ilustrado restaurant

too lazy or no time to prepare for christmas eve dinner? time to go to ilustrado restaurant and have a look at their christmas tienda!

this event was sponsored by ilustrado restaurant. this christmas season, they are offering their christmas tienda, a roster of food items that’s apt for the season. available for dine, this can also be for order, just simply fill out the order form (available at all their branches)— try my recommendations, actually, there was not a dull dish ilustrado has offered us that day.

ilustrado house specialty (good for 8)
📌 adobong bagnet with taba ng talangka @1500php
bagnet in talangka sauce? really sinful. super savory you will have to have more rice!

📌 callos madrilena @1380php
super thick sauce. since i have started eating callos (thanks to cafe enye), i think this one is more tastier, but dont get me wrong, i still like ce’s.

📌😍 twice cooked angus beef shortplate @2220php
yummy. this can be enjoyed with or without rice. since it’s twice cooked, it’s super tender as well.

📌😍 paella ilustrado @1295php
the best paella that i have tasted by far! you can really taste the shrimp in the paella, this is a complete meal already. i love how the rice is not so mushy.

📌pasta espanyola @1210php
spicy sardines with pesto and tomato. it was okay i think.

📌😍 chicken relleno ala ilustrado @1650php
also, one of my top three! this boneless chicken is stuff with savory relleno that also goes well with the savory gravy! there’s also bananas to go with it.

cakes
📌😍 baked cheesecake @1250php
best baked cheesecake! i cant believe it was even baked because it was super moist! it looks plain but wait till you try it.

📌 chocolate fudge cake @1250php
this one looks really good. it’s super moist as well, i just think it’s too plain. i suggest thay add some dark chocolate something.

brownies (box of 15)
📌😍 peanut butter brownies @145php
📌 smores brownies @145php
📌 salted caramel pretzel brownies @145php

chocolate chip cookies
📌😍 banana walnut @65php
📌 double chocolate coconut @80php
📌 matcha walnut @80php
📌😍 red velvet white chocolate crinkles @80php

homemade dips
📌😍 boursin cheese 4oz @165php
this is your cream cheese with some garlic or chive taste.
📌 cheese pimiento spread 4oz @175php
📌 spicy cheeseball 4oz @220php
📌😍 chimichurri 8oz @190php
good for plain pork and chicken dishes! it gives the dish some sour kick.

there will be three (3) days lead time for all tienda orders. a minimum of 5000php per day per destination is required plus a 50% deposit based on total price. ilustrado accepts credit card transactions except in the atc branch.

this as a very spanish restaurant which is very relaxing accompanied by the piano music in the background and the sumptuous food that was served. among the many dishes that were server the roast beef. adobong bagnet and my fave chicken in white sauce.

the desserts were to die for including the new york cheesecake in the chocolate cake. the sampler platter of cookies were assorted and gives an eclectic mix of flavours. will definitely recommend this to friends.

ilustrado is a fine dining restaurant operating since 1989 situated in one of the most famous tourist spots in manila - intramuros. ilustrado serves filipino spanish cuisine which really brings out a familiar phase in our identity as filipinos. when we were colonized by the spaniards we were influenced heavily in many aspects of our way of life from religion, politics, culture and even down to our food. ilustrado is one of the many restaurants in the country which serves high quality and word class filipino dishes worth trying!

team kaladkarin invited me to this intimate eat up with fellow food bloggers and we were welcomed by the owners of ilustrado, bea and bernice pimentel. i love how both of them are passionate about everything that is filipino and their vision to reach out to the younger generations to showcase the best of what the filipino cuisine has to offer.

ambiance
the ambiance of ilustrado gives you a trip to the past. the place has a lot of elegant embellishments, vintage furniture and antique design which gives it a very historical vibe. i just love how cozy it is and feels familiar, homey.

ilustrado can be very intimidating by how it looks because it feels like you have to be formal or wear proper attire when dining here. good thing they have these other branches such as the pasteleria ilustrado in alabang, solstice by ilustrado in rockwell and cafe ilustrado in makati which is less thematic making it more attractive to a wider group of audience and even the younger generations.

food
first thing, we were served in-house dips (boursin cheese, cheese pimiento, butter, liver pate, spicy cheeseball) paired with toast bread and biscuits. all of them were good but boursin cheese was my favorite!
these dips can be bought in mini jar containers and are the perfect christmas gifts this holiday season!

the second dish that was serve was the eggplant in filo.
it's baked grilled eggplant wrapped in filo pastry. what i liked about this was the feta cheese and cream cheese inside that made it really exciting to eat. it reminds me of eating an unassuming xiao long bao that usually looks dull on the outside but will surprise you when you munch on the inside.

