21 Restaurant — Restaurant in Bacolod

21 Restaurant – Where Bacolod’s Comfort Food Gets the White Tablecloth Treatment 21 Restaurant is one of those rare places that manages to feel both familiar and refined. Located along Lacson Street, it’s a long-standing favorite among Bacolodnons for its elevated take on Filipino comfort food, served in a setting that’s elegant without being intimidating. Whether you’re here for a casual lunch or a family celebration, 21 delivers a dining experience that’s warm, polished, and deeply satisfying.

The menu is a tribute to Ilonggo flavors with a few Asian and continental surprises. Their special batchoy is legendary—rich, savory, and topped with generous chicharon that crackles with every bite. The honey-glazed chicken, lechon kawali, and chicken teriyaki skewers are also crowd favorites, offering bold flavors and hearty portions. Seafood lovers will appreciate dishes like crispy crablets, steamed shrimp, and squid with lemongrass, all prepared with finesse.

The ambiance strikes a balance between cozy and classy, with soft lighting, garden accents, and attentive service that makes you feel cared for without hovering. Prices are reasonable for the quality, making it accessible for both everyday indulgence and special occasions.

In a city known for its culinary soul, 21 Restaurant stands out as a place where tradition meets taste, and every meal feels like a quiet...

Our first visit to the longstanding 21 Restaurant, with expectations of fine dining elegance, unfortunately, fell short, particularly in service and some aspects of our meal. The staff, while friendly, displayed a casual demeanor and loud conversations more suited to a laid-back eatery than a high-end restaurant. This misalignment in service style detracted from the sophisticated ambiance expected.

The culinary experience was mixed. While the starters and pasta were delightful, showcasing the restaurant's potential, the main course—specifically the unevenly cooked ribeye steak ordered medium rare—was disappointing. This inconsistency marred our dining experience, failing to meet the high culinary standards anticipated.

Interestingly, reviews often praise 21 Restaurant for its batchoy, suggesting it as a standout choice. Reflecting on our visit, perhaps exploring their renowned batchoy instead of the fine dining options might align better with the restaurant's strengths. This insight hints at the need for a future visit focused on what the restaurant is best known for, potentially offering a more satisfying...

21 restaurant was highly recommended by our Bacolod friends, most especially their batchoy (!!!)

While batchoy is originally an Ilonggo dish, we loved 21 Restaurant's batchoy a lot. They have the regular, special, and super special batchoy. I tried the regular one the first time, and the super special hours before leaving Bacolod. I enjoyed the regular batchoy a lot. But the super special batchoy (photo) I enjoyed 3x more even though obviously it's sinful because of the bone marrow. 🤣 Pair their batchoy with their buttered toast, dip the toast into the batchoy broth.

We were also able to try their Kilawing Tanigue (I think that's tanigue). It's the first time I tried fish kilawin, and it's so gooood. Too bad I wasn't able to take a photo but I liked how they added some tomatoes, onions, and salted egg in the kilawin.

Will definitely be back again when...