Food Trip: Digman's Hyped Halo-Halo

For Juans, no dessert screams summer more than the halo-halo. Literally means mixed, halo-halo is typically a concoction of shaved ice, milk, sweetened beans, banana, jack fruit, purple yam, coconut strips, root crops, sago pearls, colorful gelatin, flan, and topped with ice cream. This colorful layered dessert is one great cold treat. And as the Philippines' favorite summer time food, a cup or bowl of halo-halo is available just about anywhere. 

One place that media outlets rave about as the halo-halo capital of the Philippines is Digman in Bacoor, Cavite. With the summer heat becoming unbearable these days, the Two Juanderers decided to visit Digman to check out if the halo-halo there are actually all that. We had to taste it to believe it.

Is is really the talk of the town?

Don't be confused though as the popularity of the halo-halo in the area spawned a multitude of restaurants offering their own versions of the cold treat. Each claiming to be either the first or the best. So in our visit, we tried out two of the most featured restaurants in Digman. Here's our verdict.

We first tried out the restaurant named The Original Digman Halo-Halo and Home Made Siopao. It is located along H. Rubio Street in Barangay Digman. The restaurant claims to have started in the 1930s and had their recipe patented. Perhaps the first thing you'll notice upon entering is the display stand where all the twelve ingredients are showcased in huge glasswares. 

Display stand showcasing the twelve ingredients of halo-halo

We ordered their special halo-halo and mais con yelo. Both looked appetizing with the colorful ingredients packed tightly inside the tall soda glasses. 

Their signature halo-halo

Another bestseller, Mais Con Yelo

However, contrary to the claims, the halo-halo tasted ordinary. There was nothing special that set their halo-halo apart from all the other neighborhood halo-halo we've tasted. 

After finishing our glasses, we headed to the other restaurant called BC2 Digman Original Famous Halo-Halo. This one is located along Digman Street and is the first restaurant you'll pass by after the Digman Welcome Arch. 

The distinct bluish signage of BC2 Digman Original Halo-Halo

This place claims to be the area's talk of the town since 1969. This claim is reinforced with the restaurant's numerous photos of celebrities eating their bestseller. There is also a display stand where all the ingredients are showcased, albeit in smaller amounts. 

BC2's display stand

We likewise ordered their special halo-halo and mais con yelo. Their versions of the iced desserts were served in smaller glasses and looked noticeably less appetizing. 

Talk of the town Halo-Halo

Talk of the town Mais Con Yelo

As for the taste, sadly, there was also nothing special about them. 

In our opinion, despite all the media hype, Digman cannot claim to have the best halo-halo in the country. There are a lot better places to have this famous dessert where the milk is creamier, the ice is finer, and the ingredients taste better.

What do you think is the best halo-halo in the country? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.