Last May, I was given a chance to return to Naga City, Camarines Sur for the second time. The first trip was years ago and it was for business and I barely remember anything because I was not able to see anything that is of interest to me, basically, because it was just a 1-day trip and when we went out of the hotel, it was dark already. Though this second time was also for business, I had more time to spare. With that thought in mind, I was completely ecstatic.
This post is dedicated to the gastronomic discoveries that I researched and found in Naga City. All were delightful and each place has something great to offer to anyone. Enough talk, let's move on to the experience!
Enjoy!
1. ICE BLINK
2/F SM Naga Food Court
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| The yummiest Halo-Halo I ever tasted! I give credit to the grated cheese because it made it more creamier and enhanced the taste as well. Two thumbs up for me! Will surely have this next time I go there again. |
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| Another hit is their Empanada. The pastry shell is just the right thickness but the filling is very abundant. It filled the whole shell. Still hot and crispy. So love it! The best that I've had so far! |
2. RED PLATTER
Magsaysay Ave. Naga City
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| Definitely a down-to-earth classy place with a touch of homeliness. Ambiance is perfect. |
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| I ordered their Bicol's Best Platter consisting of Pinangat and Bicol Express. It's a sampler of what the Bicol region is famous for. I loved it! I paired it with the Saffron Rice and it made the trip there so worth it!The Pinangat was cooked right and it melts in your mouth. The Bicol Express was not overly spicy so that was great for me. |
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| Dining solo? Yes. But I don't give a damn. Haha! |
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| The waitress offered me to taste their cookies and this was such an unexpected bonus! Everything was great-tasting! It made choosing my take-out much easier. |
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| And this is what I chose.. the Belgian Choco Cookie. Thin and crisp and so chocolatey. Better eaten cold. This is something that I really loved in this trip. How I wish this was available here in Manila. |
3. GEEWAN
2/F SM Naga Food Court
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| Another famous place here in Naga is Geewan. I would have preferred to dine at their resto, however, I was on a tight schedule so I can only afford to eat inside SM Naga. Good thing they have a branch at the food court. I ordered their meal consisting of Pinangat and Lechon Kawali. The Pinangat was a bit dry but still delicious nonetheless and the Lechon Kawali is still freshly cooked. I just find the price a bit high for P120+ because this was in a food court setting and their staff are not really accommodating so that was the downside to the otherwise yummy experience. |
4. RAFABEL'S CAKES & PASTRIES
G/F SM Naga
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| I had this Sansrival Cake for merienda and it was very very good and very affordable. I think it was around P60+ only. Not so over-the-top creamy and the gooeyness is just right..just the way I like it. |
5. BIGG'S DINER
Magsaysay Ave. Naga City
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| Another Naga City signature foodie place so it is a definite must-try! |
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| A heck of a big iced tea. Compare it with the regular-sized glass. |
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| Picked their Cordon Bleu with a side of veggies and mashed potato. For me, this was alright. Not very impressed but that doesn't mean that the place is not good. Of course it is great! I just picked a wrong dish for me. But it's ok. I enjoyed the ambiance which is like a 50's diner complete with an accessory jukebox on one end and many more. |
6. NAGA GARDEN RESTAURANT
Centro, Naga City
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| Their bestsellers! Toasted Siopao and Beef Mami. This is what a lot of the regular patrons ordered so this is what I want. The toasted siopao was good and the mami provided me with a feeling of comfort that I immediately finished all of the soup. The fat noodles were a bit big for my liking so I just had some of it. Just add a dash of pepper and soy sauce and its good to go. |
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| With a bit of egg inside. |
7. CBD HOTEL (my complimentary brekkie)
Ninoy and Cory Avenue, CBD II Triangulo, Naga City
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| In my 3 nights here, this is the only breakfast that I felt deserved of a photographic moment. This was the yummiest out of all 3 that I've had. Generous heaps of scrambled egg, hamonadong pork and laing made it a very heavy brekkie but so good! It packed all the energy one needs for the day. |
So there it is, my delightful food trip in Naga City. Very memorable for me as I went here alone. Took a bus and arrived there in the wee hour of the morning, stayed for 4 days, worked during the day, explored foodie joints by night and explored some cultural tourist spots on my last day.
