Mila’s Tokwa’t Baboy in Pampanga sees customer surge after Michelin recognition

A steady stream of customers is now flocking to Mila’s Tokwa’t Baboy in Barangay Sto. Domingo, Angeles City, following its inclusion in the Michelin Guide Philippines 2027 as a Michelin Selected establishment.

On Monday, the restaurant was packed, with vehicles filling the parking area and customers waiting outside for available seats. Restaurant staff said the number of diners has nearly doubled since the Michelin recognition.

“Dumoble po. ‘Yung iba naghihintay sa labas,” said Edna Sinamban, a staff member of Mila’s Tokwa’t Baboy.

From a modest sari-sari store in 1987, Mila’s has grown into one of Pampanga’s well-known food destinations. 

The business was established by married couple Milagros “Mila” and Ruben “Ben” Gomez, who initially sold refreshments before expanding their offerings to include dishes that customers could enjoy as pulutan.

“I started with just a little. At first, it was only tokwa. Eventually, I thought of adding more dishes. The place was small back then, just a sari-sari store. Business was slow, so I decided to start this,” Mila Gomez recalled.

What began as a simple tokwa dish eventually developed into the restaurant’s signature tokwa’t baboy. It features crispy tofu, pork ears, onions and celery, served with a tangy soy sauce and vinegar dip. Other customer favorites include sisig and chicharon bulaklak.

The restaurant’s growing popularity has also drawn diners from outside Pampanga.

Beth Robles and her family traveled from Bulacan to try Mila’s after her son recommended the restaurant.

Meanwhile, Pie and her relatives, who came all the way from Cebu, made a stop at the restaurant before heading home. They said the food lived up to its Michelin Selected recognition.

Mila’s is not the only Pampanga establishment included in the latest Michelin Guide. Souq in the City of San Fernando was also named a Michelin Selected restaurant, while Apag Marangle in Guagua and Tito Boy’s Restaurant in Clark received the Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction.

For Provincial Tourism Officer Mike Castañeda, the recognition is a source of pride for Kapampangans and further highlights the quality of the province’s local cuisine.

“Sobrang napakasaya at napaka-proud natin para sa ating mga kapwa Kapampangan, ang ating mga kabalen na mapabilang sa Michelin Guide dahil ito ay isa na namang patunay na napakasarap, de kalidad, malinis at maayos ang lutong Kapampangan. Naka-embed sa bawat lutong Kapampangan ang ating kultura at tradisyon na kanilang iniaalok sa bawat kumakain dito,” Castañeda said.