Balai Ilocos

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4.0

Craving for Ilocano food or a quick bagnet fix?You don't to travel all the way up to Ilocos to savor Ilocano dishes. Balai Ilocos serves home-grown recipes that have been preserved for many generations by Chef Niño Mendoza's family, who hails from Paoay, Ilocos Norte. It has been ages since I last gone to Ilocos Norte and so I immediately agreed on to a website meetup at Balai Ilocos. The gustatory experience would surely be a trip down memory lane, I anticipated. Binagoongang Bagnet was chopped bite-size pieces of Bagnet served with diced tomatoes, onions and sweet bagoong (shrimp paste). Bagnet is a gastronomic delight in itself and it’s even more satisfying to savor Bagnet in many ways. This twice the crunch, mouthwatering slab of deep-fried pork is to die for! Each bite mixed with the ensalada mix was heavenly! They offer crispy sisig made from bagnet with chopped chili peppers, onions and mayonnaise. It looks like pulled pork made crispy, a far cry from the pork cheeks and ears sisig recipe I got used to that even uses brain as a binder.Dinakdakan is another pride of the Ilocano cuisine that we got to try. Dinakdakan differs from sisig in size. Dinakdakan is cut in small cubes while sisig comes finely chopped. Chef Niño take on Dinakdakan is diced pork meat combined with vinegar, chillies and other seasonings. They also serve delectable Spanish food that we have grown accustomed to. I got to taste Gambas (prawns in garlic oil), Kaldereta (usually a goat stew) and Mechado (a beef casserole).I have tasted a lot of Gambas in the past and I have to say that this is one of the best! Chef Niño makes a very tasty shrimp sauce that even after the last prawn is gone, Gambas ni Pat remaining stock can still be great for bread to dip in.Di Makakalimutang Mechado is what I love most! This tomato sauce-based casserole reminded me of hearty lunches spent over at my grandmother's home when I was just a kid. Chef Niño's version uses inhouse tomato sauce making it more delicious. Beef meat waas slow-cooked to perfection! It was tender and moist! The adequate moisture of the beef results to a flavorful and savory feast.We had Maruya a la Mode (Banana Fritters) for dessert. Mashed, ripe plantain bananas were mixed with a pancake batter and fried. The sugar-dusted maruya then is served with vanilla ice cream. It was perfect to cap a gastronomic experience. I love its simplicity. It reminds me of home.I will surely go to Balai Ilocos for another phenomenal Ilocano meal.

Dewi Pang

3.0

No big deal! Very slow service! Ambiance 8/10Food Quality 6/10Service 2/10Value for Money 5/10Totally unacceptable service, more than one hour for a typical food!

Stefan S.

4.0

I am an Ilocano by blood but never tasted an authentic Ilocano dish until I visited this gem of a restaurant inside BF Homes, Paranaque.I love how the place is photo-friendly.  The ambiance is homey and I felt like I was actually in Ilocos.  I love how Nino placed all the photos of his family on the wall - and with that, you'd know that he really treasures his roots and passionate about Ilocoano dishes..Admittedly, the food was close to perfection.  Although, the beef mechado was a bit salty, but other than, everything was perfect!My personal choice is Crispy Bagnet Binagoongan. I would recommend you order that on your next visit! And, oh, the dessert! I just don't know how to spell it right, but, it's Maruya.  Lovely banana pancake and IT'S WAY BETTER THAN IHOP!Anyway, over-all I gave the restaurant a 4.5.  I will be back soon!!!

Febryani Sulistyaningrum

4.0

I've never been to Ilocos but since I follow travel bloggers, I already have a hint of how it looks like - and, this place didn't disappoint me. AMBIANCEThe ambiance is perfect! If you love chillin' at home and eating your mom's home cooked meals, then this is the place for you! The vintage looking walls and photos were amazing.  FOODThe food served to us were great! From gambas down to maruya as dessert - very authentic!  These are just simple dishes yet cooked with passion and love. My favorite was Caldereta, bagnet, and sisig!  If you are craving for bagnet, Balai Ilocos is the place to be! VALUE for MoneyIt is quite expensive.  However, the taste compensates the price of the food.  Over-all, I have been "BI'd" and I must say, food was great, delectable, and place is contemporary yet elegant!

Mark Philip

4.0

Vigan, Ilocos, said to be the oldest residual Spanish colonial city in the Philippines is still listed in our bucket list.  Though it is just in Luzon, we need to drive  9 hours (that's without traffic) to get there from Manila.  Aside from the heritage houses and historical relevance, its cuisine is one of the highlight of the region.

Shabrina Nurfitriani

2.0

Good food service is slow. Maybe they lack kalans or something. But food was great, ordered pakbet and inabras too bar papaitan aint available. Booooooo

Amimulya

5.0

A great experience eating here. Good airconditioning, good service and great food especially the Mechado and binagoongan bagnet. Definitely worth a try!

Kristensen Gonzales

4.0

Along the street of Aguirre lies a small Ilokano-centric restaurant sandwiched among many other eateries. You almost have to squint in order to find this restaurant because of its size. Certified "BI" ever since I tasted their scrumptious meals. Bagnet Ilocos offers different kind of meals with a happy tummy guaranteed. Only a few Ilokano-centric restaurants are around the vicinity so this one is a must try. I have never been to Ilocos before so I'm not particularly knowledgeable when it comes to their food culture. After tasting Balai Ilocos, I got a glimpse what Ilokano food tastes like. I got to try their bagnet, mechado, kaldereta, dinakdakan, gambas, pinakbet and their maruya. All of these local delicacies are an epitome of what Filipino food culture is - homey and delicious. I would take this opportunity to discuss in detail their 3 meals that certainly left an impression on me. If you're going to ask me why did those meals leave an impression, my answer would be is because IT IS SUPER DELICIOUS. I am hands down with their binagoongan bagnet. This is the meal that always makes me return here. I'll always be a fan of their bagnet because of the pork's crispy skin and succulent meat. I always opt for Mang Thomas as my sauce since their bagoong is not into my liking. Forget about counting your calories because this meal is sinfully delicious! Their mechado is truly different. It's definitely something I have never tasted before. It stands out among the mechado meals that have been served before me. The meat is so tender that I didn't have a hard time chewing it. They used real tomatoes instead of the common tomato sauces used. Their mechado leaves a sour-salty aftertaste in your mouth. Their maruya is a pancake-like meal drizzled with chocolate and topped with vanilla ice cream. If you cut open their maruya, you would see a fresh serving of bananas lying down just for you. Their chocolate syrup is not too sweet so it doesn't leave you thirsty. The interior design of the quaint place makes its eaters feel like they're in Vigan. The details in the restaurant are well-thought of by the co-owner/manager. My verdict? Will return again soon!

Merill Rubante

4.0

Craving satisfied! Balai Ilocos quenches one's thirst for authentic Ilocano food. Even shocked when Igadu was on the menu! This restaurant really makes you feel you're in Ilocos once inside. Homey and spacey, the place makes you eat more.

Marc Valencerina

3.0

Food is good. Must try Igado, Binagoongang Bagnet and Longanisa. Go late afternoon or at night, it's cooler. It's family-run, so give opening hours (supposedly at 12 noon) some allowance. Opener sometimes comes in a bit later. Had a pleasant chat with the owner, and found out he's the son of Renz Verano, a singer from the 90s.