My family and I grew up appreciating Pinoy food from Barrio Fiesta. It’s one of the local restaurants that we frequent for much needed comfort foods like Kare-Kare, Crispy Pata and other native dishes.
It’s good to know that the 3rd generation members of the Barrio Fiesta restaurant chain brought out innovation in introducing IBAYO, a bistro style food place that’s so true to Barrio Fiesta’s classic taste done with a modern twist.
IBAYO, literally meaning, “the next town,” offers new and exciting line of signature food and cocktail redefining the classic Filipino dining experience.
clockwise : My 5-year-old son, Gabby enjoying his Ripe Mango shake, fellow blogger-friend, Elna’s Sago’t gulaman fish bowl, and my glass of Four Seasons. (see menu at the end of the post for cocktail bar list).
21 July 2010, Wednesday 7PM. –I was one of the invited guests who graced IBAYO’s bloggers’ night. And since I’m stretching and literally counting my days before I go to my new work place in Penang, Malaysia next week, I maximized the event by enjoying it with my kid.
Upon seeing some familiar faces, Gabby and I sat down with Elna and her sister, Che. It was fun meeting the faces behind the blogs I follow. Soon after our acquaintance, the introduction to Ibayo and the people behind it was done. Then, they announced that it’ll be an ORDER-WHAT-YOU-WANT dinner. It sounded like music to our ears! LOL! 
Take a peek at some of those dishes we feasted last night.
After browsing the menu, I spotted immediately dishes I favored. One of them was Mama Chit’s special.
MAMA CHIT’s SPECIAL : A feast in a bilao as how their beloved Mama Chit would prepare it. A mini fiesta in itself.
CRISPY PATA, anyone? Forget hyperlipidemia while you indulge once in a while, LOL!
clockwise : Ibayo Firesticks (zesty jalapeno & cheese rolled up and lightly fried to a spicy, exciting challenging appetizer), Paella Negra (paella cooked in squid ink), Pinoy version of escargot a.k.a. Ginataang Suso, and a personal favorite, Seafood Kare-Kare (mussels, crabs, shrimps, and fish fillet and veggies simmered in creamy peanut butter sauce).
Among the native delicacies perfect for dessert or merienda, I chose another favorite, Maja Blanca. Their version doesn’t disappoint; I like it.
Gabby had his bowl of Special Halo-halo that he didn’t finish because the serving is huge for his appetite.
All in all, I appreciate people behind IBAYO for being so brave on trying to reinvent a Barrio Fiesta’s tradition. Ibayo is highly competitive with the other food places that offer Filipino cuisines. Foods on the menu are great and reasonably priced. Service is surprisingly quick. Staff is accomodating and friendly.
Two thumbs up for Ibayo!
For more details on Ibayo, visit my other blog, Docgelo’s Eyes
Ibayo is located at Bldg G Unit 7-8, San Miguel By the Bay, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City.
Special thanks to the owners of Ibayo, Mr. Ramon, Tyrone and Tristan Ongpauco and and to Ms. Abigail Delos Santos and Eventus Kinetix for the invite.
Click each menu to enlarge.
wow, ang bilis, sakin iniisip ko pa lang (“,)
fave ko din po yung seafood kare-kare…
nagtry din po kami nung cocktails masarap po yung Ibayo Sunset.
nice seeing you and gabby…
again, thanks doc!
ang bilis. salamat nga pala sa invite kaya lang dami kong pending na kailangan tapusin kaya hindi na rin nakapunta. barrio fiesta pa naman ang mother company. kare kare at bagnet malamang ang magiging paborito ko.
Ang galing, yummy treats talaga! Pinoy na Pinoy, I bet you’ll miss this when you’re abroad.
wow! barrio fiesta’s kare-kare is the best!
