KALIBO is a melting pot and transit hub of the Aklan province. Its food offerings are most often overshadowed by the best fresh seafood in the nearby province of Capiz or the yummy Ilonggo food in Iloilo. Most people just pass by this municipality that aspires to be a city one day.
It was a bit hard to research online about places to eat in Kalibo. Most of the recommendations online are intended for the transit tourists or the Ati-atihan backpackers but not for foodies looking for yummy local food to better appreciate the Aklanon culture.
After a three-day food trip during the Ati-Atihan Festival with more misses than home runs, here are the best places to eat in Kalibo:
THE BEST OF KALIBO SERIES:
- KALIBO: What to Expect in the Sto. Niño ATI-ATIHAN Festival in Kalibo?
- KALIBO: Where are the Best Places to Eat in Kalibo?
- KALIBO: SAYLO Cuisine – The Best in Kalibo?
- KALIBO: LATTE Coffee Cafe @ Marzon’s Hotel
- KALIBO: BAKHAWAN Eco-Park’s 1.1 km Mangrove Eco-Trail
- KALIBO: The Secrets of SAMPAGUITA GARDEN
- KALIBO: Planning Your Kalibo Escape with your Family
1. SAYLO CUISINE
SAYLO is a Visayan term which means “to welcome” or “to invite to come in“.
It is also a term which means “to transfer” which has a double meaning — it’s a good transfer stopover when you are flying via Kalibo International Airport, or if you are tired of Latte – you transfer to Saylo.
We love the hip ambiance, offering of authentic Aklanon food with a good presentation and the yummy pasta. The only thing that turned us off was the “provincial” service from the staff – lax, not trained well, and inattentive.
Still, SAYLO gets our vote as the Best Restaurant in Kalibo! Check out our Saylo Experience…
Read More: KALIBO: SAYLO Cuisine – The Best in Kalibo?
2. LATTE COFFEE CAFE
LATTE is the best place for breakfast in Kalibo. It opens as early as 7am and offers your breakfast favorites, comfort food and yummy cakes.
It’s conveniently located in the road that leads to the airport and beside the best hotel in Kalibo.
It gets mixed reviews because of inconsistencies, but we love the selection of comfort food.
Read More: KALIBO: LATTE Coffee Cafe @ Marzon’s Hotel
3. RAMBOYS or LA NENA’S
Ramboy’s is our Visayan liempo of choice. It’s better than the liempo we have in Manila.
The liempo is bigger and the skin is as crunchy as a chicharon.
Ramboy’s Liempo (P250 + P10 eat in)
The liempo cuts are bigger and meatier; and the skin, crunchier.
Lechon Manok (P190 + P10).
In contrast to the Liempo, the chicken is a bit dry and tough. If you will order chicken, make sure and insist to pick the freshly grilled one.
Check out the Ramboy’s along Toting Reyes St. in Kalibo.
La Nena’s. Some locals prefer La Nena’s which is a Kalibo original.
I love the native bahay kubo ambiance with al fresco environment.
You can order half of a liempo, but their Liempo is fatter than the ones we had in Ramboy’s.
Check out La Nena’s along Mabini St. in Kalibo.
4. PEKING HOUSE
Kalibo Peking House (Refreshment Parlor) along XIX Martyrs St., Kalibo, Aklan.
The best Chinese Restaurant, according to the multi-national transit sales agents, is Peking House for its Fookien Chinese cuisine, almost similar to the ones you can find in Manila.
Peking House Menu: Soup, Beef, Pork, Poulty, Fish | Seasonal, Pansit, Shrimps, Vegetable, Crabmeat, Beverages, Rice
There’s no dimsum in the menu, but you can eat really good Chinese comfort food.
Fish Ball Soup (P160).
Our favorite is the fish ball soup if you just want a satisfying break during the Ati-Atihan festivities.
There’s a generous serving of fish balls, and the balls are soft, but firm.
Fish Fillet with Asparagus (P15o).
We haven’t really tried the rest of the menu but this Fish Fillet is a good indication that we will go back here for good Chinese comfort food.
Peking House is near the Pastrana Plaza and a good place to eat during Ati-Atihan.
5. BREAD & BUTTER
The most popular bakery in Kalibo is Bread & Butter with many branches around the town.
They are best known for their siopao — asado, bola bola and chicken.
Aside from siopao, you got to try their cheeseburger which tastes like choriburger.
A good take-away food if you are hungry during the Ati-Atihan festivities 🙂
Any other tips on where are the best places to eat in Kalibo?
THE BEST OF KALIBO SERIES:
- KALIBO: What to Expect in the Sto. Niño ATI-ATIHAN Festival in Kalibo?
- KALIBO: Where are the Best Places to Eat in Kalibo?
- KALIBO: SAYLO Cuisine – The Best in Kalibo?
