Category: Food Tourism

Bacolod City is famed for its pala-pala culture—fresh seafood markets paired with paluto-style cooking stalls—offering a feast of flavors at affordable prices. Think ‘Dampa’ here in Manila. Here’s an in-depth guide to the best pala-pala spots in the city:

 

18th Street Pala‑Pala

Check out corner Aguinaldo Street & 18th Street, Brgy. 4, parallel to Lacson Street, and here you’ll find 18^th Street Pala-Pala. It was previously an open-air nipa hut turned full-fledged restaurant with nipa huts and beachy decor adorning the place. But it was soon rebuilt and restyled after it fell victim to fire. Practically, the place offers a full-on Pala-Pala service with extensive seafood choices, great group dishes, and paluto or à la carte.

It’s open daily from 8am to 11pm. You can contact them at 0945 965 6757.

 

Old Pala‑Pala Market (San Juan / North Capitol Rd)

One of the classics, Old Pala-Pala Market, can be found at the corner of San Juan Street and North Capitol Road (near Ayala Capitol Central). It’s a no-frills, open-air market with adjacent, vibrant, and bustling tulahan (cooking stalls), so don’t expect a restaurant ambiance when you come to visit. You can haggle directly with fish vendors and cook in a nearby tulahan for cheap rates (₱150–₱350 per head, including cooking).

 

Ading’s Pala‑Pala

Ading’s Pala-Pala restaurant is in Brgy 2, San Juan Street, right in front of the Old Pala-Pala Market. It is a semi-air-conditioned establishment that features a children’s play area, function rooms, and festive décor. Additionally, this Pala-Pala offers a daily “eat-all-you-can” promotion for seafood enthusiasts and accepts credit cards for payment. It is operational from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

For inquiries, please reach out to them at (034) 458 1594 or via email at ricardobtrinidad@gmail.com.

 

Hyksos Tulahan (Old Market)

A notable stall known for its calamares and tulahan dishes in the Old Pala‑Pala area, particularly Door 1-5, Bayview Foodcourt, Burgos Extension, Reclamation Area, just in front of SM North Wing. Hyksos has fully-airconditioned function rooms, cable TV, a KTV Bar for entertainment, option for whiteboards for meetings, and Wifi.

For inquiries, you can call (034) 435 2288.

 

Insider Tips

• Haggle smartly at Old Pala‑Pala starting early afternoon when fresh catches arrive.
• Paluto fees in tulahan run about ₱120–₱200 for simple dishes (grill/sinigang/calamares).
• Bring cash when visiting the open-air market, and expect to negotiate prices.

How to dine like a local on these seafood establishments?

 

Choosing the Right Spot for You

• For variety & event-sized groups: Go to 18th Street Pala‑Pala—great for big orders and flexible dishes.
• For authentic, budget-friendly experience: Stick to Old Pala‑Pala Market + Hyksos Tulahan—with fresh catch, bargaining, and cooker stalls.
• For comfort-conscious diners: Choose Ading’s—semi-AC, function rooms, family-friendly vibe, and buffet options.

Whether you’re craving big-time seafood feasts or simple fresh-caught dishes, Bacolod’s pala‑pala scene has you covered. For festival-style indulgence and variety, head to 18th Street. For raw freshness and authentic bargain cooking, swing by Old Pala‑Pala Market. And for comfort, amenities, and buffet options, Ading’s is the place to be.

Other options include Gina’s Seafoods Restaurant, Palawud Resto-Grill & Bar, Preska Seafoods Restaurant, Diyotay’s Seafood Eatery, and Scarborough Pala-Pala among others.

VKP, BACOLOD CITY; FORKS, DELICACIES, & SPECIALTIES!

Many people, both locals and tourists, go on adventures by just “winging it” or going on a backpacking trip. Traveling to a foreign nation for the first time and relishing in the unknown has an allure due to the element of adventure, intrigue, and slight danger it carries. On the flip side, some people meticulously plan their trips, but they never get around to trying the hidden gems that somehow managed to elude them.

No matter where in Bacolod, apart from its well-known tourist holiday months, anyone can savor their food offerings at much more affordable prices and guarantee clean above board. Here, there’s no shortage of food variety to choose from without breaking the bank. Check the following spots when in Bacolod!

 

Amore’s Resto Bar & Grill

Located at San Juan Street, Barangay 8 (beside Gina’s Seafood), Bacolod City, is Amore’s Resto Bar & Grill, which offers delectable seafood fares and their own version of the chicken inasal. Prices range from P200 to P400. For inquiries, you can call (034) 700 0341.

 

Nena’s Beth Chicken Inasal-Bredco

Another option for the vaunted Ilonggo fave, the chicken inasal is Nena’s Beth Chicken Inasal which can be found at Palanca Street, Barangay 10, Bacolod City. Just at the back of SM City near Dwellu Furniture.

