Davao Foodie – Restaurant & Food Reviews

September 1st, 2010

Yearning for Ngoyong Haus

Any true blue foodie would try anything he catches wind of. So after hearing good things about Ngoyong Haus, I ventured out to Barrio Obrero with my trusty secretary to look for it. After 30 minutes of searching, I finally reached my destination — a rather inconspicuous eatery composed of a straw hut dining area, a grill station and a small kitchen.

Ngoyong Haus has but a few items on their menu plastered on a wall. The ones we had to try was the Ngoyong, understandably, and the Balamban Liempo, which my cousin could not stop raving about.

The Ngoyong is quite similar to the traditional fried lumpia (egg roll), but its outer shell is noticeably thicker and crunchier. It has only ubod and a few spices and no meat, making it great for vegetarians. The minimum order for the Ngoyong is 10 pieces. It was quite a meal by itself, I tell you. Pair it with rice, it’s enough to feed 2-3 people.

The Balamban Liempo, on the other hand, is a cross between the Lechon Kawali (fried pork belly) and the traditional Lechon Baboy (grilled whole pig). It’s not fried, but grilled and mixed with loads of spices, salt and lemongrass. The moment it was placed on our table, the aroma vivified just how good it is. The outer skin is crispy and the meat was tender and juicy. The spices made it hard to resist getting another piece. Before we knew it, the plate was empty! Okay, I’m lying. We saw it coming.

The ten pieces of Ngoyong cost P60 while the Balamban Liempo set us back P140. Satisfying and very affordable. If you don’t like eating outdoors, order them for takeout. Highly recommended.

Ngoyong Haus
Cuisine: Filipino
Entree Price Range: P60-P140
Notes: Outdoor dining, no air conditioning. The Balamban Liempo is not served until 530PM.
Address: Vinsons Street, Barrio Obrero, Davao City (in front of Gabbie’s)