Places to Eat in Algeles City
Pampanga, the province in the Central Luzon where Angeles City is technically located, is dubbed as the "Culinary Capital of the Philippines" and if you've tasted authentic Kapampangan dishes, you will know why. We lived in Angeles for a few years and we can attest how our friends and their families take their food seriously. After we left, food anywhere else tastes bland, to be honest. If you wish to have a tasteful introduction to the best dishes in the country, you can start with the following recommendations.
Street Food
For cheap but yummy street food, you won't have to go around looking for them in dusty side walks. Just head over to any local mall in Angeles and you can do some shopping afterwards, too.
The Nepo Street Foods (Totobits) (Nepo Mart ,Angeles City) features several food stalls selling various goodness on sticks and delicious soups. It's time to indulge on calamares (fried squid), hotdogs, kwek-kwek (quail egg), squid balls, mami (noodle soup), gizzard barbecue, chicken neck, isaw (chicken intestine) and a lot more. You can have an iced tea, beer, or samalamig (local cold beverage with tapioca pearls) to go along with that. The stalls are open from 9 am to 9 pm.
Local Food
Satisfy both your eyes and taste buds with beautifully prepared dishes at Bale Dutung (Villa Gloria, Angeles City). They are known for their tasting style service of which they have three menus to choose from: kapampangan, 6-ways lechon where they serve the traditional lechon followed by different versions of it, and Anthony Bourdain menu which features the dishes he ate during his visit. Yes, the world famous chef and TV personality came over. We liked the lechon tortilla as well as tadyang ng baboy with guava soup (pork rib soup). The restaurant is very homey and the entire meal can last for about 3 hours. The only caveat, it's reservation only and you have to be a group of 12.
Matam-ih authentic Kapampangan Cuisine Restaurant (Lot 1-D MA Roxas Hiway, Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles City) is an open air restaurant housed under a gazebo style structure. They serve authentic kapampangan dishes and the wait staff are members of the aeta tribe (ethnic minority in Angeles). If you find yourself here, order their kare-kare ( pork in peanut sauce), bekugan babi (pork sautéed in shrimp paste), and crispy pata (deep fried pork knuckles). Of course, you can't leave Angeles without trying pork sisig. If you're adventurous then you can sample exotic dishes like betute (stuffed frog) and camaru (mole crickets).
Western and International Food
Piccolo Padre Restaurant (Narciso Street, Prime Asia Hotel, Malabanias, Angeles City) is not cheap but you get what you pay for: the elegant ambiance, fantastic wine selection, and superb Italian based menu. We bet everything on the menu is insanely delicious but if we can only choose several dishes then we would have gone with oysters inferno, lasagna Piccolo Padre, and ahi katsu. Each morsel was a bite to remember.
If you're craving for some Swiss German cuisine after all that kapampangan dishes, do check out Swiss Chalet Restaurant (A. Santos Street, Balibago, Angeles City). Bestsellers are fondue, schnitzels and sausages. A lot of expats eat here due to the international menu so place is packed during busy hours.
Cafes and Coffee Houses
Amo Yamie Crib (R. B. Castro Building, Santo Entiero St, Angeles) has originated in Angeles and since then has gotten really popular; so they now have several branches in Manila, too. Serving insta-worthy frappes and frosts in mason jars as well as coffee, tea, and pastries, it's a concept cafe with a playful interior design. We loved their hot smores and Wizard of Oreo. Oh, they also have a small movie room you can reserve for a couple of hours.
Teaspoon Cafe (Unit D, T4 Bldng, Fil-Am Friendship hi-way, Cutcut, Fil-Am Friendship Hwy, Angeles) is another pretty place to hang over a good cup of joe. They have a shabby chic concept going on and you can enjoy a variety of teas, coffees, and desserts. We're crazy about their quezo de bola cheesecake.