 

Donol’s Lechon

When craving for that roasted pig fare, look no more, as Donol’s Lechon (reminiscent of La Loma in Manila) has it all covered. You’ll find it at Purok Lechonan, Brgy. 36, Singcang, Bacolod City. For inquiries, please contact elenadelacruz121@gmail.com or 0945-123-4371. They also have in-store pickups.

 

Homesitte Shawarma

Bacolod City is already a cosmopolitan destination, so rest assured that some food fare you crave from Manila, you’ll also find here. For your shawarma fix, Homesitte Shawarma is for you. You’ll find it in Lot 29, Blk 3 PHHC Homesite Subd., Paglaum St., Brgy. Montevista, Bacolod City. They also have a hawker site at the corner of North Capitol Road and Gatuslao St, Fiesta Market, Bacolod City. Moreover, they also offer a delivery service through foodpanda.ph. For inquiries, you can reach them at

Contact
0917 545 0255

Mail: homesitteshawarma@gmail.com

 

Jotham’s Nilaga-an

Looking for that rustic and carinderia vibe with that purely Filipino cooking? You can with Jotham’s Nilaga-an. They have branches at Libertad: (034) 4753464; Magsaysay: (034) 4312642; and Mansilingan Branch: 7086477.

 

KSL (Kubo sa Lawn)

For the bohemian in you who likes to drink with friends and savor various pulutan or sumsuman, as they say in Bacolod, KSL is the place to enjoy delectable dishes like calamares, cheesesticks, and gambas, among others. It’s located at P. Hernaez Street, Bacolod City. You can reach them at:

Contact

(034) 431 1964 or

Mail: kubo_sa_lawn@yahoo.com

 

Lion’s Park Grill@Manokan Country

When at SM City and craving seafoods and the usual grill fares, don’t look far as Lion’s Park Grill is just at SM City North Parking. They offer delivery, take out, and dine in.

Contact

0933 854 5793 or

Mail: grillhaus.lionspark@gmail.com

 

Pasabor

Craving for Mexican cuisine with a Filipino twist this time around? Try Pasabor. It’s located at 2 Topaz Street City Heights, Taculing, Bacolod City.

Contact

0998 441 4163

Mail: pasabor.ph@gmail.com

 

Preska Seafoods Restaurant

Preska Seafoods Restaurant as the name suggests, offers the freshest. It’s the latest ‘Pala Pala’ style restaurant in Bacolod City to date. When you get the craving for seafoods, the address is at Aquarius Street, Barangay Estefania, Bacolod City.

Contact

0949 790 5333

Mail: preskaseafoods@gmail.com

 

Puno GastroPub by Lola’s

Food and entertainment are what Puno GastroPub offers. If you’re a patron of the arts and gastronomy, this is the place for you, just at C-71 Narra Avenue, Capitol Shopping Center, Bacolod City.

Mail: punogastropubph@gmail.com

 

Ribshack

If you’re into grilled back ribs, spareribs, pork BBQ, bangus, blue marlin, and more, Ribshack is the place to be. They have three branches in Bacolod to serve you: One in 15 Lacson Street, the other in the south wing of SM City, Bacolod, and the third at the ground floor, Ayala Malls Capitol Central, Gatuslao Street. The third branch has a delivery option for you by foodpanda.ph.

 

Imay’s The Row

IMAY’s in Bacolod serves Filipino classics like chicken binakol, coconut water, chicken, and green papaya soup. They also serve spicy pork stew Bicol Express and sizzling manumbok, grilled fish. cheezy grilled scallops and crispy kangkong, fried water spinach leaves, are tasty appetizers.

IMAY’S also serves cocktails, softdrinks, and wines in addition to food. Try their young coconut buko shake, a refreshing drink. Red Horse beer and wines are available. Imay’s has three branches to serve you. One at 6^th Street, the other at the North Wing of SM City, and the third at The Row – your neighborhood strip mall Lacson., Mandalagan, Bacolod city just beside the Citadines.

Contact

0969 050 3333

 

Super Batchoy House

Just like your trusty Ilonggo dish, the Chicken Inasal, batchoy is as much an Ilonggo creation known to many in Bacolod so the Super Batchoy House deserves to be in this list too. SBH is also one of many legacy food spots here in Bacolod offering the classic ramen-type offering. So for that batchoy craving, SBH has two branches to serve you. One at Ground Floor Door 12 &14, Villa Angela East Block Bldg.A, Circumferential Road, Brgy. Villamonte, Bacolod City (back of BDO), and the second at Cuadra Street. For inquiries, dial 0917 896 3387.

 

VKP, BACOLOD CITY; FORKS, DELICACIES, & SPECIALTIES!

