Ways to enjoy Iloilo’s famous batchoy
Iloilo City is home to the famous La Paz Batchoy, that clear boiled bone marrow soup with meke (native noodles), meat, guinamos (local shrimp paste), garlic and chicharon - a complete meal. If you happen to find yourself yearning for a comforting bowl of soup in Iloilo City, choose local and try batchoy. After all, a visit to the Queen City of the South is incomplete if one fails to drop by a batchoyan.
I prefer eating batchoy in Deco's La Paz Batchoy in any of their three branches - Robinsons Place Iloilo, Robinsons Place Jaro and La Salette Building along Valeria Street.
Although the price of their batchoy is slightly higher than the price of batchoys in public markets, one thing is sure - their kitchens are clean, and their food preparation standards are high.
Their consistent soup flavor is a result of strictly following the exact proportion of the bone marrow and water. This batch is then served to the many diners who come there for the batchoy. Once the broth from that batch runs out, they will prepare another batch of stock - a new set of bone marrow and water.
They do not add water to the previous batch. Adding water will just dilute it and this is the reason why some batchoys taste inconsistent.
Their reverse osmosis system at their commissary ensures that the water used for the broth and service water in their three branches is clean and safe.
To maximize your batchoy eating experience, start while the soup is hot. Eat the soup first. In between, take a bite of rice cake (puto) or pan de sal. If you’re having pan de sal, don’t be ashamed to partially dip it into the soup. It’s okay, no judgments. After all, it is comfort food!
Once the soup runs out, ask for extra soup. At Deco’s La Paz Batchoy, the staff will be happy to pour another round of hot broth (extra kaldo) for you, at no extra cost!
Savor the soup again, this time with the noodles and meat. For that extra crunch, add garlic and chicharon.
Deco's La Paz Batchoy is also home to the best Dinuguan I have ever tasted. They also serve Chicken or Pork Puto Pao, Salted Egg Puto and Siomai. So, if you have space left, do try them out.
Before the Second World War broke out, a butcher in La Paz market noticed that there were a lot of Chinese businessmen in the city. This gave Federico "Deco" Guillergan, Sr. the idea to concoct the recipe, thus giving birth to Deco's La Paz Batchoy. Deco’s is the “father of all batchoys”.
In 2007, Guillergan’s kin sold Deco’s La Paz Batchoy to businessman Edgar “Injap” Sia II. This resulted in the birth of several branches in Iloilo City.
In 2018, the management of Deco’s La Paz Batchoy was transferred to Magalona SB Alliance headed by Marichel Teves-Magalona. She and her team wasted no time in ensuring that locals and tourists will have a leveled-up experience while enjoying Iloilo City’s famous La Paz batchoy.
They opened the first modern Deco’s La Paz Batchoy in Robinsons Place Jaro in May 2019. It is a far cry from the batchoyan in La Paz Public Market 38 years ago. It is not your typical batchoyan as this one is a fusion of Asian and Ilonggo, a first of its kind in Iloilo.
Designed Ramen house style, at the center of the room, is an open kitchen with a counter where the guests can eat their meals. The resto is a vibrant blend of brown, orange, yellow and blue tones, instantly brightening up one’s mood upon entering.
In December 2019, they renovated their Valeria Branch. What used to be a small batchoyan inside La Salette Building has been transformed into a bigger and more beautiful branch that also features the watch-and-see layout.
The hand-painted heritage wall in their Jaro and Valeria branches serves as a perfect background for one’s photos to show your friends or remind you of your La Paz batchoy experience.
“We are revolutionizing the look of a batchoyan in Iloilo to make it more exciting to our guests. Given the fact that Iloilo is very progressive, Ilonggos today are more modern and many tourists are visiting our city. We have created a look that has an inviting ambiance that people from all walks of life will be happy to eat there,’’ said Magalona./
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| The authentic La Paz batchoy can be found in Iloilo City. Photo shows a bowl of Deco's La Paz Batchoy taken in their Jaro branch. |
I prefer eating batchoy in Deco's La Paz Batchoy in any of their three branches - Robinsons Place Iloilo, Robinsons Place Jaro and La Salette Building along Valeria Street.
