Pinoy Food Fiesta: Angeles City

Angeles City draws strength from its pioneer heritage. The city's pioneers braved the elements in 1796 and established what was then known as Culiat.

From the rough and tumble of life as the years went on, the people of Angeles rose from the hardships of pioneer life to establish one of the highly urbanized cities in the Philippines.

Angeles City is otherwise known as Luzon Island's entertainment capital. It is one of the popular destinations in the province of Pampanga in the Philippines. The city offers a lot of business opportunities with the induction of the Clark Freeport Zone. This zone also houses an international airport making the city easily accessible.

This huge thrust in economic development was the result of the city's concerted effort to rise above the ashes of Mount Pinatubo's eruption in 1991. Other than this natural devastation, the city's economy was largely affected by the pullout of US army personnel from what was once Clark Airbase. The city's economy was once dependent on the said air base.

Angeles Sights and Scenes

The title of being the entertainment capital of North Luzon is due to the active nightlife in Angeles. Its entertainment district comes alive as the sun sets in the west. This area is lined with bars and clubs where one can spend the night partying. The place has been described as asleep during the day and awake at night on more than one occasion - even though there are plenty of great fun and shopping spots around the city as well..

Other than partying every night, there are other destinations and things to do in Angeles and around in Pampanga. for people who are interested in trekking there are nature trails and campsites in key locations on Mount Pinatubo, which is now dormant. Get to see the attractions of the Philippines in Nayong Filipino, which is an outdoor museum that houses miniatures of the country's tourist destinations.

Historic sights also abound here which includes the Old Pamintuan Residence, which was the seat of the country's first republic under the leadership of the Philippine's first president Emilio Aguinaldo. The old post office building is also a historic site in itself, which was constructed in 1899. The Bale Herencia, constructed in 1860, is currently a banquet hall.

Now, if you want to relax in resorts, play golf, or challenge lady luck in casinos then just go to the Clark Special Economic Zone. The place also houses duty free shops and a host of local and foreign companies, including business process outsourcing companies. This is also the place in Angeles City to find high-class hotels.

For those who are a bit adventurous, they may try the off-road driving challenge from the city's Four Wheelers Club. Going a bit extreme, you may also try skydiving and parachuting offered by the Tropical Asia Parachute Center. If that is too much then another fun yet thrilling thing to try is ultra-light flying. Just contact the city's Flying Club to get details.

Angeles City Hotels and Inns

There are many hotels to choose from in Angeles City. You can choose to stay in a luxurious fully furnished hotel or you may go for a decent but not so classy inn if the budget is a bit tight. Two places to look are within the compounds of the Freeport Zone and along Perimeter Road. The Holiday Inn, Angeles Beach Club, Oasis Hotel, Pacific Breeze, and the Swiss Chalet are a few options among the many places you can check out.

General Information about Angeles City

The people of Angeles City may have exceeded far beyond what their pioneer fathers had envisioned, but they haven't forgotten their roots. The city now enjoys economic growth in spite of the many challenges that have come its way.

Known as the most urbanized city in the province of Pampanga in the Philippines, Angeles City is visited by foreigners year round. This city is not just an industrialized city but it is also considered as a first class or high-class city in the country. Based on the census done in 2000, this attractive city has 267,788 residents.

Angeles City is made up of 33 barangays which include Pandan, Santo Rosario, Santo Domingo and Sapang Bato. Formerly known as Clark Air Base, Clark Freeport Zone is the place where the city’s airport named as Diosdado Macapagal International Airport is located. Because it is one of the few cities in the Philippines with an airport, many people like to visit the place because it is very accessible to them. Hence, improvements in the economy of the city was said to have been triggered by the establishment of one of the United States Air Force bases in the 1990s.

The city has encountered problems in past years. Two of the major challenges that were faced by the residents in Angeles City were the removal of the United States Air Force base as well as Mount Pinatubo’s eruption in 1991. All of these challenges have been surpassed by the people in the city when its economy continued to boom. Because of the rapid development of the economy of the city and due to the creation of entertainment infrastructure in Angeles, it is later on named as the Entertainment Capital of Central Luzon.

For people who want to appreciate the beauty of this city, they are encouraged to have a look at the historical sites and tourist attractions in Angeles. Old Pamintuan Residence which is formerly the headquarter of Major General Arthur MacArthur Jr. is one of the attractions in the city. On the other hand, Lily Hall which today houses Lily Hill Duty Free Store is visited by many tourists because it is where some of the remains of the aircrafts of Japanese soldiers are found when the war ended.