⭐paella ilustrado
this is paella done the ilustrado way!
it has chicken, chorizo, prawns, clam, squid, tomatoes and many more
this is my 2nd favorite dish that was served during the night. i love how they cooked the rice. it's soft, moist and flavorful. there's zero umay factor so it's a must try for rice lovers like me! the seafood were cooked well and the serving is definitely good for sharing.

stuffed chicken relleno
chicken fillet topped with cheddar pan gravy. yuuuum!
i love how this is overflowing with sauce and best paired with plain rice. filipinos love gravy so much that some u.s. fast food chains in the country would eve offer unli gravy due to public demand. haha!
not everything goes well with paella to be honest and a dish as tasty and flavorful on its own like this could be enjoyed already with just a hot plain rice.

⭐adobong bagnet with taba ng talangka
ilustrado's very own version of the philippine national dish.
this is tender pork belly simmered in soy-vinegar & spices making it even more rich with crab fat. the pork skin is really crispy af and the taba ng talangka sauce complements the dish well.
sinfully good! i would give this 10 stars if 5 isn't enough.

callos madrillena
a savory ox tripe stew made with garbanzos, chorizo de bilbao, pimienton, and bacon slab. the ox tripe melts in the mouth making you want to beg for more!

twice cooked angus beef shortplate on hot plate
angus beef lathered with wild mushrooms, roasted vegetables, pesto, marbles potatoes and brown sauce. most of us liked this dish but it wasn't so special to me. it wasn't hot anymore when i ate maybe because i was busy taking photos haha so the beef was a little saggy and the sauce already dried up. texture wise though it was still good and the beef was so tender!

⭐dessert
one of the things i didn't expect that i will love at ilustrado would be their desserts.
the owners spoiled us so much and served us overflowing sweets on the table. ❤️

assorted cookies and sweets
(double chocolate chip coconut cookies, banana wallnut chocolate chips cookies, matcha chocolate chip cookies, fuge brownie, tres leches)

⭐ultimate cheescake
ahhh! i could say that this is the best cheescake i've ever tried and we all agree that it is better than starbucks'.
it is very sweet, light and creamy. it has the right amount of sweetness and will make you want to eat more.
if you are looking for a quality cheesecake to be given as a gift, this is it. this is the cake that will make all the ladies say yes without having to pop the question!💍if you haven't tried this, you're seriously missing a lot in life. i swear!

the quality and consistency of the food that they serve is what makes ilustrado stand out among the rest. the owners are very hospitable and all the servers were really attentive to our needs. i believe that ilustrado will continue its success because of their vision to serve high quality food, timeless dishes and give each and everyone who will dine here an unforgettable cultural experience.

ps. ilustrado also does catering, events, venue rental and styling.
thanks ej b for the invite 😊
i will definitely be back in the future!

one of the most prominent and historical places in the philippines is intramuros. intramuros is a latin word which means “within the walls”. they called this “the walled city”, during the spanish era. i’d been here for several times and i didn’t know that there are many places that we should visit and try inside. aside from these amazing walls of intramuros, i’ve found this fascinating restaurant in the walled city, the ilustrado restaurant.

ilustrado restaurant is an old house turned into fine dining filipino-spanish restaurant. established in 1989, it is well-known in serving world-class filipino-spanish cuisine. it is situated in 5440 general luna street, intramuros, manila.

to dine at this place is like you went back to the spanish era. it has sophisticated interior designs and the antiques are really wow and organized, these are located at their second floor. their staffs were friendly. excellent service, they were all courteous, helpful and dedicated to serve their guests. my experience here was perfectly amazing.

let's go to the most awaited part of this day, eating. it starts with the bread basket with ilustrado dips. for me, the perfect match of their breads is the cheese pimiento spread. it's yummy and tasty. that's my top favorite amongst the dips. the rest are just good. but we could use these as christmas presents this coming holiday season.

