Metro Vigan Cafe - an Ilocandia Cuisine Experience (1 of 2)

Metro Vigan Cafe - Home of Great Ilocandia Cuisine

As promised from my previous post, I will supplement a separate blog post to cover the newly opened in-house restaurant of the Metro Vigan Inn which is the Metro Vigan Cafe. Since we got to try almost everything on its menu, I will bifurcate them into two posts. Let's now begin with the part 1!

Note: You may check out the budget hotel itself including the rooms by checking out my blog post about it here: Metro Vigan Inn Hotel Overview. Also, just like any other restaurants inside a hotel/inn, non-guests are very much welcome to try the latest offerings of the Metro Vigan Cafe.

Spring Roll Longanisa || P128

Instead of the usual pork wrapped inside the spring roll, Metro Vigan Cafe uses a house-made longanisa to give a new subtle taste [menu description]

The Spring Roll Longanisa, as one of the appetizers, of Metro Vigan Cafe

Although I consider the spring rolls a bit overfried, the resulting taste of the infusion of Vigan longanisa was indeed subtly good. I didn't experience any "Eureka" or something similar with the rolls, but they were considerably delightful.

Poki-Poki || P128

Scrambled egg mixed with eggplant - an affordable appetizer that will definitely condition your appetite

An appetizer with a weird but memorable name - Poki-Poki! 

This mushy appetizer of Metro Vigan Cafe was surely something new to my eyes as a foodie, but this is one of those dishes that is not "scary" to try. In fact it looks inviting enough for me.

Now, the taste of this dish was beyond satisfactory especially with the nice texture and combination of spices. It will remind you somehow of a sisig dish and an egg plant dip at the same time. So, yeah, it does stimulate the palate.

Oh, by the way, I just love the bagoong fish sauce! It add more dynamics to the overall taste.

Metro Vigan Pancit Canton || P98 (small) || P168 (medium) || P208 (large) || P298 (xlarge)

a colorful noodle meal with ingredients of vegetable and/or chicken/squid balls that is not only delicious to the eyes, but to the mouth

The signaature Metro Vigan Pancit Canton

This Chinese-style pancit canton of Metro Vigan Cafe surely had a lot in it. Frankly speaking, I found the taste not that exquisite, perhaps due to my heavy exposure to pancit dishes before.

Metro Vigan Chicken || P318 (whole) || P188 (half)

Simplicity is beauty. This original chicken of our will alrady satisfy your starving stomach with its spices.

The Chinese-Style Metro Vigan Chicken of Metro Vigan Cafe

Have you already tried the chicken of Savory? Well, this Metro Vigan Chicken has high semblance with it. The taste leans more on the salty savory side, which is something I enjoy from time to time.

Pinakbet na Bagnet || P198

The Ilocanos' favorite vegetable garnished with crispy bagnet that makes the dish truly good

The Pinakbet na Bagnet of Metro Vigan Cafe

The bagnet added accent to this Pinakbet, which made the entire dish lovable, but on its overall, it was leaning towards the "usual" pinakbet (i.e. bagoong-flavored veggies). However, I can say that it lies on the "good" usual ones.

Sinanglao || P188

Hot and hearty soup poured into flavored boiled pork

Metro Vigan Cafe's Singanglao - a local cuisine

Sadly, we weren't able to have a taste of this dish, but we've heard from other bloggers that it was like a "pinapaitan".

Steamed Malaga || P300

This Classic Ilocano fish is steamed on top of fresh tomatoes, onions and ginger to give a unique taste

Steamed Malaga - a delicious fish dish by Metro Vigan Cafe

This dish became an instant favorite of most bloggers I was with. It was most probably because of the tenderness and fresh quality of the fish. Expect nothing less with this dish which will showcase a sweet and savory sauce bursting with flavors.

Kare-Kareng Bagnet || P258 

A Filipino favorite vegetable dish paired with crispy and freshly cooked bagnet

Top pick; Kare-Kareng Bagnet of Metro Vigan Cafe

This special Kare-Kare was interestingly thick and full, but what I found more puzzling and unique was the granulated texture due to ground rice. Moreover, it had a vibrant color that was indeed appetizing to look at. Magnificently, it wasn't how it looked like that was awesome because the taste and the bagnet were pretty much superb too!

I hail this as the best dish ever of Metro Vigan Cafe and potential the best Kare-Kare I've ever tasted to date!

Crispy Pata || P458

Deep fried pig trotters and knuckles that coems with a soy-vinegar dip

The delicious and "nuot sa laman" Crispy Pata

Not all crispy pata are created equal! This one was pretty much tasty on its own which suggests that it was marinated in a special sauce that seeped into the meat fibers. However, just in case you want to level-up the experience, feel free to dip it to the sauce was I believe was "prime quality sukang Ilonggo".

So, there you go! All of these dishes were served for lunch, and we had an overload of great food! Let's put all the blame to the great mind behind the dishes - Chef Raymond Ko.

A Not-So-Popular Kid with Raymond Ko, the chef behind Metro Vigan Cafe

Anyway, this concludes the Part 1 of this Food Review! Tune in for more appetizing dishes of Metro Vigan Cafe! Oh, please do share to us what you think. :)

Metro Vigan Cafe
Location: Bayubay Norte, San Vicente, Ilocus Sur
Contact Nos.: (077) 674-0448 or (+63917) 824-3800
Website: www.metroviganinn.com