Restaurant Review: Solibao Restaurant - Burnham (Baguio City, Benguet)

Solibao Restaurant - Burnham

Solibao, a home-grown Filipino restaurant in Baguio City owned by Moises Cating, has been serving the best of all-Filipino fine dining for local and foreign tourists alike since 1972.  

It is best known for its yummy Filipino recipes like Pancit Palabok, Binagoongan Liempo, Kare-Kare, Ilocos Bagnet, Bibingka and Puto Bumbong.   The word, “Solibao,” comes from a drum or percussion instrument used by the Igorot in the Cordilleras.

The main dining area

Laing

Pinakbet

Coming from boating and biking at Burnham Park, we had lunch at this original and conveniently located Baguio restaurant beside the lake.  

With its laid back setup and Filipino-style ambiance, the restaurant is surrounded by wide clear glass windows that gave us a great view of Melvin Jones Grandstand, football field and the park. They even had tables set up outside where one can catch the cold breeze while enjoying the food.

Combo E

As we were five in my group, we chose, from their extensive menu, combo meals good for five persons, finally deciding on Combo E (at PhP1,655.00, not too pricey) which consisted of Honey Fried Chicken (1/2), Kare-Kare with Special Bagoong, Pinakbet with Vigan Sitcharon, and Laing; all served with Garlic Rice, Iced Tea and 5 pieces of their famous Puto Bumbong.

Honey Fried Chicken

The Pinakbet, a medley of fresh lowland vegetables sauteed in garlic and bagoong (shrimp paste), was served crunchy Vigan Bagnet. Their version of honey fried chicken, cooked medium-rare, was crispy, tasty and not too oily.

The Kare-Kare, with generous portions of tender buntot ng baka (oxtail) simmered in traditional peanut sauce with fresh mixed Baguio vegetables, was served with their special Solibao bagoong alamang (instead of the fish bagoong sauce used by Ilocanos).  We loved the “peanutty” taste of the sauce. The laing, taro leaves cooked in coconut milk, was spicier than usual laing I tasted.

Kare-Kare

  

The much awaited puto bumbong, a must-try, was made from glutinous rice fresh out of a bamboo steamer housed in a hut outside the main restaurant.  It was very soft, tasty, and paired really well with the freshly grated coconut, melted butter (not margarine) and brown muscovado sugar on top.

A downside of this restaurant was its slow service.  Aside from the original restaurant, Solibao also has 5 other branches around Baguio.

Solibao Restaurant – Burnham Park: South Football Grounds, Baguio City 2600, Benguet. Tel: +(63 74) 442-6797 Website:  www.solibao.com. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/solibao.

Solibao Restaurant @ Heritage Mansion Hotel: Kisad Road, Abanao Extension, Baguio City, Philippines 2600.  Tel: (074) 448-3815. Open daily, 6 AM to 10 PM.

Solibao Restaurant – Session Road: Door #1, Puso ng Baguio Building, Baguio City 2600, Benguet. Tel: (074) 442-3867.

Ganza Restaurant – Burnham Park: North Football Grounds, Baguio City 2600, Benguet. Tel: (074) 442-2478.

Solibao Kiosk – BGHMC Waiting Shed Food Court, Baguio General Hospital Compound, Baguio City 2600, Benguet.  Tel: (074) 423-0169.

Cafe Solibao: Gen. Luna cor. Mabini St., Baguio City 2600, Benguet.  Tel: (074) 442-4872.