I’m not really that familiar with what Bataan has to offer when it comes to food. Being a peninsula, I know it has an abundance of seafood. During our first night in the province for the Pawikan Festival, our host surprised us with a Kapampangan culinary spot in the town of Pilar.

DIGGING THE VERY HOMEY CHARACTER OF IMA’S INTERIORS

WALL DECORS — BUSTED CLOCKS AND SUNGKA

CARINDERIA-STYLE FOOD TRAYS

Well, I really shouldn’t have been surprised as the province of Pampanga is located just on the north-eastern side of Bataan. The restaurant’s full name is Ima Flora’s Pamangan, which is kampampangan for Mother Flora’s Food. Unpainted wooden benches and tables, faded stained floor, and knick knack-filled wood-paneled walls dress the interiors of the restaurant—and on a counter, a buffet spread, carinderia-style, was set.

Indeed, the ambience felt like an upscale carinderia, except the food is still quite affordable. At PHP250.00 per person, it doesn’t hold Bataan’s cheapest buffet title for nothing.

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CHOPPED PORK LECHON & TENDER BULALO SOUP WITH VEGGIES

We were eight in the group and we were treated to a plethora of Filipino classic dishes—from chopped lechon, boneless daing na bangus, grilled squid, pako salad, lechon kawali, and steamed okra to beef bulalo. With everything laid on our long table, it definitely looked like a feast straight from home.

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PAKO SALAD TOPPED WITH SALTED EGGS, ONIONS, TOMATOES, ACHARA, & ONIONS

BONELESS BANGUS WITH CHOPPED ONIONS, TOMATOES, AND SALTED EGGS

Everything tasted as it should, nothing fancy, just straight up classic home-cooked Filipino meals with a few exceptions. One of these is their daing na bangus, which is garnished on top with chopped white garlic, tomatoes, and itlog na pula (salted egg). The usual dip’s incorporation with the bangus (milkfish) itself makes for an interesting eat.

THE PERFECT PAIR, STEAMED OKRA WITH BAGOON AND CRISPY LECHON KAWALI

While their grilled squid was a tad too rubbery for my taste, my absolute favorites from our feast were their crispy lechon kawali—and surprisingly, their steamed okra with bagoong (shrimp paste) and pork bits. I’m really not a fan of them slippery okra, but the combination of the crispy pork and their delectable and slightly sweet bagoong made us order a second plate. And when the pork bit toppings quickly ran out, leaving the okras behind as expected, the lechon kawali quickly came to the rescue.

~ TOURISM BATAAN SPONSORED OUR MEAL AT IMA’S

Ima Flora’s Pamangan
Address: Barangay Ala-uli, Pilar, Bataan
Contact Number: (0917) 572-4703
Open Hours: 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM Everyday
Facebook | Menu
GPS Coordinates Map: 14.646411, 120.538610

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