camiña Balay nga Bato in Iloilo Facebook Page
Tablea or blocks of cacao, these Iloilo delicacies pasalubong are not exclusive to Iloilo City. In fact, it’s everywhere in the Philippines. But the Ilonggos’ sweet nature might have made it even more delightful than the others. This Iloilo pasalubong delicacy is made of this tablea harvested cacao from the highlands of Iloilo. Tablea is a staple drink at most local restaurant in the city. Likewise, it is also a favorite Iloilo delicacies pasalubong.
How to get to Camiña Balay nga Bato: From City Proper, take a Villa Mohon or Oton jeepney and get off in front of the establishment.
For more of the best places to eat in the City of Love, check out Yoorekka.com.
5. Bandi
Where to find it: Iloilo Central Market, Rizal Street, City Proper, Iloilo City
Operating hours: 4 AM to 8 PM daily
Recommended budget for one: PhP300
Enjoy a plate-size bandi or a bite-size one.
Image: Steph Doce
If you are traveling far, Bandi is also one of the perfect Iloilo delicacies since it can last really long. Bandi or peanuts and caramelized sugar candy are only made of three ingredients: peanuts, sugar, and sesame seeds on top. This Iloilo pasalubong delicacy is actually more popular in San Joaquin, the last municipality of Iloilo province in the south. But you don’t have to travel for hours anymore to get the famous Iloilo sweet delicacies, bandi as it is already available in local markets and groceries in the city. The most common for this Iloilo delicacy pasalubong is a flat bandi sold in different sizes. There are even some that are as big as a large pizza pan. There are also round and bite-size bandi. This Iloilo delicacy pasalubong is usually from the Molo district.
How to get to Iloilo Central Market: Take any city-bound jeepney and alight as it passes along Iloilo City Central Market.
Aside from its sweet people, Iloilo City is indeed a perfect place to visit with all its mouth-watering Iloilo delicacies. Luckily, you can find these Iloilo pasalubong delacicies anywhere, so bringing some home is easy.
About Karen Bermejo
Karen is a writer, a traveler, and a volunteer. Her ultimate dream is to travel the world, master a foreign language, and learn how to swim. To keep her sanity while chasing her dreams, she’s scaling mountains on weekends.
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Disclaimer: All articles in the Consumers Magazine of Yoorekka are
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careful research has been made in writing them, Yoorekka does not
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