Ilocos is located in the northwest corner of the Philippines and is home to one of the country's most illustrious culinary traditions.
We had the opportunity to explore regional cuisine while in the Philippines for a TBEX travel bloggers conference, including in the northern Ilocos region.
The China Sea borders Ilocos, which is located at the northern tip of the Philippines. It is home to a number of Unesco World Heritage Sites as well as several National Historical Landmarks.
Years of trade between Asia and the Americas, combined with the region's biodiversity, have helped to make the Ilocos region famous for its delicious Ilocano cuisine.
Ilocano cuisine is both surprising and delicious, as well as exotic. Some regional specialties, such as pinakbet and dinuguan (savory pig's blood), have made their way into national cuisine.
While the list of Ilocano dishes and regional specialties is long, we provide a culinary guide to help you navigate the region.
Here are some unique llocos foods to try if you visit the Philippines' north.
Longganisa – A Vigan Food Speciality
Longganisa is a traditional Ilocano dish. These pork sausages are the highlight of any Ilocano meal. The most famous sausages are those from Vigan, which are small and plump.
We tried this Ilocano delicacy while visiting Vigan, Ilocos Sur, a well-preserved Spanish town from the 16th century.
These sausages are made with ground pork, garlic, vinegar, and a variety of other local seasonings.
They're tasty with a spicy kick. We enjoyed the flavors in this unique Vigan food as sausage lovers.
This is one of the Ilocos region's most famous cuisines and should not be missed if visiting the Ilocos.
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Batac Empanadas – Striking Orange Empanadas
We couldn't wait to try the traditional empanadas of Batac City after falling in love with them in Argentina.
Batac is the oldest town in the Province of Ilocos Norte, having been founded by the Augustinians in 1587.
The city is well-known for its Batac Empanadas, which are regarded as some of the best in the country.
Every year on June 23rd, there is an Empanada festival to commemorate the occasion.
The bright orange color of the Batac empanada is one of its most distinguishing features. Deep fried empanadas stuffed with green papaya, chopped up longganisa sausages, and hard boiled eggs.
The orange dough is made from rice flour and the color comes from annatto seeds.
Annatto is widely used in South America as a dye, medicine, and ingredient in a variety of foods. It is a natural food coloring that adds to the enjoyment of eating.
These empanadas are delicious and very different from those found in Argentina. They are an unforgettable experience in their own right.
See how the locals make these Batac empanadas at Lanie's Batac Special Empanada Restaurant in Batac, Ilocos Norte, in the short video below.
Bagnet – Deep Fried Crispy Pork Cracklings
The Ilocano Bagnet, also known as Chicharon Baboy, is a deep-fried pork dish. It's made of pork belly that's been deep-fried in its own fat.
After being fried, the pork belly is air dried to drain the fat. This process is repeated until the pork reaches the desired crispiness.
This Ilocano cuisine was not our favorite. However, because pork and fat are so prevalent in Filipino cuisine, it is difficult to avoid this dish.
Bagnet is a popular dish among Filipinos, as are other Ilocos region delicacies. You will be delighted if you enjoy eating fried pork.
Like the locals, wash down your bagnet with a San Miguel, a popular Filipino beer.
Pinakbet – Popular Mixed Vegetable Ilocos Food
One of the most popular Ilocano dishes is pinakbet. It is a vegetable dish that is popular throughout the country.
This is a vegetable stew made with tomatoes, eggplant, string beans, okra, and bitter gourd.
This dish's preparation varies by region, but the authentic Ilocano version includes small round eggplants and baby bitter gourd (ampalaya).
To season the dish, Ilocano pinakbet uses a popular fermented fish sauce. Bagoong isda sauce is an essential component of Filipino cuisine.
Pinakbet, despite being a vegetable dish, is not vegetarian. Typically, the mixed vegetables are steamed in a fish or shrimp sauce. Other variations of Pinakbet include pork.
We were surprised to find chunks of pork in a pinakbet meal we ordered in Manila.
If you want a purely vegetable dish, make sure to request no pork or seafood with your vegetables.
Okoy – Best Vigan Food “Shrimp Fritters“
Crispy shrimp fritters cooked in their shells in a glutinous rice batter and shaped into a round shape.
The okoy fritters are then topped with fresh shallots, garlic, and chili peppers.
When dipped in Sukang Iloko, an Ilocos style vinegar, the delicious flavors come to life. This mild and distinct vinegar is popular in Filipino and Illocano cooking.
It is commonly used in the preparation of sweet and sour sauces and can be found in almost all Filipino kitchens.
We ate these delicious fritters as snacks, and they're a quick bite while we waited for dinner.
Ilocos Norte – The Dragon Fruit Capital of the Philippines
While driving through the Ilocos region, we came across numerous stands selling dragon fruits.
Ilocanos grow the dragon fruit, known locally as "saniata," all year.
We discovered that Dragon Fruit was founded by Edita Dacuycuy, a local entrepreneur who began growing dragon fruits in her backyard several years ago. She has shared her enthusiasm with other farmers and has played an important role in promoting dragon fruits in the area.
She now runs Refmad Farms in Burgos with her daughter, where tourists and locals can learn about dragon fruits and pick them directly from the trees.
Dragon fruits are both visually appealing and full of health benefits. The fiber in the fruit aids digestion, regulates blood sugar fluctuations, and lowers bad cholesterol.
Dragon fruits are also high in antioxidants, which help the body rid itself of cancer-causing free radicals. Furthermore, the fruits are high in Vitamins B1, B2, and C, which aid in tissue repair and skin health.
If you're curious about dragon fruit and want to try it, you can buy it as a dried fruit snack on Amazon.
Every July, Ilocos Norte hosts a Dragon Fruit Festival. If you happen to be in the area at this time, don't miss out on the fresh fruits.
Other dragon fruit products available for sampling include ice cream, jam, wine, vinegar, tea, cookies, pastries, soaps, and more.
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