Aside from the tourist destinations, the city is also visited by many people for its outstanding colleges and universities. Many students in the different regions of the Philippines go to the city just to study in the premier universities which include University of the Philippines, Republic Central Colleges, Clark Institute of Aviation and Mother of Perpetual Help Institute. With the tourist, economic and education infrastructure, Angeles City is definitely one of the luring cities in the Philippines. Thus, if you are looking for a city where you can relax, enjoy and have fun, Angeles is the best city to visit.

Restaurants in Angeles City

Where to go for great meals and dining ambience in Angeles City? Here are some good Angeles restaurants in Pampanga.

C Italian Dining

Located along Don Juico Avenue within Clarkfield in Angeles City, C' Italian Dining is a first-class restaurant that offers delightful dishes and highly efficient service for everyone. For only 400 pesos to 1,000 pesos, guests can enjoy satisfying meals at this outstanding dining facility. In terms of appetizers, people can always order any of the luscious treats available including famous and delectable Proscuitto e Melone, Cozza Torino, as well as C’ Classic Bruchetta. But for a special treat try the world famous Panizza which many travel all the way to Angeles from all over just to get a taste of this great dish.

In the meantime, for those who love distinct and mouthwatering rice meals, they can also try other in-house specialties such as Grilled Pork Crown Roast with Red Wine Reduction, Pan Roasted Pork Shoulder Steak with Lemon Wine Sauce, and Whole Lamb Shank Braised in Rich Red Wine Sauce. Aside from these tasty delicacies, the place is also famous for its cozy and relaxing ambiance.

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VFW

Found along Santol Road within Clarkview Subdivision in Angeles City, VFW is another famous restaurant that offers delicious international cuisines, which perfect match its highly efficient services. Starting from 150 pesos, people can already taste any of its daily specials including Ham Steak with White Sauce, Pork Chop with Mushroom Sauce, and Honey Dipped Chicken. In addition, customers can also order other in-house specialties such as Roast Chicken with Stuffing, Steak with Brandy Cream Sauce, and Pork Roast Royale. Aside from these super tasty and palatable meals, this premier restaurant is also proud of its relaxing and refreshing ambiance.

Bretto’s

Another Angeles restaurant in Pampanga worth trying is Bretto’s right along Fields Avenue, among the streets in the center of Angeles. Bretto’s specializes in Italian, Australian, and Filipino cuisines. It also serves as a meat and deli shop. Guests ought to try the Bretto beef and mushroom pies, Australian sub-sandwich called “sangas,” steaks, sausages, and other meat dishes. The place is well lighted, cheery, and neat. It also has wines, fresh bread, and veggies.

Fortune Hongkong Seafood Restaurant

Found along McArthur Highway within Diamond Subdivision in the town of Balibago, Fortune Hongkong Seafood Restaurant is one of the most wonderful and attractive dining facilities in Angeles City. For as low as 500 pesos, customers can already enjoy different kinds of Chinese dishes including in-house specialties like Lumpiang Fortune, Combination Chow Mein, and Fried Chicken Garnished with Shrimp Chips. In the meantime, they can also indulge in another unique and tasty dish called Beef Shank with Tripe. In terms of desserts, customers and guests can always find all sorts of delightful treats, including the very famous buchi. With its scrumptious meals, accommodating staff, and cozy ambiance, this restaurant is definitely one of the most inviting dining facilities in the area.

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Ala Crème

Ala Crème Cakes Crepes & Coffee is a famous dining place in Angeles City that offers mouth-watering deserts and tasty beverages to travelers. The prices of the dishes and drinks at the restaurant are affordable which make it more luring. Above all, the staffs at the dining place are accommodating and friendly.

Cabalen Restaurant

Cabalen restaurant is a Filipino restaurant that was started in 1986. It has been serving Filipinos for twenty two years and is a staple in the city of Angels, Angeles City, Pampanga.

Herbs and Greens Restaurant

Herbs and Greens Restaurant is one of the interesting and unique restaurants in Angeles City, Pampanga. It offers healthy and organic foods, which make it more enticing to customers. Aside from this, the prices of dishes at the dining place are affordable.

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Mequini Restaurant

Mequini Restaurant has become an acclaimed restaurant known for its exceptional service. This fine-dining restaurant manifests many reasons why customers who are in need of comfort and elegance come back for more.

Sbarro

Sbarro is a popular and attractive restaurant in Angeles City, Pampanga that offers delicious Italian meals. The prices of dishes at this restaurant are affordable which make the dining place more attractive. Above all, Sbarro has a strategic location and is near to other hotels in the city, so tourists have no problems locating this outstanding restaurant.

