The Best Pit Stops for a Road Trip to the North

Make your stopovers part of the fun.
by Abu Poblete | March 22, 2016

You’ve probably planned everything for your Holy Week trip:  from your snacks and drinks,  , outfits and the itinerary. But you never know when you’ll need a stopover for when someone has to pee really bad, or to just plain get munchies. Make sure you bookmark this list of the best pit stops up north before you head out for a road trip.

Shell of Asia along NLEX

Km 36 North Luzon Expressway (Southbound), Brgy. Malis, Guiguinto, Bulacan

If you suddenly remembered that you left your trek shoes at home or you forgot to bring a few extra clothes for your trip to the great north, Shell of Asia’s got everything covered for you. If shopping is in your itinerary, Shell of Asia has large outlet stores of brands like Giordano, Adidas and Puma. There’s also Mang Inasal, Chowking, Dairy Queen, Starbucks Coffee and the Select Store, so you’ll be able to make your stomach happy during your trip.

Mila’s Tokwa’t Baboy in Angeles, Pampanga

Brgy. San Angelo, San Andres St, Angeles, Pampanga | Open from 10 am r 10 pm | (045) 888 6727 | Facebook

Sometimes, a good dose of homemade food is all you need after a long ride. That’s when you pray Mila’s Tokwa’t Baboy in Pampanga is along your route.

The eatery may not look much but it’s the food that will turn your world around. Fill up with pork sisig, tokwa’t baboy (tofu, pig’s ears, celery and homemade soy sauce), pako salad (ferns with fresh vegetables and homemade vinaigrette), dinuguan and kalderetang kambing. All highly recommended.

Saramsam Restaurant in Laoag

Saramsam’s interior.

Saramsam’s poque poque pizza

Saramsam’s chicharong bagnet with kamatis, bagoong and lasona.

Gen. Giron Street, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte | (077) 771 5825 | Facebook

Saramsam Restaurant’s throwback ambience complements its fresh take on delicious traditional Ilokano dishes: poque-poque pizza (they also have a salad version. Yum!), canton guisado, Dinardaraan Pizza (dinuguan as a topping) and their extra crispy chicharong bagnet with kamatis, bagoong and lasona (Can you feel the guilt already?). All these are reasonably-priced, making it a great pig-out spot before you start hitting the road.

S.O.U.L Cafe in La Union

Camp 1 Toll Gate, Benguet | (072) 172 0852 | Open from 7 am to 11 pm | Facebook page | Website

If you’re driving along the zigzag roads to Baguio, you’ll definitely need to stop by S.O.U.L Cafe in La Union. The cafe’s windows offer a picturesque view of green mountains to accompany a satisfying meal of longganisa with rice and scrambled egg, beef salpicao, carbonara and a host of other comfort food in the menu. The cafe also offers coffee, frappuccinos, shakes and pastries to help keep you awake on your journey.

Everybody’s Cafe in  San Fernando

Mc Arthur Hiway, Del Pilar, City of San Fernando; 105-106 BPI Arcade, Nepomart, Angeles City | 09228467121; 0454352085; 09228467121; 09228423755; 0458870361 | Open from 7 am to 9 pm | Facebook

Everybody’s Cafe is the home of authentic Kapampangan cuisine. Once you enter the laidback and homey cafeteria, you’ll be surprised by the array of all the Kapampangan foods available served turo-turo style. There are metalworks around the place are an homage to the owner’s grandfather who was a blacksmith. But what you’ll really enjoy in Everybody’s Cafe are the dishes like ukoy, fresh lumpia, bulalo, betute (a frog dish) and of course, their very own crispy sisig made of pigs’ cheek and neck cooked with their own vinegar and soy sauce.

Nathaniel’s Bakeshop in Subic

 

Ground Level, Lot 2 Block 18 Dewey Avenue corner Aguinaldo Highway, CBD Area, Subic Bay Freeport Zone | nathaniels@yahoo.com  | Open from Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 7 pm | Website

If you’re in the Subic area, make sure you stop by Nathaniel’s Bakeshop and fill up on classic and popular Nathaniel’s specialties like their buko pandan salad, puto pao and siomai. .

Don’t miss out on their other desserts like caramel cake, moist chocolate cake, mais con yelo and birenghe and other pasalubong staples. They also have rice meals and merienda items (check out their chicken puto pao!) if you’re craving for a heavier dose of Nathaniel’s goodness.

Are you ready for your trip to the north? Sound off in the comments below!