Places to eat in Iligan City

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As a first time visitor to Philippines and a tropical climate, I was advised to visit a " travel Doctor " prior to my visit. I recieved a folder with info sheets and brochures about food and drink consumption in The Philippines. After reading these precautions it almost sounded as if I would have to bring my own food with me ! I decided that unless I could find some kind of " Fail Safe " place to eat, I would not go.

One of the earliest internet pictures I had seen of Iligan City was of a fast food franchise " Jollibee " on Tibanga Highway. After spending many hours of websearching and research I knew I had found my " Fail Safe " source of food ! Jollibee is the largest fast food franchise in The Philippines and has been in business over 30 years. The founder of Jollibee studied the fast food business in the USA for 2 years. They have adopted strict and very high standards in the handling, preparation and serving of all of their products. The majority of those working for Jollibee are college educated, even the front line staff that you see behind the counter. It is in my opinion after visiting many Jollibee locations, their locations not only meet, but excede the standards I have experienced in any USA fast food franchise I have been to !

Jollibee, Tibanga was one of the places that initially attracted my attention to Iligan City. A nice variety of food items on the menu are well prepared and attractively served. When I inquired to the Manager if " Tap Water " was used in any preparation or in any beverages served I was informed they have their own in-house water purification system and I was invited to look at their latest water analysis documents if I so desired.

I have visited this location many times while in Iligan City and have always found it to be exceptionally clean and orderly and very well staffed. Even at peak times with lines at each counter position the wait was not long at all. All of the staff was most courteous and polite at all times. Tables, chairs and other fixtures were very clean and well maintained. There is a uniformed security guard at the entrance to welcome you.

In the Philippines you will find wide variations in the Rest Room facilities in public places. Jollibee without a doubt maintains the best Rest Room facilities I have seen in any location of its kind. Very clean, paper for the toilet, soap and hot and cold water at the sink for washing of hands and a working electric hand drier. Everything in the Rest Rooms appeared in good working order and well maintained. You will not find facilities like this in every public establishemnt you may visit in Philippines.

Jollibee even offers delivery to your hotel or other place of accomodation.

There are many fine dining experiences to be had when visiting Iligan City although it is Jollibee, Tibanga that will always remain my favorite and most memorable. My congradulations to the management and staff ! I'll be Back !

UPDATE Nov. 2011
This location is undergoing enlargement and a complete re-imaging. It was open for business during my visit in Nov. 2011 Construction is on-going day and night to expedite completion. Same great food and as always, service with a smile. In spite of the construction it was still kept very clean and inviting inside.

Favorite Dish: Yum Burger
Crispy Fries
Jolli-Swirl Sundae
Pineapple Juice
Coffee

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The newest branch of Chow King in Iligan City opened a little over a year ago on the ground floor street side of the Elena Towers Hotel. Chow King is a fast food franchise featuring Filipino and other Asian style offerings. Chow King is under the parent company of Jollibee Foods Corp and there are many Chow King locations all over The Philippines.

As you approach the entrance to Chow King ( Tibanga branch ) a security guard at the entrance will welcome you as well as the staff at the order counter where after placing your order and paying for it, your order will be delivered to your table in a short amount of time.

This restaurant is clean and well maintained. The rest rooms are clean, well supplied and in good working order at the times I visited.

I enjoyed breakfast here on several mornings as well as dinner in the evening. A traditional Filipino desert item is Halo Halo and Chow King has a good reputation for serving a traditional example of this unique desert item. Later in the evenings I also appreciated the convienience of this Chow King branch for take out coffee.

As with most fast food restaurants, menu items are displayed on backlit panels behind the order counter with prices plainly posted. If you have any questions of what any particular menue item consists of the counter staff is more than willing to explain it to you. I had to ask several times as I am not totally familiar with Filipino fast food meals. I enjoyed every meal that I had at this location and look forward to visiting again.

There is at least one more Chow King location in Iligan City although the Tibanga branch is the only one I have visited so far.

Iligan City

Simply Amazing !

Favorite Dish: Halo Halo. A cool and refreshing desert item enjoyable at any time of the day or evening !

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Many of the places that attract my attention in Iligan City are derived from viewing pictures and videos of them on the Internet and The Iliganon was no exception to this. Located just outside of the busy downtown area of Iligan in barangay Pala-o it provides a relaxing atmosphere for enjoying the beverage of your choice and a very nice meal.

As I would consider this a traditional restaurant with a wide variety of Filipino items on the menu this is what I anticipated to be an enjoyable experience and it certainly was. Since the first pictures I had seen of The Iliganon a few years prior to my visit, they had since added a rather complete Pizza Menu which attracted my attention. Although I did enjoy a traditional Filipino beef item I just couldn't keep my eyes off the pizza menu.

As I was enjoying lunch with some of my Filipino friends it got to the point where I just could not hold back any longer and ordered a large pizza. As we finished our initial lunch order the pizza was delivered to our table. I picked up the first slice and took a bite out of it and then another and without hesitation I commented to my friends " I think we should order another one of these Pizzas !

I can not say for certain if it was the cheese, the sauce, the crust or the entire combination of all of the ingredients that must have triggered something in my memory from many years ago. They just don't make pizza like this where I live any more. You can be certain I shall be returning to The Iliganon for Pizza on each visit I make to Iligan City !

