After 2 years since my last post, I was able to visit La Union, or Elyu, again. For my partner and I, that doesn’t mean surfing, but foodtrip! Here are the places we went to and some quick reviews of each.
Miryinda
We arrived in San Juan at around 11AM, perfect for brunch. After alighting at the famous 7eleven (under renovation at the time), we walked an uphill road for a bit before arriving here.
Miryinda is touted in social media as having the best Kare-kare in the area. Since we were both fans of this local dish, this place was on top of our list.
We ordered their Crispy Pork Kare-Kare w/ Bagoong Rice (P250), the Beef w/ Ox Tripe Kare-Kare w/ Bagoong Rice (P250) and their Miryinda Mango Iced Tea (P100). The iced tea was served immediately upon ordering while the rice meals took 20-30 minutes as per the cashier.
It was very hot and humid at the time and the iced tea served as a refreshing welcome. The flavor that came to mind was Zesto’s mango flavor, but thicker. The aftertaste was those house-blend iced teas that had some tartness. It was bordering on too sweet for my preference, but overall was a perfect counter to the heat.
The Kare-kare dishes didn’t take long and were served aesthetically in colorful plates. Just looking at them tickled my tastebuds. I had the beef while Shane ordered the pork.
My first observation was how tender the beef was. It was similar to beef in Cansi and Bulalo that was simmered in hot water for a time prior to serving. There was even a hint of sourness to the beef which made it familiar to my palate.
After tasting the pork dish, it was also flavorful. The crispy skin and pork fat were fried to perfection bagnet-style, but I felt that the meat was a tad overcooked. Its toughness was a direct contrast to the beef which separated easily. Of course, I ate most of the fatty part so Shane will not get the unhealthy cholesterol.
Both dishes had the same Kare-kare sauce and veggies which were delicious. Miryinda is so generous with the sauce that I consumed all the rice and there were still some left.
Personally, I prefer a stronger, peanut flavor and a thicker sauce, but Miryinda’s formula worked for us. Having not eaten any other Kare-kare dish in Elyu, we can’t objectively say that it’s the best, but you can’t go wrong with this one.
PSA: If you wanna eat here, go early like we did as the lines can get long once lunchtime arrives and the midday sun will not help with your hunger. Thankfully we were able to get a table right away, but others had to wait a while for vacant seats.
Miryinda
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10AM to 5PM, closed Tue & Wed
225 Urbiztondo Rd, San Juan,
2514 La Union
Karruba Cafe and Bakery
Bellies full but looking for a sweet finish, we walked nearby to this cozy cafe.
We went a bit overboard with ordering stuff here, but there were so many delicious-looking pastries on display. Plus we wanted to try out different types of bread to get a baseline on their specialties.
Iced Spanish Latte (P185). This was delicious and milky, though I prefer a stronger coffee taste. Definitely one of my favorite things we ordered here. No acidity and not too sweet, perfect for most everyone wanting a pick-me-up.
Spanish Bread. I have a preference for flavorful fillings, so this one is not for me. But I loved how fluffy and soft the bread was. I just wasn’t able to taste the usual “Spanish Bread” flavor here.
Pan au Chocolat. The chocolate did the heavy lifting here. It was delicious and satisfied my sweet tooth. However, the bread was not croissant level of flakiness. Maybe I didn’t get a freshly baked one, but it was not crispy and was hard to separate with a fork. Texture aside, the flavor was on point.
Garlic Buns. I’m sorry, I wasn’t able to get the exact name of this, but it looked and tasted like 7eleven’s K-Style Garlic Cream Cheese Bun. This is a good thing, btw, because I absolutely adore these. Freshly baked, hot, and absolutely soothing to the soul.
Lemon Tart. Karruba is famous for these and they have the right to be. So tasty and the crust IS the croissant level of flaky and crispy that I wanted. If we weren’t using public transportation to go home, I would order boxes of these to take home. The best thing we ordered here!
Hiro. Another winner. This is basically a spicy pork floss bun done well. They added some seaweed flakes to give it a Japanese kick. The bread could have been softer though. This is my recommendation for people looking for a savory and filling pastry.
Karruba has so much more pastries to offer plus we didn’t even get to try their rice meals. This is a must-visit for anyone going to Elyu and it earns the hype that it gets.
Karruba Cafe and Bakery
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7AM to 5PM, closed Tue
Urbiztondo Rd, San Juan,
2514 La Union
Clean Beach
An Elyu staple and a well-known place to just chill. This was our early-evening meal and despite going here during non-peak time, the place was around 90% full.
