Fiestas are an integral part of any Filipino’s calendar. From the festivals celebrating a patron saint, to birthdays, and holidays, fiestas are happy times when friends, families and even acquaintances come together in thanksgiving to have a good time and to share a wonderful Filipino meal.
Bringing the fiesta spirit to even more Filipinos is a restaurant that has been around for more than 60 years is Barrio Fiesta which formally spread its wings to Durianburg.
Located at the Second Floor of SM Lanang Premier’s Fountain Court, Barrio Fiesta may be new in Davao but its history of serving delicious and authentic Filipino fare since 1952 speaks for itself.
“Barrio Fiesta serves primarily Pampangueño fare since my grandmother was Kapampangan,” shared Barrio Fiesta’s general manager Tyrone Ongpauco. “Kapampangan food is slow cuisine and typically involves many steps, and procedures to prepare a delicious meal. Which is why many of our dishes here at Barrio Fiesta taste homey and comforting. You can say that Barrio Fiesta is the official comfort food in Manila”
Tyrone reveals that their signature Kare-kare, a stew of ox tail, vegetables in a peanut sauce and paired with fish paste, used to take many hours to make. “There are many processes involved in preparing our kare-kare to make it taste good and this is why many of our customers come back for it.” added Tyrone.
Aside from the Kare-kare, Barrio Fiesta is also known for its Crispy Pata. “The Crispy Pata is a Barrio Fiesta original dish. It was first prepared by my uncle, who used to buy the pig legs from the lechoneros of La Loma.”
I have tasted many Crispy Patas in my time but Barrio Fiesta’s version was on another level. The skin was lightly battered and crispy with a sticky underside, while the meat was tender and flavorful. I can taste that the pata was cooked with a host of spices and then marinated with fish sauce that gave it a bump of umami goodness.
Another dish I would highly recommend one try is Barrio Fiesta’s Sinampalukang Manok. Similar to siningang with with less of a sour bite, the Sinampalukang Manok is a rich chicken soup that is slow cooked and made slightly sour by the addition of tamarind fruit, a typical Pampangueño souring agent. The dish is rich in flavor and is the perfect companion to cold rainy nights.
Barrio Fiesta is located at the second floor of SM Lanang Premier and is open through the holidays. Aside from a la carte fare, the restaurant also has affordable set menus for the entire family to enjoy. There is also a function room for private parties or small receptions.
