Food- A look at popular local delicacies

Another well-loved product of Ilocos is its version of an empanada. The popular street food originated in Batac, Ilocos Norte, and is now a favorite snack even in Manila. What sets Ilocos Empanada apart from the rest is its color and ingredients! Ilokanos use annatto seeds to add color to its dough, making it vibrantly orange. Inside, you’ll typically find chopped Vigan longganisa, green papaya, mung beans, and an egg. It is then deep-fried to perfection and best devoured as soon as it leaves the pan.

Bagnet, known locally in Ilocos as chicharon, is a deep-fried pork dish known for its crunchy skin and a golden-brown color. Although it’s similar to lechon kawali, Ilokanos prepare bagnet differently to make it uniquely their own. They first boil a slab of pork, then air-dry it for a couple of hours before deep-frying it multiple times to achieve its crispy state. Albeit a tedious process, this is what makes bagnet one of the best food in Ilocos – and in the entire country.
Freshly-made bagnet is prepared daily at Vigan City Public Market and makes for the perfect pasalubong. If you’re craving some of this pork goodness while still in the region, dine at Cuisine de Iloco and try their different iterations of bagnet.

Pinakbet may be a beloved dish all over the Philippines, but not everyone knows that it’s a product of the Ilokanos. This vegetable stew is made of eggplant, okra, bitter gourd, garlic, onions, string beans, winged beans, and tomatoes as its base ingredients. Unlike other versions, the Ilokano pinakbet does not include squash as locals believe that it distorts the aroma and taste of the other vegetables.
If you find yourself in Vigan’s well-known Calle Crisologo, visit Cafe Leona and order their pinakbet! Not only do they serve a classic and authentic version, but they are also known for their Pinakbet Pizza!

Okoy Tiyosko is another famous food from Ilocos that should be listed in your must-tries. This crunchy snack is a deep-fried fritter made of glutinous rice batter, shrimp, and various vegetables. You can either eat it alone or pair it with rice and spicy vinegar.
Kusina Felicitas of Grandpa’s Inn in Vigan is especially known for their take on okoy! So if you’re curious to taste this mouth-watering dish during your Ilocos Sur adventure, you know where to go.

Poqui poqui is a simple delicacy found in the region of Ilocos that vegetarians will surely love. It’s made with grilled eggplants mixed with onions, garlic, and tomatoes finished with one whole beaten egg. The end product will resemble a slightly soupy scrambled egg best matched with a steaming cup of rice.

Igado is a popular Ilocano dish made from pork tenderloin and pig’s innards such as liver, kidney, heart. This is definitely one of the best Filipino foods around, in my opinion. However, some people might still need to acquire a taste for it.