I've always wanted to work in a big city where I could see tall buildings whenever I logged out of work. I fancy those buildings that will make me look up and see those light that lit up during nighttime. A typical reaction for a province girl like me. Now that I am currently residing in one of the biggest cities in the country, I am missing my province life and my second home — Iligan City.
Iligan City is dubbed as the City of Majestic Waterfalls in the Philippines with over 20 waterfalls discovered. From chasing waterfalls to trekking, Iligan City is truly a must-visit place. Apart from the fun adventures with nature, Iligan City offers you a variety of food waiting to be devoured. These food are cheap but deliciously satisfying. I've been missing it since day one. Writing this blog is torture. It heightens the cravings, and I couldn't wait to devour all of this when I go home.
So here are some of the foods that I highly recommend when visiting Iligan City.
Pater Al-Kuwait
Pater and Palapa
Pater and Palapa
Pater is a halal rice dish wrapped in a dry wilted banana leaves. It originates from Maguindanao and is popularly known as pastil. But for Meranao, they call it pater. The rice is topped with either shredded beef, chicken, or tuna. It is best to eat pater with palapa, a spicy condiment! One of the best combos, I must say. I am not fond of spicy foods but this one is an exemption. Eating pater means you have to eat using your hand. It is a traditional Filipino way of eating food.
The smell of pater or palapa alone makes my stomach grumble. The smell is strong you can distinguish even from a distance. Opening the banana leaves, the smell of pater enters quickly to your nostrils.
Aside from three varieties I mentioned, there are other halal food and restaurants that offer different toppings for the pater. Beef pater is my favorite but it was overtaken by chicken piaparan pater. I can devour three or more sets of this.
Halang-Halang and Bulalo sa Merkado
Halo
Halo
The Halang-Halang and Bulalo in the market (merkado) are the go-to food eatery after work, school, or even after a hard-drinking session. Beef Halang-Halang is a spicy Filipino soup dish while Bulalo is a beef soup made of beef shanks with bone marrow inside the bone.
Each table has three separate bowls that contain chopped spring onions, sliced calamansi, and crushed chili. These three are the condiments for the Halang-Halang. I always exclude the crushed chili since I am not a fan of spicy food especially a spicy soup. I habitually used four pairs of calamansi and a spoonful of chopped spring onions.
Instead of ordering Halang-Halang or Bulalo, I always order Halo. Meaning, the soup of my Halang-Halang is from Bulalo. Then, I would request a bowl of Taba, fats of the beef, for free.
Halang is a Cebuano term for spicy.
There was a time I put two spoonfuls of chopped spring onions on my rice. I was exhausted and drained from work. It was already ten in the evening, and I was shaking already because of hunger. My officemates were laughing at me.
Jaime's Lechon Bayug
Lechon Baboy
Lechon Baboy
Lechon Baboy is a Filipino term for roasted pig. It is prepared on every occasion like birthday, wedding, Christmas, Fiesta and other occasions you can think.
My two favorite parts of the Lechon Baboy are its skin and the ribs. I sound like a dog but the ribs are the best. I also love the belly part since it is also near the stuffed herbs and spices. The best combo for the Lechon baboy is the Iligan's signature vinegar — Sukang Pinakurat.
There are plenty of Lechon brands in Iligan, but Jaime's Lechon Bayug is on my top list. One of its branches is located near the university I'm working with. It serves a budget meal where it contains Lechon, rice, and atsara, a papaya relish. I always request the Lechon sauce for free. It is the accumulated excess sauce upon roasting the pig.
Papa Mai's Grill
Liempo
Liempo
When talking about Liempo or grilled pork belly, the go-to restaurant is the Papa Mai's Grill in Tubod, Iligan City. They serve the tastiest and savory grilled pork belly in town. The pork belly is stuffed with herbs and spices making it sensationally mouth-watering.
The pork belly is chopped into bites. It is best consumed when dipped into their signature vinegar. They also serve Halang-Halang (soup only) for free.
I discovered this restaurant on my last year in Iligan City. My friend was deeply surprised that I hadn't eaten in Papa Mai's knowing that I always eat. He treated me and kept on asking, "Delicious, right?". I couldn't answer him because my mouth was full. I just nodded. It's the best.
Monster Sisig
Sisig
Sisig
Sisig is a Filipino dish made from parts of pig head and liver. It is seasoned with calamansi, onion, and chili peppers. Knowing what is made of, I wasn't even planning to try eating it. But regardless of the ingredients, it became one of my favorites because of how deliciously it has been cooked.
When I tasted the sisig of Monster Sisig, it became my favorite sisig in town. They serve sisig in different flavors: Pork, Chicken, and Tuna and Crab. Their sisig comes with mayo. There's also an option where you can add egg and I always order with an add-on. Mayo and an egg are the perfect combinations for me. It sweetened the sisig a bit. Although other restaurants offer the same, I find their sisig more delectably satisfying.
Macki's Fried House
Fried Chicken
Fried Chicken
My college days wouldn't be complete without the deep-fried chicken of Macki's. They serve the tastiest, juiciest, golden-brown fried chicken in town. The chicken is crispy and big. It comes at a very affordable price. Every table has two bottled-containers. One is soy sauce and the other one is ketchup. Before devouring the chicken, mix the soy sauce and the ketchup and then dip the chicken.
This is the to-go lunch of the students. In my college days, we would wait for the other students to finish their meal. It's always jam-packed with students.
B-Bu-Q Haus
Barbecue and Laing
Barbecue and Laing
Talking about a barbecue house, BBuQ is the first to go place in the city. They serve various kinds of barbecue like chicken, chorizo, liver, but their good-tasting pork barbecue is the main celebrity.
When we don't know what food we want to eat, we were always compelled to walk into B.Bu.Q Tibanga. There was a time that we should take a rest in a barbecue and have Japanese cuisine, instead. Unfortunately, it was closed, and the nearest store was the B.Bu.Q Palao. As I've said, we are compelled by their delightful pork barbecue.
Aside from the pork barbecue, I always paired it with their laing. Laing is a Filipino dish of shredded taro leaves with meat, thick coconut milk, and spices. I have mentioned I don't like spicy foods but their laing is included in the exemptions list.
These are some of the food in Iligan City that I've been missing and wanting to eat right now. I still have another set of craving list but I'll end it here. As I've said, writing this blog is torture. It's been ten long months. I was hoping to go home last April 2020 but postponed because of the current situation. If I could go home by next year, I will devour all of my Iligan food cravings.
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