Another Trip to Tatoy's

I can't leave Iloilo without eating at Tatoy's. I just can't. We always order our usual. I'm feeling a little bit tired now to even think of what to write about these but here are the pictures from our last visit. I was with my Mom and Choking.

 Native Lechon Manok is a specialty at Tatoy's. Make sure you order this. You can request them to get you the munga (hen) that is still being roasted. Chicken will be very tender, juicy and tasty.

You can also ask for free soup. They will serve you a clear fish broth in a cup.

You may check out my other Tatoy's entry at Tatoy's Manokan and Seafood

Peppy Thai Deli

We have always loved Peppy Thai Deli ever since it opened. We have always been addicted to their dry noodles that my tita used to send our driver to their first branch in Sambag just to have this for lunch. Every time we are home, we try to make it a point to visit Peppy Thai.

The new branch in Plazuela Iloilo is a very far image from the simple hut in Sambag when they started years ago. It may no longer feel like the whole-in-the-wall type of restaurant but the food is still comforting and I'm quite surprised that the price increase is of acceptable range despite the more commercialized location.

The set up is similar to a turo-turo and some of the food has been cooked in batches already. There are dishes however that they cook only when you order. After ordering at the counter, we were given these buri hats which will serve as our table number.

I had my staple of Red Beef Curry (89 PHP). It is placed in a very small bowl but you'll be surprised to see that is actually full of beef and not much extenders. The beef was vary tender and the curry paste was well balanced with the coconut milk. The curry was not too strong with just a touch of sweetness and evened out by the lemongrass. 

Titit had Pandan Chicken (45 PHP) and Choking opted for the Pork Barbecue (34PHP). These were both served per cut/stick. The pork had a very good kick as well.

Khiao (34 PHP) is another one of out favorites. These are deep fried pork wontons served with sweet chili sauce. The wonton has good crunch as you bite into it. It was richly filled with very taste ground pork. I enjoyed the textures of crunchy and soft on the khiao as well as the flavors of sweet and spicy.

Khao Phat served with egg (75 PHP) is best accompanied by the earlier mentioned dishes. You have an option of ordering this without the fried egg as what we have done in the past. For some reason, I find my meal at Peppy Incomplete without this fried rice.

Our favorite Dry Noodles or Kwi Tien Nam usually arrives last as it is being made as you order. It is rightful indeed that this is the last one as it serves as the great climax of a good meal. There is another version of this dish at Peppy that is served with soup but I prefer the dried one. The bowl is filled with rice noodles with some sugar, sliced pork, liver, veggies, peanuts and a little bit of chili. Each component plays around your mouth with the variety of textures and flavors. 

I like Peppy because some of the dishes they serve are not the usual ones we see in Thai restaurants. The food will always be comforting. I hope they can serve the food warm thought but I'm pretty sure that if they do that, prices will get higher. 


Peppy will always be on my list on where to eat when in Iloilo.


Peppy Thai Deli is located at the GF Plazuela Iloilo Diversion Road Mandurriao.


P.S. I hope they serve milk tea soon though. Do try their dried squid as well.

Joy-Joy's Kalan-an

Before going home for the holidays, I had this intense craving for adobado and I don't even know any place in Manila that serves this. Titit and I agreed that our first lunch out in Iloilo will be at Joy-Joy's and we forcefully convinced our Mom to agree.

Joy-Joy's has a new branch in Brgy. Nabitasan in Leganes along the coastal road. My Dad takes pride in being able to convince the owner to have this new branch opened and somewhat nearer to the city proper. The newer branch has a more unique shape and somehow makes it less crowded.

We had our usual, Sinugba nga Managat where its always perfectly seasoned with juicy and tender meat. The fish's head was cut and made into soup.

Sinugba nga Bangrus (Bangus) is always a staple wherever we eat. This one is not boneless though and made the fish tastier when grilled. We were trained since we were kids to eat Bangus with all that tinik. 

We had a serving of Talaba also because we simply miss it. My Mom would usually request for our talaba to be malasado and we all loved it that way dipped in sinamak.

Sinugba nga pork chop is always at its best at Joy-Joy. Flavorful and juicy with every bite.

Kinilaw nga pasayan is a favorite of mine. The sinamak gave it a good flavor including the mix of ginger, onions, spring onions and a little bit of red chilli for a kick. It was a good blend of sweet, sour and spicy.

As for the Adobado, I simply poured the sauce over rice which what makes it so good. Adobado is alimusan (a kind of fish) cooked in coconut milk with other spices. I'm not sure if atsuete gives its bright orange color. I had no desire of learning how to cook this but I simply enjoy eating this dish. The fish is usually very tender and fat. The fat gives a good flavor to the gata sauce. I don't like my adobado to be really spicy. Joy-Joy found a good balance of the flavor for this dish where every bite is simply comforting.

Joy-Joy's Kalan-an is always in my list of places to eat when I'm home. I'm assured the food is always fresh and well seasoned. Good thing the drive is now shorter to get to this place. Despite the new branch, the quality of the food is still the same.


Joy-Joy's Kalan-an can be found in Brgy Nabitasan Leganes Iloilo along the Coastal Road.


P.S. We got some Garlic Shrimps from Bulljack as part of our lunch. I swear it was the best one I've had. It was overloaded with finely minced garlic and the right sweetness to the butter. You may find Bulljack along the Coastal Road too but somewhere near the road going to Metropolis. I didn't have a photo of it because it was that good to eat.

San Lo's Famous

It's been a while since my last entry after the crazy holidays. While in Iloilo, I just didn't feel like going online or even going out. When I got back for New Year, I just felt guilty of everything I ate back home. On the first day of 2012 I found myself at Medical City's ER because my face and neck were swollen from tooth abscess. After that the thought of food makes me sad because I know I couldn't eat it. I had dental surgery the week after with Dr. Jill Coson (her dental clinic deserves a different entry). And its sad because her office was right beside San Lo's famous and Va Bene Pasta Deli.


Years back, my friend Grazey gave me the best chicken empanada I've had. I thought of it as a chicken pie due to the crumbly crust. She told me she got it in Petron and I've always felt lazy to go there. So with all my dental procedures and check ups, I got myself a box right after my stitches were taken out.

They were cooked fresh. I got a box of six (510 PHP) with 3 Pastel de Pollo and 3 Jamon y Queso empanadas. Yes they are quite expensive at 85 PHP each but let me sway you and convince you that it was worth it.


When I got back in the office, I offered one to Karen and another to Chryssie for some of the stuff they gave me that day. As I sink my teeth on the warm empanada, the crust in all its buttery glory simply crumbles in my mouth. The pastel itself was really good too. I gave the remaining ones to Marlon and by morning 2 were gone. I had a taste of the Jamon y queso and it was so good that this one is my favorite. The ham was tender and not too powerful. The cheese was more like a cheese sauce that the saltiness was tamed and made more creamy. It was not the artificial cheese sauce though, it was made from scratch.

Once in while, indulge yourself in a good empanada. It's worth it.


San Lo's famous also has different kinds of sans rival, bars and other baked goods. They had me at empanada though.


San Lo's famous can bee found on the 2nd floor of Petron Dasmariñas. Pasay Rd cor EDSA Makati City. You may contact them at +6328442853