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    Balay Dako

    4.2 (100 reviews)
    PriceyFilipino, Buffets
    Closed 7:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Balay Dako Photos

    BALAY DAKO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Touristy
    Romantic
    Classy

    Recommended Reviews - Balay Dako

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    Reviews With Photos

    Joseph R.

    Not having been to Tagaytay in over 15 years, I am reminded how beautiful Tagaytay is. That being said, traveling to get to Balay Dako on a Sunday afternoon and parking was horrible! But that has more to do with the road infrastructure (construction delays where we were coming from) and quite a bit of people on the road that day. After managing to park (there was quite a bit of parking but even more people), we walked in to a lot of people in the waiting area. Fortunately, they had seating for those waiting along with a shop to the left selling various types of food including pastries. I highly recommend having a field day and splurge on the packaged pastries there - having arrived back in the US, I'm thoroughly enjoying them all to the point where I'm googling to see if I can order some of this online and shipped here ha! The place itself is a lot larger than I expected. From what I observed, there were two floors of seating. We were seated on the 2nd level, which gave us the opportunity to walk outside and observe the breathtaking view. Amazing! The food itself was a hit and miss. We had a party of 7, and ordered various food ala carte. Bangus Ala Pobre, Fried Inasal, Sinigang Ng Baboy, and a few others I honestly don't know the name of ha! What caught me off guard was when they asked on various occasions whether we would like our sinagang (soup) topped off or refilled. That was definitely new to me and appreciated. The Halo Halo Klasiko and slushies were great! What I appreciated was the service. With the amount of patrons at this establishment, I saw all the workers roaming around tending to everyone. I'd definitely like to visit this place again in the future. Very memorable.

    Sagot at Gulaman drink
    Iseo Y.

    This is the 2nd time I've been to Balay Dako 1st. In 2017 and the latest is Oct. 19, 2025, if I can only give 10 stars I would. This place will never disappoint you especially me, I love all the foods they serve, delicious to the max! Servers are very attentive. We ordered Bulalo, Kare Kare, lumpiang sariwa, Pakbet, Daing na Bangus, Letchon Kawali, Tortang alimasag, the best for me is my favorite Puto Bongbong( Sorry, I forgot to take pix) Green mango juice is an eye opener for me, I just love it. Let's not forget the ambiance at its best! I will keep coming to this place whenever I can visit. All in all, it's simply the BEST!!

    Calamansi and red chili pepper. Typical Filipino condiment staples served with main dishes.
    Nina H.

    Thanks to my Yelp friend Ronnel S. for reviewing Balay Dako since his post and pics piqued my interest. We were in Taygaytay and needed a place to go for lunch. With Balay Dako bookmarked for months, it was the perfect opportunity to check it out. Balay Dako hits all the marks for ambiance, service and food. Everything was amazing and to have Taal volcano with the lake as your backdrop is the cherry on top. Our group of 7 ordered a number of dishes and our standout favorites were the following: *Marinated Bistek Tagalog (Beef Steak) *Palabok *Chicken Inasal *Halabos ng Hipon *Fried Hito (stuffed fried catfish) There are plenty of seats overlooking Taal so no matter where you are, you're bound to get an amazing view. You will need to get there early for a parking space. This is a wonderful restaurant to enjoy a traditional Filipino meal. A bit on the pricey side but worth every single peso. Don't miss it!

    Fried fish in sweet sauce
    Doug L.

    Suggest bringing big appetites or lots of family members and friends to enjoy eating here. We drove from Manila and arrived a little after opening. In the parking lot we received a ticket and had to provide it to the cashier once we closed our check. Inside we stood by the fresh piyaya station and watched the nonstop making of them. We ordered a package to go at the end so we could take it back with us. So good. We finally were seated by the window and had a nice view of the Taal volcano. The menu here showcased a quite extensive selection of Filipino dishes. The portions were bigger than we expected so had a lot of left overs. I think the staff could do a better job explaining serving sizes especially for those of us who have not eaten here before. Some of our favorites were Pinakbet fried rice - will definitely feed more than 4-5 people! Palabok - best we've eaten in awhile Callos - lots of beef tripe and chorizo sausage Escabecheng Pla Pla - perfectly fried and paired well with the sweet sour sauce Puto bumbong - buttery and soft. Service was good overall with lots of servers. Would come back if we visit Tagaytay again.