to make your dining experience here perfectly awesome, you must try their scrumptious dishes that i am sure you'll drool:


main:
paella ilustrado - i am not a fan of seafoods but this one is the best! i would definitely recommend this especially to my balikbayan friends. the price is not bad for seafood lovers.

twice cooked angus beef shortplate - it is one of my favorites, the smell is ughsome! i love the taste, it’s succulent and toothsome. i am pretty sure that you will go back here because of this one.

adobong bagnet with taba ng talangka - this is superb! all the adjectives you have in your mind is on this delicious and mouthwatering dish! it’s my favorite! the first time i tasted this, i was like woah! delicious! i left my heart and i would definitely recommend this to my friends, family and officemates. but don’t forget your pineapple juice, it could cause you high blood because of the talangka.

stuffed chicken relleno - it is not a typical relleno. actually, the presentation for this dish is cool and inviting. it's quite toothsome.


callos madrilena - my least favorite. the taste is just okay.

pasta espanyola - one of the best pasta i've ever tasted.

to end this day, don’t miss to try their special desserts most especially the cheesecake. super the best, was so damn good. it is really recommendable. they also have chocolate fudge cake, it's not that sweet or even tasty. i would recommend them to make a better version.

to add more sweetness to your visit here, you have to try their cookies. these are awesome. flavorful. soft. and delicious. you must have their appledoodles, double chocolate chip coconut cookies, banana walnut chocolate cookies and matcha chocolate chip cookies. but the matcha cookies should be green for me, because i didn't notice that it's matcha cookie, but when i tasted it, it's okay, but they should make it more noticeable and tasty. overall, they're awesome, tasty and yummy.

frankly, everything was great. the price is right and worth it! i will definitely go back here and recommend to my friends and family.

p.s.:

you can check their details here:

address: 744 calle real del palacio (gen. luna), intramuros, manila 1002, philippines

contact: 5273674 / +639399206822

e-mail: catering@ilustradorestaurant.com.ph

facebook: ilustrado restaurant

instagram: @ilustradorestaurant

johnbunag

ilustrado is a fine dining restaurant tucked in the hidden walls of intramuros. this fine dining restaurant serves spanish-filipino dishes. since 1989, they make sure to serve food that is top-notch and can pass as world-class. the ambiance of ilustrado brings you back to the past. it is evident through the architectural design of the place and its setup. the place will make you feel like you’ve experienced what it is like to be in during our grandparent’s time. they can also cater to your events. with that said, it is perfect not only for tourists but also for those who enjoys food and culture.

established in 1989, it was originally offered as a bed and breakfast place but the pimentel family decided to focus on starting their own restaurant. good thing they did because it's been a success for almost three decades. this december they are offering several dishes and desserts perfect for the season.

dip: my favorite was boursin cheese but the rest are still good and perfect for gift or giveaway.
spicy cheeseball (php 220, 4oz), duck & chicken liver pate, boursin cheese (php 165, 4oz), cheese pimiento spread (php 175, 4oz) & butter.

main:
paella ilustrado (php 1,295) one of the best paellas i've ever tried. it was flavorful and moist that it was just a meal on it's own. seafood was perfectly cooked and seasoned.

twice cooked angus beef shortplate (php 2,200) my 2nd favorite savory dish. it was flavorsome, juicy and tender. i enjoyed every bite.

adobong bagnet with taba ng talangka (php 1,500) you can taste the talangka and the crunchiness of bagnet worked well with each other.

callos madrilena (php 1,380) flavorful dish that reminds me of my grandma’s cooking.

desserts:
cheesecake! (price kindly ask them) ibang klase cream cheese na cream cheese. they used the best quality ingredients and it's highly recommended. it's the best cheesecake i've tried also.

brownies are for sale box of 15. it was so soft and moist. just divine. sarap din!
peanut butter (php 145)
s'mores brownies, salted caramel pretzel brownies or trio assorted (php 125)

cookies for 3 oz cookies.
it was all good. i could munch on them all day long. but the matcha taste on their matcha chocolate chip walnut cookies wasn't noticeable.
banana walnut chocolate chip cookies & chocolate chip appledoodles (php 65)
double chocolate coconut cookies, matcha chocolate chip walnut cookies & red velvet white chocolate chip crinkles (php 80 per flavor)

we were invited to have lunch here sunday,was so excited because i read a lot about this famous restaurant in the walled city of intramuros.have read ,heard about ilustrado as one of the flagship restaurant in this historical part of the city of manila.

