Food Trip: Islas Pinas Food and Heritage Village

Are you growing tired of the usual food courts? We've got some great news. Things are looking up in the food court industry. Some food courts are now becoming restaurant type of experiences rather than just places for quick bites. These have been turned into places to hangout and enjoy the atmosphere. 

One such place is Islas Pinas in Pasay City. Dubbed as a food and heritage village, this indoor dining hub is a collaboration between the Double Dragon Group and Chef Margarita Fores. 

Islas Pinas is a new food hub in Metro Manila

Islas Pinas is an expansive 2,500 square meter food hub that features various flavors from the different regions of the Philippines. It also features a picturesque interior design showcasing the country's most popular landmarks. There are recreations of the old-town charm of Vigan's Calle Crisologo and the breathtaking Ifugao Rice Terraces, and re-imaginings of the Chocolate Hills, the Palawan Limestone Cliffs, and the enormous walls and buttresses of Paoay Church. 

A recreation of the old world charm of Calle Crisologo in Vigan

Sit and enjoy the views from the recreation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces

A re-imagination of the famous Chocolate Hills of Bohol

A dining room designed after the Palawan Limestone Cliffs 

A re-imagination of the walls and buttresses of Paoay Church in Ilocos

These themed areas are complemented with displays of Pinoy cultural symbols like the jeepney, balangay, bahay kubo, street food carts, and sari-sari store. Islas Pinas sure is Instagram-worthy and will make photo-happy guests come through its doors. 

An actual Sarao jeepney is displayed inside Islas Pinas

Feel like eating inside a traditional bahay kubo

Another cultural symbol inside Islas Pinas is the sari-sari store

The food stations are called Sinag, Alamat, Bilao, Pampang, Tusok-Tusok, Panaderya, and Panulak. 

Food Station: Sinag

Sinag Station offers all-day Filipino breakfast favorites like tapsilog, longsilog, tosilog, pares, binalot, tokwa't baboy, itlog na maalat, goto, and champorado.

Some of the delicious food offerings in Sinag Station

Alamat Station showcases regional dishes that tell of its origin's history and geography. This station brings together carefully curated dishes from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. 

Food Station: Alamat

Luzon: Bagnet, Sisig, Kare-Kare, Bopis, Bistek, Bakareta, Bacalao, Okoy, Poqui-Poqui, Gising-Gising, Laing, and Pinakbet. 
Visayas: Humba, Lechon, Balbacua, Ginataang Tilapia, Tinunuan, KBL, Binakol, Tinu-om, Laswa, and Ginataang Tambo with Pasayan. 
Mindanao: Southern Pochero, Halang-Halang, Chicken Curry, Beef Rendang, Tolang Pasayan, Law-uy, and Sinigang na Bangus sa Miso.

The world-famous lechon of Cebu in Alamat Station

Bilao Station features the Filipino comfort snacks usually served in a bilao or a flat round-shaped winnowing basket. There are varieties of pancit like pancit malabon, habhab, bato, palabok, bam-i, batil patung, and cabagan. Of course there are also kakanin and meryenda items like sapin-sapin, biko, cassava cake, puto, lumpiang shanghai, empanada, and turon.

Food Station: Bilao

Pampang Station is similar to dampa where guests are allowed to choose from a variety of fresh seafood catch as well as meat and have it cooked to their preference.

The balangay in Pampang Station

Panaderya Station offers bakery goodies like the pandesal, spanish bread, ensaymada, cheese roll, monay, binangkal, bicho-bicho, ube basket, and crinkles. 

Food Station: Panaderya

Tusok-Tusok Station offers popular street foods like pork barbecue, isaw, kwek-kwek, fish balls, and balot.

Food Station: Tusok-Tusok

Panulak Station are where drinks are served including buko juice, palamig, softdrinks, tea, coffee, cocktails, beer, and hard drinks.

A refreshing Buko Pandan juice from the Panulak Station

Know Before You Go:

• Islas Pinas is located at the ground floor of Double Dragon Plaza in Pasay City. 
• It covers an area of 2,500 square meters and a seating capacity of up to 700 people.
• There is a stage inside as it also features modern and traditional cultural performances and games.
• Islas Pinas features a Pasalubong Center where visitors can purchase souvenirs and items from different parts of the Philippines. 
• Entrance to Islas Pinas is free but all visitors will need to get an RFID card and swipe it at the entrance turnstiles. The card will be swiped every time a food item is ordered from the different food stations. Then it will be presented at the cashier for payment of all orders before inserting it at the turnstiles to exit. 

  

  Pasalubong Center showcasing pasalubong items from different provinces

  

  Islas Pinas RFID Card 

Are you planning a visit to Islas? If you find this useful, please share on social media. Thanks!