There are several dining areas in this restaurant including a bar - coctail lounge, the main dining room and an outdoor patio area. I enjoyed my lunch in the coctail lounge which is air conditioned and provides a cozy ambience. Everything appeared clean and orderly, the service was excellent and the food had that home cooked flavor and aroma.

As it was approaching mid-afternoon when I visited The Iliganon it was not too busy which provided time for a nice conversation with the owner. The hospitality was great and although I had originally intended to spend only about an hour here it turned into a 2 hour visit of which I enjoyed every minute of it.

( UPDATE )
On a visit to Iligan City in late 2010 I once again visited The Iliganon not once, but twice in two consecutive days for lunch, Pizza of course, and it tasted just as I had remembered it from the year before. Same great hospitality and enjoyable conversation.

Iligan City

Simply Amazing !

Favorite Dish: Pizza !

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There are always new things to see and do each time i visit Iligan and on my recent visit it included the sparkling new Fontina Restaurant opened mid year 2010. This clean, bright and cheerful dining establishment convieniently located next to Kingsway Inn on Tibanga Highway has rapidly become a popular place with Iliganons, along with domestic and international visitors.

The menu features a wide variety of meals, beverages and deserts of local and internationally known favorites. If you desire to try something purely Filipino, it's all there for you. The food is individually prepared as opposed to production line style as found in chain or fast food restaurants.

The service is excellent with a very hospitable and courtious staff. It may " seem " as though it may take a few minutes longer for your food to be delivered to your table than some other restaurants but that insures your order has recieved the personal attention to detail that it deserves. The ambience at Fontina encourages you to take your time and enjoy your experience there and this is something I appreciate when spending time dining with friends I visit in Iligan City, who also agreed with my impression of Fontina.

This was the first time I had tried a " Mango Shake " to enjoy with my meal and a few times a second one to enjoy afterwards.

You have a choice of indoor ( smoke free ) dining or outdoor on the front porch area and the covered area on one side of the building. I spent an enjoyable few minutes sitting at an outdoor table with a Mango Shake watching the sights and sounds of Tibanga Highway go by. As an international visitor to Iligan City I really enjoyed doing this.

The exciting desert menu sent my tastebuds into orbit and I found myself " doing a Double " on the freshly made Mango Cake.

This restaurant is very clean and well maintained and that includes the full feature rest room ( Comfort Room ), which is something that may not be found in all dining establisments in The Philippines. Fontina is fully air conditioned, they accept credit cards ( yes, foriegn issued cards will work here ). Fontina is WiFi equipped and I noticed several people with their Laptops websurfing while enjoying their lunch. There is off street parking on the side of the building. for a party or event there is a catering room on the second floor.

Fontina is a family owned and operated restaurant by a family with a long track record of professionalism which is certainly reflected in a great dining experience at a modest and affordable cost.

see their website for further information and some great pictures !

Favorite Dish: I can not remember the exact name of it on the menu. I usually try to order something familiar to me for the first few visits to a new restaurant for comparison to meals I am familiar with. I had a beef over rice with mixed vegatables. It was well prepared and attractively served and the beef was cooked just right, not undercooked and not overcooked, Just the way I like it !

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Can you be half way around the world from where you live, walk into a place for something to eat and feel like you were in your own home town ? This is how I felt the first time I walked into Zoey Cafe in Iligan City.

Clean and bright, a warm and friendly welcome from the staff will greet you as you enter. A wide variety of local and universally known items appear on the menu and prepared in a home style manner. The food is well prepared and attractively served to your table usually within a short amount of time. Once you enter however, you may not be in such a hurry to eat and run as the local ambience of this place was something I found quite enjoyable.

If you are a visitor / tourist on vacation, and on a diet, this is one of those places you let your diet go and enjoy yourself. For me another great feature of eating at Zoey Cafe is the deserts. This place has quite a reputation amoungst the locals for Halo Halo, a Philippine desert of ice cream, crushed ice and many other taste tantalizing delights and can prove to be a great experience ! I spotted one of my favorits, carrot cake and was served quite a generous portion of it.

I would compare Zoey Cafe to be similar to an American " Luncheonette " , and a very good one at that.

Iligan City

Simply Amazing !

Favorite Dish: Halo Halo

Carrot Cake

Lasagnia

located at the foot of the buhanginan hill, it has a very nice ambience...the interiors is technically simple but it has a nice elegant feel to it. the food is also great...and the price is okay...not too expensive and not too cheap.

a good place for family gatherings, business meetings...

Favorite Dish: hmmm...tinolang manok?

Aside from the lechong baboy, you can also try the lechong manok Iligan-style. Lechong manok (roasted chicken) is a very popular food in Iligan city, judging by the number of places that carry this as the only offering, and the number of people that are in queue outside. The more popular ones are Tony's and Epay's, close to the only Jollibee branch in the city.

Like the lechong baboy, Iligan's lechong manok is also cooked with the spices inside. It's way better than Andok's or Baliwag. And cheaper, too. One whole chicken is only ~P100.

When you are in Iligan City, you have to try "lechong baboy" (roasted pig) which is really, really good. Simply the best lechon I've had in my whole life! Iligan lechon is cooked with the spices inside so it's very flavorful and juicy. :) We always have lechon every Christmas. No celebration is complete without it.

There are many stalls/restaurants along Tibanga Hi-way that sell lechon, but the most popular one is probably Dado's. Where you buy will not make too much of a difference (they're all good), just make sure you're still in Iligan. :)

Favorite Dish: Lechong baboy