Nakakagutom! Yun pala ang meaning ng Ibayo. I also heard of Ilaya during my younger years. I wonder what that means.
wala pa rin tatalo sa filipino food! yum!!!
cripsy pata at kare kare naiisip ko pag sinabing barrio fiesta. sayang di ako pwede. thank you doc and marian. lam nyo na kung saan.
I received an invite to this, but wasn’t able to go! Too many office deadlines before I go on leave tomorrow. T_T
.. sarap naman! i just had lunch at barrio fiesta last sunday and ordered seafood kare-kare and pinakbet at nakaubos din ako ng isang ‘fishbowl’ na sago’t gulaman!
wow iba na talaga ang sikat at panay ang tanggap lang ng mga invitation hehehe, grabe natakam ako sa mga pagkain! Parang ang sarap itry yun Ibayo na yan and I like the name “ibayo” hehehe as in tagalog na tagalog, bale ito ba ang other side ng barrio fiesta, kaya ibayo?? Malapit na kaming umuwi dyan sa PInas ita-try ko yun mga resto na pinost mo dito Doc hehehe sana matry ko rin itong “ibayo”
im dead tired kaya di ako nagising. promising pa naman yang ibayo..
nextime! thanks sa invite!
ps- isama na si gaby bukas! papapicture lang ako sa sikat na bata na yan..
wow sarap ng food hayyy sayang talaga. sana meron pa ulit :p
i’ll surely visit the place.
thanks for sharing.
Many thanks Doc Gelo for the kind words and quick review. Very happy to know that you and Gabby enjoyed your time at Ibayo! Good luck with the new work place and hope to see you again before you leave. Cheers!
Wow! That looks like a feast. When I used to eat meat, I loved Barrio Fiesta’s crispy pata. And that maja blanca has made me crave it. I may ask a friend to make me a batch
What are your plans for the weekend?
Thanks for visiting Norwich Daily Photo and leaving your comment. Come visit again tomorrow!
doc gelo, magsama naman kayo minsan! hahaha!
)
swerte talaga ni gabby, laging busog! ^_^
shucks. ang yummy!
maliban ke tina at gabby tong mga blogger events with food na ito tyak miss mo sa malaysia.
kakainggit.
I bought a voucher from Ensogo covering a meal at
Barrio Fiesta SM Mall of Asia – Ibayo By Barrio Fiesta.
I went there last night with a friend, This was February 16. 2013.
On the front door of Ibayo restaurant in MOA was a text posted saying
“Vouchers cannot be used for the date” due to the MOA Fireworks display.
We started arguing that we were never told this when the voucher was purchased.
On the Ensogo website it clearly stated that the blocked dates were as follows:
Redemption period: February 11, 2013 to August 11, 2013 except on February 14, 2013.
When we tried asking for a work around to this one of the waiters started arguing with us and was angry at a certain point. I justified that its frustrating as a paying customer to be told I could not eat at a place that was already paid for. I also told him, that their notice was posted only on their door and not anywhere online where our food vouchers were bought so there as literally no way for us to know that we could not dine in at that date.
He got angry and said that we never paid ibayo anything and if we liked we could go elsewhere he started raising his voice to us.
I asked why were were not allowed to dine in and he said becuase Mall of Asia had a fireworks display and only VIP customers of MOA were allowed in to see the ibayo view facing the fireworks. Then I told him that we had VIP tickets to the same fireworks display so logically that defeated the purposed of blocking us from the restaurant.
I asked him to call a manager so we could think of a reasonable work around and he declined repeatedly and started treating us very untowardly, there was also another Mother who was trying to use her vouchers at the time and she spent thousands on 5 vouchers only to find the same experience awaited here.
The staff was not accomodating, rude a most points, and denied us of the time to talk to their manager for an intelligible work around.
I hope there is something we can do to prevent this from happening to more and more customers.
That show is going to run every saturday until end of march and there is a chance we are not the last of those who will go through this.
Thank you very much for your time.
Thank you.
Hello Arni,
I’m sorry to know your experience with this restaurant.
I wish the owners would read this and do the needful.