Where is the best place to eat Empanada and Okoy in Vigan?

In Vigan, there is an empanadahan in the plaza near the Church, where one can get Vigan Empanada and Okoy from a series of street food stalls. We were told that this is actually a commercialized empanada area designed for tourists.

Since you are already in Vigan, why not troop over to where the locals go for their empanada fix so that you can also savor and experience it like they do?

Our Awesome Planet Vigan Series

• The Secret of Vigan’s Bagnet, Okilas and Longganisa!
• Where is the best place to eat Empanada and Okoy in Vigan?
• Captivating Calle Crisologo in Vigan

Thanks to Winona, our culinary and heritage tour guide in Vigan, I finally discovered these places.

She shared with us the empanadahans they grew up with and where they would hang out when they were kids, like Insiang’s Empanadahan. It is just found along Calle Salcedo with small tables outside of the house.

The Special Empanada (P35) comes with egg, longganisa and papaya.

The secret to the yumminess of the empanada is found in the rice flour used. (They use RC-14.)

(Chef Patty, Chef Heny Sison and Glenn enjoying Vigan Empanada.)

It goes quite well with Ilocos vinegar and is best eaten while hot.

   
Super crispy on the outside, the empanada crackles with every bite. It is a bit oily, though, so you can choose to follow it up with softdrinks.

  
Another Vigan favorite is the Okoy (P30), which made of rice flour, tomatoes, chives and shrimp.

They say that the Okoy is a Filipino version of the shrimp tempura, while the Empanada is our own adaptation of the Japanese dumpling.

Dr. Vasquez of Cafe Juanita fame loves hole-in-the-wall places. He prefers enjoying his empanada in street stalls versus the commercialized tourist spots. I would have to agree!

Winona recommends Irene’s and Insiang’s as the best places to eat empanada when in Vigan.

Insiang’s Empanada
Calle Salcedo corner Calle V. de los Reyes
(If you are coming from Cafe Leona, walk along Calle Crisologo and turn left at Calle Salcedo. You should see it on your right after the corner of Calle V. de los Reyes, with Gordion Hotel as the landmark.)

Irene’s Empanada
Calle Salcedo near the corner of Calle V. de los Reyes
(If you are coming from Cafe Leona, walk along Calle Crisologo and turn left at Calle Salcedo. You should see it on your left after the corner of Calle V. de los Reyes with Gordion Hotel as the landmark and after Insiang’s empanadahan.)

Our Awesome Planet Vigan Series

• The Secret of Vigan’s Bagnet, Okilas and Longganisa!
• Where is the best place to eat Empanada and Okoy in Vigan?
• Captivating Calle Crisologo in Vigan

 

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P.S. If you want to eat empanada in a resto setting instead of a street food stall, you can go to Abuelita’s (also near Calle Crisologo). Aside from Empanada and Okoy, they are also known for their Miki and their own version of Royal Bibingka.

Abuelita’s Restaurant
Calle Mabini corner Calle A. Reyes
(If you are coming from Cafe Leona, walk along Calle Crisologo and turn right at Calle Mabini. You should see it on your left at the corner of Calle A. Reyes.)

P.P.S. In Manila, you can eat authentic Vigan Empanada and Okoy from MAC Vigan booth in Midnight Mercato every Friday and Saturday night, 10pm – 3am. See you there!