Restaurant Review: Don Juan Boodle House (Taal, Batangas)

 

Don Juan Boodle House

A break in the Historia, Culinaria, Y Cultura proceedings brought us to the Don Juan Boodle House for lunch. Located near the Taal Public Market, it is said to be the first and the original Taal restaurant serving boodle fight food with various selections – Davao Boodle (Php1499),  Ilocos Boodle (Php1399), Military Boodle (Php1299), Ilonggo Boodle (Php1399), Southern Tagalog Boodle (Php1399), Inihaw Boodle and Taal Specialty Boodle, all good for 4 to 6 persons.  The restaurant was already filled up when we arrived but, luckily, we had a table reserved for the 8 of us. 

Check out “Historia, Culinaria, Y Cultura: A Celebration of Philippine Independence Day Through Food, Fashion & Culture”

 

The DOT media group and the author (right)

However, the most popular boodle-type meals in the restaurant are the Taal Specialty Boodle and the Inihaw Boodle, both for Php1299. We tried the former. Served on the usual banana leaves, it consisted of town’s tapang Taal and longganisang Taal as well as, adobo sa dilaw (chicken cooked in turmeric), ginataang sitaw at kalabasa (string beans and squash with coconut milk), sinaing na tulingan (braised tuna wrapped in banana leaves), pritong tawilis (fried tawilis), inihaw na binakbakan (grilled pork ribs) and fruit in season (watermelon during our visit).  All this was served with sliced tomatoes, onion, salted egg, atsara (pickled grated papaya) and lots of steamed rice.

 

Taal Specialty Boodle

The food was very good and satisfying, the service very friendly and the prices were surprisingly affordable.   For those who don’t have a big appetite may find the boodle specials too much, so Don Juan also serves ala carte grilled dishes such as Tiyan ng Tuna (Php399), Pusit (Php329), Tambakol (Php299), Longganisa  (Php99), Tahong (Php149), Talong (Php89) Liempo (Php249), Tilapia (Php119) Tanigue (Php299), Chicken BBQ (Php119) and Pork BBQ (Php39).

They also serve appetizers such as Bangus Sisig (Php289), Pork Sisig (Php229) and Chili Dynamite (Php169); soups such as Sinigang na Baboy (Php299), Sinigang na Hipon (Php399), Bulalo (Php399) and Sinigang na Salmon Head with Prawns (Php399); desserts such as Leche Flan(Php69), Fried Taal Suman with Tsokolate (Php89),  Taal Suman with Mangga (Php99) and Minatamis na Saging (Php69) and merienda treats such as Batchoy (Php99), Canton Guisado (Php99), Bihon Guisado (Php89), Halo-Halo (Php89) and Mais Con Yelo (Php69). 

They even serve reasonably priced (from Php119 to P179) meals (Bistek Tagalog,  Chicken BBQ,  Liempo,  Chicken Pork Adobo,  Pork Binagoongan,  Pork BBQ,  Inihaw na Tilapia,  Tapang Taal,  Bangus Sisig  and Bagnet), all  with unlimited rice and free soup.

There’s also has a pasalubong corner where diners may buy food items to bring home or as gifts. Don Juan Boodle House has another branch in Lipa City, just minutes away from Case De Segunda.

 

The packed dining area

Don Juan Boodle House: C.W. Diokno St., Taal.  Tel: (043) 740-1828.  Mobile numbers: (0917) 113 0393, and (0917) 528 0551. Open Mondays to Fridays, 8 AM – 9 PM, and Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays, 7 AM – 9 PM.

Don Juan Boodle House:  P. Torres cor. G.A. Solis Sts., 4217 Lipa City.  Tel: (043) 740-1828.  Mobile numbers: (0917) 1130-393 and ‎(0917) 5280-551.