By Abigail Javellana
Awesome Guide: 15 Places to Try in Angeles City: Filipino Cuisine (4) | Awesome Places (3)| International Cuisine (8)
Update 07/27/2016: PAMPANGA: Top 10 Most Awesome Restaurants in Pampanga! (2016)
Getting hungry is not an option, Angeles City famed for being the “Culinary Capital of the Philippines” not only produces yummy Filipino dishes but will also surprise you with global dining options.
Once was a U.S Military base that brought together other nationalities, with this they were able to share and influence their culture including a number of authentic international dishes from their respective countries.
Here’s a 24-Hour guide to Angeles city complete with a food trip guide, heritage tours and fun adventurous activities everyone to enjoy…
Awesome Guide: 15 Places to Try in Angeles City: Filipino Cuisine (4) | Awesome Places (3)| International Cuisine (8)
#8 PATCHARAWAN’S THAI RESTAURANT
Thai cuisine is known for their right level of hot, sour, sweet and tangy elements. The owner of the restaurant Patcharawan, a Thai national who grew up in Thailand has lived in Angeles City for years. She finds herself happy cooking at the casual-looking restaurant, serving authentic Thai cuisine.
Order: Tom Yum Seafood Soup, Green Papaya Salad, Fresh Spring Rolls, Seafood Pad Thai, Sticky Rice with mango and Thai Iced Tea.
For starters, we loved the green papaya salad. The dish is a combination of the five main tastes: sour lime, salty and savory fish sauce, hot chili, and the sweetness from the green papaya and palm sugar.
The bright and fresh flavors from the salad make and excellent refreshing starter to your meal.
Tom Yum is the most popular dish in Thailand. I like the right spicy kick and balanced sourness. It’s characterized by its distinct hot and sour flavors.
The dish has prawns, galangal, kaffir leaves, lemongrass, onions, straw mushrooms, chili oil, fresh lime, and topped with freshly chopped coriander leaves.
Don’t forget to order their Thai iced tea. 🙂
Patcharawan’s Thai Restaurant
110 Malabanias Road, Angeles City, Philippines
Mobile: +63 947329 8291
Operating Hours: 11am – 11pm, Tuesday to Sunday
#9 JIRO IZAKAYA
For foodies who just can’t get enough of Japanese cuisine, I’d recommend Jiro Izakaya, They have an extensive menu offering sushi, sashimi, maki, teppanyaki, tempura, ramen and more. But what we love at Jiro are the impressive sushi and maki rolls, not only are they impressively executed, but we also loved it’s flavors.
Salmon aburi sushi. Beautifully executed, and very satisfying when you pop a piece into your mouth. It has a very creamy, and I like the mixture of torched and raw sushi in your mouth.
We were also not disappointed with their yummy maki rolls, order the Volcano Roll, Dragon Roll or Jiro’s Special Maki.
We also liked their new ramen selection, they have very rich and flavorful broths from hours of simmering. I’d recommend you order their best seller Jiro Beef Ramen (Php 250). The ramen is a combination of three kinds of miso, 2 kinds of beef, vegetable, marinated egg and kikurage.
Their tempura was just so-so for us, but hands down on their maki and ramen selection.
Jiro Izakaya
L2&3 EG Building, Friendship Hi-way, Angeles City, Pampanga
Mobile: +639 98540 1107
Operating Hours: 11am – 11pm
Email: jirosushibar@yahoo.com
#10 RASOI INDIAN RESTAURANT
Rasoi serves the best authentic Indian Food in the city. Chef Richard, an Indian national with tons of cooking experiences from international hotels and restaurants in Manila.
He settled in Angeles city serving incredible flavors and unique dishes in the menu. With a host of meat and vegetarian dishes to offer, the humble restaurant serves food from the Northern Indian State, which means creamier and thicker sauces.
Order: Chicken Tikka Masala, Cheese Naan, Fish Jalfrezi with Cheese, Chapati, Vegetable Samosa and Poori.
