La Union is one of the top destinations for weekend road trips, with the food scene just as exciting as the surf scene.
If you’re looking for a unique pit stop, you might want to check out Don Segundo House of Antiques & Restaurant in the town of Luna, five minutes away from the Baluarte Watch Tower. This antique house, events venue, and restaurant serves delicious and affordable family-style Filipino food with a dose of old-school nostalgia.
Don Segundo was originally a private home that reflected the owner’s passion for collecting antiques. It eventually became a venue for rustic and vintage-themed filming and photo shoots, and in late 2019, two fresh graduates Heidee and Mary Ann (the youngest daughter of the owner), decided to add a restaurant on the premises.
There’s a small scrapyard-style garden in front of an old country house with a few vintage bicycles, motorcycles, an old car, and a rusting barn truck. The house is like a mini-museum of the family’s personal collections, with a display of vintage cameras, knives, typewriters, and loads more. Tourists can enter for a minimal fee of P10.
Right next door is the diner-styled al fresco area that can accommodate larger groups for events and private gatherings.
The classic black and white checked floor, pit stop memorabilia, old license plates, neon signs, and classic motorcycles on display provide a fitting space for road trippers and motorcycle groups who want to relax after the long drive from Manila to La Union. In one corner, you can spot a red and black 1972 Volkswagen Beetle that the owner personally restored.
A lush garden area shaded by trees also provides a spot to relax and unwind over coffee.
It can be challenging for groups with multiple vehicles to find parking spaces along La Union’s busy highway because of the traffic. Since Don Segundo is in a quieter area, it doesn’t get as crowded here. Our #NLEXLakbayNorte media group, which consisted of a convoy of five Mitsubishi Xpanders and a van, was able to park right outside the restaurant with no hitches.
Aside from curious tourists, the restaurant is a favorite among locals. We got to try a few Ilocano specialties and Filipino staples and loved everything we sampled.
The kare-kare hit a home run with its good ratio of vegetables to meat and thick sauce. The presentation, with steamed vegetables and meat laid neatly on top and sprinkled with bits of peanuts, made this comfort dish look even more appetizing.
I’ve been trying to avoid eating pork, but couldn’t resist digging into their traditional dinakdakan, since it’s hard to find good versions of this in Manila restos. This Ilocano delicacy made with grilled pork parts dressed in calamansi and chili peppers, earned rave reviews from companions at the table. They also serve a crispy version of this which makes use of bagnet-style slices for that extra crunch.
The pigar-pigar, a popular street food from Pangasinan was another winner. The thin slices of marinated meat, sauteed with fresh onion and cabbage were tender and the flavor wasn’t too salty or overseasoned.
Other dishes included bulalo and bar chow favorites, sizzling pork sisig and sizzling tofu sisig, all of which got the group’s stamp of approval. This is the type of food that will have you ordering extra rice.
Dishes were inexpensive for their quality, with solo rice meals all under P120, pulutan picks good for 2-3 pax each ranging from P95 to P210, and main dishes priced at P270. Judging by the empty serving bowls and clean plates, everyone was immensely satisfied with the meal.
In case you’re planning a road trip to La Union and are in the mood for Filipino comfort food, Don Segundo House of Antiques & Restaurant is worth a pit stop.
Aside from the restaurant and antique house, they also offer transient rooms for rent and grounds for camping and bonfires (for adventurous moto-campers and bikepackers). But after that hearty meal, I was glad to be a passenger princess in the air-conditioned comfort of Mitsubishi Xpander’s backseat to snooze on our way to the next destination.
Don Segundo House of Antiques & Restaurant is located along Resurreccion St, Luna, La Union. They are open every day from 9:00 am-9:00 pm. For inquiries, visit their Facebook page or contact 0908-3691522.
More photos of the Don Segundo House of Antiques & Restaurant in La Union:
