Iloilo City has one of the most distinctive food cultures in the Philippines, built on la paz batchoy but extending through a range of dishes that showcase the local seafood, pork, and produce with characteristic Ilonggo seasoning.
La Paz batchoy is the defining dish: rich pork broth with egg noodles, pork offal, and crushed chicharron. Ted's La Paz Batchoy at La Paz Market (the original since the 1940s) is the pilgrimage site, but Roberto's La Paz Batchoy and Bob's La Paz Batchoy both have city-centre locations that are equally reliable.
Tatoy's Manokan and Seafoods near Mandurriao is the most-recommended restaurant for grilled chicken and fresh seafood at moderate prices — an open-air setup with a lively atmosphere and consistent quality. Breakthrough Restaurant on Bito-on road is consistently praised for its fresh seafood display where you select your catch before it's cooked.
For something more substantial, the Iloilo Business Park and Smallville Complex offer a full range from Japanese and Korean to Italian restaurants aimed at the city's growing professional community. The food park stalls along the river esplanade are good for an informal evening meal.