For those living in the metro who want a break from the city life, La Union is a popular weekend destination. While known mostly for its surf scene, Elyu is also a good destination for foodies because of the vibrant restaurant scene and diverse food options available. Along with Pinoy staples and international fare, you can also find a several vegetarian/vegan options for those on special diets.
During a recent post-pandemic trip with a vegan friend Celine, we ended up trying mostly places with plant-based food options just because it’s the only place where she could eat. We also hunted down some spots that served craft beer. I’ve also had a chance to try other popular La Union restos during previous road trips with Art before the pandemic and media trips over the years.
While some businesses shut down during the pandemic, it’s good to see the food scene in the surf town bustling again. Here’s a roundup of some of the most most popular and newest spots in La Union that you can dine in this 2023 and beyond.
Table of Contents
Little Canggu
In case you’re missing international trips to exotic destinations like Bali, Little Canggu is a beachfront bistro in La Union that serves Balinese fusion dishes. This cozy al fresco space named after a coastal village on the south coast of Bali offers a great view of the ocean and Indonesian staples like nasi goreng, duck, rendang, satay, and more.
We really enjoyed Mie Goreng (homemade noodles, stir-fried vegetables, tomato and cucumber slices) with mushroom balls instead of chicken and without the fried egg and delicious Tempeh Satay (peanut satay sauce, pickled cucumber and carrots) that we ended up going back for the same meal. The cafe also serves Nasi Goreng, Kentang Fries, Tempeh Chips, Garlic Kangkong, and more.
Little Canggu. Pentecostal Compound, Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union. Open 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (closed on Tuesdays).
Little Cat Coffee
Little Cat Coffee, which shares a space with Little Canggu, is a good spot to get your afternoon coffee fix. The cafe serves freshly brewed coffee including drinks topped with nitro foam. Cats and coffee, what’s not to love?
Little Cat Coffee serves coffee from 9:00 am to 3:00 p.m. (closed on Tuesdays).
Kermit La Union
Kermit restaurant and pizzeria is a well-known restaurant in Siargao, known for dishing out Italian favorites like pizza and pasta. Their branch in La Union, which opened during the pandemic, can be found on the second floor of the beachfront side of the Great Northwest, a popular food hub in Urbiztondo.
Options for vegans include their Vegan Pizza (topped with Zucchine, artichokes, mushroom, bell pepper, olives and arugula), and Vegan Linguini Pesto. The resto also serves a wide selection of cocktails, wine, and beer including craft beer from Monkey Eagle Brewery.
Kermit La Union. The Great Northwest Philippines Travel Stop & Viewing Deck. 183 MacArthur Hwy, San Juan, La Union. Open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 to 11:00 p.m.
El Union
El Union is a popular homegrown coffee shop and roastery that has been serving quality coffee in La Union since 2013.
Bestsellers here include their grilled cheese sandwich with bacon jam, cold brew coffee, and dirty horchata. For dessert, try out their classic smores.
El Union. The Great Northwest Philippines Travel Stop & Viewing Deck. 183 MacArthur Hwy, San Juan, La Union.
Great Northwest
Both Kermit and El Union can be found in The Great Northwest Philippines Travel Stop & Viewing Deck, a major outdoor food hub along the beach. While some stalls closed down permanently during the pandemic, those that are still currently open in 2023 include The Shrine of Satisfaction (craft cocktails), Makai Bowls (smoothie bowls and shakes), Papa Bear (Asian dishes), Hang Burgers, Sabong (fried chicken), and Coco Mama (plant-based and dairy-free coconut ice cream), to name a few.
The Great Northwest Philippines Travel Stop, National Highway, Brgy. Urbiztondo, San Juan La Union
Gefseis Greek Grill
Gefseis Greek Grill is a beachside restaurant offers a taste of authentic Greek Cuisine at affordable prices. They have a wide selection here ranging from souvlaki, Greek-style pizza, steaks, sausages, grilled items, pasta and rice, appetizers, and Greek desserts.
Try their Souvlaki Mixed Platter (is good for two) and Greek Yogurt with Honey and Walnuts for dessert. If you’re in the mood for a drink, Gefseis also serves Greek dry wines, beer, brewed coffee, and ouzo, a Greek aperitif.
