Five Must-Visit Filipino Restaurants for Balikbayans This Christmas

The Philippines, with its rich culinary heritage, offers a plethora of dining experiences that are particularly appealing to balikbayans (returning Filipinos) during the Christmas season. These establishments not only serve delicious Filipino cuisine but also provide a unique twist to traditional dishes, creating a blend of familiarity and novelty.

1. Bamba Bistro: Situated in BF Homes, Parañaque, Bamba Bistro infuses playful creativity into Filipino favorites. Their menu includes dishes like Crispy Tinapa with squid ink sinangag, mango aioli, coriander, and tomato salsa, and a unique version of Inasal as fried rice, accompanied by pork belly and crispy chicken skin.
2. Grace Park: Located in One Rockwell, Makati, this restaurant is a brainchild of Chef Margarita Forés. Grace Park offers dishes that evoke childhood flavors with a modern twist. Their menu features unique items like local figs with Negros burrata and ‘nduja, and chicharon curls.
3. Lampara: This Neo-Filipino bistro, known for its fresh and aesthetic approach, serves a variety of mains like beef belly with kaldereta sauce and octopus inasal with atchara and greens. Lampara is situated in the Poblacion area and is open daily from 5 pm to 11 pm.
4. Balay Dako: A restaurant in Tagaytay, Balay Dako is renowned for its authentic Filipino dishes that resonate with familial comfort and love. They offer a sumptuous breakfast buffet featuring traditional breads, kakanin, silogs, kape, and tsokolate, making it a perfect post-Simbang Gabi destination.
5. Ilustrado: Nestled in the historic Walled City, Ilustrado blends traditional Filipino cuisine with innovative touches. The restaurant offers classic dishes like palabok topped with chicharon and bagnet, as well as unique creations such as adobo with crab fat and spices, and Sinuwam na Mais, a corn chowder originating from Malolos​​.

These restaurants provide not only a gastronomic delight but also an opportunity for balikbayans to reconnect with their roots through food, showcasing the progressive evolution of Filipino cuisine.