13 Best Iloilo Delicacies You Might Be Missing

Iloilo is not just known as the City of Love, but also a City of Gastronomy. Iloilo delicacies range from anything savory to sweet. La paz batchoy, pancit molo, chocolate batirol, KBL — you name it. It’s quite impossible to leave the city without trying at least one of the authentic Ilonggo dishes you can only find there. You also have a variety of options for pasalubong to take home after your trip, like biscocho, butterscotch, or cream horns.

This article lists some of the best Iloilo foods you must try on your visit. Take a virtual food trip and discover flavors that are totally worth trying.

Iloilo: A UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy

In 2023, Iloilo was recognized as the Philippines’ first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, honoring its rich culinary heritage. According to the international organization, there are over 4,600 people employed in the gastronomy sector and over 300 restaurants serving comfort delicacies in Iloilo City. To Ilonggos, food is not simply a daily necessity, it is an essential tool for cultural preservation, social enrichment, and instrument of socio-economic inclusion.

The Iloilo City Government and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) even released the Meet and Taste Iloilo City Tours in 2024. These various food crawl guides aim to promote some of the best foods in Iloilo, and uplift culinary tourism. Among the bustling street food stalls and fresh market vendors, you can truly feel the locals’ love and appreciation for authentic Filipino cuisine.

13 Yummy and Nostalgic Delicacies in Iloilo City that You Must Try

Ilonggo Dishes

1. Pancit Molo

Pacit Molo is a light but tasty chicken broth soup, containing flavorful seasoned meat wrapped in molo wrapper, and topped with garlic and spring onions. Molo soup is loved for its lightness and comforting vibe. It is one of the top Ilonggo dishes that you can enjoy any time of the day. 

2. Kadyos-Baboy-Langka (KBL)

If you’re looking for native Iloilo foods, the KBL is a must-try. It combines the earthy flavor of kadyos (pigeon peas), smoky grilled pork, and freshness of langka (jackfruit) into one savory, filling dish. The best-tasting KBL is one with tender pork and langka. You can find this dish in most local restaurants, each serving family classics or innovative versions of the beloved recipe.

4. La Paz Batchoy

This signature pork and beef noodle is perhaps one of the most famous Iloilo delicacies. Its birthplace is the La Paz district, hence the name. Miki, sotanghon, or misua noodles are boiled in a salty broth, along with beef, pork, liver, chicharon, spring onions, and toasted garlic. You must savor the saltiness and warmth of the la paz batchoy before you leave Iloilo.

5. Ibos

Suman sa Ibos is a native delicacy made of steamed glutinous rice wrapped in palm leaves. Locals commonly pair it with muscovado sugar, which adds rich, sweet flavor to every bite. Some places serve ibos fried, paired with mango jam or chocolate tablea.

6. Laswa

Get a delectable yet nutritious fill of the laswa, one of the native Ilonggo dishes packed with fresh vegetables and seafood. This comforting stew is made with eggplant, okra, squash, and string beans. Locals typically add shrimp and fish to enhance and complement the natural veggie flavors.

Local Ilonggo Treats

7. Queen Siopao by Roberto’s

Head over to Roberto’s on JM Basa Street to taste the delicious queen siopao. This family business is the home of one of the versions of siopao in the country. Their sizes range from regular, jumbo, king, and queen, the latter being the largest and most filling, served with bacon, chinese sausage, chicken, pork adobo, and egg. They also serve meatballs, chicken, and a variety of rice meals.

8. Home Brew Coffee by Madge Cafe

Inside the renovated La Paz Market, you can find coffee handcrafted using traditional techniques. Madge Cafe has been a long-running coffee shop since 1951, beloved by locals. They serve native Arabica coffee, brewed with care and strained using the cloth ‘sock’ method. Madge Cafe also offers pastries, Iloilo delicacies, and rice meals to pair with your brew.