as i arrived i was welcomed by a fil-hispano heritage era interiors with soft lighting.i can imagine how our forefathers dine during those times.it was serene and peaceful which really charmed me of this place.we were being told that the structure was an old church ,then during the world war 2 occupation it was bombed by the japanese.then restored into a dormitory until the owner bought it and in 1989 it was made into a restaurant.wow ! tidbits of history there a big plus like a history fan like me .ilustrado has a garden perfect for garden weddings,a grand ballroom upstairs and also a coffee shop.the main dining hall is great for romantic dates or even family gatherings.

we started the meal with some crostinis and crackers accompanied by ilustrados home made dips and spreads like the spicy cheeseball which is spiced up queso de bola,duck and chicken liver pate ,boursin cheese ,cheese pimiento and butter.

then came another dish ,the baked eggplant in filo pastry.nice creamy baked eggplant enclaved in this flaky unleavened thin crusted mediterrean style dough.

the main entree:
*paella ilustrado - spanish dish ,nice rice with flavors of saffron ,tomato sauce,chorizo de bilbao,prawns,mussels and egg.spanish era truly represented.love those flavors of the old.

*stuffed chicken relleno- a counterpoint to the chicken galantina,not only the stuffings that are sensational but also the chicken breast.im not a fan of white chicken meat but in this dish it was very flavorful complemented by the creamy like embotido stuffings.a dish reminiscent of the noche buena item cooked in our grandparents kitchen.

*adobong bagnet with taba ng talangka-glorious ,a creative progressive spin on the national dish the adobo and the indigenous ilocano pride the bagnet smeared with the wickedly delicious taba ng talangka.wonderfully done .

*callos madrilena-another classic spanish dish ,you can really taste the passion and love that being induced into this product.right taste of the sauce,with the tenderness of the beef tripe and bits of galatinously textured cartilage enhanced with the signature flavor of the chorizo.

*twice cooked angus beef shortplate- a crowd favorite,tasty ,well seasoned super tender premium angus beef with exceptionally cooked veggies of onions,parsley and mushrooms.well crafted delish!

*pasta espanyola- italian pasta made into spanish version ,love the generous heap of sardines in olive oil,that made this dish healthy yet not lacking in flavors.

desserts:

served with a selection of cookies- what really caught my attention were the apple walnut and the banana walnut cookies love their chewiness.the chocolate smores were also heavenly.

the baked cheesecake was probably the best in manila.

chocolate fudge cake- a bounty of chocolatey taste.

service is very good,staff are friendly and very knowledgeable of their menu.

overall a happy place.it was an honor and a privilege to be a part of this lunch.ilustrado is a part and an icon in this historical walled city of intramuros i'm glad that i've experienced this restaurant and the food they serve.

***highly recommended,if you have foreigner friends or visitors ilustrado is a great destination spot.include it in your fort santiago and intramuros tours***

good ambiance, service and most of all the food. 👌🏻 we ordered 4 sets of the following:
kare-kare
adobong bagnet
callos
bacalao

i really loved the adobong bagnet! highly recommended!

one of the coziest restaurant i've been to. dropped by here one sunday before an ocular for my event. we ordered pan cake and special batchoy for breakfast. i love the serenity of the place and the menu offerings. tried their catering too during one of my organized event (a wedding). yes, it's a restaurant and events venue in one (indoor and outdoor). the place is near the most beautiful churches of manila, the manila cathedral and san agustin.

found ourselves in the area and heard rave reviews about illustrado so we decided to visit. got the four-course meal for two which included appetizers, a main dish, and dessert.

nothing special about the food. the paella tasted as a paella should, but the rice was really over cooked and soggy. the serving looked more like a "solo" than one that wouldve been shared by two people. the meat was a little tough, and the dessert looks like it wasnt thought thru well enough.

service was okay. they were polite and usually attentive. food was nothing to come back for tho.