Poori is served golden brown crispy and puffed up almost like a ball. Rasoi version is filled with cilantro, potatoes, onions and garbanzo.
Black-salt, tamarind, cumin, chili is added in the water. The taste is tangy, spicy and sweet all thing combined in one bite. 🙂
You eat it by adding the flavored water inside the poori and taken in a single bite.
We liked their Chicken Tikka Masala and Fish Jalfrezi paired with Cheese Naan.
Their chicken tikka masala is chicken chunks served in creamy spiced orange-coloured sauce. (Tikka masala in a combination of 17 spices.)
Fish Jalfrezi is prepared by frying marinated cream dory and using South Asian curry for the sauce. The sauce is quite thick and creamy best paired with their Cheese Naan.
We recommend trying Rasoi’s Indian Restaurant, with all his spices sourced from India, taste that authentic Indian experience without leaving the country. 🙂
Rasoi Indian Restaurant
Zeppelin Street Hensonville Angeles Pampanga Philippines.
Mobile: +63 916622 2063, +63 928625 5973
Operating Hours: 11:00 am to 11:00 pm daily (whole year, even holidays)
#11 NYAMAN NA PO
Nyaman Na Pho (Nyaman, Kapampangan word for “delicious”) serves authentic favorite Vietnamese specialties likePho (Beef Noodle Soup), Goi P100 (Vietnamese Pork and Shrimp Salad), Gỏi cuốn (Vietnamese Shrimp Spring Rolls), Chả giò (Vietnamese Fried Spring Rolls). The owner is a Vietnamese national now settling in Angeles prepares her dish using traditional Vietnamese cooking.
Traditional Vietnamese cooking is considered to be one of the healthiest cuisines admired for mostly using fresh ingredients. Common ingredients include fruits, vegetables, herbs, rice, fish sauce, soy sauce.
Goi (Vietnamese Pork and Shrimp Salad) P100
We liked the fresh and brightly colored salad. They taste extremely healthy, crisp, and refreshing.
Gỏi cuốn (Vietnamese Shrimp Spring Rolls) P100
The Shrimp Spring Roll taste fresh with bright combinations of fresh cilantro, mint, basil that goes well with their peanut sauce dip.
Pho (Beef Noodle Soup) P120
Chewy rice noodles & thinly sliced beef cooked in hot beef broth, topped with crunchy cilantro, spring onions and scallion. It has the right beef broth-y taste, full of flavors and very light.
The soup goes better with adding a few drops of lemon for that zesty taste along with the dark brown and sauce.
Don’t forget to order their freshly brewed Vietnamese Coffee. It’s one of our favorite.
Nyaman Na Pho
643 M.L.Q. st., Lourdes Sur East, Angeles City, Pampanga
Mobile: +639 23201 0995
Operating Hours: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
#12 PAIZANO PIZZERIA
Paizano is the go-to place when it comes to their New York style hand-tossed baked pizza. The newly refurbished diner also serves classic favorites like pasta, sandwiches, salad and more.
Their pizza comes in a variety of flavors: Hawaiian, Manhattan. Pepperoni, White Pizza…
Our favorite is their White pizza that was the first to be finished on our table. Large hand-tossed thin-crust pies with creamy cheese topped with another layer of stretchy threads of hot cheese. (Small P235, Medium P485, Large P595)
We also loved J’s 4-layered baked lasagna filled with classic tomato and meat sauce. The gooey cheese on top was a delight along with their homemade garlic bread. ( J’s Famous Baked Lasagna P265)
Also, try J’s spicy chicken wings best paired with ice cold beer. (8pcs – P215)
Paizano’s Pizzeria
Zeppelin st., Hensonville subd., Angeles City
Phone: (045) 436.2396
Mobile: +639 18378 7133
#13 MONGOLIAN
Tucked inside a private residential subdivision is a modern and hip restaurant offering good DIY eat-all-you-can Mongolian Grill and Asian-inspired dishes.
