Baguio City has this way of making you feel hungry even when you just ate. Maybe it’s the cool air, maybe it’s the walkable streets, or maybe it’s the fact that every corner seems to have a different cuisine calling your name. What fascinates me most about Baguio’s food culture is the diversity, Filipino staples living side-by-side with Mediterranean, Indian, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Italian, and other Western-style spots. It honestly reminded me of Singapore a bit, where different cuisines happily co-exist and you can hop from one flavor world to another without even trying.
During my short stay, I knew I couldn’t explore everything (sadly!), so I looked for a place that could give me “more bites per visit.” That’s how I ended up at Brisa del Baguio, inside SotoGrande Baguio, where I got to experience both traditional Filipino buffet dishes and their Western-inspired comfort food later in the day.
First round: Filipino buffet favorites (aka: the fun part where you keep saying “I’ll just try a little”)
Buffet dining is honestly a cheat code when you’re traveling, especially when you’re curious and your eyes are bigger than your stomach. The first thing that hit me was how each dish carried a complex blend of flavors. Filipino food does this really well: savory, a little sour, a hint of sweetness, then suddenly you’re tasting something garlicky or peppery in the background.
One of my favorite moments was dipping pork longganisa into vinegar. Not just plain vinegar, but the kind that’s clearly been “treated” with aromatics, onion, garlic, salt, sugar, all mixed in so it becomes its own mini-sauce. That sharp sourness cuts through the richness of the pork so nicely. It’s the kind of bite that makes you go, “Okay, this is why this combo is classic.”
On my plate, I also had a mix of hearty breakfast-style items, think garlic rice, sausages, and other savory sides that feel familiar but still exciting because you’re eating them in a new place. Some items leaned sweet (you know that Filipino sweet-savory thing), while others were more salty and smoky. It wasn’t just “good,” it was interesting, like every spoonful had a slightly different personality.
Second round: Western comfort food (Italian classics, Baguio edition)
Later on, we tried Brisa del Baguio’s Western offerings and shared two dishes so we could taste more without committing to one plate only (travel strategy 😂). We ordered pasta and lasagna, and it was such a fun contrast after the buffet.
The pasta came with a rich, meaty sauce, comforting and familiar, like the kind of dish you’d want on a rainy day. The garlic bread on the side was a nice touch too, especially with that buttery aroma that makes you want to steal an extra piece. The lasagna was the indulgent one: warm, creamy, and cheesy, with that soft layered texture that feels like a hug in food form.
Overall thoughts
What made this meal memorable wasn’t just the taste, it was the experience of moving between cuisines in the same trip, in the same city, and realizing how food can make traveling feel more alive. Brisa del Baguio made it easier for me to sample a little bit of everything, especially with the buffet setup, and I left feeling satisfied (and honestly grateful that I got to fit this into my schedule).
If you’re in Baguio and want a place where you can enjoy Filipino flavors and get a taste of Western comfort dishes, this is a fun stop.
Bon appétit!
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