This Homey Restaurant in Ilocos Puts Your Safety First

Besides the popular Calle Crisologo and breathtaking Bangui Windmills, another thing that makes Ilocos stand out is its divine cuisine. Apart from the crowd favorite Ilocano empanada (fried pastry dish with filling), the province of Ilocos has so many more delectable dishes to offer, and there’s no better way to experience authentic Ilocano delicacies than by visiting the home of Ilocano dishes itself: Cuisine de Iloco!

Standing in the heart of Laoag City, Cuisine de Iloco was initially supposed to be a restaurant that served international cuisine. But owner Jaymar Aquino along with his brothers thought that showcasing their hometown’s best specialties can help both locals and tourists appreciate Ilocos’ rich flavors even more. Now reopening under the new normal, Cuisine de Iloco has set up a few protocols that proves that they value health and safety first more than anything else.

Cuisine de Iloco’s menu consists mainly of Ilocano trademark dishes. The restaurant’s walls are adorned with bamboo and topped off with a nipa roof, giving a warm and homey atmosphere. You can choose to enjoy Laoag City’s fresh air at the al fresco dining area or stay inside while admiring the lovely wall art in the air-conditioned indoor seating area. Fun fact: the paintings hanging on the resto’s walls are from a non-profit organization called Filarts Incorporated and are for sale as well.

One of their best-sellers is the bagnet sisig, a classic Kapampangan sizzling dish with an Ilocano twist. Instead of the usual pig head parts and chicken liver, this sisig is cooked with Ilocos’ famous deep fried crispy pork belly bagnet and served with a sunny-side up egg and calamansi. Another must-try is the poque-poque, a smoky Ilocano vegetable dish made of roasted eggplants sauteed in onions, garlic, tomatoes, and scrambled egg.

Cuisine de Iloco does not only serve favorite Ilocano eats, but also budget meals and party trays for different group sizes. You can also ask the chef to cook both local and international dishes for you. The resto is currently offering a pandemic-reduced menu since some of the ingredients being used are not always available in the market. For the complete list of their menu, visit Cuisine de Iloco’s official Facebook page.

Cuisine de Iloco is now accepting dine-in services after it had temporarily suspended operations due to the community quarantine. The restaurant implemented guidelines that everyone must strictly follow for a safe dine-in experience:

• Operating hours are from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily.

• Face masks are required before entering the restaurant.

• Guests must disinfect their feet using the disinfecting mat at the entrance.

• Hands must be sanitized.

• Everyone must undergo mandatory temperature screening before entry.

• Guests must observe social distancing.

• The restaurant will only accommodate 40 to 50 guests at the same time.

Experience the best of Laoag City by adding Cuisine de Iloco in your itinerary for your next post-pandemic Ilocos food trip!

Go to Yoorekka to discover more local restaurants!