Way to go! I did it! =)
Other NAGA CITY posts:
wow you are having a pig-out sesh haven't been to Naga but want to be someday :)
ReplyDeletewow, seems you really enjoy the foods here in Naga. We still have many resto that serves delicious foods, you should have tried the fried siopao and the famous kinalas.
ReplyDeletewow, I want the Belgian Cookie. Haven't been to Naga but I want to visit Bicol Region someday. :)
ReplyDeleteI love Bicol. I will definitely try these restaurants when I get back!
ReplyDeletexoxo
MrsMartinez
I'm curious with Bigg's Diner for quite a long time! ;)
ReplyDeleteI will surely tag my mom and brother the next time we visit Bicol. My mom is from Cam Sur, we have a property there but never really stayed longer than 3 days there.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
Food! food! food! this is so nakakagutom! hahaha :D I like your first meal.. kase may ice cream and i'm craving for one. hihihi :D
ReplyDeleteOne of the really good things about travelling to provinces is about sampling their food that's otherwise not available in Metro Manila. I'm gonna go to Davao City tomorrow and I just can't wait to eat out at their food places.
ReplyDeleteActually, one of the places I'd really love to go to is the Bicol region. I really hope I can find the time for just that!
Waaaahh food overload! I want that Belgian Cookie too and the Sansrival cake. mouthwatering! Thanks for sharing this :) It makes me hungry! :D
ReplyDeleteit was indeed a great food trip experience!! would do the same if i travel! kagutom your post :D im sure youre hvaing fun there sa naga :D
ReplyDeleteIt's been years since I last went to Bicol, but I have never forgotten the taste of their Toasted Siopao. There's this halo-halo place near Mt. Mayon (I can't remember the name) that we used to go to, and their halo-halo is really superb, too! :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome food trip, that toasted siopao looks great! And thanks for stopping by my site earlier!
ReplyDeleteHi.. You should also try the noodles with gravy... The so called "kinalas" with baduya... If you come back. Here in naga try it..
ReplyDeleteYou should also try the noodles with gravy... The. So called "kinalas" with baduya...
ReplyDeletewhen you get back to naga try the following: kinalas in dayangdang, toasted siopao from 3n bakery (altough they now have lots of branches in metro manila), asado mami from naga garden restaurant, crab meat foo young & oyster chicken from oyster villa, chopino & baby come back (baby back ribs) from chili peppers (they also have a branch in salcedo makati), bacon cheese burger & rock n' roll ice tea from bigg's diner, pancit guisado & pancit palabok from casa moderrna, pandesal from atlantic bakery (they also have branches in metro manila), pineapple chiffon cake from quality bakeshop (not dry at all), kare kare from geewan or red platter, concorde cake (super decadent & sinful), crinkles & apple walnut squares from graceland, baker's plaza or red platter (geewan, red platter, & baker's plaza are all owned by graceland food industries).
ReplyDeletewhen you get back to naga don't miss on the following: kinalas in any of the kinalas joints in dayangdang, toasted siopao in 3n (they now have several branches in metro manila), asado mami from naga garden restaurant, bacon cheese burger from bigg's diner, pineapple chiffon cake (not dry at all) from quality bakeshop, pancit guisado & pancit palabok from casa moderna, crab meat foo young & oyster chicken from oyster villa, other chinese food from wok food garden, chopino & baby come back (simply baby back ribs) from chili peppers (they also have a branch in salcedo makati), cakes from caramel bakeshop, kare-kare from red platter or geewan, concorde cake, chocolate crinkles & brownies from baker's plaza or graceland (red platter, geewan, baker's plaza & graceland are all owned by graceland food industries).
ReplyDeleteWow! That is quite a long list! Thanks for taking time to enumerate them all. I appreciate it. I never knew that Naga has so many yummy food offerings and I enjoyed my stay there because of it along with the other tourist spots. I never minded that I was alone. I was enjoying the "me" time immensely.
DeleteThanks for dropping by my blog! :)
Try the newest and the best burger joint in Naga - Shibuya Japanese Burger! Everything LOVELOVELOVE <3 hahahahaha!
ReplyDeletenice place to visit.... don't miss it
ReplyDeletevery nice place to visit....! i Love iT :)
ReplyDelete