 

Often called the “Paris of Negros,” Silay City boasts a rich tapestry of history and culture, particularly visible in its gastronomic scene. This vibrant city has seen a rebirth of authentic restaurants since the 1980s that serve great food and narrate the stories of its past. Here are some of Silay’s most cherished restaurants, their distinctive menus, and the historical background that has propelled their expansion.

 

 

El Ideal Bakery

Founded in 1920 by the Villanueva family, El Ideal located at Rizal and Fr. Eusebio Streets in Silay started as a modest bakery in the ancestral home of Cesar Lacson Locsin. It gained international acclaim in the 1980s when the BBC showcased its guapple pie—a distinctive mix of guava and apple flavors—in a documentary about global food traditions.

El Ideal’s specialties remain to be its guapple pie, a signature dessert combining the sweetness of guava with the tartness of apple, encased in flaky crust; buko pie, a creamy coconut-filled pie that has become a staple pasalubong (souvenir) for visitors; and its traditional pastries like hopia, empanada, and other local delicacies that reflect the region’s culinary heritage.

 

Café 1925

Café 1925 is named after the year the building was constructed. This quaint café located just behind El Ideal Bakery in Silay offers a cozy ambiance, making it a favorite spot for both locals and tourists seeking a quiet place to dine.

People who frequent the place always go for their carabao’s milkshakes—yes, you heard it right. The milk comes from the native carabao, thus giving it a unique local flavor. Café 1925 also serves cupcakes and pastries, baked goods that blend traditional flavors with modern twists, providing a delightful treat for the palate.​

 

Punong Gary’s Place

Punong Gary’s Place, located in Silay’s Barangay Lantad, began as a private residence before becoming a dining destination under the direction of Joey Benin, a former bassist with the Side A band. The establishment is located in a lush, garden-like setting, providing outdoor dining that blends with nature.

When there, don’t forget to sample their seafood pasta, a flavorful dish featuring fresh seafood tossed in a savory sauce, reflecting the region’s coastal influences; steamed chicken stuffed with lemongrass, a ​ healthy option that infuses aromatic flavors into tender chicken, appealing to health-conscious diners; and their bread pudding, a sweet conclusion to the meal. This dessert is a favorite among patrons for its rich and comforting taste.​

 

Kopi Teh Silay

Located at Dr. Triño Montinola Street, Antilla Subdivision, Silay City,​ Kopi Teh brings a taste of Singaporean hawker culture to Silay. Founded by an owner enamored with Singapore’s street food scene, the establishment offers authentic dishes that have garnered a loyal following, like its Mee Goreng, a spicy-sweet fried noodle dish enriched with peanuts and chilies, topped with a fried egg; Hainanese Chicken Rice, steamed chicken served with flavorful rice and accompanied by three distinct sauces, offering a harmonious blend of flavors; and Nyonya Chicken Curry, a coconut-based curry infused with spices, delivering a rich and aromatic taste.​

 

Culinary Evolution and Cultural Significance

The transformation of heritage homes into museums and restaurants wasn’t just a romantic decision—it was a practical and cultural preservation act flourishing in the 1980s that can be attributed to several factors:​

Economic Sustainability

Maintaining large heritage homes is expensive. Many descendants of sugar barons no longer earn the same fortunes as before. By converting homes into income-generating museums or restaurants, they could preserve history while sustaining upkeep.

Cultural Pride

Silaynons (residents of Silay) take immense pride in their heritage. By opening up their homes to the public, they allow a living experience of the past to continue breathing in the present.

Tourism Opportunity

Silay is the gateway to Negros Occidental via the Bacolod-Silay International Airport. With thousands of tourists passing through, offering cultural experiences made the city a worthy destination in itself.

Food and Art as Heritage

The convergence of heirloom recipes, Negrense hospitality, and elegant dining spaces makes many heritage houses perfect for becoming specialty restaurants. These serve as both culinary experiences and living museums

 

What makes Silay stand out is that it’s not just a city of frozen-in-time relics. It’s a breathing, bustling city where history continues to inspire the present. Children still grow up in ancestral homes. Locals still wear traditional attire during festivals. Families still cook age-old recipes passed down from generations—and they serve them in the same kitchens where their great-grandparents once gathered.

Silay’s continued dedication to preservation, cultural enrichment, and storytelling through food, architecture, and the arts is what cements its identity as the Paris of the Visayas.

VKP, BACOLOD CITY: FORKS, DELICACIES, & SPECIALTIES!

Bacolod City, affectionately known as the City of Smiles, is not only well-known for its friendly people and colorful MassKara Festival but also a center for some of the most cherished pasalubong (souvenir) treats in the Philippines. Bacolod’s pasalubong sector is a vibrant tapestry of sweet delicacies, artisanal snacks, and sincere craftsmanship, from legacy recipes handed down through generations to fresh innovators mixing tradition with creativity.

