Nestled within Bulacan—a cradle of culture and history—Baliuag has filled many pages detailing the storied Filipino identity. With this, a visit around the recently-declared city showcases an interesting mix of sights; ancestral houses, modern shopping complexes, and nostalgic recreational spots, among others.
While people accustom themselves to the rapid changes in Baliuag, certain traditions maintain their influence on many. Just last year, the city's famed Prusisyon ng mga Santo, which is held every Holy Week before the pandemic, returned after two years of pauses. Considered the longest religious procession in the country, it invites faithful from all walks of life to witness lavishly decorated floats depicting the Passion.
Truly, so many things can be done in a day in Baliuag, especially this Holy Week. But if you're asking if there are enough spots to energize you during your stay, you don't have to worry because there are ample places there where you can get sumptuous meals. Here are some of them:
QUE Unltd. is the meeting of all the best adventures and hard-earned lessons of food connoisseurs Julius Sulit, Maria Cecilia Galang, and Chris Jimenez. With sharpness given by the time they spent in many restaurants as customers, the trio created QUE that gives guests the hassle-free and filling dining experience they deserve.
Inside the bright and cozy restaurant reminiscent of homey cafes in the Metro, one can enjoy an unlimited melt-in-your-mouth western-style barbecue together with equally-delicious chicken, sides, pasta, soup, and vegetables. Julius notes that the dishes are prepared on per order basis, guaranteeing the quality of every refill a guest will make. After two hours, one can cap off the mealtime with delectable cakes and pastries available, baked by Maria Cecilia.
All of these gave QUE appreciation from many, earning them the recognition of being one of the best places to eat in Baliuag. Julius, Maria Cecilia, and Chris are not taking that for granted.
"We try our best to make the food as consistent as possible, so we've had several changes within the staff in the kitchen," Julius shared, adding that they are proud to say that QUE is still living up to the expectations of their patrons.
"Even if sobrang taas ng inflation, ‘yong cost of producing, for example, onion is one of our biggest ingredients, we had to figure out a way for us not sacrifice the quality of food we serve even if mahal. Non-negotiable sa amin ang taste, we haven't changed the recipe even if the prices were fluctuating."
That is evident with every plate you will get upon visiting QUE. One can say that just the smoky and tender barbecue is already enough to plan multiple revisits but add the juicy, flavorful chicken and matching sides and you have the formula made to attract patrons.
This upcoming long vacation is the best time to check out QUE if you are heading north, passing by Baliuag. Currently, they are running a promo where you can get their Premium Unlimited BarbeQUE for only 499 (from 599) and Regular Unlimited BarbeQUE for only 479 (from 549) from Holy Monday to Wednesday.
Store Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11 AM to 9 PM.
Store Location: Caltex Baliuag in front of SM Baliuag (or search QUE Unltd.)
A step into the welcoming space of Calle Jose will give you the impression that you are about to get a remarkable stay inside. Adorned with visually appealing, Spanish-inspired displays and a mix of bright and cool walls, the inviting ambiance calls for every guest to sit back, relax, and prepare to have a satisfying mealtime.
It is not a surprise to be fascinated from the get-go because the owner, Vic Manuel, carries a long list of dining wisdom he got locally and around the world. A graduate of culinary arts with half a year stint in Spain, he previously held head chef and sous-chef roles in a hotel in Metro Manila for four years before coming home to Baliuag. And when he came home, he decided to share his expertise, serving fresh takes on well-loved recipes; simultaneously bringing comfort and good memories to visitors.
"The main concept was comfort food. Kapag tinatanong ako ng mga tao kung ano bang specialty ng Calle Jose, anong cuisine, I say it's not limited by nationality or country, rather ‘yong we offer comfort food," Vic shared, saying they put strong importance on the overall experience of every Calle Jose diner. He added that he wants to reintroduce the word ‘comfort' as not just instances of familiarity, but it could also be found during moments when people feasts upon new dishes with modern spins and feel the same satisfaction.
Calle Jose's name is rooted in a family tradition. "All of the sons and grandsons ng pamilya, may ‘Joseph' sa pangalan," he revealed. Interestingly, the restaurant is based in Brgy. San Jose with a chapel bearing the same name. The ancestral house-turned-restaurant is also the former home of St. Joseph's procession image of their chapel. "Everything is with the intercession of St. Joseph," Vic believes.
With that, one of the most anticipated times in Calle Jose is Holy Week because Vic crafted a thoughtful, special menu for guests called Carta de Cuaresma. "It's something that I started last year, a Lent-friendly option focused on fish and seafood dishes, offered for a limited time," he explained.
This year, Calle Jose's Holy Week special menu is fit for anyone from all walks of life. It has healthy starters that kids can also enjoy, their famous pasta dishes remade for the season, and sharing plates perfect for families. After attending this year's Prusisyon ng mga Santo, a visit will surely end a long day on a good note.
Holy Week Schedule: Monday to Wednesday, Saturday to Sunday (11 AM to 10 PM)
Regular Store Hours: Monday to Sunday (11 AM to 10 PM)
Location: 440 Gil Carlos St., Baliuag, Bulacan (or search Calle Jose)
For Evilyn Siao, making Cafe Allegra a reality was a vision she was determined to accomplish even if she was thousands of miles away from her hometown.
A graduate of Business Administration majoring in Marketing, she used her short stint in a cargo company to improve professionally before flying out to Thailand to work in a hotel. After gathering a long decade of business acumen and molding herself as an expert in the field of the food and beverage industry, she decided to return to Baliuag and make another dream of hers come true.
"One time, nagpunta ako sa isang province sa Thailand, sa Chiang Mai and nakita ko ‘yong mga coffee shops and naisip ko na gusto ko talagang magput up ng cafe," Evilyn shared. "Umuwi ako from Thailand ng June 2022, nagpahinga lang ng kaunti, August nag-location hunting, then September 2022 nag-open kami."
Getting inspiration from the Spanish word ‘Alegra' which means ‘to be happy', she decided to use it as the heart of her cafe. And happiness is what the space is giving to its patrons, mostly freelancers and students. Seemingly one of the core reasons is the immaculate atmosphere of the place; sunny, refreshing, and accented by fixtures that add a relaxing vibe overall.
All of these together with the power of social media, Evilyn was able to put the cafe on top of many people's minds when the topic is excellent hangout places in Baliuag. There's no need to worry as it is indeed worthy of a visit, with a menu boasting items ideal for snacking over lighthearted conversations.
Cafe Allegra's bestsellers are their carbonara with its sauce made of egg instead of cream, baked macaroni, strawberry soda, salted caramel cafe and caramel macchiato. For Evilyn, guests should also try items on their list that are heavily influenced by her long stay in the land of smiles.
"Meron kaming Thai milk tea and Thai Lemon tea, authentic ‘yong tea na ginagamit namin," she revealed, mentioning that they are sourcing the ingredient directly from Thailand through a trusted friend. Soon to come are additional offerings in the list which are rice meals and sandwiches, Cafe Allegra's answer to their patron's happy demand for more varieties of food to pair with their drinks.
Holy Week Schedule: Monday to Wednesday (10 AM to 8 PM); Thursday to Friday (Closed); Saturday (10 AM to 6 PM); Sunday (11 AM to 8 PM).
Regular Store Hours: Monday to Friday (10 AM to 8 PM), Saturday to Sunday (11 AM to 8 PM)
Location: 781 B.S Aquino Ave. Brgy. Bagong Nayon, Baliuag, Bulacan (In front of New Frontier Subdivision)