Kaya Toast (P220). Shane’s order. Not a big fan of these because they look so easy to make, but we enjoyed them. It’s on par with previous Kaya toasts I’ve tasted. The coconut jam and egg sauce was decent. Two pieces of toast is crazy skimping. Worth the price? Debatable, but I guess you are paying to eat these while surrounded by ladies in bikinis and half-naked men.
BBQ Chicken Sandwich (P250). My go-to order here and it has not disappointed me yet. A huge slab of chicken fillet fried to a crisp topped with vegetable slaw. I love it when they add vegetables to add a semblance of healthiness to my food. The sliver of lettuce was barely felt, but it made the dish look pretty. Bun: fluffy, chicken: juicy, sauce: flavorful. That’s all I needed.
Iced Chocolate (P180). Not ordering this again. Tasted like it was AI-generated chocolate. Not a hint of love was poured into this drink. It was so diluted I was barely getting any chocolate with every sip.
Clean Beach has the vibes, for sure. But for the prices of the food compared to what we got, there’s better places to go. We forgot to order their Kofta Balls which are said to be good, so maybe next time we’ll try that.
Clean Beach
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7AM to 8PM
134 Beachfront, MacArthur Highway,
Brgy. Urbiztondo, San Juan, 2514 La Union
El Union Coffee
I only tasted one thing here and its not even their coffee.
While I was still asleep, Shane went out to swim and also buy something to eat. Fortunately, the perpetual line in El Union was bearable that morning. She was able to buy their Grilled Cheese (P290).
Holy shit. This should be the thing people are lining up for. So good.
I ate this upon waking up and it was so good. The crispy toasted crust, the fluffy center of the bread, the strong cheese flavor. So addictive. And once you dip it in the sriracha ketchup? OH MY GOD.
This is the grilled cheese I dream of making at home one day.
El Union Coffee
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8AM to 6PM, closed Wed
Brgy. Urbiztondo, MacArthur National Highway,
San Juan, La Union
Timpla Homemade Cafe
One of the places we keep returning to, Timpla has just served me one thing since I first went here. And it has never failed to make me happy every time.
Spanish Latte (P195). The unforgettable drink that is the basis of every comparison to other Spanish Lattes out there. Others may be cheaper, or use better equipment and ingredients, but I haven’t tasted something as memorable as this. Sure, the location and vibes might have helped etch this coffee into my brain, but no coffee shop has blended my exact preference of sweetness and coffee strength like Timpla.
Chai Masala (P195). Shane’s order was also good, but we both agreed that it was lacking some of that tea flavor. A stronger concentration could’ve raised this up a notch.
I’m happy with Timpla. I will never order anything else on their menu but I will keep coming back.
Timpla Homemade Cafe
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7AM to 9PM
Km277, Tavern by the sea,
San Juan, 2514 La Union
Sabong Fried Chicken
I’ve already reviewed Sabong in my previous Elyu post so I’ll keep things brief.
We ordered the exact same things, which were the Chicken Burger (P300) and the Honey Bagoong Chicken (P350).
This was no longer the spicy chicken burger I knew. Though it was still extra crispy and juicy, I missed the gochujang kick of the one before. Still, it was delicious and the mixed vegetable slaw complemented it well. The buns were still crazy soft and the fries were huge and crispy.
As for the Honey Bagoong Chicken, it was still the bestseller for a reason. The strong flavor made sure that you consume every grain of rice on your plate. The Kare-kare sauce and eggplant salsa helped to round out the flavor.
Sabong’s flavor profile has always been on the stronger side but I noticed a lack of punch this time. It could just be my tastebuds dulling over time, but the wow-factor isn’t as prominent as before.
Maybe a future taste test will tell where this place is going, but for first-timers, Sabong is a must-try.
Sabong Fried Chicken
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11AM to 9PM, closed Wed
The Great Northwest Philippine Travel Stop and Viewing Deck
San Juan, La Union
Salad Stoke
Another hidden gem that Shane ordered while I was asleep. This time, she ordered the Breakfast Quesadilla (P220) and a beverage called Arya (P180).
At first, I found it weird to have scrambled egg in a quesadilla. But eventually I enjoyed every bite just because of how good it mixed with their cheese and tortilla. The real winner here is their pico de gallo. The diced vegetables tasted so fresh they immediately woke me up. I’m gonna need a huge jar of this next time.
The Arya was a shake made of blended cucumber, apples, honey, and lemon. It was refreshing but tasted like exactly what you would expect. The solid ingredients hung out at the bottom of the glass that by the end I was sucking up solid pieces with the straw. No denying how healthy it tasted, though.
I’m still dreaming of their pico de gallo until now. Next time we will try their signature salads and see how it goes.
