Valencia’s Restaurant: Taking Inspiration from the Filipino Sunday Lunch

Paella Valenciana, Kambing Express, Bangus ala Pobre,  and a glass of bittersweet, mellowed-down Rice Coffee — what’s not to love about tastes that are reminiscent of memories shared over a meal in a family Sunday lunch?

Valencia’s Restaurant is described as a “contemporary family-style restaurant in Baguio City” that encourages relaxed yet festive gatherings through plates and bowls of Spanish-inspired flavors. As a restaurant, bakery, and bar, this is a place where you can create lasting memories while enjoying a meal with your family, friends, and anyone else you consider important. From their starter collection, salads, soups, entrees, signature paella dishes, house specialties, and more, Valencia’s Restaurant has something that everyone can call a favorite.

Rice (Coffee) is Life

Since Valencia’s Restaurant is owned by a family who runs a rice mill business, it’s a delight to see how the Filipino kitchen staple – rice – is highlighted in exquisite ways on the menu.

First up is Valencia’s Rice Coffee made with grains from the family mill. Also known as “Pinoy Coffee,” rice coffee is made through two procedures: roasting and brewing. Taking sips of this instantly takes you back to the time to the time when our lolos, lolas, uncles, or aunties who’d have a tasa of this while talking about their day in the early morning, midday, the afternoon after siesta, or as a nightcap. There is nothing like the Pinoy Coffee’s deep-roasted and refreshingly bitter aroma and flavor. You won’t need to add sugar or cream to this because the bitterness is mellowed down and complemented by the rice’s natural sweetness.

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But of course, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a glass of this with Valencia’s Chocolate Moist Cake which alludes to the gooey and fudgy chocolate cake in the iconic Bruce Cake Scene in Roald Dahl’s “Matilda.”

Other desserts you can enjoy include their Red Velvet Cake and the Sizzling Brownie Ala Mode. This unique dessert is topped with some homemade strawberry ice cream. It sizzles once the chocolate syrup is poured onto it while sitting nicely on its hot iron skillet.

Valencia’s Restaurant: House Specialties

Beyond Rice Coffee, Valencia’s ode to rice and the value of perseverance is Paella Valenciana, one of their four signature paella selections. The flavored rice is made even more luxurious with some shrimp, chicken, chorizo bilbao, and fresh vegetables.

One thing that makes a saffron-flavored paella memorable is the thin layer of delectable burnt rice, known as “socarrat.” Socarrat to paella is like the icing on a cake. True-blue paella lovers know that this burnt crust is scraped by the spoonfuls and enjoyed as is. Some diners would go as far as requesting the restaurant to include the tutong in their leftover take-out.  After all, what is paella without the tutong?

Another specialty is their Kambing Express. It’s braised tender goat meat in a spicy coconut cream and served with some roasted garlic, cherry tomatoes, and fresh highland vegetables.

One of the items in the full plate entrees is Bangus ala Pobre, fried open-face milkfish with sauteed garlic, and red chillis.

Some of their best salads include their Refreshing Watermelon Salad and Pepper Steak Salad. A crowd favorite is Valencia’s Taro Nachos, the restaurant’s version of Nachos made of homemade taro chips with salsa and cheese dip that are made from scratch.

The restaurant also serves pizza and pasta. Valencia’s Signature Pizza is loaded with pepperoni and pesto cream cheese, while the Creamy Salmon Tuscana is made of Spanish chorizo and fresh salmon that’s cooked in a creamy white sauce and then served with buttered brioche. These two dishes are also great with some Buffalo Chicken Wings (half kg), a burger with some watermelon slices on the side, or a tall glass of Valencia’s Iced Tea that changes color after mixing in some lemon and butterfly pea tea syrup.

If you love noodles, Valencia’s serves Mami in Baguio and the Eight Treasure Stir-Fry. These dishes have an earthy yet fresh flavor from fresh mushrooms and scallions.

Bread and Breakfast at Valencia’s Restaurant

Every weekend, Valencia Restaurant opens for breakfast from 7:00 am to 9:00 am, where everything on the menu is 10% off. Enjoy your weekend breakfasts with either some Eggs Benedict that’s made extra special with their homemade Valencia’s ham, or with the Dried Fish Trio: danggit, pusit, and espada. You can also enjoy freshly baked Classic Ensaymada, Stollen Bread, and glazed Parsley Cheese Bread.

Soon, Valencia’s will have various delicacies available for dine-in and to buy as pasalubong. One delicacy they served was some homemade chicharon from Batangas. Locally known as “pupor,” marinated pork back fat that’s ready to fry anytime you need that chicharon fix.

The food served at Valencia’s brings us back to the familiar and comforting dishes made for family celebrations, whether through a spoonful of paella, bangus, or salmon tuscana. Fortunately, Baguio City has restaurants that are ready to welcome anyone who needs to remember home through good food and good company.

Valencia’s Restaurant is located at 30 Outlook Drive, Baguio City, Philippines. For dinner reservations and inquiries on event spaces, call them via 0995 714 3264.