Yats Wine Club

YATS Wine Club is one of the famous and most visited restaurants by tourists in Angeles City, Pampanga. The dishes that it offers are delectable and mouth-watering. Aside from sumptuous meals, customers can also taste delicious beverages that it houses.

Mo's Place

Great food and drinks are offered at Mo's Place in Angeles City. Mo's Place is the restaurant to go to where you can get the best value of your money for a sumptuous meal. Enjoy the generous servings after a great tour of Angeles City.

Maranao Grill Restaurant

Reputed to serve one of the most delectable dishes in Angeles City, Maranao Grill Restaurant serves international and continental dishes. Its selection of western and familiar food puts the dishes at comfort food status. The grilled steaks are the specialty dishes in Maranao Grill Restaurant. It also offers a la carte services 24 hours a day and buffet services three times a week. The featured buffet specials are International Cuisine on Thursdays; Roast Beef, Sushi and Tempura (RST) on Fridays; and Prime Rib Special on Saturdays. Diners are guaranteed of a hearty and comfortable dining experience in Maranao Grill Restaurant. Maranao Restaurant is located at the Oasis Hotel, which is at the perimeter of Clark Special Economic Zone and Clark International Airport in Angeles City, Pampanga.

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Rodizio

Rodizio offers exotic and delectable Brazilian cuisine, thereby making it one of the popular restaurants in Angeles City. Rodizio’s selection of the favorite flame-grilled dishes such as baby back ribs and beef sirloin are marinated in special sauces to provide that tasty and unforgettable combinations of ingredients and spices. Diners can also expect to enjoy Rodizio’s house specialty, which is the Rodizio special sausage. Chefs brush the Rodizio special sauce over the meat and sausages while they are being roasted on fire. Rodizio is an in-house restaurant at the Holiday Inn Clark, specifically at the seventh floor.

Simple Asia

Simple Asia is situated at 193 Friendship Highway in Barangay Anunas, Angeles City. This restaurant and bar establishment has two dining areas – the main one indoors and its outdoor garden area. It serves Asian-fusion cuisine with both featured special dishes and fixed menu items. What’s more, this Angeles City restaurant’s large-capacity garden area is available for parties, debuts and other reception gatherings.

Zapatas Cantina Mexicana

Located at 480 Don Juico Avenue in Angeles City, Zapatas Cantina Mexicana (more popularly known as “Zapata’s”) is a small-scale but very popular Mexican restaurant in the area. Its interiors are very festive with yellow walls, red and blue-colored chairs and there are plenty of knick-knacks all over the place. The food in this Angeles City restaurant has been described as superbly authentic and the presentations of the courses are very classy as well.

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Swiss Chalet

Swiss Chalet is a hotel and restaurant establishment between Real and A. Santos in Balibago, Angeles City. Ran by Swiss owner, manager and chef, Hans Hofmann, the Restaurant Swiss Chalet also serves international and Filipino dishes in addition to their Swiss specialties. There’s a salad bar, a wide wine selection, and also an open-air veranda besides the main dining area too. This Angeles City restaurant is open as early as 7 a.m. and you can book table reservations as well by calling (045) 888-2618.

Hana-mi

Hana-mi is situated in Don Juico Ave. (also called “Perimeter Road”) and serves Japanese food with operating hours of 11 a.m.-11 p.m. This large Angeles City restaurant offers an extensive array of sushi, soups, teriyaki, bento boxes, tempuras, etc. You can opt to sit at the sushi bar where you can see chefs making your orders or at any of the tables and be served by friendly, kimono-clad waitresses.

Panorama Restaurant

Panorama Restaurant serves the well-loved international and continental dishes that are familiar and favorable to the palate. Panorama Restaurant is reputed to serve delectable dishes of different cuisines at affordable prices and huge servings. Its wide range of food selections includes pizzas, pasta, steaks and sushi. The selection of sushi is most impressive at Panorama Restaurant, along with the Swiss chocolate fondue, which is made up of the finest cocoa beans. Panorama Restaurant is the in-house restaurant of the Clarkton Hotel, and is located at 620 Don Juico Avenue in Balibago, Angeles City. Reservations at Panorama Restaurant can be made by calling 63-45-892-6272.

Salvatores Ristorante

Salvatores Ristorante is one of the popular Italian restaurants in Angeles City. Known to serve a delectable range of pizza and pasta dishes, Salvatores Ristorante serves toppings from meat to seafood. Its wide selection of tasty desserts makes it also one of the favorite dessert places in town. Salvatores Ristorante is reputed to offer the best cakes, particularly its cheesecakes. Salvatores Ristorante is located at Fields Avenue in Balibago, Angeles City.