    Ron D.

    Awesome place to enjoy a lunch or dinner with spectacular view of Taal lake and volcano. Fresh air , bird song , stillness of time while enjoying home cook meals at its best whether with family, friends and love ones. Food are authentic Filipino showcasing its regional best like bulalo and other classic dishes. Service is world class the Filipino hospitality, respect , true service to accommodate guest request and always deliver with smile.

    Coconut juice for our drinks then we asked them to break them open.
    Elle E.

    Food choices are overwhelmingly good, so we had to pick what we know we can finish. Service was a bit lagging although we were sat fairly quickly. Place smelled good because of the bakery and all the dishes they prepare were familiar. We bought baked goods after a big meal and we ate them at the condo for post dessert even though we had dessert already at balay dako.

    Edelyn C.

    Easily one of my favorite restaurants in Tagaytay! It's right off of the mountain with the amazing views of the Taal Lake and Taal Volcano. It stays absolutely busy for good reason! The restaurant has limited parking so make sure you get there early enough to make a few circles because the traffic can be terrible on the main road. While you wait, go and checkout the in-house bakery and the downstairs area because the views are endless. The region is well known for their Bulalo dish (a Filipino Beef Marrow Stew), which is a staple soup that is made by cooking beef shanks and bone marrow until the collagen and fat has been melted into the clear broth; vegetables of your liking are added on but typically includes cabbage, corn, and green onions. I personally am a big fan of their version and as soon as my fiancé tasted it, he understood and had an epic reaction. The waiters will also refill your bowl of bulalo soup as many times as needed, so don't worry!! The menu is huge so I would personally prepare ahead of time and make sure that you're ready for a family style meal, because all meals are intended to bring your family together in the Philippines! Top picks and safe for not-so-adventurous Americans: Lechon Kawali, Sisig Na Baboy, BULALO NA BAKA, Sitaw at Giniling na Baboy, Stir Fried Chili Eggplant

    Bulalo
    Kate R.

    Love the food! This is like the mid level restaurant chain of Antonio's. There's always a line to dine in here, but to beat the crowd make sure to arrive by 11 and you will surely be seated right away. The ambiance of the restaurant is very relaxed and homey, feels like you're eating in a familiar settling. The servers are all smiling and very attentive. The service is great! Food. We have their bulala (must order), the meat is tender and the soup is very tasty. We also had the kare kare, but I like the bulalo better. Dinuguan is good too! For drinks I had green mango shake and my mom tried their guyabano drink, all very good. For dessert, we had the palitaw and bibingka, the palitaw brings back my childhood! It's so simple and the taste is what I remembered. Overall, this is one of the best dining place in Tagaytay.

    Palabok
    Kenx S.

    Ambiance - very nice restaurant with excellent view of Taal Lake and volcano. Service - very good service. Servers were very attentive. When we asked the receptionist outside for an area where we could take an unobstructive picture of the view (as opposed to the screened window), she directed us to take bottom steps outside the restaurant. It turned out that there was renovation in that area thus, it was inaccessible. When we explained this to her, she then pointed us to the second floor of the restaurant which had a patio with a perfect view. It didn't make sense for her to direct us to the bottom stairs initially because it was steep and inconvenient. Food - we ordered Kare-kare (disappointingly tasteless but had real ox tails), palabok (on the salty side and did not have the depth of flavor I was hoping for; however, it had a lot of ingredients such as crunchy chicharon, shrimp, etc), fresh lumpiang ubod (tasted good), crispy lumpia with lumpiang ubod inside (very good) and pork bbq (my favorite). I wish we had a choice of serving sizes especially for the kare-kare and palabok but both were large servings. We took home the leftovers. Unfortunately, the kare-kare was spoiled by the next day. Could it be several days old already? We placed the leftovers in an ice chest with ice so...I would probably not be back. Manam had better tasting dishes and had serving size options. Sorry.

