Places to eat in Tagaytay City

The ambience and food remind me of family gatherings with your favorite dishes on the table. They serve Ilonggo dishes such as Kansi and the prices are not as steep as other restaurants in Tagaytay City. It is easy to spot too as it is located along Aguinaldo Highway.

Favorite Dish: Kansi, Kare-Kare, and their Ube palitaw are reasons why I would keep on coming back to Tootsie's

Food is almost always good in the company of your loved ones, especially if it's a big family that almost rarely gets together. This is not my first time dining on the place. I actually insisted on dining there for this occasion so my dad could try the Bulalo we've been raving about.

There were 14 of us. The first thing I asked was if we could occupy two kubo (nipa huts) instead of the long table. To add to the feel of hometown dining. The first waitress/attendant said "Pwede naman po, mam (It may be, ma'm)". So we were choosing two empty kubos. Upon getting there another female attendant came and asked whether we were staying at the kubo, I said yes, "Pwede namang dalawang kubo di ba, katorse kasi kami (We can occupy two kubos, right? There's 14 of us." Then attendant #2 said, "Depende po sa order nyo (It depends on your order)".

Insulted much? Yeah! If there was only me, and I decided to order for twenty bulalos, does that mean I can occupy every single kubo I want? If I were alone and I decided to buy everything on the menu, would it be reasonable for me to occupy more than one kubo?

If there were twenty of us, and we want to stay in a kubo, should we fit ourselves into one kubo, just because?

Immediately I thought of my mom who's really hungry. My grandma who's really tired and just want to sit and eat. They were not around when Attendant number two made her snide remark. My boyfriend who heard it was begging me to remain calm.

So I asked for the menu instead...

Attendant Num 2 saw that I was pissed and asked Number 1 to assist us instead, well who asked for her?! I surely did not. Number 1 called her "ma'm". Number 2 is even more senior than Number 1 and yet, how disrespectful.

Of course I was worried that they'd spit on our food too, so I remained calm and did not confront her.

Out of curiosity, the bus boy, upon our bill out, I asked him what's the rule in occupying kubos. He said that it does not depend on the order. NOT AT ALL.

I told him what happened earlier, HE APOLOGIZED FOR NUMBER 2'S ACTIONS. I thanked him.

In general, the food is good, really good, the ambience is great, it overlooks the lake (from where we were seated in the kubo), but I'm not sure I can forgot Number 2's actions.

If she's indeed superior Number 1, and that's how she treated us.. well I'd think twice next time we're in tagaytay and want some Bulalo..

Favorite Dish: Really good and affordable Bulalo, paired with Crispy Pata and fried rice

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Leslie's Restaurant is one of the popular restaurants offering a great view of Taal Lake & Volcano aside from good local food. It specializes in local cuisine and seafood dishes. It is also known for Tagaytay "Bulalo", a soup dish specialty in Tagaytay. Leslie's offers free Bulalo soup to diners who are not so keen at eating the meat. They not only give free Bulalo soup, they also add some vegetables to the soup.

Leslie's Restaurant has native-inspired motif in its interior decoration and furnishings. They have a big dining hall, plus native cottages near the ridge. Some native cottages are constructed on the cliff for added dining adventure. If you use these "hanging cottages" , you'll have to pay extra for the cottage (P600 if I remember right). I must admit we bring guest there because of the ambience and great view.

There are serenaders who sing from table to table. Foreigners usually delight in them. They can sing your favorite song upon request.

Service is fast if you are a group...Sadly, service is slow if you are a lone diner;(

Favorite Dish: I like most their "inihaw na liempo" (grilled pork belly), "pinakbet" (mixed vegetables cooked in shrimp paste with pork) and "Kare-kare" (beef stewed with peanut sauce & veggies). The meat was cooked thoroughly until tender.

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Like a baby learning how to walk, eating at Jollibee was truly an experience. I know that you can find the restaurant at every corner, but this was our very first meal in Philippines. So the first bite was totally sacred.

We were not sure how to order the food but one thing's for sure. The food is definitely value-for-money. A spaghetti with drinks for about S$1.50!

The restaurant, as of most fast food restaurants, was pretty clean and nicely decorated with proper lighting, tables and chairs.

Favorite Dish: As the host had prepared lunch for us, the stop-over at Jollibee was more to fill our stomachs till enough to get us to the next destination.

I ordered a one piece chicken meal with a rice cake and drink all for the price of p88 (S$2.50). This was the first time that we had rice cake with a piece of chicken and the rice was really piping hot. So nice that I can really eat it on its own.

Josephine's Resturant located along the ridge of the Taal Volcano is well known for their breakfast buffet. Here you get a value for money selection of breakfast food including favorites like ham, bacon and hotdogs. There is also a omelette bar where you can ask the cook to make one up to your specifications. If you prefer a more healthy breakfast you can try eating some of their fruits or their cereal bar. If it's possible try getting a table as close to the windows where you can see a breathtaking view of the Taal Volcano.

