Strategically located in the middle of the Bicol peninsula, Naga City – which is an hour’s plane ride away, or eight to 10 hours if driving or taking the bus from Manila – has established itself as a regional center of culture, commerce, and religion. 

Aside from its renowned Peñafrancia Festival, the city, which is aptly called the “Heart of Bicol,” is also often flocked by travelers who’d like to visit the other tourist destinations in the southern Bicol region. 

And no trip would be complete without a good food experience! Sure, the city has a long list of food establishments known for their trademark Bicolano dishes (such as Bigg’s, Geewan, Bob Marlin, Chef Doy’s, and Naga Garden Restaurant – to name a few), but there’s also some local spots that could tickle your fancy.

So if you’re around the area to explore its historical and cultural landmarks, here’s a list of locally loved food hubs to make your trip more memorable! 

Jaella’s

First thing’s first: kinalas is a must-try! 

A favorite of the Nagueños, you can never go wrong with a hefty serving of this staple dish from Jaella’s – soft and chewy noodles are served in hot and tasty broth, and customized by toppings such as hard boiled egg, meat, and seasonings.  

Aside from kinalas, this stall, located on J. Hernandez Avenue, also includes pancit malabon, baked lasagna, and fresh lumpia among their staple menu items. 

Patron

Patron reopened to the public in April 2022 with a Japanese concept, and while they’re relatively new, this food establishment is slowly (but surely) gaining a cult following. From its appetizers to the main course, any dish from their menu is guaranteed to satisfy your Japanese cuisine cravings. 

Their okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake), house-made gyoza, and kakiage (vegetable tempura) are perfect choices for a light start to your meal. 

Don’t miss out on their signature katsu sets – a choice of pork cutlet, meat cutlet, or chicken breast filet – which you can enjoy with Japanese rice, cabbage, and miso soup, or their katsudon that has the katsu simmered with eggs in sweet and savory soy. 

Located in San Felipe, Naga City, Patron also offers yakitori, tempura, and gyudon and teriyaki rice platters. 

Soi Satay

Naga has a handful of ramen houses and samgyupsal restaurants, but it could be a challenge if you’re craving for other Asian cuisine. Good thing Soi Satay serves up authentic Malaysian and Thai dishes. 

Their best-sellers are Soi laksa, an authentic spicy curry noodle soup with tender chicken and egg, Thai beef salad, Thai garlic shrimp, and red beef curry, which all boast of rich flavors. 

Even the Nagueños, who have a particular liking to spicy food, are also in for more treats as Soi Satay continues to add more savory dishes in their menu. Just recently, they introduced nasi lemak ayam, spicy pandan prawns, Thai cashew chicken, and kra pao omelet – and we can’t wait to get our hands on them. 

Soi Satay is located on Mayon Avenue corner Sierra Madre, Dayangdang, Naga City. 

Sgmrita pizza

Admit it, we often crave pizza while on vacation. Don’t fret because Sgmrita Pizza offers freshly-baked, brick-oven pizza in premium flavors.

Ranging from P349 to P389, you can now have a 12” pizza in classic flavors like pepperoni, garlic cheese, and margherita, as well as their specialties garlic mussel, meat lovers, cheesy beef mushroom, cheesy pork mushroom, and chicken alfredo – which you can get with an additional topping or serving of cheese!

They also have a veggie pizza that is topped with zucchini, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, mozzarella, and parmesan for health buffs out there. 

While the pizzas are the must-tries in Sgmrita Pizza, their pastas and side dishes can also stand on their own. Their chicken strips, which come in four flavors: buffalo, cheese, garlic mayo, and honey mustard, baked mussels, and bacon wrap definitely keep people coming back for more. 

Green Earth Café

Healthy eating doesn’t have to be boring in Green Earth Café. This vegetarian restaurant in Villa Sorabella Subdivision prides itself on offering healthy and organic food options that are made with fresh ingredients from their Green Earth Farm. 

Their tasty offerings include home-baked nachos served with tomato salsa, plant-based quesadillas made with homemade whole wheat tortilla, enchiladas made of red kidney beans rolled in whole wheat bread, fresh spring rolls, and *drum roll* vegan burgers! 

Green Earth Cafe could also help you commit to a healthier lifestyle with their CHIME menu, or the customized plant-based health improvement meals. And of course, they also offer Bicolano staples such as bopis, laing, and Bicol express – but with a healthier twist!

Arco Diez Café

An al-fresco restaurant located at uptown Naga – km. 10, Pacol – Arco Diez specializes in quality coffee and homemade meals. They serve local and international coffee brews, and even carbonated non-alcoholic beverages. 

With its spacious outdoor dining, it’s become a perfect place to unwind for families and friends roaming the Mt. Isarog area. Aside from their drinks, they also have a wide array of dishes such as beef tapa, chicken salpicao, macaroni and potato salad, buttered mackerel steak, and their signature arco diez fried chicken. 

Nagueños, which other food spots in Naga should’ve been included on this list? – Rappler.com