the latest update of the free traffic and driving navigation app waze, will show you a couple of icons just right below the search option. one of these is an icon that shows spoon and fork symbols, and when you click on it, it will show you a list of food establishments located near you. so together with six other people, we chose to go to ilustrado restaurant, which can be found inside the intramuros area.

i love the classic vibe of this walled city which is just full of historical moments of its own and i just find it very nice of ilustrado to have that same vintage vibe in their restaurant, right from the garden outside, to their interiors. being in ilustrado just feels like being transported back in time.

since we arrived at the restaurant at past two in the afternoon, we were told that we can only avail ilustrado's all-day breakfast and their merienda offerings. we were okay with it and ended up being too happy that our hunger was satiated and our tummies full, after having a couple of authentic filipino dishes.

their serving of palabok (priced at php295) was apparently for two to three people, but it was of a generous amount that it can actually serve four to five folks. it had this variety of textures in it which made it all the more interesting. the noodles were cooked just right. the sauce was creamy, and the palabok has crunchy pork skin and chewy squid that's very tasty.

another filipino favorite that we got to try is their take on the chocolate porridge or champorado. you can tell from the texture and taste of the champorado that the restaurant have used quality sticky rice and tablea, or chocolate disk. together with the champorado, they will give you a serving of dilis or anchovies, for a nice contrast of sweet and salty flavors.

what stood out for me out of all the foods that we had in ilustrado was their tokwa't baboy. i don't usually get to eat this dish but when i had tried ilustrado's take on this one, i just can't help myself from raving so much about it. out of my curiosity, i did ask the restaurant's staff why their tokwa't baboy was just so delicious. apparently, they marinate the pork they use for one whole month in different kinds of sauces with a couple of spices. talk about how long it takes to make something so delectable! their tokwa't baboy had this wonderful combination of sweet, sour, and salty flavors to it, with a nice kick of spicy. this is also served together with their arroz caldo or chicken congee. it had a good amount of chicken strips in it. the taste of ginger was elaborate in it and it was cooked just right.

another favorite of mine from ilustrado was their relyenong talong. not everyone on our table got to try out this one. it was seasoned really well and i can say that the ingredients just tasted nicely together. it was served together with ilustrado's own version of the atchara or pickled papaya, which i also enjoyed indulging on.

other notable dishes from ilustrado was their lumpiang ubod with tasty peanut sauce; their flavorful chicken sopas that tasted strongly of chorizo sausage; and their delicious monggo soup with pork rinds that is reminiscent of mom's home-cooked meals.

so when was the last time you have visited intramuros? there are definitely gems around this place that are worth checking on. would love to hear about the other ones. please share in the comments below if you get to spot a place here that's worthy of a visit.

we decided to have dinner date at intramuros for a change.

the complimentary bread is freshly baked which is a plus.

paella illustrado - 3.5 loaded with chicken, chorizo, clams, squid

adobong bagnet and prawns with taba ng talangka "please be careful with my heart" - 4.0 this will really give you a heart attack with that rich crab fat sauce but it is so worth it once in a while! 🤗

went here for dinner last week and we were pretty surprise of how nice this restaurant actually is. 

it looks like and old spanish house (maybe it was, before someone turned it into a restaurant). 

ended up having their paella ilustrado (could be share to 2-3 people) and we really like it! the mussels were a bit (just a tad bit) fishy, though. 
their ultimate cheesecake, however, was too sweet for us. a bit disappointing. 

service was excellent.

i had my lunch here, a bit pricey but worth the pay. i tried their callos and paella it's very delicious and very rich in cholesterol. they serve also fresh juices. the place is cozy and private. the best!

tried this one out since its the only restaurant open in intramuros.

i love the place. i love how classy everything is. it's very peaceful and relaxing even outside of the restaurant.

i got their ilustrado because it was highlighted and because it sounds interesting. it was spicy and full of flavor. it can be shared.

i was craving for pancakes so even if it wasn't breakfast, i decided to try it out. their pancakes are fluffy and tastes so good. it comes with butter, jam, syrup and peanut butter (but there wasn't any that time) my friend got their salpicao and it was so good but very oily. it was easy to chew compared to the other ones i tried.

their staff wasn't accommodating but they look nice and friendly.
the place is aweeeesssommmeeee!!!