Balay Dako is one of the most popular restaurants in Tagaytay. The long lines, full-capacity parking, and the traffic right in front of their lot can all attest to that, especially during the weekends. If you’re about to step foot in this restaurant for the very first time and you’re curious what the hype is all about, here are some of the dishes and services the restaurant is known for:
Piaya
Price: P100 per pack, available daily from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
As you enter the restaurant, one of the things that stands out (besides the gorgeous interiors and the view of Taal volcano) is a kitchen island right at the center. This is where they make piayas on the spot so you get to enjoy them while they’re still hot.
Sizzling Bulalo
Price: P1,260, good for 5-6 people
Almost all the restaurants in Tagaytay offer bulalo, including Balay Dako. Their version is deconstructed and is made with 1-1.2 kilograms of braised beef served on a sizzling cast iron plate with mushroom sauce on the side. Yes, you need to pour the mushroom sauce and let it sizzle!
Pinakbet na Kanin with Lechon Kawali
Price: P1,400, good for 4-5 people
The Pinakbet na Kanin at Lechon Kawali is a combination of the restaurant’s two dishes: Pinakbet na Kanin and Lechon Kawali. This special rice dish is made with fried rice and stewed vegetables—the usual vegetables you use when cooking pinakbet—and then topped with deep-fried pork belly.
From the pasalubong section: Buko Pie, Biscocho, and Napoleones
Price of Buko Pie: P100/slice and P480/whole
Price of Biscocho: P190/pack
Price of Napoleones: P290/box
Balay Dako has a pasalubong store near its main entrance where you can find all sorts of bottled goods, cookies, and more. What you need to watch out for are the biscocho and boxes of napoleones. The boxes of napoleones are harder to get a hold of since it gets quickly sold out or reserved, so it’s best to be there early or call beforehand to see if they have stock!
It’s always a tough choice when you’re talking about the best buko pies in Tagaytay. Balay Dako’s take on the popular pie is made with young coconut cooked in sweet cream, flavored with macapuno, and encased and baked in a flaky crust. It’s definitely good if you don’t like sweet buko pie!
Balay Dako is also known for its weekend breakfast buffet: crowds used to flock the restaurant early so they can have their fill of bread, cereal, salad, grains, taho, longganisa, bacon, tapa, corned beef, champorado, and daing na bangus. The buffet also has an omelet station and fried rice station where you can choose from the available ingredients and a chef will cook it for you.
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As of writing, Balay Dako is not offering the breakfast buffet because of the pandemic. Fingers crossed, they’ll offer this again when things are better.
Balay Dako is located at 4120 Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway, Tagaytay City.
Follow Balay Dako on Facebook for more information.
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