The Best Bulalo in Baguio
December 21, 2009 by lisa
Filed under food & beverage, restaurants & bars
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Rito’s is a restaurant that I discovered eons ago as a hole-in-the wall at the LTO Compound in Engineer’s Hill. It first opened in one of the backstreets in the Central Business District off Session Road and was originally called Mapamela’s.
Rito’s was one of those interesting, surprising finds in the most unlikely of places where one throws ambiance out the window and feasts on the best-tasting, family-style meals of Filipino food served highland style — hefty servings at super reasonable prices.
Oh yeah! Crispy pata at Php250/order, a large bowl of Bulalo for Php150, a bowl of Monggo Guisado with crunchy crispy pata bits for Php40. This combo serves 4 to 6 persons easily — honest!
Rito’s has since then moved to a location that is a little farther away from the city center but is now a stand-alone restaurant along Marcos Highway. And I have to mention the new location before telling you more about the food because many of us had a fright when we thought for a while that it actually closed down.
From the BGH flyover, climb up Marcos Highway, drive about 1.5km, past the Bakakeng Central basketball court, and watch out for the teeny signage to your left. It’s easy to miss, although the new Hollywood motel (okay, drive-in hotel with short-time rates) is very visible to your right and right across Rito’s.
Even as a stand-alone restaurant, Rito’s retains that hole-in-the-wall feel with barely-noticeable signages, a nondescript facade, a combination of religious idols with cartoon figurines greeting its diners as soon as they enter. The decor inside is a mishmash of plastic chairs combined with metal chairs, pine paneling, frilly curtains masking a really good view of mountains and pine trees, pine tables combined with formica-topped dining tables, a full bar that caters to another important highland favorite — alcohol.
Ah, but this is where the ordinary stops. The wait staff is reliable and very friendly, service is swift. You can order soft drinks in 8-ounce bottles or in 1.5 liter bottles for large groups, or choose from a selection of fresh fruit shakes.
We are always served first with a complimentary cup of delicious bulalo broth, accompanied by fresh chili and soy sauce.
We ordered the the house specialty of course — Bulalo! A hefty serving of tender bone-in beef soup with bone marrow that every man in the group will fight over. As Filipino food goes, soups are not just soups but meaty viands in themselves. The bulalo would easily serve two people, by the way.
We also ordered the other entree that Rito’s is popular for — their Crispy Pata, which they actually run out of on peak days. More than the bulalo, it is the deep fried pork knuckles with a tasty soy-vinegar dipping sauce to which you can add calamansi and sili to taste that I always order. The crispy pata is usually served already chopped so that you can go straight away to feasting on this meaty dish but I usually ask that it be served whole, and they are happy enough to comply with this request.
We were just two who ate up a storm on our last visit to Rito’s and did not have room for the Monggo Guisado, which we normally order as the vegetable dish when we come in a large group. We did not even have room for the yummy Leche Flan @Php20 anymore.
Actually, on this occasion, my companion and I had more than enough left over for dinner!
Rito’s is an original in my recommended Baguio restaurants page at Go Baguio!
We just...
Hey Lisa,
Masarap nga yang Rito’s. Although they call themselves as steakhouse its the bulalo and crispy pata everyone orders for. Mura pa. We were a large group of about 9 and our bill was just 1500, busog pa kami talaga sa lagay na yon ha. Will try their new branch nga in Marcos.
More power!!
Hi Geena,
Rito’s is one of those reliable restaurants and really recommended for a large group. When I was there last they were preparing for a party for about 100 persons, I think.
I love Rito’s! Didn’t they used to have a little branch in that eskinita behind La Azotea building, across Coco Bank? My dad and I loved going there
Hi Kubi,
Yup, that was Mapamela’s, then they had one at LTO on Engineer’s Hill. Now they’ve moved again to Marcos Highway, past the turn to Bakakeng.
Happy Holidays to you!!!
Hi Lisa!
I’ve frequented the old Rito’s at Engineer’s Hill because I lived nearby. So they’ve moved na pala. Thanks for letting us know. You’re right about throwing out all ambient expectations, hehe. Because I don’t eat beef anymore (sob, sob… bye Rito’s bulalo), I will make sure to bring my family there next time for the Crispy Pata.
Merry Christmas! And thanks for the pleasant holiday blog visit
Hi Chat,
I liked the old Rito’s location better but they said their rent was raised too high so they had to move. This one, though, has a nice view and is great for private parties.
Merry Christmas!!!
