Where to Eat in Baguio

Baguio's dining culture is shaped by its cool mountain climate, indigenous Cordilleran heritage, and history as a American colonial hill station, creating a unique culinary landscape where traditional Igorot dishes meet comfort food cravings. The city's signature offerings include pinikpikan (a traditional chicken soup prepared through a specific indigenous method), etag (smoked mountain pork), and an abundance of fresh strawberries, vegetables, and coffee grown in the surrounding Benguet highlands. The influx of students, artists, and tourists has transformed Baguio into a dining destination that balances authentic Cordilleran cuisine with innovative cafés, bakeries famous for their ube (purple yam) pastries, and a thriving food park scene that capitalizes on the city's perpetually cool weather perfect for outdoor dining.

Key Dining Features:

• Session Road and Harrison Road Districts: The city center concentrates Baguio's most accessible dining options, from longstanding bakeries serving strawberry taho (fresh silken tofu with strawberry syrup) to multi-level restaurants offering Cordilleran fare like inandila (smoked meats) and dinakdakan (grilled pork face salad with pig brain dressing)
• Native Cordilleran Specialties: Essential dishes include kinuday (smoked pork or venison), watwat (boiled pork strips), pinuneg (blood sausage similar to morcilla), and the ceremonial pinikpikan, typically served during special occasions with etag and vegetables like sayote and pechay native to the region
• Affordable Mountain Pricing: Expect to pay ₱150-300 for substantial local meals at karinderyas (small eateries), ₱400-800 per person at mid-range restaurants serving Cordilleran cuisine or Filipino comfort food, and ₱1,000-1,500 at upscale establishments; the famous Good Shepherd ube jam costs ₱140-180 per bottle and makes an essential pasalubong (gift)
• Strawberry Season Dining (December-March): Peak harvest season brings fresh strawberry taho vendors to every corner, strawberry-picking experiences paired with farm restaurants in La Trinidad (adjacent to Baguio proper), and special strawberry-infused dishes from ice cream to salads at restaurants throughout the city
• Food Park and Night Market Culture: Baguio's cool evenings have spawned numerous food parks like Hill Station and Night Market on Harrison Road (open Wednesday and Saturday evenings), where you can sample ukoy (shrimp fritters), grilled Benguet vegetables, and steaming bowls of goto (rice porridge) while bundled in jackets year-round

Practical Dining Tips:

• Reservations During Peak Season: Book at least 2-3 days ahead during December-February (Christmas season and Panagbenga Festival in February) and Holy Week when Manila residents flock to Baguio; walk-ins work fine during the rainy season (June-October) except weekends
• Cash-Preferred Payment