Arroz Ecija is a new dining concept which specializes in Filipino Spanish cuisine. It is actually from the same group which brought us XO46 Heritage Bistro and Oye Tapas and Grill. Andrew Masigan of the Advent Hospitality Group is one of the brains behind this new concept.
If you want to enjoy recipes inspired by life in the 1930s set amidst the vast rice plantations of Nueva Ecija and other regional cities in the Philippines, this is the perfect restaurant for you.
The restaurant ambiance brings you to a small oasis in the city where they take you back to a time when life was simpler and less frantic, a time when food was prepared slowly and with cariño – taking all the time for the flavors to develop. A time when the menu changed with the seasons.
Arroz Ecija is the more casual version of the XO 46 Heritage Bistro offering a wider range of classic Philippine merienda and snacks. It also carries a huge variety of local rice cakes (“kakanin”) and other regional delicacies that are rarely found in the metro.
So what did I try during my visit? Well, I have a lot of new favorites. Here are some of them:
We started off with Longganisa Platter. There are 5 variants: (1) Tuguegarao; (2) Alaminos; (3) Calumpit; (4) Beef Batotay; and (5) Lucban. It was a tough call but Beef Batotay and Calumpit are both of my favorites. Beef Batotay was really sweet but full of spices. It’s the perfect choice for those with sweet tooth. Calumpit on the other hand gives you a more pepper like flavor which is a very good complement for rice and egg. All of them are good but these two variants are the ACES for me. The rest are HITS.
Chicharon Platter was the next dish I tried. It featured different kinds of chicharon along with their distinct features.
Chicken Skin was so crispy even after too much exposure to air. It was not oily and it was perfect with vinegar. It’s a HIT for me. Torreznos on the other hand is obtained from pork belly, marinated and once dried. It’s very flavorful and it gives you some meat portions. This is one of my favorites so I’ll give this one an ACE. Chicharon Balat was so crispy at each bite. No need for vinegar as it was so flavorful. It could have been better if they sliced it on a bigger portion. It gives a more palatable experience. This one is also a HIT for me.
Who doesn’t love Chicharon Bulaklak? It could have been better if it was crispier but taste wise, it was really good. You can add it on rice and munch it together. This one is a HIT for me.
My favorite dish from Arroz Ecija would be the 72-Hour Bagnet. It comes with three side dips: vinegar, spiced soy sauce and atchara (pickled vegetables). I coupled it with a big serving of rice. It was really cooked perfectly. It was uniformly cut to give a much more enjoyable gastronomical experience. It’s truly the star of the restaurant. It’s an ACE for me.
I also love the Iberian Chicken. It was baked for a long time to ensure the right texture and juiciness of the meat. It was also complemented with selected herbs, cherry tomatoes, olives and potatoes to make it yummier. This one is a HIT for me.
There are also plenty of refreshments to choose from. I selected Ripe Mango Shake as it is one of the best summer heat thirst quencher. I love how they use a natural ripe mango and it was carefully selected to craft this drink. Worth the try! A HIT for me.
Arroz Ecija is located at Uptown Mall, Bonifacio Global City, Philippines. To know more about the restaurant, you may follow them at the following social media accounts:
Instagram: arroz_ecija
Facebook: Arroz Ecija
This looks so delicious!! I have been craving Filipino cuisine so bad recently, and this is just making we want it more!
I’m not sure I’ve ever tried Filipino food (aside from the things that my college roommate cooked for me). It looks good!
These cuisines!!! My mouth is watering. I didn’t know about this restaurant before. Will definitely check this out when I’m in BGC. Thank you!
Looks goood! Definitely going to try out this restaurant if we are in the area.
Nice concept, great ambience & lovely food. Looks like an awesome place to be in.
All of this food looked SO extremely good 😍😍😍. Plus I love the feel of the restaurant. I like that it slows things down.
everything looks so good and well prepared. Espically that rice. yummy!
Every single picture looks mouthwatering! I wish I could give this place a try; yum!
Oh such awesome delicacies…but it’s cholesterol heaven LOL! I love Filipino food and I can really get carried away with the flavorful dishes so I have to eat these in moderation.
I love both Filipino and Spanish cuisines, so this would totally be a restaurant I would love to check out! Maybe one day they’ll open a location in Toronto, or I can make the trip out there. 😉
This is some good looking food! I would love to try some of this out for sure!
The bagnet looks delicious. Crunchy pork skin with soft meat. :0)
The 72 hour Bagnet made me drool. OMG! That looks really delicious and yes, so perfectly done! The chicharon platter sure looks mouth watering too. Good food and cozy ambiance is a rarity these days. Happy to know that Arroz Ecija provides both!
I am drooling over that crispiness! MY FAVORITEEEE!!
This looks like it would have been a fun meal! Tasting a variety of different foods is always a great time for me. I am not familiar with many of the dishes you mention here but I think I would love to give it a try!
the food looks super delicious! I am a big fan of rice: so many variations, you can not get tired of it. I would love to give it a try
I would love to taste Filipino Spanish cuisine at Arroz Ecija. Looks and sounds so delicious!
This post is making me so hungry! That food looks absolutely amazing. I love the vibe of the restaurant, too.
That pork belly looks amazing. I love really good food like this.
Your photos make me wanna go to BGC now! Good thing I am currently working there ngayon. 🙂
The food from Arroz Ecija looks yummylicious! 😋 The restaurants looks customer friendly too. 🙂
I should NOT have tried to read this before I had breakfast. These pictures were too good looking!
Love these awesome dishes. This restaurant seems to have a great menu and no wonder you suggest a visit.
Everything looks so good. I know that chicharon platter is going to raise my cholesterol levels sky high but I still would love to try them. I will practice eating in moderation. (help me!)
Wow all of those dishes look amazing! And so fresh too!
Oh wow thats really interesting looking food! I bet it would taste delicious.
Holy moly these look good! I need to join you the next time you go there.
I love dining at a place like this. Scratch kitchens are the best!
I would love to eat here! I would really enjoy the new experience while I am at it!
Wow. I always love the fusion of Filipino-Spanish Cuisine. I want those appetizers right now.