Hi! Seems I am missing something here about all the raves given to Rito’s. I am still here in Baguio, having arrived here on Dec 23. Straight out, I went to have a late lunch at Rito’s on the 23rd. I ordered some bulalo, crispy pata, even a beef steak order, crispy shrimps, fish sweet and sour, bicol laing. My family found the bulalo’s meat tough, something that using a pressure cooker would have helped. The bulalo over at Tagaytay are better. The crispy pata wasn’t crispy. Overall, I was expecting more. The crispy pata at Brod Pit was way better. Minalas kaya pamilya ko?
Hi Chris,
Baka minalas ka nga… Kasi they’re so consistent as far as I am concerned. Never had a bad day with Rito’s in more than a decade, except when out of stock. (And in Manila, I own Alfredo’s Steaks so I know my meat. Hahaha!)
Now the title is Best Bulalo — because, you are so right, so far the best crispy pata in town is Brod Pit’s Garlic Crispy Pata. But the feature on that is to follow pa.
we passed by rito’s today around 1 pm and it was closed. Would you know if they will open before wednesday since were in Baguio only until wednesday. Thanks
Really? I have never known them to close. Maybe you should try dropping by again, if you really want to try their food. I would not know what their holiday schedule would be.
hello lisa, where would you suggest is the best crisp pata aside from rito’s cause like you said they always run out. i will be there next week i am going to treat my in laws they love crispy pata hopefully you could suggest a good restaurant serving it and with baguio view and ambiance to go with it. thanks
Ah, that would be the Garlic Crispy Pata at Brod Pitt!!! A little off Leonard Wood near Brent. Not as cheap as Ritos, but worth it. Nice ambience and service, too!
good good that will eliminate my problem of choosing restaurants
it is even walking distance from i will be staying, four more days to go and i am off to baguio : )
Hi Lisa,
We’re having our next high school class reunion in Baguio City in the next few months and I was wondering if you can recommend a decent local restaurant or 2 or 3 for dinner, preferably close or not too far from the city center.
I’ve seen your “Best Homegrown Baguio Restaurants” list and I’m sure all are worthwhile however I’m trying to find a place that can accommodate the following needs, so to speak.
1. Easily accessible (not too far from the city) with some parking,
2. Good food at reasonable price,
3. Preferably a buffet to accommodate everyone’s hunger and preference,
4. A safe family / kids friendly place,
5. A licensed establishment that can serve alcohol or maybe a bar within or close by,
6. Open till late (till midnight at least),
7. Can accommodate extra unexpected guests / customers on a short notice.
The primary objective of the above list is to avoid the headache of having to book, organize, collect funds, check and confirm expected participants of the gathering. Half of the class are overseas and its quite hard to get the numbers and final confirmation. This was all done at the last reunion and unfortunately some who committed and confirmed never turned up, so wasted time, wasted effort and wasted money. I mean the evening turned up great at Hotel Supreme for those who attended but so much was wasted.
Anyway, this time around I’m hoping to find a place where anyone can turned up at the nominated evening, pay for their respective meals along with their partners and family then join the group. Hence the preference for a buffet so there’s plenty of choices even for kids and hopefully enough for even the hungriest. And if anyone wants a drink or two, they can hopefully buy whatever they want from the bar or the restaurant.
I know I may have to book the table(s) in advance to secure a place but I’m hoping this may not be necessary.
Sorry for the long message, at least now you know exactly what I’m looking for. Looking forward to your comments, suggestions and recommendations.
Thanks in advance,
Guy
Hi Guy!
Offhand, I can think of three that will meet your requirements:
O Mai Khan just below City Hall has an all you can eat mongolian buffet, make arrangements for them to close late for you. They also have serve alcohol.
Rose Bowl can seat a lot of people and you can pre-order set meals. Service is fast.
Atenara House can open the Roast Beef Buffet for you if you give them the date you will be coming, and a minimum number of guests.
Hope this helps.
Excellent, thanks for the recommendations Lisa, appreciate it. Cheers Guy.
hello lisa sad to say brod pitt’s crispy pata is a big big disappointment their quality definitely has deteriorated we ordered two and both of them came out asw if it was twiced cooked : ( i should have took pictures of it to justify my complaint.
Hi dear,
Just a few suggestions lng.I’ll be visitng baguio with my partner.been there a lot of times but just the usual family getaway thing. I just need suggestions for a nice restaurant and bar.maybe you can suggest a 3 day plan for us.just need options for dining in,breakfast wudnt be a problem.So restos that are super okay for lunch and dinner.and sana not so far from the city.we wont be bringing our car.its super commute time for us.:)thanks.hope to hear from you soon.kudos!!!