Last May 8, 2023, I found myself riding on the back of a van heading to Tagaytay. Arcmilla's family suddenly invited me to join them in celebrating one of the family member's birthday. I declined the first time they asked me since I didn't want to intrude on their intimate family event. However, Arc's mom insisted that I join, so I did.
We went to several places in Tagaytay that day, but I will be writing about my Balay Dako Restaurant experience this time.
Tagaytay is the go-to place for a quick rest from the bustling cities of Manila or a place for family adventures. It is a well-known destination in the Philippines, renowned for its cool climate, stunning scenery, and an array of restaurants, particularly with a picturesque view of Taal Lake and Volcano.
Restaurants in Tagaytay offer an array of local and international cuisine, well-crafted cocktails or refreshing beverages, and an ambiance that leaves guests happy and relaxed. Some of the popular restaurants in Tagaytay are Sonya's Garden, Bag of Beans, Antonio's, and Balay Dako - the restaurant we visited.
Balay Dako is a prominent restaurant located in Tagaytay, Philippines. Its name literally means "big house" in the local language. The restaurant is indeed a big house, with a spacious dining room that can accommodate up to 300 guests. It's owned by Chef Tony Boy Escalante who is a well-known culinary expert in the Philippines and also the owner of Antonio's group of restaurants.
The restaurant is situated on a hilltop providing panoramic views of Taal Lake and Volcano, which attract many tourists and food enthusiasts.
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| Front side of the restuarant | The place has a lot of greenery | Entrance to the restaurant |
The parking lot was completely packed when we arrived at the location. The business was constantly flourishing, even on the weekdays. When I came here for the first time with my family, we too had to wait 10 to 15 minutes before being seated. It's a good thing that the waiting area is spacious. They have a well-organized space as well.
The receptionist will inquire about your seating assignment when you arrive. Scan the QR code provided by the security guard in the parking lot and register to get your seating number.
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After waiting for 5-10 minutes, we were beside big open windows. We had a nice view of the lake but couldn't take proper photos of it from our seats. There was a net cast over the windows for safety.
We scanned the QR Code printed on the table placemat to access Balay Dako's menu.
Balay Dako's menu is a fusion of Spanish, Chinese, and Filipino cuisines, with a focus on farm-to-table dining. They use locally-sourced ingredients to offer fresh and flavorful dishes to their guests.
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| Spanish influenced dishes | Soups | Desserts |
As much as I am entertained by the 27 pages menu of this restaurant, we had to make up our minds and order. Luckily, it seems that Arc's mother already had some dishes in mind. You can order individual dishes but if you're a group of 10 or more you can try their set menus.
Here's what we ordered:
Chicharong Bulaklak
Crispy Tawilis
Bulalo na Baka
Callos
Chicharo at Hipon
Camaron
Plain Rice
The Chicharong Bulaklak, Callos and Camaron were my choices. For someone who just tagged along and is an ex-girlfriend of Arc, I wonder where do I get this "kapal ng mukha"(thick-skinned) power. Haha, I guess I just got used to being comfortable around her family.
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| 1st Floor Dining Area | Piaya and Ice Cream Area | Bar on the 2nd Floor |
While waiting for our order, Arc and I decided to roam around and take photos of the place. From the lounge, dining, 2nd-floor veranda, and bar.
Balay Dako's interior design incorporates traditional Filipino elements such as capiz windows, wooden floors, and bamboo accents. The ambiance is warm and cozy, making it a perfect spot for family gatherings and romantic dinners.
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The al fresco area had 2 types of table arrangements. It also had a lot of potted plants and wall plants.
Coming to the veranda, I noticed how cool their doors were. They looked like gigantic windows turned into doors (windoors? ;v). I wondered whether the walls were left unpainted on purpose cause they looked nice as is.
The Taal Lake and Volcano. The video was taken by 
but here's what we came to get from the 2nd floor, a breathtaking view of The Taal Lake and Volcano.
After taking photos, we went back to our table.
When Arc and I went back to our seats, the drinks, and chicharong bulalak were already served. I ordered Sago't Gulaman because I'm a sucker for arnibal (caramelized sugar) and sago. I tried a piece of the chicharong bulaklak, it was well nice, and chewy but lacked crispiness. I was kinda surprised the Sago't gulaman I had wasn't sweet but had a nice grass jelly and vanilla flavor.
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As we eagerly waited, the dishes we had ordered finally arrived at our table after a short while.
One by one the dishes were put down on the table. As the people from our table were taking photos of the food, I was already eyeing the camaron.
I ordered this because I love tempura. Camaron just seems like a fluffy tempura and I was right. The camaron was cooked nicely. However, due to its thick batter, the oil left in it was a bit much for me. I couldn’t eat more than 2 pcs. For me, this dish is a 7/10.
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| Crispy Tawilis | Camaron |
The next dish that I tried was the callos. It was a popular dish here so I wanted to try it. Since it had pimiento as one of the main ingredient , I was expecting it to taste like pepper. The sauce was watery and yeah it did taste like pepper. It actually tasted closer to hot sauce without the hot. It had some ox tripe and some innards, I guess these went well with the sauce. Callos is 7/10 for me.
