Bacolod’s best eats

New and unique food finds in the City of Smiles

Welcome to the City of Smiles, where every day is filled with delicious surprises! 

From al fresco dining spaces to homegrown delicacies, hole-in-the-wall concepts have become a local trend under the new normal, especially in Bacolod.

Young 20somethings (like author Starlene Portillo from Ayala Malls Capitol Central’s marketing team and WeAreAyala Business Club-Negros) enjoy exploring the city for unique spots and reinventions of the flavorful Ilonggo dishes Filipinos have grown to love.

Here, we share some of the concepts that have popped up during the pandemic, and which have adapted to the shifting social landscape.

LANAI by Fresh Start 
Araneta Highway, Bangga Sitio Aning, Brgy. Pahanocoy, Bacolod
Price range: P150–P350

Looking for organic and flavorful eats? LANAI by Fresh Start, a unique open-air restaurant, uses farm-to-table ingredients from local artisans. 

The Negrense heritage is highlighted in its all-natural menu, which includes reinvented dishes such as the beef kansi a la pobre, tanigue inasal, and muscovado blue marlin. LANAI also serves snacks, desserts, coffee, and drinks, including Criollo tablea cake and Calamansi piaya. 

However, the restaurant takes most pride in its foraged drinks and cocktails made from local spirits, liquors, and ingredients from Negros. These include the Negrense Latte with beans from Mt. Kanlaon mixed with carabao’s milk and pandan whip, and the Agimat Vodka, made from Bacolod sugarcane and distilled in Malay, Aklan. Take your next “Instagrammable” photo inside their white and wooden interiors or by their lush gardens.

Gina’s Seafoods Restaurant
San Juan Street, Pala-Pala Area, Bacolod
Price range: P350 and up

“Seas” the day with the freshwater catch at Gina’s Seafoods Restaurant! 

You can pick from a wide variety of seafood choices by their counter and have them cooked or grilled (paluto) just the way you like it. Customers can also select local specialties from their menu. 

Gina’s baked scallops, calamares, fish sinigang, chili buttered shrimp, and oysters are definitely must-tries.

Sofia’s Donuts
GM Cordova, Buri Road, Brgy. Mandalagan
Price: P240 per box

Need an instant sweet fix? Sofia’s has long been known for light bread and pastries. Now, they’ve welcomed a recent addition to their mix—the Krunchy Dough mini donuts! 

Priced at P240 for 15 pieces, a box of Sofia’s mini donuts contains five premium flavor varieties perfect for every occasion. Specialized toppings such as KitKat, Hersheys, and Oreos make the sweet treat taste as good as it looks.

If you’re looking for budget-friendly donuts for any occasion, drop by Sofia’s Krunchy Dough extension store.

Totong’s at the AMCC Fiesta Market
Ayala Malls Capitol Central, Gatuslao St., Bacolod
Price range: P25–P45 per cup

If you’re missing the old after-school street food snacks, drop by Ayala Malls Capitol Central’s Fiesta Market. The al fresco dining and shopping space by the mall’s North Capitol Road showcases the best of Negros, from homegrown food concepts and organic produce to local specialty items. 

Of course, a fiesta would not be a celebration if it weren’t for the traditional sidewalk eats we’ve grown up with. Fishball, tempura, kikiam, kwek-kwek—you name it, and Totong’s will fry it up for you. 

ARB Street Food Truck Lane 
Capitol Lagoon, Bacolod
Price range: P50–P100 

Late night snacking under the stars? Head over to the ARB food truck lane beside the Capitol Park and Lagoon. With the breezy ‘ber months fast approaching, a bowl of steaming hot pares has become one of the most sought-after comfort meals in this area. If you’re not up to sitting and eating, quick fixes like a burger or shawarma wrap paired with coffee should do the trick.

The food trucks come out every night and are open from 7 pm until dawn, so be sure to drop by.

Chigue: House of Kimchi 
Helvetia Heights Subdivision, Brgy Villamonte, Berne St., Bacolod
Price range: P150 and up

In case you didn’t know, Bacolod has also ridden the K-wave! Taste affordable Korean-Filipino blends at Chigue: House of Kimchi.

They offer kimchi rice meals, a traditional Korean side dish made of fermented spicy cabbage. It can be topped with staples like Spam and bacon, as well as Filipino breakfast food such as longganisa and lumpiang Shanghai. Chigue has a stall at Capitol Central’s Fiesta Market, too. 

Go ahead and add these to your upcoming Bacolod travel itinerary. Give their specialties a try, and make your tummies happy!