Whether you’re a returning native or a curious visitor, here is a guide to Bacolod’s most renowned and up-and-coming pasalubong locations that merit inclusion in your luggage—and your palate.

Pasalubong Tips

• Bring an insulated bag for Napoleones—they’re delicate and best eaten fresh.
• Buy piaya last—it travels well and has a longer shelf life.
• For unique gifts, try pairing a local coffee blend with muscovado-based sweets.

Where to Find These Delights

• Lacson Street and Negros Showroom are excellent areas to find a curated mix of both legacy and emerging pasalubong brands.
• Local weekend art and food fairs in Bacolod often showcase these upstarts—perfect for sampling without commitment.
• Bacolod-Silay Airport has  satellite shops of major brands, but selections are usually limited.

BongBong’s Piaya & Barquillos

The place is best known mainly for its delicious mango tarts, butterscotch, barquillos, and piaya.

Although BongBong’s Piaya & Barquillos is already a household name throughout the Philippines, it is almost always associated with Bacolod pasalubong.

Although some may disagree, BongBong’s piaya—a flaky flatbread with muscovado filling—is the most well-known in the city.  Their stability and brand trustworthiness have made them a favorite for visitors. For those with more adventurous tastes, however, I recommend trying their crisp, buttery barquillos paired with ube piaya for a contemporary twist.

 

Merzci Pasalubong

Not entirely old nor entirely new, Merzci, formerly Merci, has established its own identity with a diverse range of baked goods and sweets. Strategically located near the airport and terminals, it is a convenient and consistent stop for last-minute pasalubong.

Their Napoleones—flaky, layered puff pastry filled with custard and topped with a sugar glaze—are a must-try!

 

El Ideal Bakery, Silay, Bacolod City

Located just 30 minutes away from Bacolod, El Ideal is a must-visit bakery that dates back to the 1920s and is just as old as its hometown, Silay. Among their specialties is the sweet, tangy, and utterly unique guapple pie, a one-of-a-kind combination of guava and apple delicacy for consumers seeking palate adventures

Among their delectable offerings are ensaymada, a specialty, and hojaldres, puffed biscuits that possess an irresistible crispiness.

 

Upstart & Underrated Pasalubong Places 

 

Quan Delicacies

A popular restaurant and pasalubong place in the Philippines that serves native delicacies, or “kakanin,” is Quan Delicacies Suman, puto, pichi-pichi, and bibingka are just a few of the traditional Filipino snacks and desserts that they offer, as reported on Tripadvisor. Dinuguan (blood stew) and “Flat Sticks” are two of Quan’s most famous savory dishes. You can order party bilao (platters) and have them delivered through Grab and Foodpanda, in addition to dining in. On top of that, they now have sugar-free options available.

You can visit Quan Delicacies and partake of their homemade and preservative-free offerings at San Juan Street, Bacolod City.

 

Virgie’s Homemade Products

Virgie’s  Homemade Products is known to locals and those “in the know” as the silent luxury of Bacolod’s pasalubong scene. Unlike big commercial brands, Virgie’s keeps its artisan feel. Their Mango Tartlets (₱200/box of 10) and premium fruitcake (₱450) are perfect for special gifts.

Additionally, their cashew-based cookies and yema are must-tries. You can visit Virgie’s at 57 San Sebastian Street, Bacolod City. Price range are from P70-P500

 

Sugarlandia Barquillos

Since the 1930s, Sugarlandia Barquillos has been one of the longest-running pasalubong shops in Bacolod, making barquillos, piaya, and pinasugbo by hand. Nothing here strays from tradition, unlike the mass-produced alternatives sold at major chains.

One of the few places that still makes puffy piaya, an older variation that is harder to find today, is Sugarlandia Barquillos. They do have stalls in malls selling pasalubong, but some customers have complained that the prices are too high. The best way to get reasonably priced, authentic Bacolod sweets is to stop by their central location at 36 Yulo Street, Bacolod City. They also sell at the Negros Showroom branches at 9^th-Lacson Streets and at Robinsons Place Bacolod.

 

Totong’s Barquillos

Since the 1970s, Totong’s Barquillos in Bacolod has been making piaya and barquillos. Its crisp barquillos and traditional piaya have won over locals who swear by them, although it isn’t as well-known as other pasalubong brands.

Keeping things simple and prioritizing quality over mass production, Totong’s is located on Lizares-Yulo Street, right next to Sugarlandia Barquillos. This is a name to look into if you’re interested in trying a popular but less well-known Bacolod pasalubong spot.

 

VKP, BACOLOD CITY: FORKS, DELICACIES & SPECIALTIES!