Top 10 Most Loved Restaurants in Baguio for December 2016

Being at the center of the city, Vizco’s has been a signature Baguio restaurant to visit. It’s a café famous for its cakes which are freshly made and affordable. It’s for people trying to find a restaurant that will get you your money’s worth. It’s not for guests who want a spacious place to eat at. We recommend their wildly popular Strawberry Short Cake, topped with fresh strawberries. Our insider tip: It opened a sister restaurant in Camp John Hay’s Technohub called Photo Fog Café.

Mario’s Restaurant is a Spanish bistro and an American steakhouse opened by husband and wife Mario and Nenuca Benitez in 1971. Nenuca, a self made cook, introduces heirloom recipes, while Mario’s name has become synonymous with good, quality steaks and the restaurant’s signature Caesar Salad. It’s for Baguio locals and vacationers looking for comforting home-cooked style dishes that won’t disappoint. It’s not for people who want budget meals. We recommend the classic Caesar Salad, paellas and the a la pobre steak. Here’s a fun fact: Due to insistent demand, the couple opened a 2nd branch in Tomas Morato in 1974, which is also still operating until today.

Good Taste is a 24/7 Chinese fast food chain serving affordable family-style lauriat dishes, rice toppings, pansit, mami, siopao and more. The food court style setup allows it to accommodate large groups of people. Word is, the place is quite full throughout the day especially during lunch and dinner. It’s for students and office goers during breaks and for late night eats. It’s not the best place to treat balikbayans or tourist visitors, unless they’re looking for something local. We recommend their famous buttered chicken, lechon kawali and broccoli. Our insider tip is to watch as orders get sent down in a small old school food conveyor box, from 2nd to 1st floor.

Happy Tummy is one of the homegrown Baguio concepts of Ketchup: The Food Community, a popular community food park that features casual Asian to Western dining. Happy Tummy serves affordable Thai and Filipino dishes. It’s for friends and families looking for Asian comfort food with big servings. It’s not for fancy dinner dates with your significant other. We recommend their popular Crispy Tilapia in Tamarind Sauce, Sticky Rice with Mangoes, and Thai Milk Tea. Our insider tip: Go large for the Crispy Tilapia because there’s only a P50 difference from the medium serving.

Arca’s Yard is a bed and breakfast, a cozy library cafe that serves unique and healthy dishes, and a mini-museum that showcases the Igorot culture and personal antique collection of owner Ninja Sabado and her family. It’s an escape pad from the hustle and bustle of the city life. It’s not for people looking for a late night drinking place. We recommend their signature Camote Pie and coffee, and also their rhubarb ice cream, if they’re in season. Our insider tip is beside Arca’s is a Japanese art studio gallery where artist Asao Shimura holds workshops for kids and adults.

Choco-late de Batirol is a Filipino garden cafe that’s said to be the home of the best hot chocolate in the Philippines. It’s for ambient breakfasts or a chilly afternoon merienda date. It’s not for late nights and drinking sessions. We recommend the Suman, Turon, and Red Egg and Tomato Salad. If you’re feeling adventurous, try their customer-recommended orange flavored tsokolate as well. Our insider tip is to visit on weekends for live acoustic music. Fun Fact: Batirol is a traditional wooden rod used to make the tsokolate thick, hence the name Choco-late de Batirol.

Ketchup: The Food Community is a popular community food park that features homegrown Baguio food concepts. Each one offers a different cuisine ranging from Asian to Western, and of them is Canto Bogchi Joint. Canto is an American eatery serving steaks, ribs, tacos, and fries. It’s for people who love big saucy ribs. It’s not for big groups who don’t like to queue on a restaurant’s good day. We recommend the famous Lomo Ribs. Our insider tip: You can order from any restaurant in the establishment and have it served wherever you choose to be seated.

Amare La Cucina is an Italian restaurant famous for its traditional slow-cooked pizza and baby back ribs. Though it’s not in the heart of the city, a lot of people still visit the restaurant for its uniqueness and their traditional way of cooking. It’s for Italian cuisine lovers who want to try novelty pizzas in Baguio. It’s not for people who want multiple cups of rice to supplement their meal. We recommend the White Pizza, Wagyu Pizza and the Foie Gras with Truffle Oil pizza. They have so many unique flavors. Our insider tip is that they even have a nutella-based pizza to satisfy your sweet tooth.

50’s Diner is an American retro diner filled with pop culture memorabilia such as posters of American icons, neon lights, a jukebox and even a red buggy. The whole vibe is reminisent of diners with servers on skates. Their menu includes steaks, pastas, fish and chips – as well as some Pinoy comfort food favorites. It’s for the young and the old who appreciate the throwback. It’s not for people who want a quiet and relaxed space to chill in. We recommend the Guys on the Hood, Gangsta Gangsta and their milkshakes. Our insider tip: Avoid over-ordering as servings of some dishes are already good for sharing.

When talking about Baguio’s must-try restaurants, Café by the Ruins has always been part of the list – serving natural and local ingredients that embody its way of cooking that is distinctly Baguio. It’s for people who want to taste authentic local dishes that tell something about the region’s culture. It’s not for guests who have a deep stomach and a bottomless appetite. We recommend the Pinikpikan, which is chicken soup used in rituals by natives, and the Baguio Bagnet with Padas bagoong, tomato relish, and lime. Our insider tip is to try getting their guava preserve jam as pasalubong from your long weekend adventures.