Iloilo has one of the most distinctive regional food cultures in the Philippines, anchored by la paz batchoy but extending through a range of dishes that use the local seafood and pork with characteristic Ilonggo seasoning.
La Paz batchoy is the dish to know: pork broth noodle soup with offal and chicharron, served at Ted's La Paz Batchoy at La Paz Market (the original) and at dozens of other spots around the city. Roberto's La Paz Batchoy and Bob's La Paz Batchoy are reliable alternatives with city-centre locations.
KRI Restaurant at the SM City Iloilo food court is known for its Ilonggo home cooking, including fresh lumpia and pork dishes. Tatoy's Manokan and Seafoods is the most-recommended place for grilled chicken and fresh seafood at moderate prices, with open-air dining near the Mandurriao fish market.
Breakthrough Restaurant near the airport road is consistently praised for its seafood at reasonable prices and its fresh catch displays — you select from the day's fish, crab, and shrimp before they're cooked.
For something more upscale, the restaurants in Smallville Complex and the Iloilo Business Park offer a wider range including Japanese, Korean, and Italian food aimed at the growing professional class.