Great Food! We'll Be Sure to KAMBAK Again! KamBak (Kambing at Baka) Grill and Resto
It looks like a quaint little bahay kubo from the outside-- with the bamboo works and stained glass and all!
I've been curiously driving through this establishment for a few months already, but I only stepped into it for the first time today for some late lunch with the family. KamBak Kambing at Baka (a play between the two Filipino words that literally meant "goat and cow") Grill and Resto is a small restaurant by the highway that held my fascination because it looked like a little but quaint Filipiniana-style native restaurant on the outside with majestic green mountains and rice paddies as its backdrop.
For me, this cute little restaurant stood out. It's nestled in Barangay Namboongan which is about three kilometers away from bustling Agoo (and about forty-five from San Fernando City-- La Union's provincial capital), and it probably competes with the fast food chains that are all the hype there. But KamBak's parking lot was almost full when we got there, filled with cars of patrons and-- most probably-- fans of home-cooked style meals like me!
The rice fields (and the mountains) behind the restaurant.
Lots of greenery to see here.
It was charming inside the restaurant, too!
They sell souvenir goods like Turmeric tea, chili garlic oil, chili paste, and bagoong alamang at the counter.
Seems like they also have native fish sauce and sukang Iloko for sale.
This is so rustic-- it's cute!
These cute little crispy pastries with merengue and candied sugar on top are sweet and delicious-- perfect for tanggal-umay! And they only cost Php10.00 each! Sweet!
My adorable baby girl absolutely loved this!
While waiting for the food to be served, I walked around the restaurant (on the sly, as baby was distracted by the merengue cookie to notice I have gone) and saw framed autographs of famous people who have stopped by below framed photos of their bestselling dishes. I think this one is of Mich Liggayu.
Albie Casino.
Mark Topacio.
It didn't take long for our food to arrive-- ten minutes for all the items that we ordered, tops! I don't eat goat meat, so I gambled on the chance that they'd have lots of beef entrees and even more. Thank goodness they did! Aside from Kam and Bak meat, they also have pork, chicken, duck, seafood, and vegetables-- most of them good for 2-3 persons. They also serve halo-halo all year round.
My dad ordered Calderetang kambing (goat meat stew in tomato sauce) and Kilawing kambing (goat meat marinated in vinegar and spices). I asked him how it was, and he said it was delicious and meticulously prepared. See, when goat meat is not expertly cooked, it gives off a rather ammoniacal odor and a funny taste-- the absence of both these telltale signs on the goat dishes he ordered means the chef is good at cooking goat meat!
Kilawing kambing, Php75.00 per order. It comes in a small plate and is good for one.
Calderetang kambing, Php 200.00.
Steamed white rice platter, Php 90.00. Good for 5-6 persons.
Beef bulalo, only Php 130.00 per order. I was so shocked at how affordable it was, and even more surprised by how huge one serving is! It even came with the marrow in the middle! We were in cholesterol heaven!
Paksiw sa gata na yellowfin tuna, Php 190.00. It was a huge chunk of fresh tuna! And the coconut milk sauce that came with it was great.
Garlic fried chicken, Php 160.00. I loved how the meat tasted so garlicky. And the toasted garlic bits that came with it were great, too.
Thick-cut potato fries, Php65.00. I ordered it for the baby.
Pinakbet Iloko with Bagnet, Php 160.00. I wish they'd put in more bagnet!
I went to the toilets after the meal, and found that it was clean but I wish they made it match with the restaurant's Filipiniana theme.
Also, I wish they'd put in two or three more units of air conditioner (they only have one split-type unit for the whole dining area). They kind of tried to remedy the noontime heat with a bunch of electric fans, but the biting cold from an air conditioner would be a more welcome reprieve. Other than that, I'm fine coming back for more!
**KamBak Kambing at Baka Grill and Resto is located along the highway, Brgy. Namboongan (near Agoo), Sto. Tomas, La Union.
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