Southeast Asia is a region of diversity where different lifestyles and traditions meet across geographical boundaries. This is present in the different cuisines and flavors that the region is known for, all reflecting the histories, local ingredients, and taste of each country’s inhabitants.
As a Baguio native and a curious Southeast Asian, I went on a quest to discover SEA flavors in my hometown and expand my palate. With that, we’ve prepared for you our list of restaurants that offer a taste of Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia in Baguio.
Yes Pho (Vietnam)
When my friends and I arrived at Yes Pho located at Engineer’s Hill extension near SM Baguio, it was the perfect weather for a hot meal. It’s the rainy season in the Philippines and the cold weather made us crave pho—a soup dish with broth, rice noodles, herbs and meat— along with side orders like spring rolls and bahn mi, a staple baguette sandwich in Vietnamese cuisine.
For a restaurant named after pho, it did not disappoint. The moment the hot stock graced my lips, an earthy flavor danced on my taste buds. Compared to all the soups on this list, Vietnamese pho tasted and felt the lightest, like you could drink a few more bowls before feeling full.
Aside from the signature taste of lemongrass, ginger, star anise, and cinnamon, which are some of the ingredients commonly used in Vietnamese cuisine, there were also staple vegetables they incorporated into the food, such as mung sprouts in the pho which offered a great contrast to the silkiness of the glass noodles, and cilantro in the bahn mi which added another type of earthy flavor that blended well with the meaty yet sweet taste of the sandwich.
Prices were pretty reasonable since the portions were huge. You can eat it all if you’re feeling voracious, or split the food and the bill with a friend. The ambience was calming and authentic with the hanging lanterns and cool breeze of the open area adding to its charm.
Visit Yes Pho at S. Building, Upper Session Road, Engineer’s Hill and check out their Facebook page for more info.
Happy Tummy (Thailand)
On a mission to find Thai food, my friends and I ended up at Crown Legacy Hotel, where Happy Tummy is situated. From Vietnam’s earthy flavors, we delved into Thailand’s strong flavor profile of spices.
Thailand’s tom yum is a hot and sour soup that packs the heat, blending it with salty and sweet undertones, and a taste of the sea with pieces of shrimp. The soup base has a bit of similarity with another Southeast Asian soup dish, laksa, but is more sour and spicy.
Aside from the hearty soup, we also ordered a papaya salad, banana leaf-wrapped skewers, more shrimp, and brown rice. The tanginess of the papaya salad and the acidity of the sour vinaigrette felt like a palate cleanser since it cut through the heavy flavors of the skewers and shrimp, making for a full meal of richness and balance.
Satisfy your Thai cravings at Happy Tummy, located at Crown Legacy Hotel, Kisad Road in Baguio City and visit their Facebook page to learn more.
The Atrium Lobby Cafe (Philippines)
As a Filipino, looking for a local place that cooked Filipino food wasn’t part of the plan because it’s really not that hard to find one. But while looking for another restaurant on Google Maps, we learned that the establishment had already closed and ended up in the Grand Sierra Pines Hotel right beside it.
When we stepped into the hotel, they directed us to The Atrium Lobby Cafe. The Baguio weather called for something warm, so we had bulalo, a common beef broth soup here in the Philippines. The bok choy adds a layer of texture while the soup serves you with meaty goodness that warms your cockles.
We also ordered pancit batil patong—a noodle dish topped with egg, chives, pieces of meat, and glazed with calamansi or vinegar—grilled squid, and a vegetarian adobo made with mushrooms. Saltiness is one of the main flavors of Filipino food, since salt was used to preserve food in the olden days, yet the saltiness of the food is well balanced with acidity, dips, sauces and rice, making for a heavy meal that feels like home.
The cafe is situated next to a gallery with art by Ferdinand Amorsolo, Carlos “Botong” Francisco, and other local artists, as well as a range of literature and narrative art that show the heritage and culture of the Filipino people.
If you really want to feel one with local culture, then check out the Atrium Lobby Cafe at Grand Sierra Pines Hotel, Outlook Drive in Baguio. Visit the hotel’s Facebook page to learn more.
Laksa Pura (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia)
The last stop can be found in the heart of Baguio and is a specialty stall that serves laksa, a spicy and savory soup found in the neighboring countries of Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. While there are many versions of this dish, the soup is usually made of coconut milk, shrimp paste, tofu, bean sprouts, thick noodles, and prawns.
The stall provides lime to cut through the richness of the laksa, and sambal (ground chili paste) to increase the heat level of the soup, making for a truly customizable experience. With spring rolls and siomai to round out the meal, and a refreshing iced kopi, you’re sure to have a satisfying experience.
If you’re craving a warm broth that has a touch of coconut and spice, then you can come visit Laksa Pura at the University of Baguio Student Food Stalls in General Luna. Discover what else is on their menu and visit their Facebook page for more details.
Going on this culinary journey made me realize just how unique yet similar our neighboring countries are. We developed our own country-specific flavors based on the abundance of spices and ingredients available to us, as well as adapted food from colonizers and made them our own. Good food is truly universal, and if you’re in Baguio, then check out these restaurants and discover the flavors of Southeast Asia.