Gefseis Greek Grill, Urbiztondo Beach, Urbiztondo, San Juan, 2514 La Union
Clean Beach
Digital nomads who want a co-working space where they can hang out for the day might want to check out the solar-powered Clean Beach. This pet-friendly, self-service beachfront cafe offers coffee, meals, and snacks you can enjoy throughout the day. As a way to get tourists to keep the beach litter-free, Clean Beach offers free drinks to those who participate in a beach cleanup.
For vegans, the must-try food option here is a Vegan Burger, an all-veggie patty burger with a side of kamote fries, so you can get a filling meal without feeling too heavy. You can also opt to swap the milk in coffee with dairy-free options like soy milk, macadamia milk, hazelnut milk, or oat milk, for an additional cost.
Clean Beach also serves a few local beers, including Sims & Fots craft beer, which makes use of fresh tropical fruits, grapefruit, lychee and zest flavors with a clean wheat ale.
Clean Beach. Urbiz Garden Bed & Breakfast, 134 MacArthur Highway, Beachfront Collective, Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union. Open Monday to Thursday and Sunday from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Friday to Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Seabuds
Located inside the San Juan Surf Resort property, Seabuds is a cafe that specializes in plant-based smoothie bowls, smoothies, rice meals, sandwiches, juices, sourdough toasts, desserts, and more. This cafe has a good selection of vegan sandwiches like Beetroot Hummus, Pesto, Mushroom and Garlic, and plant-based rice meals served with tofu scramble and garlic brown rice. They also have delicious homemade pastries like vegan cookies, vegan banana bread, peanut butter cups, banana popsicles, and coffee drinks that make use of oat milk.
Seabuds, San Juan Surf Resort. 238 Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union. Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Seawadeeka
Seawadeeka serves a mix of Indonesian, Thai, Malaysian, Singaporean, and Vietnamese cuisine, including laksa, pad thai, and curry.
While not all dishes can be veganized, there are some options for vegetarians including the Tofu Curry and Bahn Mi with mushrooms instead of meat as the main filling. For drinks, try their Thai Milk Tea.
Seawadeeka, Manila North Rd, San Juan, La Union. Open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Tipple & Brew
If you’re not into the noisy drinking scene and just want a quiet spot to drink, Tipple and Brew Resto Bar is a quaint resto bar along the main highway that serves a variety of food and craft beer options. This bar carries craft beers from Engkanto Brewery and flavored craft beers on the sweeter side from Happy Hour, including the vegan-friendly Peach Summer Ale and Passionfruit Summer Ale that you can pair with simple bar chow like french fries.
Tipple & Brew, Urbiztondo Rd, San Juan, La Union. Open Monday to Thursday from 12:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and from Friday to Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Port San Juan
While we didn’t get to try the food stalls here, we couldn’t help but notice the huge food hub Port San Juan along the main road. This newly opened spot brings different food concepts under one roof. One of the new stalls here is Bebo’s Bombay Burritos, which serves Indian street food like Keema nachos and tikka nachos.
You can also enjoy everything from dumplings, to baked truffle oysters, inasal, and more at the stalls for the ultimate food trip.
Flotsam & Jetsam
For those looking for a party place to unwind at night with friends, Flotsam & Jetsam seems to be the most buzzing spot. The restaurant serves pizza, rice meals, makai bowls, and more, though most visitors come here to drink beer and cocktails. Flotsam carries craft beers from Engkanto Brewery and other local and international beers.
It can be hard to get a table with all the crowd, so if you want to just try the food, try visiting in the afternoons.
Funky Quarters
Funky Quarters is an alternative boutique hotel/hostel that celebrates art, music, and surf also runs a bar that specializes in cocktails and street tacos. Funky Quarters offers Tacos and Burrito Plates with that can be modified with mushrooms for vegans, served with chimichuri and sambal sauce. They also have a deep-fried squash flower bar chow.
Look out for Funky Monkey, a Belgian wheat ale exclusively brewed for the bar by Monkey Eagle Brewery. Other must-tries include Summer Slice, an easy refreshing Kölsch-style beer brewed with fresh watermelon, and Daydream, a light and sessionable pale ale.
Funky Quarters, Brgy. Urbiztondo, MacArthur Hwy, San Juan, La Union. Open Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., Sunday to Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.