SAN JUAN -- La Union, colloquially called Elyu, has long been known as a top surfing spot in the north. 

Roughly a 5-hour drive from Manila, Elyu is a tourist magnet because of its laid-back and relaxing vibes, vibrant nightlife, and of course, good surfing waves. 

In recent years, La Union has also emerged as a picturesque foodie destination that, true to its name, showcases a fusion of gastronomic offerings.

My news team and I recently visited the following foodie spots that turned out to be culinary gems:

PATIO

National Highway, San Juan, La Union 

Our stay in Elyu started with breakfast at our first stop – Patio By Balay Norte. They offer a traditional Filipino breakfast – beef, sirloin tapa, chicken tocino, daing na bangus, Ilocos longganisa, among others. I particularly enjoyed their blueberry waffles (P290). A hot choco latte (P253) is the perfect capper to the meal.

MAKAI BOWLS

Great Northwest Philippines Travel Stop & View Deck, San Juan, La Union

If you’re looking for light snacks at the beach, this seaside shack is the place to go. Makai Bowls offers luscious and nutritious smoothie bowls, made from fruits, no dairy, no artificial sweeteners, and no ice. Prices range from P250 to P290. 

My favorite is the chocolate smoothie bowl named Carille (P260), made from banana, peanut butter, cacao, coconut milk, coconut oil, and raw honey. 

I also tried the fruit shake called Glowing Green (P140), made from banana, pineapple, spirulina, and raw honey. Unfortunately, none of us liked it.

EL UNION 

Great Northwest Philippines Travel Stop & View Deck, San Juan, La Union

Also at the beach shack is El Union Coffee, a popular coffee shop known for its grilled cheese , horchata, and well, coffee.

To be honest, there is a lot of hype about El Union drinks on social media and I always stop by here whenever I go to Elyu, but nothing has changed. There is nothing special about their offerings.

COCO MAMA 

Great Northwest Philippines Travel Stop & View Deck, San Juan, La Union

Right behind El Union Coffee is my favorite stall at the beach shack: Coco Mama Coconut Ice Cream. 

This Boracay favorite serves coconut ice cream – made from vegan coconut cream-based ice cream with mangoes, coconut meat, sticky rice, and pinipig – inside a coconut shell.

Not only is it IG-worthy, but it’s also oh so flavorful! Prices start at P190.

DAMPA 

National Highway, San Juan, La Union 

For lunch, we went to Dampa Sa San Juan Grill and Seafood Restaurant. This eatery is known for its seafood boil – a feast of shrimp, crab, squid, mussels, clams, sweetcorn, and rice perfect for sharing with friends or family. 

A seafood boil costs P1,319 and is good for 4 to 5 persons. 

BISIN

Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union

We went to buffet restaurant Bisin for dinner. It’s perfect for bisin (Ilokano word for hungry) tourists, looking for Western, Asian and contemporary dishes. 

There are limited options for vegans though. Bisin’s daily rate is P450 and the offerings are good for its price. 

HALO-HALO DE ILOKO

Zandueta St, San Fernando, La Union

Elyu’s food gems are not confined in the surf town of San Juan; it also stretches to neighboring areas like San Fernando. 

Halo-Halo de Iloko is a must-stop when you visit the province to experience Elyu's remarkable food culture. The artsy, two-storey restaurant serves a wide array of cuisines in the Ilocos region. 

We had okoy (P181), sinampalukang bangus in coconut water and served in coconut shell (P421), rice served in cute kalderito (P41), pork binagoongan (P321), pinakbet with bagnet (P251), and fried chicken wrapped in pandan leaves (P351). Everything was special and savory. 

You cannot miss the restaurant's halo-halo as it mixes different ingredients from La Union towns such as carabao milk from Rosario, caramelized sugar cane from Sudipen, honey from Bacnotan, corn from Tubao, and native saba, kamote, and ube from different municipalities and cities.