Although the price of their batchoy is slightly higher than the price of batchoys in public markets, one thing is sure - their kitchens are clean, and their food preparation standards are high.
Their consistent soup flavor is a result of strictly following the exact proportion of the bone marrow and water. This batch is then served to the many diners who come there for the batchoy. Once the broth from that batch runs out, they will prepare another batch of stock - a new set of bone marrow and water.
They do not add water to the previous batch. Adding water will just dilute it and this is the reason why some batchoys taste inconsistent.
Their reverse osmosis system at their commissary ensures that the water used for the broth and service water in their three branches is clean and safe.
 |
| Extra kaldo, please! "Kaldo" is the Hiligaynon word for "soup." For example, when someone says, "Mangaldo ta," it means "Let's have soup." |
How to eat batchoy
To maximize your batchoy eating experience, start while the soup is hot. Eat the soup first. In between, take a bite of rice cake (puto) or pan de sal. If you’re having pan de sal, don’t be ashamed to partially dip it into the soup. It’s okay, no judgments. After all, it is comfort food!
Once the soup runs out, ask for extra soup. At Deco’s La Paz Batchoy, the staff will be happy to pour another round of hot broth (extra kaldo) for you, at no extra cost!
Savor the soup again, this time with the noodles and meat. For that extra crunch, add garlic and chicharon.
Deco's La Paz Batchoy is also home to the best Dinuguan I have ever tasted. They also serve Chicken or Pork Puto Pao, Salted Egg Puto and Siomai. So, if you have space left, do try them out.
 |
| Deco's La Paz Batchoy in Robinsons Place Jaro sports a heritage wall that is great for every local or tourist's Instagram post |
History of La Paz Batchoy
Before the Second World War broke out, a butcher in La Paz market noticed that there were a lot of Chinese businessmen in the city. This gave Federico "Deco" Guillergan, Sr. the idea to concoct the recipe, thus giving birth to Deco's La Paz Batchoy. Deco’s is the “father of all batchoys”.
In 2007, Guillergan’s kin sold Deco’s La Paz Batchoy to businessman Edgar “Injap” Sia II. This resulted in the birth of several branches in Iloilo City.
In 2018, the management of Deco’s La Paz Batchoy was transferred to Magalona SB Alliance headed by Marichel Teves-Magalona. She and her team wasted no time in ensuring that locals and tourists will have a leveled-up experience while enjoying Iloilo City’s famous La Paz batchoy.
 |
| Deco's La Paz Batchoy branch in La Salette Building, Valeria Street. It is located across SM Delgado. |
They opened the first modern Deco’s La Paz Batchoy in Robinsons Place Jaro in May 2019. It is a far cry from the batchoyan in La Paz Public Market 38 years ago. It is not your typical batchoyan as this one is a fusion of Asian and Ilonggo, a first of its kind in Iloilo.
Designed Ramen house style, at the center of the room, is an open kitchen with a counter where the guests can eat their meals. The resto is a vibrant blend of brown, orange, yellow and blue tones, instantly brightening up one’s mood upon entering.
In December 2019, they renovated their Valeria Branch. What used to be a small batchoyan inside La Salette Building has been transformed into a bigger and more beautiful branch that also features the watch-and-see layout.
The hand-painted heritage wall in their Jaro and Valeria branches serves as a perfect background for one’s photos to show your friends or remind you of your La Paz batchoy experience.
“We are revolutionizing the look of a batchoyan in Iloilo to make it more exciting to our guests. Given the fact that Iloilo is very progressive, Ilonggos today are more modern and many tourists are visiting our city. We have created a look that has an inviting ambiance that people from all walks of life will be happy to eat there,’’ said Magalona./
Visit them for dine-in or take-out:
▪️ Robinsons Iloilo (033) 5093232
▪️ Robinsons Jaro (033) 5012215
▪️ Valeria (033) 5082121
Business hours: 10 am - 7 pm
Prefer delivery? Contact options:
▪️ Deco's delivery 09955511131 or 09309777050
Delivery hours: 10am - 6pm
▪️ Food Panda
▪️ GrabFood
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| Deco's La Paz Batchoy branch in Robinsons Place Iloilo |
