Bale Dutung

I had a pleasant dining experience, especially with the warm hospitality of one of the managers or owners (not entirely sure). I tried their Kapampangan tasting menu, which was also my first time experiencing a tasting menu. Each dish was personally presented and explained by the chef, adding a thoughtful and intimate touch to the meal. I think this tasting menu serves as an excellent introduction to Kapampangan cuisine, especially for non-Kapampangan foodies eager to explore its rich flavors and culinary heritage.

Bale Dutung is more than just a restaurant; it's a culinary experience. The food is absolutely divine, with each dish bursting with authentic Kapampangan flavors. Don't miss their iconic lechon kawali and sisig, their delectable caldereta and seafood kare-kare, and their melt-in-your-mouth tibok-tibok. The ambiance is cozy and inviting, making it the perfect place for a special occasion or a casual dinner. The service is top-notch, and the staff is attentive and knowledgeable. If you're looking for a truly memorable dining experience, Bale Dutung is the place to go. #BaleDutung #KapampanganCuisine #Foodie #FoodLover #CulinaryExperience

This was the best dining experience we had in Pampanga. If you want a taste of Pampanga, come here. Every sampler was good. What topped it off for me was the Tiboktibok dessert. It was soft, silky and delicious.

Staff are attentive and informative. Ambience was immersive. Food was innovative and creative. Repeat visits are worth it. We only haf the kapampangan menu and we want to go back again for the other menus.

Wish I had gone sooner! I had a great experience. Everyone was so nice and welcoming and the food... LOVE the food. Bigger portions compared to other tasting menus I've tried. I left completely full and I didn't even have rice! Thank you po. See you again next time.

Exceptional place - restaurant to go for a gourmet, local food. Very artistic atmosphere, professional chefs and staff. Amazing!

We were in Pampanga for a food crawl and Chef Claude is on the top list of the must visit restaurants! Definitely a 6 out of 5 stars! Dacal salamat po!

the rustic dining area opens to a serene garden- creating an ambience that encourages guests to eat in slow, relaxed manner. The chef explained each dish which, though seemingly a mere kapampangan staple, is given an interesting twist. Unlike most fusions though, Bale Dutung's versions are the best.

This restaurant looked to be a home turned to a restaurant made of all old wood. It's located in a residential community. That surprised me. There was only parking for 3 cars. Inside, they had a large long table for a big group and next to it a small pond and garden but no fish. Nicely decorated. It's like fine dining but out in the open; no AC especially, if it's hot. The ambience was nice for private parties. I believe you have to reserve per person here. It's not a regular restaurant you can just come to. They prepare the meal per person . The chef, I believe they are Kapampangan. Seems some famous people dine here so we were lucky to dine here. We were invited by family to this private luncheon at Bale Dutung in Angeles. I am sure it was expensive. It's about two hours from Manila. This restaurant is usually used for private party's or celebrations. The experience was nice and staff were very friendly and accommodating. As we received our dishes, the chef told us what it was we were eating. We had an eight course meal. The dishes were good and small portions but by the time we were done, I was very full! As for the food, I would rate it four stars. It's not your typical Filipino food I am used, to but I don't think I would eat like this again. I prefer the homemade style, and all at once and nothing fancy. That is just me. [17R, 2024]

The food is really good, delicious its just the portioning is really small. Gourmet eating if thats what you call it, if you are really hungry its not the place. The very good part that we like is your not rushing to eat you have all the time to catch up with ur family/ friends. You have to call and make a reservation,from Baguio going back to manila we were looking for a place to have a late lunch and we decided to go to Bale Dutung. The Wife of the Owner is really nice very entertaining and gave us the history of the place.They were so nice to let us just walk in and have lunch .

A showcase for Capampangan cuisine with a twist. BTW, it's Bale DUTUNG (wood). Claude manages to make familiar foods interesting by either pairing them with unexpected ingredients or by cooking them using French techniques ( adobo confit that was succulent and still crispy on the outside). His take on hito with balo-balo and mustard leaves mimics sushi. I could not stop eating the twice cooked lechon ( the meat was flaked and then deep fried). Love, love this place. It's too easy to take a restaurant like this for granted because we have so many good restaurants. This is a different experience altogether. It's like eating in your mom's house if your mom was a gourmet chef.

When we ate here for my dad's birthday, we almost couldn't find it. We were looking for a restaurant, but we were supposed to look for a house. Because that's basically what it is, a house with a dining area that functions as the restaurant. But calling it a restaurant might not be accurate, since Claude Tayag makes you feel like a personal guest rather than a customer. Conversations with him feel genuine compared to the small talk some chefs have during their rounds in their restaurants, and it really does feel like a home. The dining area is easy to move around in, and even large groups don't feel fragmented into inaccessible islands. There are various indigenous utensils all around the place, and the house itself looks like it belongs in a museum. Of course the restaurant should be judged by its food, and the innovative kapampangan cuisine feels familiar but unique. One of my favorite dishes there was an adobong quail, with the quail largely intact, and it's the kind of thing I'd want to have regularly at home.