Salad Stoke
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9AM to 5PM, closed Tue
Inside Monaliza Surf Resort,
San Juan, La Union
Ramenrique
Right beside Salad Stoke is Ramenrique. It’s intrigued us since our previous visit but we never had the time to dine there until now. Both of us are ramen enthusiasts so we came in with high expectations.
Spicy Miso (P370). Shane’s order and what a flavorbomb this was. I enjoyed sipping from her bowl because of how rich the miso flavor was. The spice itself wasn’t noteworthy for me. The noodles were springy and firm, just the way I like them. The soup was a bit too strong for Shane, so I ended up finishing it all.
Tsukemen (P390). I’ve preferred dipping noodles ever since having Mendokoro’s Karai Tokusei, so I was curious with Ramenrique’s version. The dipping sauce could be a bit thicker so it coats the noodles more, but the flavor was decent. It had a strong mushroom kick which I liked but could be an acquired taste for others. The noodles were cold, thick and chewy. The chashu slice was a bit tough, but flavor-wise, it didn’t disappoint.
If you’re in La Union looking for ramen, this is the place to go. The ingredients are handmade right in front of you and the flavor is there. Just take note that their broth is based on chicken stock, not tonkotsu (Pork). Shane and I prefer pork over chicken but we still enjoyed this meal.
I just had to mention that the entire place is fashioned to look like a yatai cart. It was like we were eating back in Japan. They had anime pictures and figures on the counter which help the vibe. I was impressed by the passion of the owner. You can tell that a lot of love was given to the place.
Ramenrique
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Fri to Sat: 11AM to 9PM, Sun 11AM to 2:30PM
Inside Monaliza Surf Resort,
San Juan, La Union
La Ud Lounge
On our final day, we had breakfast here at La Ud Lounge. It was near our accommodation and they were one of the sponsors of the Labor Union event taking place during the weekend so we decided to see what they had to offer.
Bangsilog (P190). This was good and the fish was properly cooked to a nice crisp. It was served with a sunny side up egg and some vegetables on the side. Not much else to say for a decent meal.
French Toast with Bacon (P230). Not an item worth its price. Two pieces of toast, a small serving of bacon, a quarter of an apple, butter and syrup. On the bright side, the bacon was delectable and tasty. It reminded me of the King Sue bacon we have at home that is absolutely delicious. I just can’t justify the serving size compared to the cost.
We also ordered the Coffee Martini (P250) as they have a Buy 1 Take 1 promo for simple cocktails from 8am to 5pm daily. The cocktails have to be the same kind. It was too watery for my taste but I did taste the coffee in every sip.
Most of the food in La Union is already expensive by default. It IS a tourist trap so we’ve already come to terms with that. But only here did I feel the brunt of not getting value for my money. The menu prices were also not the actual amount we paid. They have an undeclared service charge so be wary of your bill.
La Ud Lounge
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Sun to Thu: 8AM to 8PM, Fri to Sat: 8AM to 1AM next day
Brgy. Urbiztondo, MacArthur National Highway,
San Juan, La Union
Mad Monkeys
Another place I’ve reviewed previously and still the last place we ate at before leaving.
We ordered their Amboy Burger (P300) and the Le Bleuger (P330).
Just as before, their beef patty is bursting with flavor. Their patty mix itself is top tier and I wish I knew how they made it. Perfectly cooked on a hot plate (wish it was smoke-grilled though) and served between two extra-soft and extra-fluffy potato buns.
The Amboy had a slice of smoky American cheese which I liked. It paired perfectly well with the patty. The Le Bleuger had a combo of Bleu Cheese and caramelized onions which was as delicious as it sounds. The pungent flavor blended well with the sweetness of the onions and the umami of the beef. The Bleuger was the clear winner of the two.
I’m just sad that they made their sriracha sauce only available upon request and no longer on a bottle you can freely use. Signs that we are in a recession. They also had a hidden 5% service charge that is not declared on the menu so take note.
Ending the trip with delicious burgers is always a good thing and despite some changes, I’m glad Mad Monkeys is still a satisfying visit.
Mad Monkeys
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9:00AM to 10:00PM, closed Tue & Wed
Along MacArthur Highway,
Bgry. Urbiztondo,
San Juan, La Union
We left La Union on a Saturday to avoid the Sunday rush, but we were stuck at the San Fernando bus terminal for a while. Our return back to Manila took us half a day overall. For now, I’ve had my fill of Elyu. I have good memories and a full tummy enough to last for the foreseeable future.
Special thanks to Shane for taking care of the itinerary and for providing amazing photos and companionship. To more food trips and cheat vacations.
Thanks for reading and let’s eat some more delicious food!
-jgzn