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Red Crab

The Red Crab restaurant is owned and operated by a reputable company that also controls other highly-regarded restaurants. Guests at Red Crab restaurant can expect a pleasurable dining experience, from the interiors right to their very plates. Red Crab serves palatable seafood dishes prepared in Asian cuisine, and house specialties include the Seasons of Crab, a sampler of different crabmeat pasta dishes all in one platter, and the Mussels in Spicy Thai Broth, a soup dish with New Zealand Mussels good for two to three persons. Red Crab also serves western cuisine such as barbequed steaks and Caesar salad. There is also a selection of fine cocktail drinks, desserts and rice dishes. Red Crab is located at Cardinal Santos Street in Angeles City.

Angeles Fried Chicken

Situated within Diamond Subdivision along Marlim Boulevard in Angeles City, Angeles Fried Chicken is one of the finest and most famous restaurants in the province of Pampanga. For as low as 100 pesos, people can already taste some of the specialties of this dining place, which include Whole Roast Chicken, Chicken Barbeque, and Grilled Chicken. In addition to its delectable rice meals, it also offers sumptuous snacks such as Cheeseburger, Onion Rings, as well as French Fried Mushrooms. For deserts, this food service provider serves tasty ice creams for only 35 pesos. People can surely have a great and comfortable dining experience at the restaurant, since it has a relaxing ambiance and an accommodating staff who always provide fast and highly efficient services.

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Coffee Overdose

Located along Gapan-Olongapo Road within the City of Angeles in Pampanga, Coffee Overdose is a popular food service provider that offers excellent food and efficient services. More importantly, this place serves two delectable and tasty beverages, namely Choco Mudslide and Coffee Overdose Special. In addition, customers can always expect to receive warm welcome from the accommodating restaurant staff whenever they visit the place. Furthermore, coffee addicts can have extraordinary dining experiences at this cozy and relaxing dining area for as low as 100 pesos only.

Cottage Kitchen Café

Found along Don Juico Avenue within Clark View Road, Cottage Kitchen Café Restaurant and Jazz Pub is one of the most inviting and relaxing dining places in the City of Angeles in Pampanga. To satisfy the diverse cravings of its customers, this premier food service provider offers Filipino and international cuisines. Meanwhile, customers and guests can also try some of its tasty appetizers including Potlicker and Corn Bread, Shrimp Cocktail, and Calamares Refrito. In addition, they can also order some of the famous in-house specialties like Southern Fried Catfish as well as Hush Puppies Dinner. For deserts, the restaurant serves delectable treats such as a Chocolate Sundae, Peach Cobbler, and Apple Pie. For only 200 pesos, customers can already enjoy fine and decent meals at this first-rate dining facility.

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Didi’s Pizza

Situated within the town of Balibago in the City of Angeles, Didi’s Pizza is one of the most popular restaurants in the province of Pampanga that serves delectable Italian, Filipino, and Mexican cuisines. Some of the specialties of the house include great-tasting treats like pizza, burger, and tacos with pansit guisado. Meanwhile, for those who crave for Kapampangan delicacies, this outstanding food service provider serves tasty and mouthwatering dishes like pork sisig. With its refreshing atmosphere and relaxing ambiance, this pizza house is truly a good place where travelers can enjoy great meals whenever they visit the city.

Margarita Station

Located along Fields Avenue within the town of Balibago in Angeles City, Margarita Station is an interesting and attractive restaurant that specializes in Thai, American and Chinese cuisines. In the meantime, this food service provider also offers delicious English, Mexican and Italian delicacies, all within an average price of 200 pesos. For breakfasts, customers can check out palatable treats like French Toast, Southern Brunch, and Burrito. Meanwhile, this fine dining location also serves heavy meals including Double Cheeseburger, Chicken Fried Steak, as well as Fried Prawns. Additionally, it also features delectable salad variations such as Cucumber Salad, Macaroni Salad, and Potato Salad. Because of the refreshing ambiance as well as friendly staff of the restaurant, customers can definitely have memorable dining experiences at this premier dining location.

Edelweiss

Touring the vicinity of Malabanias, an interesting Angeles restaurant in Pampanga is Edelweiss. This is a German posh eatery serving German, Swiss, and Austrian dishes. The restaurant also has a bar for concocted drinks to go along with the tasty Alpine beef and sausage cuisines. Edelweiss is inside the Josefa Subdivision along the 21st Street. Being a delicatessen, guests may also shop for wine, bread, and frankfurters at Edelweiss.