    Boj o.

    The location and view from the restaurant were stellar. We only wish the food were the same. We're expecting to be blown away but it was somewhat disappointing. The Kare Kare and Sisig took the biggest hit of lacking flavor and was not savory at all. To make long story short, for the price, it could be better. The service was exceptional. The place was very nostalgic. It makes you feel at home. Maybe this place was hyped up and made our expectations high especially when you're hungry. Manam set the benchmark for us and we were expecting the same or better.

    Vince C.

    First of all, the place is impressively beautiful. Everything was tight. The staff were attentive. The food came out very fast. The views of Taal were gorgeous. Its a very nice place. When it came to the food, they will definitely fill you up. As far as the taste, it was good, but I wasnt necessarily blown away with anything. Dont get me wrong, if given the opportunity, Id definitely go back and dine again.

    Barron Cedric T.

    This has got to probably be one of the most grand places to dine along the Tagaytay crater with an overlooking view at Taal Volcano. The old-style house theming had been executed well starting from the house's facade, to the hallway and stairs, up until the dining area and wall portraits. Food is also done right. I loved our orders of the spicy spareribs, tawilis, and specially the bulalo. My only gripe with the tawilis was that some pieces were already a little too large to be eaten whole. It may come out a little too spiny or bony. The bulalo was exceptional. The listed weight of around 1 Kg to 1 Kg+ was almost true to weight and we were surprised with the serving amount. The meat portion was even a little more than enough for our group of 7 people. Balay Dako paired their Bulalo with a home blend of tamarind and olive oil. The added oil surprisingly complents the soup and makes it a little more flavourful. Lastly, it worked perfectly that we arrived around 11 AM or 10 something on a Wednesday noon. We were still able to find seating. My tip will be to try to come early to be able to select a spot with a good, unobstructed sightline to Taal Volcano.

    Lechon kawali
    Giselle P.

    First off, shout out to Anthony for the recommendation! We were told that Tagaytay was the spot for Bulalo, and despite the heat it's always a great time for bulalo! The portions are HUGE, so the dishes are perfect for sharing. The beef was a large as my head and literally fell off of the bone. The broth was so delicious that it was gone within minutes. The staff will refill the bulalo with fresh broth upon request. The tsoklate is rich and has a dark chocolate flavor. It was tempting to get a second cup. We had a bit of a wait, but I can understand why. It is definitely worth a trip! The atmosphere is great for events and dinners either with friends and family, dates, or business. It is very busy and parking is scarce. It is loud inside due to the amount of patrons, but again, worth the visit!

    Gelato

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    7 months ago

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    6 months ago

    The food is so good and they serve a amazing selection of Filipino dishes for all taste bud.

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    1 year ago

    Food subpar! Bulalo meat not of high quality . The tawilis was not seasoned well. Other than the view, this place is not worth the drive.

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    Leslie's Restaurant Tagaytay - Bbq short ribs. This too was very delicious.

    Leslie's Restaurant Tagaytay

    4.1(39 reviews)
    2.9 km
    ₱₱₱

    What a view! It was super windy the day I visited, but this was such a beautiful view while…read moreenjoying lunch. Ordered the KINILAW NA TANIGUE (fish Ceviche) & fried fish. Food was really good. Loved the fish ceviche. It was my first time trying this dish. Staff were ok. Great place to take pics.

