12 Restaurants in Pampanga for Your Food Trip to The Culinary Capital of the Philippines

Ciary Manhit

Last updated 15 Mar 2024

Photo Credit (L-R): @eatsplorations and @discovermnl on Instagram

Pampanga food trip

With the country’s rich culinary heritage, there’s really no place in the Philippines where you can’t experience good food. But one destination every foodie should visit for dangerously good food? Pampanga.

The Central Luzon province is hailed as the Culinary Capital of the Philippines, with many of the classic Filipino favorites, like sisig, buro and bringhe, originating from this very place. Moreover, Pampanga has also become home to a wide variety of local and international cuisine, so tourists are really in for a treat!

That said, we’ve prepared a list of Pampanga restaurants - and their famous dishes - to try on your next food trip to the province. So come on, mangan tamu (let’s eat!)

12 Restaurants in Pampanga

Abe’s Farm
Aling Lucing Sisig
Mila’s Tokwa’t Baboy
The Original Razon’s
The Souq
Ocampo-Lansang Delicacies
Historic Camalig Restaurant
Cafe Fleur
Donenoo Restaurant
Downtown Cafe
Susie’s Cuisine
Apag Marangle

1. Abe's Farm - Pako Salad

Those looking for something healthy can put down Pako Salad or Ensaladang Pako on their list! The fresh salad is composed of ferns, tomatoes, onions, salted eggs, and topped with a sweet and sour vinaigrette. It's a simple yet satisfying start to your food adventure in Pampanga.

Enjoy Ensaladang Pako and the best Kapampangan and regional Filipino food at Abe’s Farm. More than a restaurant, Abe’s Farm is also a popular lifestyle destination with a number of things you can do there. Aside from an elevated dining experience, you can make your visit even more worthwhile by booking an overnight stay, spending a day at the spa, or even exploring their museum!

Abe’s Farm

Address: Magalang, Pampanga
Opening hours: Tuesday-Friday: 10:00AM-5:00PM; Saturday-Sunday: 8:00AM-8:00PM; Closed Mondays
Contact Details: Official Instagram, Official Facebook

2. Aling Lucing Sisig - Sisig

A staple Filipino dish that originates from Pampanga, Sisig has become a sure crowd favorite across the Philippines. The iconic dish is composed of sliced bits of pork (mostly from the head of a pig) that are boiled, grilled, fried with onions and chili, and served on a sizzling plate. Some versions of sisig are mixed with chicken or pork liver for extra flavor.

With all the sisighans in Pampanga, of course the best place to try the dish is at the home of the first sisig. Aling Lucing Sisig has been serving the beloved dish since the 1970’s, and is considered as one of the must-visit restaurants in Pampanga. We recommend seeing for yourself why Aling Lucing was dubbed as “the Sisig Queen'' during your own food trip!

Aling Lucing Sisig

Address: Glaciano Valdez St. Agapito del Rosario, Angeles City, Pampanga
Opening hours: 9:00AM-9:00PM, Daily
Contact Details: (0906) 288-8905, Official Facebook

3. Mila’s Tokwa’t Baboy - Tokwa’t Baboy

Alongside Aling Lucing’s, Mila’s Tokwa’t Baboy is one of the most famous restaurants in Pampanga to enjoy the combo of tokwa’t baboy and sisig.

It may not be native to Pampanga, but Tokwa’t Baboy is still a Filipino dish that has people driving up to the city to enjoy. Perhaps the reason why this pork side dish is still popular in the area is because it’s often paired with sisig. The dish’s mix of boiled pork, fried tofu, vinegar, and soy sauce is a usual starter on a fun night out of drinking.

Klook tip: We recommend heading there early because of limited parking in the area and packed seating during peak hours.

Mila’s Tokwa’t Baboy and Sisig

Address: Brgy. San Angelo, San Andres St, Angeles, Pampanga, Philippines
Opening hours: 9:00AM-10:00PM, Daily
Contact Details: Official Instagram, Official Facebook

4. The Original Razon’s - Halo Halo

The perfect answer to cool down from the Philippine weather, halo-halo is a classic dessert to enjoy on a hot day. There are different ways to prepare halo-halo, but the classic recipe is a concoction of macapuno, banana, beans, ube halaya, generously topped with shaved ice and sweet milk.

One of the most popular restaurants in Pampanga to enjoy halo-halo is the famed The Original Razon’s in Guagua. Known as the house that pancit luglug and halo-halo built, Razon’s is iconic for its version of halo-halo that only uses three ingredients– sweetened saba, macapuno, and leche flan!

The Original Razon’s

Address: JASA Road, San Matias, Guagua, Pampanga
Opening hours: 9:00AM-5:00PM, Daily
Contact Details: Official Instagram, Official Facebook

5. The Souq - Aligue

Seafood lovers wouldn’t want to miss out on Pampanga’s famed aligue, which is crab fat sauteed in garlic. The popular seafood paste is pretty versatile, with it being used in a variety of dishes ranging from fried rice to pasta! Aligue is best served with a mix of calamansi or lemon juice into sauce so that you can really appreciate the taste.

Enjoy your aligue alongside Filipino and international dishes at The Souq. Not only do you get to try a variety of dishes, but you’ll be captivated by the restaurant’s quirky traditional Arabic souk-style design and furniture pieces– some of which are actually for sale!