- KALIBO: LATTE Coffee Cafe @ Marzon’s Hotel
- KALIBO: BAKHAWAN Eco-Park’s 1.1 km Mangrove Eco-Trail
- KALIBO: The Secrets of SAMPAGUITA GARDEN
- KALIBO: Planning Your Kalibo Escape with your Family
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Full Disclosure: We paid for our family trip to Kalibo. I wrote this blog post myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I have no business relationship with any company mentioned in this post or any organization promoting it. As a policy, I don’t receive compensation from food and travel places we feature in the blog.
P.S. Here are the places we tried and did not like:
We did not like the seafood restaurants in Kalibo. The seafood is not that fresh and priced high like in Manila. Go to Roxas City for really good and fresh seafood.
Kitty’s Kitchen is also one of the home-grown Kalibo fastfood restaurants. We like the KK’s BBQ Ribs (P110) but the rest of the menu taste like fast-food meals.
We never found any Kalibo delicacy or pasalubong worth buying. Rosafood’s Paborita is good but I’m still looking for something unique and yummy that can only be found in Kalibo.
They say Coco Sugar is cheap in Kalibo. Any other pasalubong tips?
Hi Anton! Next time you try our version of lechon and longganisa 🙂
Where's the best place to try the Lechon and Longganisa?
Great tips 🙂
Smoked longganisa is really, really good in Aklan!! I buy mine from Linabuan whenever I’m there. 🙂
you should also try tokanz for lomi and the ihaw ihaw area along the intersection of pastrana and mabini. try their grilled tinapay smothered with bbque sauce. nothing really fancy but really satisfying after a “sad-sad” session!
great review! i agree with most of it! i’m an aklanon who moved back to aklan recently after years of living in manila & abroad. it’s really a challenge to find a good restaurant here.
next time you’re in town, do try Abre Test Kitchen. it’s a gourmet restaurant. i like their pizza. my opinion is, it’s better than shakey’s. granted it’s not a local cuisine but still… 🙂
oh, and the Boneless Crispy Pata in the Peking House is really good 🙂
watta nice food advice! cheers..:)
@kris — OK, I'll check out Abre Test Kitchen next time. BTW, where is it located?
Anton
@ati-atihan whistle girl – thanks for sharing the video!
It’s behind the Magsaysay Park if you’re familiar with it. If I’m not mistaken, the street address is Regalado cor Veterans Sts.
They have a small menu but almost all good, just the way i like it. i really hate restaurants offering a million things but none of ’em good.
people here are always talking about good restaurants but i’m yet to try most of it so i won’t recommend (or not for that matter) just yet. the only things that have passed by suburban taste are (not in order):
1. Pizza – Abre Test Kitchen
2. Boneless Crispy Pata – Peking House
3. Onion Rings – Saylo
4. Bacon Roll-up – Latte
5. Liempo – Ramboy’s
OK thanks for this tip! Will include Abre in my list.
Anton
Being an Aklanon, I agree with you that there isn’t a lot of places to go and eat in Aklan simply because Aklanons love to cook home-cooked meals and rather go from house to house by invitation for a great, sumptuous meal. Inubarang manok is one of the province’ delicacy. For goodies, try to go to Jocyl’s for their pasalubong and Longanisang Aklan. To experience Aklan’s trade of Pina, Jusi, and Nito weaving, go to Dela Cruz House of Pina. But I must agree, Ramboy’s is the best liempo in town. Haven’t found anything quite like it in Manila.
Thanks for the tips Pebbles. One of these days, I do hope to get a taste of Kalibo home-cooking 🙂
Anton
Did you try the chiffon cake in Bread and Butter? It’s the best chiffon cake ever, IMO. I always bring home minimum of 3 boxes because my family and friends are crazy about it.
Also, try the fish tocino, danggit and dried pusit from the Kalibo public market. Really good. 🙂
Thanks for this tip! Will try them when we are back in Kalibo. Salamat 🙂
Anton
Thank you for a wonderful review of Bread & Butter. Yes, Siopao and chiffon are some of our best products. We have more than 60 branches all over Western Visayas and Oriental Mindoro.
Hello Anton, let us know how we can send you some of our chiffon and other goodies. 🙂 You can email us at marketing@breadandbutter.ph.
Thank you!
Hi,
in Kalibo Airport, across the Departure area, you will find vendors selling Aklanon suman – “ambu-eong” and latik w/ bucayo. At 15pcs for P100, they are a little overpriced compared to the ones sold in Kalibo public market. But you can be assured of the quality.
The latest Western type restaurant in Kalibo is Primavera Bistro – located in 19Martyrs St, in front of Dept of Labor and Employment(DOLE) building. They serve pasta, salads and set meals.
Hi am quite curios about the LATTE in Kalibo. Where do I find the list of their menus along with the prices?
You have to try Aklan longganisa/chorizo.
AGP siopao is also one of the best siopaos I have ever tasted
try pizzas at seafront. better than greenwich.
Hi anyone here tried massitda korean restaurant near the airport? I wonder if they serve good korean food. And is it less expensive?