Cholo’s Gastro Park: Delectable Food Pastiches in a Campy Setting

I’ve always wondered what Cholo’s was, even back when I was a lanky 12-year-old kid looking for a taste of adventure. If you live in Baguio and always passed by Kisad back in the day, you’d notice this old-looking house that had a derelict sign that says Cholo’s Grill. It was still a wonder for me as I’ve never even seen that as a functioning grill before. Now, however, all my questions were answered. The place is now known as “Cholo’s Gastro Park,” and it’s no longer old-looking. Cholo’s turned into a fantastic food park—the best place to experience a food coma like you never had before.

Located just beside Jaime’s Family Feast, Cholo’s Gastro Park boasts of a place that’s got the vibe, the feelings, and most especially THE food. Back in the 70’s, Cholo’s was the first ever restaurant/grill place in Baguio that had container vans as their primary food service and dining area. It was discontinued years after and only picked the ruins up again in July 2017. Looking around the park itself would make you feel like you’re somewhere else, what with the colorful designs of each food booth and the lights that shine brighter than Rihanna’s diamonds at night.

I have this weird thing for pleasant and bright places such as Cholo’s Gastro Park. Apart from the food, what makes a restaurant or café more memorable for me is the place itself—you might have the best food in town, but if your location is terrible (not to mention a meh ambiance), then it’s going to be a tricky way to have return customers. But if you have notable food selections, excellent staff, and the craziest sous chefs that could make you pack up and leave with them, THAT is the best place to go and pig out. With it’s three central food kiosks—Staple, Asian Spice, and Taco Wings—you’ll never have to worry about a repetitive food repertoire because the repetition of food choices in itself is the one thing that would keep you coming back. After all, what’s a good place like Cholo’s Gastro Park worth more than it’s armada of bestsellers, right?

Staple: Filipino Comfort Food Made For Everyone’s Taste

Cholo’s Gastro Park’s kitchen is made up of diverse individuals from different provinces of the Philippines. This fact serves as an advantage to the place’s sous chefs as they intend to create a unique munching experience for the typical Filipino taste. Staple, one of the Park’s central bestselling kiosks, offers a genius take on Filipino food.

The food preparation and plating exceeds well beyond your expectations. There’s something about a freshly-served hot Pinoy dish that could either make or break one’s distraction. Staple’s food choices bring you back to where you need to be—the now.

Out of the five bestsellers, my first try kept me longing for more. Enter the Binusog na Pusit on Sizzling Plate, a creative inihaw dish stuffed with sisig. The fresh, rubbery taste of the squid provokes (an oxymoron, I know) you well enough to keep fighting for the final serving, and the stuffing takes your mind on a high. Topping it off with onion and leeks, for P195, is one worth appreciating.

Things get far more interesting with the impressive duo of the Beef Kare-Kare and Binagoongang Lechon Kawali with Kare-Kare sauce. This combination is one that’s full of adventure, as you begin munching on the familiar taste of peanut sauce that’s borderline salty and sweet. The latter dish, however, is a throat-catching delight of crispy but tender Lechon Kawali partnered with its glorious ambition of being a post-modern fusion dish with the Kare-Kare sauce. A creative innovation, indeed. At P300 and P240, individually, this dish is something.

The never-ending battle between Adobo and Sinigang advocates has been going on for more than a millennia (okay, I might be exaggerating a bit here but humor me, please). There’s a distinct division between the two Pinoy flagship dishes that often drive Filipinos on the brink of a Twitter war. But once you try Sinigang na Salmon Head and Belly, the scores might even out. You might also be the deciding factor. At P220, the dish is served in a flurry and usually gulped down in one sitting. But if you’re one to admire it’s intricacies as a Pinoy dish, take your time and savor the moment. It’s a delight to bend over and inhale the familiar aroma of the famous sour-soup dish.

Finally, the Inihaw na Liempo with Dinakdakan sauce is a breath of fresh air. At P195, you can get a pristine plate of creativity packed inside the tasty liempo, and the unexpected flavors brought out by the dinakdakan sauce. It’s a weird but valid combination if you ask me, but trying it for yourself makes all difference.

Asian Spice: All the Flavors in One Location

We have Asian Spice, on the other hand, as another of Cholo’s Gastro Park’s kiosks that serves as a variation from the Filipino food connoisseur. It’s a melting pot of dishes from Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia. A lulling place for Asian diversity, Asian Spice could just about do the trick of bringing the countries’ best right on your table.

Two variations of Asian fried rice were served, with Kimchi Fried Rice winning over the Japanese Rice. It’s hard (and often detestable) to pit these two dishes against each other, but they went for it anyway. So the verdict—I prefer the spicy and familiar taste of the Kimchi Fried Rice over the breakfast-esque taste of the Japanese Rice. Don’t get me wrong, both are tasty, and the portioning is fair, but nothing beats the spice of the famous Korean dish over the eggs and spring onions that seem to permeate the Japanese Rice overtly. Both are at P150, so you be the judge on which should be brought high up on a pedestal.

The Japchae is an exhilarating tongue twister and mouth waterer. At P180, you can get a full plate of spinning senses and a firm grasp of what it feels like to eat an authentic dish. The Pad Thai, however, is one that stands out in a crowd of Pinoy and Asian food and comes at a friendly price of P190. I recommend ripping this dish out straight from the kitchen as it features the best blend of peanuts and stir-fried rice noodle. Eggs, tofu and tamarind pulp round up the humbling dish from Thailand.

Taco Wings: Tex-Mex inspired

Finally, an addition of freshly-made quesadillas and nachos are a part of the new menu. Taco Wings offers tasteful Tex-Mex dishes guaranteed to bring out the “yee-haw!” and “Arriba!” in you. This place works well for those on a heavy protein diet and better if you want to smell the familiar aroma of cilantro and other Mexican spices in your dish. I know I need this, so I’ll be on a lookout for all their new dishes.

Cholo’s Gastro Park: Overall Verdict

The best part about Cholo’s Gastro Park goes far beyond the lights and the ambiance and the food. It’s the magic and pleasure of experiencing dishes that are all within your reach. The service strikes an opportune moment for you to learn about how the recipe is made, and it even makes you feel a connection with the place as well. The overall balance of charm and delight tugs at your heartstrings, with smiles all over when you arrive and smiles all over when you leave.

Pastiche is a word that I usually use when describing the perfect imitation of art and literature styles. But then again, food is an art, so why not take it a step further? Despite the glow of the lights at night and the amazing exteriors of the place, one thing remains—the food they serve is an artful imitation of the real thing albeit genius twists and creativity splashing your every bite. No longer will you have to look for a place with brimming warmth and soothing flavors. Cholo’s Gastro Park spoils you with whatever they can offer.

After all, when it comes to food, everyone is always up for new sensations.

Visit Cholo’s Gastro Park located at 2 M.H. Del Pilar St, near Burnham Park, Baguio City. Like them on Facebook and follow them on Instagram!