    Leslie's Restaurant in Tagaytay hasn't changed over the years: the menu, the sumptuous cacauphony…read moreof tastes and aroma that fills the air, and to-die landscape remains to be the elements, that drive thousands to this mecca of sorts. I've come back from afar and wanted to dine again, on their bulalo and voila, the crowds descended like hungry wolves which made my trip, more interesting and exciting. The mist from an unstoppable showers was complicit in creating an avant garde of magical beauty as we sat down and ordered our culinary delights. The huge one sized bulalo was to die for, bone marrow was salivating, meat was super tender and the soup reminds me of honey in some sense. Their dinakdakan was sliced and presented in its usual sense, aromatic with the spices and pork fat that to me, defines what truly was an epicurean Filipino classic dish. Their "grilled squid" was sliced perfectly and tasted like no other, chewy but tasty, squiddy but came with a combination of spices that reminds me of the sea. The tilapia was mainstream, grilled perfectly but and with fresly cut tomatoes and onions which enriched the usual restaurant menu. I can go on and on but the beauty of Tagaytay was in its View To A Kill, mist laden but as the sun came to slowly diminish the fog, a paradise of sorts appeared from the front of the restaurant like a gods was of Athena on a bright morning day. So, if you're in the Philippines, head to Leslie's Restaurant in Tagaytay and mix in with the crowd who come from all over towns and countries to enhance their culinary experiences in a nation of maikling and happy people. Oh one more observation, the servers were great, smiling as always, kind and knowledgeable about the dishes they serve... TGIS was an important part of the experience, too. So, as I go back home to California, I feel am truly richer than yesterday and more content with my visit of the Philippines with this stimulating culinary experience!

    Photos
    Leslie's Restaurant Tagaytay - Goodies and sweets, cookies

    Goodies and sweets, cookies

    Leslie's Restaurant Tagaytay
    Leslie's Restaurant Tagaytay - More outdoor bahai kobo dinning areas.

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    More outdoor bahai kobo dinning areas.

    Diner's Bulalo - Pork sisig, Bulalo, Tawalis

    Diner's Bulalo

    3.4(7 reviews)
    0.1 km

    We took a day trip to visit friends in Tagaytay and decided to eat bulalo, the region's famous…read morespecialty. We chose Diner's because of its view of the Taal Volcano and valley between. We were greeted by all of the wait staff as soon as we entered. We were seated fairly quickly at a table with a fantastic view amidst the bright and airy dining room. After ordering, our food cane out quickly. We had the pork sisig, bulalo and tawalis with some steamed white rice. The sisig, chopped pork belly with red onions and spicy peppers was served to us sizzling on a hot cast iron plate. It didn't look exactly as pictured on the menu because the egg was already mixed into the dish instead of on top sunny side up. The bulalo came out on a steel pot with a burner at the bottom. The tawalis, mini fried fish, looked appetizing on top of a bed of lettuce, cucumber and tomato. All of our dishes tasted delicious. The sisig was pretty spicy because of all the chopped peppers but besides that it had a great combination of flavors that went well with the hot steamed rice. I thought the dish could have been pre-cooked just a little longer before it got to us or the skillet could have been even hotter though....was a little worried the pork didn't cook long enough. (This review was written several hours later and I'm happy to report there were no stomach issues!). The tawalis was ok. These were mini fish dusted with flour and fried. The batter was not heavy however I thought it could have had a little more seasoning. I dipped the fish in a calamansi/soy sauce mixture that helped a lot. You eat the fish whole...bones and all! The order came with twelve pieces and was plenty for our party of five. The star of the show, the bulalo, did not disappoint. Our order meant for four to five people was perfect. There were large chunks of beef shank and generous pieces of green cabbage immersed in the most amazing broth. The beef is slow cooked several hours so it is tender and oh so flavorful. It was a great experience eating the dish with a bit of steamed rice. It would have been perfect if there were a few more vegetables like potatoes and green beans. Overall we enjoyed our meal and thought the prices were reasonable. I would definitely come back the next time we are in the area!

    We went for the view....from the open seating you can see the whole valley and the volcano. Saying…read morethe view is stunning isn't good enough....it's more like incredibly stunning, yes, that's more like it! But....view alone would not make us want to come back....as there are several other places with that same view. What will bring us back is the delicious local cuisine! We ordered the Special Bulalo. It's a hearty beef soup served in a clay pot. It's made with fresh beef shanks and bone marrow. It says it serves 2-3 people....I'd say 3 for sure if you're ordering even one more side dish. We also ordered Adobong Manor as Gata, a chicken Adobo slow cooked in coconut milk and soy sauce. It had a hint of ginger and was a bit salty, I ate it served over garlic rice.....very nice dish! Last but not least we ordered Christy Tawilis....fried sardines. Next time I'm getting the fresh coconut for my drink....the next table over ordered that and I instantly regretted my beer choice!

