The Best of Ilocano Foods

LAOAG CITY AS TOURIST DESTINATION

Apart from being distinguished as the provincial capital, Laoag City is also the center of the fast developing North Luzon Economic Triangle. The city is situated in a strategic area close to the economic centers of East Asia and is reachable in 45 minutes by plane from Manila. Having critical infrastructure such as the Laoag Airport at Gabu and the Currimao Port makes Laoag the port of entry of goods and services complemented by an extensive road and highway system that connects it to other cities. An extensive banking system is also found in the city with an impressive number of twenty-five different local, domestic, and foreign banks ready to serve any financial needs.

Laoag City provides a large opportunity for economic expansion. The historic scenic tourist spots, availability of internationally competitive accommodations and facilities, and the presence of supportive national government agencies, makes Laoag an ecotourism center, as classified by the Department of Tourism. The Northwestern Luzon Growth Quadrangle, fondly called the NORTH QUAD, also aims to develop rural areas through an integrated countryside agri-industrial development approach with emphasis/focus in attaining sustainable and equitably growth; increase the productivity of agriculture and fisheries; encourage industrial competitiveness in the local and foreign markets like Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong. Plans are also being undertaken for the establishment of an ECO-TOURISM village, which will showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Ilokanos and the local industries.

BEST LAOAG FOOD - EAT SOMETHING DIFFERENT

The best food is in Ilocos Norte and they are proud of their unique cuisine. The Best Food is available in many great restaurants.The local garlic is wonderful, also the local vinegar called sukang iluko is renowned and some compared with really good quality Balsamic vinegar.

Ilocano's Favorite Pinakbet

Ilocano's Famous Bagnet (Lechon Kawali)

Ilocano Style for Dinuguan (Dinardaraan)

Sinigang na Pata sa Puso ng Saging (Kukod ti Baboy ken Sabunganay wenno Susop)

Steamed Kamote Tops (Kinelnat nga Murdong ti Kamotig)

Pritong Karne ng Baboy at Inihaw na Okra

Seaweeds (Pok-Poklo)

Dinengdeng nga Kadios wenno Kardis  iti Saluyot

Dinakdakan

Kappukan wenno Ata-Ata

Dinengdeng a Sabong iti Karabasa

Some other great Laoag food treats are the local fruits all soaked in sukang iluko and they include my favorite which are green mango slices. Also there are the fruits karmay, singkamas, siniguelas, manibalang na papaya, green balayang bananas and even more local fruits. There are known locally as inartem, which means soaking. I call them drunken fruit. These go really great with a barbecued and fried pork, beef and chicken and even BBQ fish.

The secret of Ilocano cuisine is its simplicity. 


Like French cuisine it uses simple inexpensive ingredients. It is the peoples food!



An essential part of Ilocano cuisine are the bitter tasting dishes. This bitter taste is interwoven through grilled fish, meat stews and fresh garden salads. They are wonderfully balanced against sweet and sour and then salty. The use of sukang iluko really makes the difference.