Finding Árang was almost accidental. I was searching for restaurants near the Bicol Airport for a quick post-recognition day lunch with the family, and this place came up — which made me chuckle a little because it’s nowhere near the new airport. Turns out it’s nestled right within the old airport area, along Barriada Road in Brgy. Gogon. Once I figured that out, getting there was easy enough. It sits on the ground floor of the BFD Building, right beside Kalayaan Park, and parking was the least of our worries — the building has its own spots, and the park next door has more than enough overflow.
We were a party of six, casually celebrating my nieces’ recognition day. Nothing grand, just a little treat from their uncle. The occasion called for something a step above the usual carinderia or mall food court — and Árang delivered that the moment we walked in.
The interior stops you for a second. It doesn’t feel like your typical Filipino casual restaurant. There’s a warmth to it — wood furnishings, thoughtful design, the kind of space where you can tell someone actually sat down and planned how it should feel, not just how it should look. It leans upscale without being intimidating. My only minor gripe was the temperature — we arrived around noon and while the ACs were running, it could’ve been a notch cooler for my taste.
We went straight for their Graduation Package A at ₱2,038 good for 4-5 pax, which included Pork Sisig, Pancit Canton Guisado, Rellenong Hipon, Sinigang na Salmon Belly, and a Steamed Rice Platter. But six hungry people and a table full of tempting menu options meant we didn’t stop there — we added a few extra orders because, well, why not.
The wait was around 20 to 30 minutes, but everything came out together, so I think they held the dishes until the full order was ready — reasonable enough.
Now, the food. Each dish had its own personality, which made it genuinely hard to pick a favorite.
The Pork Sisig was the confident opener — savory, tangy, and notably not spicy, which was perfect since the kids were eating with us. It wasn’t the sizzling-plate afterthought sisig you get at other places. This one felt intentional.
The Pancit Canton Guisado leaned salty for my palate — though I’ll admit that’s partly an age thing. The noodles had good chew, the aroma was that satisfying smoky-savory smell you get from high-heat cooking, and a squeeze of calamansi would’ve tied it all together nicely. If you like your pancit on the bolder, saltier side, this hits the mark.
The Rellenong Hipon was my first time trying it, and it surprised me. I expected the crunch of a shell — instead, it was closer to a ground seafood filling wrapped in a thin crispy layer, almost like a hipon version of lumpia. Dense, flavorful, and more substantial than plain fried shrimp. Unexpectedly satisfying.
The Sinigang na Salmon Belly hit differently for personal reasons. Having lived in Dubai where salmon belly was an affordable everyday cut, eating it here in the Philippines — where it’s genuinely expensive — felt like a small luxury. The broth was the star; I caught myself just slurping the sabaw. Clean, sour, comforting.
On the side, we ordered their signature Árang Fried Chicken. Honest take — it was good, but I’d place it somewhere in the middle of the pack compared to everything else we had that day. Nothing wrong with it, the kids absolutely loved it and it disappeared from the plate fast, but for me personally it didn’t quite reach the same high notes as the rest of the spread. Still a solid order, especially if you’re dining with younger ones.
Then there was the Chicharon Bulaklak — and this one genuinely caught me off guard. I’ve had versions elsewhere that are greasy, heavy, and leave your fingers shining for the rest of the afternoon. Árang’s version was none of that. It was deep-fried and coated in what I’m guessing was flour to get that satisfying crispiness, but it wasn’t oily and it wasn’t overwhelming. Light enough that you keep reaching for more. Now, I’ll be honest — I have a blood pressure issue and I knew I probably shouldn’t have touched it. I had four pieces anyway, dipped in vinegar. Zero regrets.
Service throughout was attentive and proactive, even with two other busy tables running alongside ours. The staff checked on us without hovering, which is the right balance.
Is it cheap? No. But you’re paying for quality — the food, the space, and the service all justify the price. Árang has officially made it onto my list of places I’ll be bringing friends visiting from abroad. It’s the kind of restaurant that makes Legazpi City easy to recommend.
Árang by BFD | 1F BFD Building, P-2 Brgy. Gogon, Barriada Road, Legazpi City 4500 | +63 968 624 5875 | sales.arangrestobar@gmail.com Dine-in and outdoor seating available.
