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Drew Arellano travels to the Heart of the Philippines where he explores all the meaty and savory tastes that Iloilo City has to offer.

If you look at the Philippine map and look for the province of Iloilo, the first thing you will notice is its geographical feature as it is found right smack in the middle of the Philippines.

The second thing you will notice is its heart-shaped structure in the part of Panay thus dubbing it the “Heart of the Philippines.”

Iloilo and its capital, Iloilo City, are known for their people who are very hospitable to locals and tourists alike. No wonder they were originally dubbed as the “Queen City of the South” since they were the country's second-most influential city during the Spanish rule known for its trade with the Chinese and Indians.

Thanks to its rich heritage, you can still see old structures with European and American-inspired designs in various towns of the province.

Aside from its people and its architecture, Iloilo's capital also bagged the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Award in 2019 and the most livable city in APEC in 2015 making it one of the safest places to live, invest, and visit in the Philippines.

But if there's one thing to note about Iloilo City, it's their penchant for food.

That's why according to Biyahero Drew Arellano, no matter how many times he has visited the city, the City of Love still manages to surprise his taste buds.

Here, we list down the seven places you should visit to complete your Iloilo City culinary experience.

1. Popoy's Original La Paz Batchoy

Popoy's Batchoy / Source: @micmicmouse03 (IG)

Address: Iloilo Central Market, Guanco St., Iloilo City

La Paz Batchoy can be considered Iloilo City's famous culinary contribution in Philippine history and if you're craving for the real deal, nothing comes close as Popoy's Original La Paz Batchoy.

Located inside a wet market, it is considered one of the yummiest in a row of the city's “original batchoy shops.”

In this humble carinderia, you have the option to choose the noodles you'd like -- whether miki, bihon, or miswa -- that is served with generous amounts of fried garlic, chicharon, scallions, pork meat, intestines, liver, and of course, a bountiful serving of bone marrow.

2. Lars Buko Batchoy and Eatery

Lars Buko Batchoy / Source: @teachergen (IG)

Address: 122 Onate De Leon St., Mandurriao, Iloilo City

If you want to kick it up a notch, then try visiting Lars Buko Batchoy located in Mandurriao, Iloilo City which serves the classic batchoy dish in a coconut shell.

According to its owner, Primrose Uy, the idea stemmed from a family friend who brought the unique concoction to their home.

She added, “Nung first time namin magtinda, maliit pa lang 'yung tindahan namin. Pero kasi naging patok siya sa tao kasi unique at nasarapan naman sila, e, bumalik balik sila.”

Their signature buko batchoy consists of fresh miki noodles, chicken and pork, liver, chicharon, buko strips, onion leaves, sesame oil, and their signature broth that is a balance of buko juice and batchoy soup.

Upon tasting, Drew said, “'Yung soup niya parang hinaluan nila ng buko juice and it adds a different sweet flavor na sa mga Pinoy, magugustuhan nila kasi matamis.”

If you're in for a full-course meal they also serve coco spring roll, cocopao, beef wanton coconutchoy, egg in a hole coco burger, and batchoy ice cream that Drew described as “para siyang cheese ice cream pero 'yung after taste, nandun 'yung batchoy flavor.”

3. Panaderia de Molo

Panaderia de Molo / Source: @panaderiademolo (IG)

Address: Avanceña St., Molo, Iloilo City

Pansit molo could be dated back to the early times when a community of Chinese settlers in the area influenced the people of Molo, Iloilo City with their brothy wonton soups.

And in Iloilo City, there's nothing quite like Panaderia de Molo that serves the meaty soup dish together with their signature pastries that were created as early as the 1800s.

According to owner Hyacinth Catral, Panaderia de Molo is one of the oldest stores that sell the meat-filled dumplings.

She said, “The molo recipe came from our ancestors. So we grind both the pork and chicken and add in the other ingredients like garlic, onion, and chives without the MSG.

“We fry it so it can have a longer shelf life because most of our customers would bring it back to Manila as pasalubong.”

When eating pansit molo, Ilonggos usually pair it with biscuits such as "kinihad" (thin-sliced toasted bread) or "bañadas" (a confectionary sugar pastry).

4. Roberto's

Roberto's Queen Siopao / Source: @mochikotravels (IG)

Address: JM Basa St., Iloilo City

You haven't visited Iloilo City without tasting the legendary Queen Siopao from Roberto's.

Packed with ham, bacon, Chinese sausage, chicken and pork adobo, and a whole hard boiled egg, the Queen Siopao is the brainchild of Claude Yap when he opened his stall in 1978.

The Queen Siopao is so famous that Claude had to form several other small versions depending on the number of ingredients inside.

Drew claimed, “Ang bigat niyang hawakan at masarap 'yung tinapay. Masarap din 'yung loob.”

A fair warning though, if you plan to buy this as pasalubong, Claude shared that his signature siopao has a shelf life of 24 hours. And no, they don't serve frozen ones.

5. Camiña Balay nga Bato

Camina Balay nga Bato / Source: @andy_chih76 (IG)

Address: 20 Osmeña St., Barangay Sta. Filomena, Arevalo, Iloilo City

If you're the type who'd like to be transported back in time, Iloilo City has the thing for you -- the Camiña Balay nga Bato.

This well-preserved ancestral house is currently owned by Gerard Camiña, from the fourth generation of the Avanceña family, and his wife Luth Saludes-Camiña.

While the house is a marvel in itself, the food that they serve also deserves credit. They feature cuisines that reflect the Ilonggo heritage as river people and that Iloilo City as one of the Philippines' great ports.

Luth said that they practice farm to table principles so you're sure to receive the best of the best of what Iloilo City can offer.

Drew suggested trying their cup of hot chocolate with which the cacao is grown in the owner's family farm. The tablea is then heated in a special cast of iron jags and beaten with a “batidor.” What you get is a cup with an incredibly rich, chocolate drink.

6. Leah's Tinuom

Leah's Tinuom / Source: @havefaith_annel (IG)

Address: Cabatuan, Iloilo

If there's a woman who can bring comfort to you on a rainy day, that would be Lola Isabel Retotar of Leah's Tinuom in Cabatuan, Iloilo.

Her little stall in the local town outside of the city proper is famous for her tinuom, a native dish that is made of native chicken seasoned with onion, tomatoes, lemongrass, salt, and MSG wrapped in banana leaves. It is then served with broth that builds up inside its wrapping following a heavy steaming.

Drew said it best, “Kung ang America may chicken soup for the soul, dito sa Iloilo may tinuom soup for the soul.

7. Rafael's La Cocina del Sur

Kadyos Baboy Langka / Source: @kusinanimanay (IG)

Address: 4th Main Ave., Blk 19 Phase 3, Alta Tierra Village, Jaro, Iloilo City

Last but not least is the ultimate Ilonggo favorite, the KBL or Kadyos, Baboy, and Langka found in Rafael's La Cocina del Sur in Jaro, Iloilo City.

Despite this being every Ilonggo's favorite, it is also the one most missed native dishes as its souring ingredient, the batwan, and kadyos are usually hard to find.

KBL is a boiled pork dish with jackfruit and pigeon pea (kadyos) that is soured with batwan and is given a kick by green chili.

Rafael's La Cocina del Sur offers a great version of the KBL along with their other Filipino and Spanish dishes giving every customer a delectable experience and a full stomach at the end of every meal.

We hope this list got your mouth watering as much as we did!