Bale Dutung

For authentic Pampanga cuisines in a chic eatery offering superb dining ambience, try Bale Dutung in Villa Gloria. This classy Angeles restaurant in Pampanga requires at least 12 persons in a group and reservation. At Php 1800 per head guests can enjoy a feast of native Pampanga dishes like pork tosino and beef tapa (native sweetened and smoked pork and beef slices), and various chicken, beef, and vegetable dishes sautéed in or sauced with coconut milk. There are also bottled “buro” (preserved delicacies) and “Taba ng Talangka” (creamy and spicy native crab fats).

Mo’s Place

Mo’s Place in Balibago, Angles City. This Angeles restaurant in Pampanga has a festive atmosphere about it both inside and outside. There are feisty-looking design features, high ceiling for good air circulation, a cool veranda, and even a swimming pool and a hotel. It serves western, Thai, Chinese, Mexican dishes, curried cuisines, hoagie sandwiches, Cajun, pizzas, burgers, and local specialties.

Everybody’s Café

Another native Angeles restaurant in Pampanga worth mentioning is Everybody’s Café. This eatery, with a festive atmosphere and Filipiniana motif, serves the best of Kapampangan dishes daily, using native-style buffet or “turo-turo.” The native Pampanga dishes—calderetang baka (beef in melted cheese), pako salad, tortang bagus (milkfish omelet), and camaru (fried cricket “adobo”), among many others—are lined up in trays for guests to point to. This eatery is adjacent to Nepo Mart in Angeles.

Aling Lucing’s

For tourists with a ravenous appetite for grilled food, check out Aling Lucing’s in Hensonville. This Angeles restaurant in Pampanga offers truly mouth-watering barbeques, roasts, and grilled native dishes like “ikabud.” Angeles folks consider it a steakhouse because of the delectable grilled beef dishes offered here. The idea of “sisig” dishes was first conceptualized and done at Aling Lucing’s. Treading along Henson Street in Hensonville, Angeles, tourists will never miss it.

Camalig Restaurant

If visitors wish for something rustic and old-fashioned to dine in, they can try Camalig Restaurant along Sto. Rosario Street. This Angeles restaurant in Pampanga is actually a restored farm barn or “camalig” and renovated to be a cozy eatery. Though rustic-looking, it serves one of the best pizzas in town. Camalig’s pizzas, bragged as the national pizza, are rich with native spicy ingredients like Pampanga longganisa (sausage), “itlog na maalat” (salted duck eggs), small native onions, and native pickles.

Ikabud

Situated at Hensonville within Barangay Balibago in Angeles City, Ikabud is another famous food service provider in the area that offers pleasant Filipino dishes to go with its outstanding services. In order to have decent and sumptuous meals inside this inviting restaurant, guests must prepare a budget of around 200 pesos to 400 pesos. Some of the unique and special dishes that guests can always order are Grilled Squid, Pork Barbeque, and Papaitan. Meanwhile, for those who prefer tasty and luscious snacks, this popular dining place also serves mouthwatering light meals such as pansit as well as fish and chips. Finally, guests can also try other in-house specialties, particularly Sinigang na Hipon, Buntot ng Tuna, and Tortang Talong.

Azzuro Restaurant

Located along Don Juico Avenue within Barangay Malabanias in Angeles City, Azzuro Beach Club Restaurant is a first-rate food service provider that offers delightful and sumptuous international dishes. For those who want to satisfy their cravings for tasty German meals, this outstanding dining facility serves Angus Steak, Schaschlik Barbeque, as well as Lamb Chops. In the meantime, customers can also try other unique and mouthwatering grilled dishes such as Satay Barbeque, U.S. Baby Back Ribs Barbeque, and Chicken en Brochette Barbeque. With its refreshing ambiance, guests can definitely have relaxing dining experiences at this top-notch restaurant.

Rumpa

Situated at Santa Maria Village-I within Barangay Balibago in Angeles City, Rumpa is one of the most famous restaurants in the area that specializes in mouthwatering American dishes. For people who want tasty and luscious meals, they can always order Baby Back Ribs, Grilled Chicken, and Grilled Fish. Meanwhile, this outstanding food service provider also serves delectable set meals, which include its best-seller Dinner Rolls with Butter. For less than 500 pesos, guests can already have satisfying meals inside this excellent and cozy dining facility.

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Sunday, February 26, 2012

Angeles City