    Photos
    Diner's Bulalo - Inside

    Inside

    Diner's Bulalo - Pork Sisig,  Bulalo, Tawalis, Steamed rice

    Pork Sisig, Bulalo, Tawalis, Steamed rice

    Diner's Bulalo - View

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    View

    Pamana

    Pamana

    4.1(12 reviews)
    4.0 km

    So delicious! I felt like i was in an oasis where the scenic balcony and delicious seafood just…read moreoverwhelmed my senses! Upon entering it doesn't really look like much but when you step in you first see a shop filled with authentic traditional philippine decor. From dining plates to beautiful handcrafted vases and local artwork I was amazed. Service- We were seated promptly and all the staff were so friendly and courteous. They went through the menu and answered all questions and even gave us a tour of the balcony sitting area. Food- Delicious.. We had multiple dishes since we were a big group. We had the Seafood platter. Grilled black calamari sounds and looks weird but it was one of the best tasting dishes I ever had! Okoy seafood fried cakes fried garlic rice and grilled oysters. It was definitely a treat. The portion sizes were big and everything cooked to perfection. The view was amazing from the balcony where you could also be seated. the lush hills of greenery is a great backdrop for photos or just to admire the view. Everything was perfect. Definitely a place to see!

    Traditional Filipino food in an amazing location. Ambiance- The view is amazing - grab a porch…read moretable! Parking-- on a really busy day, not sure how these guys make the parking work.. Service- pretty slow considering there were tons of servers. Food-- this is a family style restaurant- hence every order is for 2-4 people. Appetizer- we had boneless crispy pata-- crispy, fatty and definitely a must have here. Main meal- we ordered Bulalo(Beef and tendons kn broth), something Binakol, and the grilled native fish. The flavor profile for Bulalo and Binakol was really subtle- and not at all impressive. The grilled fish was actually pretty good. Garlic or plain white rice is ordered separately, and I recommend garlic if you are eating dry food. We didn't stick around for desert.. but they do offer a pretty good selection.

    Photos
    Pamana
    Pamana
    Pamana

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    Café Veranda - Toyo

    Café Veranda

    4.4(5 reviews)
    1.3 km
    ₱₱₱₱

    Very nice restaurant and a historic beautiful hotel/taal vista hotel. Great service attentive…read moreservers. Wonderful case for a quick snack.. pizza onion rings halo halo ceasars salad and grilled cheese which were great!

    Ate at Cafe Veranda located inside Taal Vista Hotel twice during our one night stay in Tagaytay…read moreCity. We had dinner when we first arrived. I was advised by a relative to order the Special Halo-Halo so we immediately ordered that as our snack from our 4-hour drive. The halo-halo which is a Filipino dessert of mixed beans, coconut jelly, jackfruit, etc. topped with shaved ice and garnished with ube ice cream and flan, was served in a whole young coconut shell. The rest of the party ordered the "bulalo" which is a beef shank stew with marrow, corn, and Napa cabbage. Also tried other Pinoy dishes that are local to the area such as fried "tawilis" which are fished right off the Taal Lake. The menu also offered other items such as pastas, pizzas, and burgers. The kiddos had pasta dishes which were met with great approval. The next day, also had the complimentary breakfast buffet. The buffet had a good selection of pastries, meats, fruits, and offered an omelette station and a salad bar. The staff service was exceptional in my opinion. They were attentive and cleared the plates efficiently. The restaurant was clean and brightly lit with floor to ceiling windows all around that looks out to the view of the Taal Volcano and Taal Lake.

    Photos
    Café Veranda
    Café Veranda
    Café Veranda

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    Balay Dako - filipino - Updated May 2026

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