During our trip to the PH, one of the PTC's relatives picked us up in Manila, and took us 1 hr South to Santa Rosa. After sightseeing, we stopped by Concha's for lunch.
Four of us shared okoy, bulalo, sotanghon guisado and pinakbet. This was one of the more expensive meals during our stay at $71. However, it was well worth the price and we had leftovers.
First of all, the okoy was crispy and savory. It came w/ vinegar to balance the saltiness of the shrimp. Secondarily, the bulalo was way better vs mine. The meat was tender, and the vegetables were fresh and crunchy. Thirdly, guisado is like a pancit vs typical sontanghon (chicken long rice in Hawai'i), that is like a soup. Nonetheless, it was packed w/ goodies and tasted great w/ the calamansi. Lastly, the pinakbet had nice fresh veggies, and wasn't slimy despite the okra.
Regarding the ambiance, its very casual here. The space was smaller when the restaurant was new. But the restaurant grew along with the customers. Concha's is now a local favorite. The staff was super friendly, and accommodated me and the PTC who do not speak Tagalog. Their English was very good.
If you find yourself in the Santa Rosa area, Concha's will not disappoint. read more