Next is the crispy tawilis! The tawilis is a small fish that is endemic to the taal lake. I could say in terms of tagaytay specialties crispy tawilis just goes almost on par with Bulalo. Balay Dako’s crispy tawilis was surprisingly good. It was lightly coated with batter and the fish was cooked thoroughly until super crispy you can even eat the bones. It was flavorful and well-seasoned. Pair it with sweet and tangy vinegar and a mouthful of rice. Sinful. I’ll give this a 10/10
Balance the crispiness with some veggies. The chicharo at hipon was one of the popular veggie dishes in Balay Dako. To me, it had no redeeming qualities when it comes to taste. However, the dish was cooked perfectly. The chicharo was still soft but crisp and the shrimp was fresh and fluffy. I’m giving this dish a 7/10
Lastly, let’s have some soup. The beef bulalo of Balay Dako was nothing out of the ordinary. The soup was served hot but not scalding. It went cold after a few minutes. However, It’s still a good beef bulalo. Nice beef cut and the soup was well seasoned. I’m giving this an 8.5/10 considering the bulalo they used looked sexy in my eyes. It was big and had nice fat content. The meat was also soft but still with a nice bite.
Balay Dako with its wide selection of dishes is a nice place to explore different kinds of dishes. I’ll bet almost all of their dishes are good with some exceptions that are great like the crispy tawilis I had.
If I were to eat here again I’d love to try the chili-peppered stir-fried pork and chicken, crispy adobong pitaw, and pastel de lengua.
After our sumptuous meal, we decided to treat ourselves to some decadent desserts. Personally, I have been eager to try Balay Dako's homemade ice cream for quite some time now, especially after hearing about its unique flavor options and its use of locally-sourced fruits.
I choose taho flavored ice cream while Arc ordered a lychee one. Like I said I’m a sucker for arnibal.
The taho ice cream was good but confusing. The ice cream itself was very thick and creamy. It tasted like soya milk therefore it only had a subtle taste of sweetness. Like your usual taho, the ice cream had sago and arnibal as toppings. It also had a wafer roll as a substitute for a sugar cone (big brain moves).
To enjoy it fully you’ll have to eat the ice cream with the arnibal and sago. I don’t think I’ll be able to eat the ice cream as is cus I like sweet things.
As I’m eating this, in my mind, it’s registering as “taho” because of the taste but the texture was putting me off. Maybe my brain was expecting soft silken taho instead of thick creamy ice cream. Haha
I’ll give their ice cream an 8/10.
By the end of our meal, Arc’s mom ordered some piaya as pasalubong(food souvenir).
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| Each pack has 6 pcs | Tita bought 5 packs |
Piyaya is a type of flaky unleavened bread that is filled with muscovado sugar and sometimes mixed with langka and other fruits. Balay Dako’s piyaya is freshly made in house. You can watch the chef cook and flip the piaya at the entrance of the dining area.
Here's manong chef doing his thing in his piaya station
Balay Dako's piaya has certainly become one of my favorites! I appreciate how it's always served fresh and warm, right off the pan. Even though I was already full from our main meal, I couldn't resist taking a small bite of it. Their piyaya is undeniably delightful with its balanced sweetness and chewy texture that pleases the taste buds.
With all that said, let’s go back to the question:
Is Balay Dako overrated?
Based on my analysis of Google reviews, Balay Dako has generally received positive comments from its customers. Most guests praise the restaurant's delicious food, attentive service, and exceptional view of Taal Lake. However, there are a few negative reviews, with some guests expressing disappointment with the food quality and pricing.
Personally, I agree with most positive comments from the reviews and I could say that the place is not overrated.
Hygiene - All their servers look nice and tidy. Wearing facemasks and kept updo hair. The place is clean and their comfort rooms are too.
Service - Well-trained staff, from the receptionist and waiters, they were all accommodating and friendly. Excellent customer service, promptness, and attention to detail.
Waiting time - although the place is packed, it is well organized. Waiting time is not that long and even if it is their lounge is a nice waiting area. You can also take pictures and roam around while waiting.
Ambiance - It has an incredible view of the lake. The restaurant has an elegant yet rustic interior design also adds to the overall experience.
Food quality and value - Balay Dako offers a diverse menu with varying prices for each dish. Generally, meals are relatively priced between 400 to 600 pesos, while specialty dishes range from 800 to 1200 pesos, making them more expensive. When we visited, we ordered dishes priced between 400 to 500 pesos, and they were enough to satisfy 2-3 people. I was happy with the portions and thought they were reasonably priced for the quality of the food served.
Overall, I would give this place a 4.5/5.
Leaving the restaurant.
I thoroughly enjoyed eating here with Arc's family. It is a nice restaurant to dine in with family and friends while enjoying the beautiful view of the taal lake and volcano. I’m sure whoever you’ll bring here will also enjoy the food and experience. I for one would love to visit this place again!
Have you ever been to Balay Dako? How was it? If not, would you consider dining here?