Pangasinan Food Trip: Must-Try Dishes in Dagupan City

The main reason why  Dagupenos like me love to revisit our hometown is the FOOD. I realized how lucky I am to be born and raised in Dagupan City during my first OJT stint in Metro Manila. There’s wide variety of restaurants in food strips and shopping malls, but the servings are either too small or the price is quite expensive. The craving for reasonably-priced meals made me miss my hometown more.

Dagupan Food Trip: Are you ready?
Dagupan Food Trip: Are you ready?

Pangasinan in general is known for the sumptuous seafood selections that will satisfy one’s cravings. In Dagupan City alone, we have some really interesting must-try dishes to boot. Are you ready?

Boneless Bangus from Dagupan
Boneless Bangus from Dagupan

DAGUPAN BANGUS

Dagupan City is known as the Bangus (Milkfish) Capital of the World. Ten years ago, it held the World Guinness Book of Records in the longest barbecue category! The fun part of the Bangus Festival is the snatching grilled bangus in barbeque stands for free.

What is so special about the Bonuan or Dagupan Bangus? Visit my hometown, dine in one of the restaurants or stalls and ‘taste’ the answer!

There 101 Ways to Cook Bangus (as presented in the yearly festival), but the most famous include are the Grilled and Boneless Bangus. The latter is my favorite. Don’t you just enjoy eating without the hassle of removing the tinik?

Pigar-Pigar
Pigar-Pigar

PIGAR-PIGAR

Pigar-Pigar is another fast-rising delicacy. Galvan Street is a busy market street in the morning that transforms into a Pigar-Pigar Strip at night. Pigar-Pigar is a dish composed of thinly-sliced meat with liver and cabbage. Aside from the popular Bangus Festival, Pigar-Pigar lovers launched their very own Pigar-Pigar Festival.

Sample of KALESKES with sebo
Sample of KALESKES with sebo Photo by Josh Uy

KALESKES

Kaleskes means ‘intestine’. I can say that it is one of the quirky food Pangasinan has to offer. The dish includes Pa le (intestines) and some meat cuts. It is the customer’s option to add sebo or dugo (blood). Yummy, right? Kaleskes is available in Herrero-Perez and Galvan Street.

Plato Wraps Fillings: Great Meals in Small Packages
Plato Wraps Fillings: Great Meals in Small Packages

PLATO WRAPS

Sounds familiar? Plato Wraps is a widely known original food cart franchise stall that originated in Dagupan City. If you’ve read some of my previous Pangasinan updates, you would’ve noticed my love for this product. Plato Wraps’ tagline is ‘Great Meals in Small Packages’. Plato Wraps fillings include Chunky Chicken, Very Veggie, Ham and Cheese, Yummy Tuna, Wrap ‘n Roll and Beef Gyros.

Woot. Now I’m starving! I know that a lot of people are traveling to Dagupan this week for the festival. Don’t forget this foodie checklist!

Here’s another link on Where to Eat in Dagupan City and Calasiao. Will write another version later so stay tuned. Have Fun in Dagupan!

14 Comments

  1. Aleah | SolitaryWanderer.com said:

    I only know about bangus in Dagupan because of your bangus festival. Hope I can join a food tour there, your dishes look really delicious!

    April 27, 2013
    Reply
    • Senyorita said:

      Thanks! Feel free to visit Dagupan 😀

      April 29, 2013
      Reply
  2. I love the food in Dagupan. This is a reminiscence of sorts during my frequent trips to Dagupan for my field work in Sta. Barbara and Bolinao. I made sure I did not miss Dagupena resto. Is it still there?

    April 27, 2013
    Reply
    • Senyorita said:

      Woot glad to hear that 😀 Yup, Dagupena Restaurant still exists, but they moved the main resto to Calasiao na. Bigger space and more food selection 😀

      April 29, 2013
      Reply
  3. Tom said:

    I’ve heard about pigar-pigar. The kaleskes (I thought it’s the bangus scales), I just learned it here.

    Will definitely try these if I go or pass by Dagupan.

    April 28, 2013
    Reply
    • Senyorita said:

      Hehe akala ko yun din yun nung bata ako. 😛 Ano yun, soup na fish scales? Hehe. Try these when you visit Dagupan 😀

      April 29, 2013
      Reply
  4. photos are so enticing! ill definitely try this when i pass by dagupan maybe this weekend. hehe

    April 29, 2013
    Reply
    • Senyorita said:

      Go Go Go! 😀

      April 29, 2013
      Reply
  5. Christeen said:

    Going in Panggasinan this month or in August. Hope we can drop by Dagupan to taste those tummy teasers or might just have some na available in Bolinao.

    July 17, 2013
    Reply
  6. Andrelyn bautista said:

    Maam, Can I have some copy of these photos?

    March 2, 2015
    Reply
  7. Haven’t heard of this unique delicacy, the kaleskes. I’m quite curious of the taste.

    March 15, 2016
    Reply
  8. Andrew VIsta said:

    Good day ma’am, permission to use photos for our travel magazine! You and your website will be cited! Thank you!

    September 4, 2016
    Reply
    • Senyorita said:

      Hello!

      For which magazine po? Kindly send me an email. Thanks!

      September 4, 2016
      Reply

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