Favorite Dish: Tapa
Chicken Arroz Caldo

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We came from Royale Tagaytay Country Club, and were on our way to Army Navy where we planned to eat its famous burritos, but when traffic slowed down at Crossing Mendez, we noticed the crowd at the newly opened Mang Inasal Restaurant adjacent to SM Savemore. (There are 2 Mang Inasal restaurants in Tagaytay City. The first one that opened is at the Tagaytay-Silang Junction where Max's Fried Chicken Restaurant used to be.) Hubby suddenly had a craving for BBQ meal with hot white rice. My daughter also suddenly craved for Mang Inasal's really sour "sinigang" soup...so, we aborted the plan to eat burritos.

What is so special about Mang Inasal BBQ? Why did we suddenly crave for it? Mang Inasal's special marinate, a concoction of local spices and herbs make their pork and chicken really tasty. Skewered in bamboo sticks, then charcoal-grilled, the "inasal" (Visayan term for grilled food) has a distinctive Ilonggo barbecue goodness: delicious, tender and juicy.

Mang Inasal's "Paborito" (Favorite) Meals include your choice of BBQ, white rice wrapped in banana leaves and a bowl of sinigang soup. Diners can ask for more rice (unlimited!) and soup (unlimited, too!), in fact, a staff goes around offering customers additional servings.

Inasal is best eaten with dipping sauce so all tables have a condiment rack . You can mix soy sauce with "kalamansi" (local lime), chicken oil and chili. Alternatively, you can just dip it in naturally fermented coconut vinegar.

Some diners sprinkle coconut oil (sinfully delicious!) on their rice, then eat ala-"kamayan" (Tagalog term for eating with hands) or "kinamot" (Ilonggo term). Eating with hands, sans spoon and fork is acceptable in this restaurant.

The service crew are polite, fast and efficient.

Favorite Dish: Hubby enjoyed his succulent "Paa" (chicken leg and thigh) with 2 cups of hot, steamy rice and a bowl of "sinigang" soup (Paborito Meal 1 for only P97).

My daughter loved her Pecho (chicken breast and wing) with 2 cups of rice and 2 bowls of sinigang soup (Paborito Meal 2 for only P99).

I liked my tender, juicy Pork inasal (2 sticks) with 1 cup of rice. I gave my sinigang soup to my daughter (Paborito Meal 3 for only P99).

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I was delighted to see an Army Navy Branch in Tagaytay. I suddenly remembered my grandson who loves Army Navy's triple deck burger, but since he was not with us when we went to Tagaytay recently, we didn't eat there.

Army Navy specializes in American - Mexican food combos, oversized burgers (P135-235), burritos (P135-155), quesadillas (P85-135), and soft-shelled tacos (P125-145).

The place is unassuming, with an army barracks motif. The kitchen can be seen behind the order counter which is in a structure resembling an army bunker. The diners eat al fresco at the military-style wooden benches and tables. There are also chairs with umbrella tables. Just a few steps down the garden, Taal Lake & Volcano can be seen.

Army Navy opens from 10:00 am - 11:00 pm on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. On Fridays and Saturdays, it opens from 10:00 am to past midnight, till 12:30 am.

Favorite Dish: My grandson loves the biggest burger which hubby and I can't even finish (we have to share). while my daughter loves their steak burrito and quesadillas.

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We usually go to Yellow Cab wherever and whenever we have a craving for New York-style pizzas. Yellow Cab Tagaytay Branch is therfore a welcome treat for us.

The Tagaytay Branch is housed in a 2-level building. The ground floor has a backdoor that leads to the Army Navy tables. Past these tables and chairs is a garden with a view of Taal Lake & Volcano. The fresh air and view is a welcome respite from the tiring road trip, but you can have good souvenir pictures with the Taal Lake & Volcano as background, UNLESS you go down the slopes of the garde, (quite risky, especially during rainy season!). There is a better view of the Taal Lake & Volcano from the terrace of the 2nd level. You can even view it while dining if you stay near the glass walls.

While eating, I couldn't help but notice at least 4 butterflies on the glass walls and door; perhaps they came in with the guests who went to the terrace, then were trapped inside. Hubby opened the glass door and coaxed them back outside.

Yellow Cab opens from 10:00 am - 8:00 pm daily. It has delivery service to residential areas for a minimum order of P250.00. Guaranteed delivery in 30 - 45 minutes

Favorite Dish: When it is only the two of us (hubby & me) traveling, we usually get the Four Seasons
Pizza which is a actually a Gourmet sampler: of NY Classic #4 Cheese, Anchovy Lovers, roasted garlic and shrimp. You can order it in different sizes, depending on your appetite: 10"(₱380.00), 14"(₱610.00), 18"(₱815.00). I also like their Double Baked Potatoes.