The Souq

Address: Lazatin Blvd., San Juan, City of San Fernando, Pampanga
Opening hours: 11:00AM-9:00PM, Daily
Contact Details: Official Instagram, Official Facebook

6. Ocampo-Lansang Delicacies - Turrones de Casoy

A specialty product of Santa Rita, Pampanga is Turrones De Casoy - a crunchy nougat dessert, inspired by turon, made up of honey, sugar, egg whites and casoy or cashew nuts. This sweet treat is perfect to munch on while on the road and can be found in most pasalubong centers in the province. However, if you are heading to Santa Rita, stop by Ocampo-Lansang Delicacies. The famous delicacy shop is said to be the maker of the original Turrones De Casoy!

Ocampo-Lansang Delicacies

Address: Ocampo St, Santa Rita, 2002 Pampanga

7. Historic Camalig Restaurant - Kapampamgan Pizza

Pizza is always a good idea when planning out a food adventure. But did you know that Pampanga is also known for their special style called “Kapampangan Pizza”? This pizza proudly makes use of fresh homegrown ingredients and special sauces that cater to the pinoy palette. It is often filled with all kinds of toppings, like longganisa, salted egg, and even chicken adobo!

Get a taste of this one-of-a-kind pizza at the home of the “pambansang pizza”, Historic Camalig Restaurant in Angeles. You’ll be eating inside an actual heritage site, with the pizza and Filipino cuisine restaurant located on the grounds of a camalig, a rice granary from the Spanish era.

Historic Camalig Restaurant

Address: Camalig Square, 292 Dalan Sto Rosario, Angeles, 2009 Pampanga
Opening hours: 11:30AM-8:30PM, Daily
Contact Details: Official Facebook

8. Cafe Fleur by Chef Sau del Rosario - Buro

Buro is a must-try if you're looking to experience new flavors alongside a hearty meal. It's an authentic Kapampangan dish often paired with deep-fried fish and veggies.Though the word buro is commonly used to describe pickled foods, for Pampangueños, it often refers to fermented rice mixed with shrimp or fish. The pairing of buro with fried fish, especially hito or catfish, is a supreme combination Filipinos swear by!

Devour buro and other Kapampangan dishes with a French twist at Cafe Fleur. The restaurant, alongside its sister restaurant 25 Seeds, is owned by Chef Sau Del Rosario, and is known for its rich and mouth-watering local and international farm-to-table dishes.

Cafe Fleur by Chef Sau del Rosario

Address: 2/F Dycaico Ancestral House, Barangay Sto. Rosario, Angeles City
Opening hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00AM-10:00PM, Closed Mondays
Contact Details: Official Instagram, Official Facebook

9. Donenoo Restaurant - KBBQ (Korean Barbecue)

Though KBBQ may not be native to the Philippines, Pampanga is home to numerous must-visit Korean restaurants. Koreatown, located in Angeles City, is a busy section of the city with filled with authentic KBBQ restaurant and K-marts to check out. After your K-drama binge, satisfy your cravings with a fun road trip out to Angeles!

We suggest adding a visit to Donenoo Restaurant to the itinerary to indulge in premium Korean grilled meat with a side of some kimchi and gyeran jjim!

Donenoo Restaurant

Address: Korea Town Angeles, Pampanga
Opening hours: 8:00AM-12:00AM, Daily
Contact Details: Official Instagram, Official Facebook

10. Downtown Cafe - Bringhe

Pampanga puts a twist on the Paella we know and love with bringhe. The filling rice dish is made up of glutinous rice, turmeric, coconut milk, bell peppers, egg ginger, and additional spices. Some versions of Bringhe also add native chicken into the mix, making it all the more satisfying to eat!

Get your filling of Bringhe and other authentic Kapampangan dishes in the popular Chef Claude Tayag restaurant Downtown Cafe in Angeles. Formerly known as 1956 Downtown Cafe, the themed 50’s eatery serves up comforting Filipino dishes to enjoy with your loved ones.

Downtown Cafe

Address: Unit 1B, The Quad at Nepo Plaridel Street Barangay, Angeles, 2009 Pampanga
Opening hours: Wednesday- Sunday: 12:00PM-10:00PM; Closed Monday-Tuesday
Contact Details: Official Instagram, Official Facebook

11. Susie’s Cuisine - Tibok-tibok

Pampanga isn’t known as the culinary capital of the Philippines just for its main dishes, but also for its desserts. Other than the iconic halo-halo, tibok-tibok is also one for the dessert books! Pampanga’s version of the maja blanca dessert, tibok-tibok is made from carabao’s milk, some lemon zest, and latik to top it off. The creamy dessert is creatively named after the Filipino word for heartbeat to describe the bubbling that occurs when the pudding is cooked.

For your tibok-tibok and other kakanin cravings, check out Susie’s Cuisine! The long-time favorite dessert shop has specialized in Pampanga kakanin since 1972. You can also buy some mochi, maja blanca, and leche flan during your visit.

Susie’s Cuisine

Address: 36 Hilda Street 2009 Angeles City, Philippines, More branches
Opening hours: 7:00AM-7:00PM, Daily
Contact Details: Official Instagram, Official Facebook

12. Apag Marangle - Betute

One of the more exotic dishes in our list, betute is definitely on every locals’ suggested must-eat list for tourists visiting Pampanga! Though deep-fried frog is a common dish in other countries, Pampangueños level it up by first stuffing the whole frog with ground pork or shrimp then deep-frying it.

Get a chance to taste this exotic dish along with other classic Kapampangan dishes at Apag Marangle. The restaurant’s name can be translated to hain sa bukid or “served in a farm” which truthfully rewards you with a scenic view of Pampanga’s natural landscapes as you dine.

Apag Marangle