“A road trip isn’t complete without food trip,” that’s my motto. Isabela Province wasn’t spared with this mantra that I have, but I was up to a surprise when I saw its famed Pancit Cabagan, 30 minutes south of Tuguegarao City.
“Miss, seryoso? Good for one ba talaga ito?” (Miss, are you serious? Is this really good for one?), I asked the waitress. I was so surprised, we only paid PhP50 for something so full!
Pancit Cabagan is a noodle meal that has lechon carajay or lechon kawali (deep fried pork), Ilocano pork igado (pork liver stew), hard-boiled quail eggs, and some veggies, in thick meaty and savoury sauce. You may add chopped onions, calamansi extract, and a bit of soy sauce to taste. Again, for only PhP50 (More than US$1), you have a meal that is actually good for two!
The pancit is the said “sister” of the famed batil patung pancit of Tuguegarao, only that the noodles is a bit smaller and uses hard-boiled eggs.
We’ve tried at Josie’s Pancit Cabagan Restaurant which is located in the town of Cabagan in Isabela. The resto is just beside the National Highway, in front of Milagros District Hospital. You may call them at +63 (919) 250-9140.
How do you get to Cabagan town?
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From Manila, you can take a bus to Tuguegarao. It’s about more or less a 10-hour ride. Tell the conductor to have you dropped off at Cabagan, near the hospital.
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There are flights from Manila to either Tuguegarao or Cauayan City in Isabela, with the former the nearest.