9.Tsokolate De Batirol by Camiña Balay nga Bato

After a heritage sightseeing in Camiña Balay nga Bato, head up to their second floor to taste the famous tsokolate de batirol paired with biscocho. It is a thick, creamy, and bittersweet chocolate drink, made by whisking local cacao beans. Enjoying hot choco batirol in an ancestral home is another level of traveling back in time.

10.Buko Batchoy at Lar’s

You’ve heard of la paz batchoy, but have you tried buko batchoy yet? Lar’s eatery in Mandurriao put a tropical spin on one of the famous Iloilo dishes and made it their own. Their bestseller is the coconutchoy, a fusion of la paz batchoy with coconut juice and meat. It adds a fresher, sweeter taste to the usual saltiness of the broth. 

Iloilo Pasalubong Staples

11. Biscocho

Biscocho is probably the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Iloilo delicacies. This bread is baked twice to perfection, and best paired with choco batirol or hot coffee. It can be enjoyed at any time of the day, making it a perfect pasalubong for your family and friends. You can get it at the Original Biscocho Haus.

12. Butterscotch

If you’re looking for buttery, nutty delicacies from Iloilo, then you will love their many variations of butterscotch. From classic to coffee or mango-infused flavors, chewy butterscotch makes a great snack or sweet dessert after a heavy meal. RGies pasalubong makes some of the best butterscotch around the city.

13. Barquillos

The irresistible crispiness and milky sweetness of barquillos makes it one of the best Iloilo delicacies to take home. These cylindrical wafer pastries are made of flour, sugar, eggs, and butter. It involves meticulous manual labor to produce this melt-in-your-mouth treat. It is best paired with ice cream or infused with flavors like ube or pandan.

14. Cream Horns

iCreamhorn (formerly Margec’s Deli) in Jaro serves the original cream horns. They are one-of-a-kind Iloilo delicacies that are cone-shaped, rolled puff pastries with filling. You have a choice of custard, chocolate caramel, mango, strawberry, and ube. It is crispy, sweet, and flaky, an indulgent dessert that will keep you coming back for more.

How to Travel from Cebu to Iloilo and Vice Versa

If you’re coming from Cebu, you can board a Trans-Asia vessel that departs for Iloilo twice a week. Trips are every Monday and Friday only at 6 PM. Regular passenger rates start at PHP 1,960.00. Discount applies for infants, minors, students, senior citizens, and PWDs.

 

Here is how to book your ferry tickets.

In-Person / Ticket Outlet

  1. Visit Trans-Asia’s main office in Cebu or any accredited ticketing outlets.
  2. Book your trip. Prepare a valid photo ID to present.
  3. On the day of your trip, arrive at the port at least 2 hours before your departure. Bring your ticket voucher and valid ID and present it at the counter. You will be given your actual ticket.
  4. Enter the boarding area and wait for your trip to be called.

Online Ticket Booking

  1. Click the BOOK NOW button at the top of this page or visit www.chelseatravel.ph. 
  2. Book your trip and pay using your e-wallet or card.
  3. Print your e-ticket voucher and bring it with you, plus a valid ID to the port at least 2 hours before your departure. Present these at the counter to receive your actual ticket.
  4. Enter the boarding area and wait for boarding.

You can also download the Chelsea Travel App for a faster, easier booking experience.

Thanks to their status as a Creative City of Gastronomy, traveling just to taste the best foods in Iloilo is totally worth it. Take this as your sign to visit and discover the many flavors that Iloilo has to offer.

ALSO READ: Places to Visit In Iloilo: A Well-Planned Itinerary for RORO Travelers

Trans-Asia Shipping Lines Inc., provides reliable passenger ferry services in Cebu, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Masbate, Ozamiz, and Tagbilaran. We offer RoRo, RoPax, cargo, and container shipping services that connect passengers between major tourist hubs in the country. Enjoy safe, worry-free travel with a ferry company that puts your comfort first. Book your next Iloilo trip with us today! You may also send us a message here for other inquiries.