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Where to eat in Bacolod, according to a local
Filipino cuisine has been poised to conquer the world for years now but it took visiting chefs and connoisseurs quite a while to discover and include in their restaurants' menu what the adventurous Pinoy eater has known all along:we know how to eat well although locals will insist their own regional cuisine is the best in the land.
Even if our collective palate find comfort in dishes from across the globe, there's no shortage of love for traditional (and regional) fare as evidenced by the proliferation of restaurants that serve our finest, like Bacolod's Sarsá Kitchen + Bar.
In an interview with Jerome Gomez for Mabuhay magazine, Sarsa's "kitchen master" Chef JP Anglo shares his love for the delicacies from his hometown of Bacolod. Below, we list down some of his favorites.
1. Negros Museum Café. It is run by Guido Nijssen, a Dutch native, and his Filipina wife Gemma. Guido makes his own cheese and bread, and he also slows-cooks a lot of the meat served in the cafe. Need something heavier? Anglo recommends the roast beef, Talisay ham, spice bork belly, smoked chicken, and Pata Negra dried ham. Negros Museum Café is at Gatuslao Street, Bacolod City, 9am to 6pm. +63916 908 6641
2. Luisa’s Fried Chicken. While their fried chicken, as the restaurant’s name suggests, is a must-try, JP recommends their garlic spare ribs. “The batter has whole garlic cloves that taste sweet.” Located in the downtown area called Shopping, Luisa’s is no fancy affair. It doesn’t have AC so come in your casual and comfortable clothes. Luisa’s Fried Chicken is at Narra Avenue, Capitol Shopping Center, Bacolod City, 10am to 1:30pm, 3 to 6pm. +634 4349740.
3. German Locsin Unson Heritage House. Amazing breakfast here, says Chef JP. He recommends an order of "Chorizo ni Lola", served served with garlic rice and your choice of native coffee, tea, or calamansi juice. Pair this with the Tsokolate Platter and enjoy hot Spanish chocolate sprinkled with pinipig (toasted glutinous rice), ibus (sticky rice in coconut milk), puto (steamed rice cakes) from Manapla and fresh fruits. German Locsin Unson Heritage House is at Zamora Street, Silay City, from 9am to 5pm. +634 4322943.
4. Manokan Country. This is where JP goes for a fix of Bacolod’s famous chicken inasal. Manokan Country features a line of eateries but JP’s got his eyes on Bernadette’s, a place he’s been frequenting since he was a child. JP’s usual order: a stick of chicken inasal, isaw, and a cup of white rice “that I dress with some achiote oil.” Manokan Country is at Fr M Ferrero Street, Bacolod City, Mondays and Saturdays, 11am to 1pm and 5pm to 9pm; Sundays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays, 11am to 1pm and 5pm to 8pm; Thursdays & Fridays 11am to 1pm and 5pm to 10pm. +634 4338727.
5. Felicia's Pastry Café. What’s a trip to Sugarlandia without sampling some of its sweets? Chef JP recommends Felicia’s Pastry for its semi-dark chocolate cake and ensaymada. “The texture is similar to brioche bread though this one is moist with grated cheddar cheese on top,” JP notes. Felicia's Pastry Café is at 6th Street, Bacolod City, 9am to 11pm. +634 7091123.
6. 21 Restaurant. Says JP, he can’t leave Bacolod without visiting this 32-year-old joint famous of its batchoy. Served with thinly sliced pork, liver slices and pork crackling swimming amid perfectly cooked noodles. 21 Restaurant is at 21 Lacson St, Bacolod City, 10 am to 11 pm. +634 4334096.
7. Coffee Culture Roastery. Coffee Culture Roastery serves coffee brewed from robusta beans from Murcia in Negros Occidental and arabica from Bukidnon, South Cotabato and Davao del Sur in Mindanao. Anglo suggests a sip of the Black Magic blend. Coffee Culture Roastery is at Alijis Main Road, Bacolod City, 10am to 8pm. +63949 5075359.
-/KVD
