By Jellyn Gueco

As a born-and-bred Kapampangan, food is something I take seriously. Growing up with my Lola Agang being a superb cook and my parents running a handful of restaurants in the past, it was but natural for me to develop a discerning palate. It has always been a great source of pride for me that I come from the country’s culinary capital and whenever I see local tourists enjoying Kapampangan cooking, I can’t help but feel delighted.
Now rooted in the vibrant Pampanga food scene, I often feel that it’s such a pity when tourists and renowned influencers come here just to repeatedly visit the same restaurants and order the same dishes, again and again. Don’t get me wrong. Like any other true-blooded Cabalen, sisig is still one of my favorite dishes of all time. I’ve had Duck à l’Orange in Cannes, Kibbeh Nayyeh in Damascus, and A5 Wagyu in Tokyo, but I will never trade an authentic Kapampangan sisig for any of those dishes. I still remember when, at 17, my twin sister and I had to move to Quezon City for college and we felt miserable for months because the sisig in the now-defunct U.P. Shopping Center had eggs and mayonnaise! A crime!
That’s why whenever I had friends who would visit Angeles City, I would take them to Aling Lucing or get take-out from Belen’s (now called Annie Bea’s Eatery), so they could have a taste of the original sisig. But while sisig is an absolute must-try, I believe that there are so many other amazing restaurants here in Pampanga that go beyond the traditional sisig, tibok-tibok, and tocino. 
So if you’re up for a food trip, here are seven restaurants in Pampanga that I would personally recommend.

1.  Amare by Chef Chris
First on the list is not exactly what tourists would go for when in Pampanga because it’s a modern Italian restaurant located at the Royce Hotel inside Clark Freeport Zone. What I like about Amare by Chef Chris is that it’s a family-style restaurant with a fine dining feel. It’s the restaurant you go to when there’s a special occasion but at the same time, you don’t want to end up feeling hungry after the meal.
Try the Grilled Flank Steak, Brooklyn Chicken with Linguini Pasta, Wine Braised Lamb Shank, and the famous Rollizza. Make sure to save room for the Amare Decadent chocolate cake because it’s a cake you’ll surely remember.

2. Mr. Krispy Crispy Pata
If you’re looking for the best crispy pata there is, Mr. Krispy Crispy Pata won’t disappoint. This restaurant started as a small hole-in-the-wall crispy pata stall back in 1994 but during the pandemic in 2020, the owners gave in to the insistent demand to franchise and expand the shop. In just over three years, there are now seven branches in Pampanga and three in Laguna, a testament that their crispy pata is legit.
You may ask what’s different with this crispy pata? Well, the pork skin is super crispy (they’re not lying about that) but you’ll find that the meat inside is juicy and tender. Aside from the obvious crispy pata on the menu, this restaurant also serves chicharon bulaklak, crispy ulo, and lechon kawali. This is definitely a cheat meal you won’t regret.

3. Beaute Beanery
A personal favorite of mine, Beaute Beanery is a café located in the Beautederm Building in Angeles City. I confess that never have I ever used a Beautederm product in my life nor have I tried out any of the beauty treatments in the spa, but what I can attest is that the food here is amazing. The first time I entered the café, my first impression was that the interiors had a chic, Instagrammable vibe that makes you feel ‘sosyal,’ even if you’re really not. So I did not have any grand expectations when it came to the food.
I remember ordering the seared tuna salad, fully expecting overcooked canned tuna tossed on top of lettuce. But when the dish came out, I was pleasantly surprised to see that it was plated beautifully, with the tuna seared so well, still bright pink on the inside. For the non-salad-eating folks out there, don’t worry because the café also serves Vigan Bagnet Kare Kare, Salted Egg Carbonara, Chicken BLT sandwich, and more.

4. Black Pearl Aklan Oyster Bar
If you’re from anywhere in Central Luzon and you’re in the mood for foie gras, escargot, or black Angus carpaccio, no need to drive to Metro Manila to satisfy your craving. Black Pearl has all that and more on the menu. This place is a very small fine-dining venue in the middle of a quaint restaurant strip in Angeles City and, as the name suggests, it specializes in Aklan oysters.
I’ve tried the Wagyu burger, not once but twice, and I can say that it was a messy but oh-so-good experience I’m looking forward to replicating soon. Make sure to book a table ahead of time if you’re planning to visit on a weekend.

5. My Lola Nor’s 301
My Lola Nor’s 301 reminds me of home cooking, but it’s the type of home cooking that’s done really well. It’s as if a master chef took over a streetside carinderia and cooked the best versions of classic Filipino dishes. There’s a wide variety of options on the menu but what I usually order is the okoy, beef caldereta, and pata tim.
If you have guests from abroad who are hungry for hearty and satisfying Filipino dishes, then this is the restaurant you should take them to. While on her vacation, my twin sister (who's now an OFW) only spent a week in Pampanga and, in that week, she dined at Lola Nor’s twice. This was out of the ordinary for her because she would always want to try out a new place. But according to her, the food was so good that she couldn’t resist returning to try the other dishes.

6. La Bodega Wine + Tapas
La Bodega is a hidden gem that many locals love. Nestled along the outskirts of Clark Freeport Zone, it’s an after-dinner hangout to get together with friends and family over glasses of wine and tapas. I would recommend this for local tourists spending a weekend in Clark, looking for something different from hotel bars and casinos.
Crowd favorites from the menu include jamon Serrano, gambas al ajillo, and the assortment of cheeses. If you want something more filling, La Bodega also serves paella, which is freshly cooked to order.

7. Chefanie Private Dining
Want to impress a special someone, celebrate an anniversary, or an important life milestone? Book a private dining with internationally-trained Kapampangan chef Ani Cortez and indulge in a 10-course dégustation menu. You can choose from a European course or a Contemporary Japanese option. The entire experience is worth every peso you’ll spend on this meal because the ingredients and the techniques that go into preparing each dish are top-notch.

Whether you’re looking for a high-end dining experience, scrumptious comfort food, or unique local delights, head out to Pampanga and experience a different kind of food trip. And yes, I’m not going to judge you if you still feel like taking home some sisig before driving back home.