Genghis Mongolian Grill is known for their main offering which is the Mongolian Grill. Mongolian barbecue is a stir fried dish that was originally developed in Taiwan, where meat and vegetable are cooked in large solid iron griddles. You could say the preparation is similar to the Japanese teppanyaki. Choose from a selection of fresh meat, seafood, and vegetable. They also have a variety of sauces that will suit any Filipinos taste
Besides their Mongolian Grill, we loved Chef Ryan and Chef Diane’s selection of Asian inspired dishes. Our favorite would be the Genghis Pork chop. An inch thick pork chop marinated using sous-vide cooking then grilled to perfection.
The pork chop is precisely medium-well, very sweet and juicy with a slightly smoky taste from the grilling. That’s how pork is supposed to be eaten.
For dessert, we loved Khan’s conquest. A homemade roti filled with banana and mango topped with caramel sauce, ice cream and candied cashew nuts for the crunch.
Genghis Mongolian Grill
25-1 Sarita st., Diamond subd., Balibago, Angeles City, Pampanga
Mobile: +639 22854 7354
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Operating Hours: 3pm – 10pm (Tuesday to Sunday)
#14 CICCOLO BISTRO AND CAFE
Tucked inside the Grand Palazzo Royale compound is Ciccolo Bistro and Cafe. The place is a little bit hard to find but once you’ve arrived, you will be rewarded which chic cafe offering global comfort food and a delectable selection of yummy cakes. We liked their ala carte selection featuring exotic fusion dishes.
Balut ala Pobre, deep fried balut with garlic oyster sauce (P142)
We like their rendition of the famous Filipino favorite balut (Fertilized duck egg boiled in its shell). For first timers, wouldn’t mind eating balut serves like this.
Crispy pig ears with yuzu wasabi soy sauce.
The must try cake is the Brazo de Mercedes Cheesecake (P140). The sweetness of the brazo compliments the saltiness of the cheesecake.
We also liked the Sans rival (P140) and their Ferrero cake (P150). We liked how the cakes have just the right amount of sweetness.
If you’re looking for a fancy and quiet place to spend the night with friends, I recommend a trip to Ciccolo for some yummy dessert and ambiance.
Ciccolo Bistro and Cafe
Royal Garden Estate, Friendship Circumferential Road (In the Grand Palazzo Compound)
Phone: (045) 887 2009
Operating Hours: 5pm-12am
#15 ROB’S GASTROPUB
If you’re looking for a clean night of drinks and just chill with your friends, I recommend Rob’s Gastropub. The British-themed Gastropub in Angeles City serves great food and drinks with live music and sports. The interiors are designed to have a British Pub feel with interesting accents like the iconic telephone booth, barrels, and lamps. The bar also has a wide selection of international liquors and alcoholic drinks.
The crowd is mostly Filipinos having a good time with their friends. The place is very chill, with tables perfect for a night of catching up with your friends.
Sports is a big thing at Rob’s, with multiple flat screen TV’s showing different live games. For 21 and above, they also have a poker room that’s open during nighttime with games like old-fashioned Texas Hold ‘Em Poker and Omaha.
They also serve some good ‘ol English breakfast with classics like steak and eggs (P495) and pancakes (P150. 🙂
Rob’s Gastropub + Sports
corner A. Santos St. & Vian St., Angeles, 2009 Pampanga
Phone:(045) 322 631
Operating Hours: 5pm- 5am
Facebook: robsgastropub
How to get to Angeles City:
A Pampanga food trip is always good for a full day without the need to go on overnight because it is now one hour away and very accessible via the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).
Most people would go on a convoy or meet up at the last Caltex along Edsa before turning into NLEX. Others prefer to meet at the Total Gasoline Station, which is the last station before the San Fernando Exit.
24-Hour Quick Trip Guide to Angeles City: Filipino Cuisine (4) | Awesome Places (3)| International Cuisine (8)
Live an Awesome Life,
Abi with Boom and Sean
Team Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: Our 24-Hour Angeles City experience was courtesy of the Angeles City, Mayors Office. Read Our Awesome Planet Complete Disclosure Policy here.