When it comes to foodie destinations full of restaurants you won’t find anywhere else, the most popular one down south is arguably BF Homes. It’s home to the famous Aguirre Avenue, as well as the likes of Elizalde Avenue, Tropical Avenue, and El Grand Avenue, which have their fair share of restaurants and cafes.
As exciting as it is as a foodie destination, entering BF Homes is a lot easier said than done for many. Not only do you need to pay a toll fee (unless you pass through the service road), but you also have to deal with the village gates.
Like many private villages, some BF Homes gates are for residents only. Some, however, allow non-residents to pass through—provided they leave an ID, which can be a hassle for some.
Should this derail any plans to eat your way around BF Homes?
The answer is no. There’s a particular area of BF Homes that’s lined with restaurants and cafes, and the best part about it is you don’t need a sticker to get there—and it’s none other than President’s Avenue.
What’s open in time for breakfast?
Lining President’s Avenue are a number of restaurants and cafes to choose from. If you already happen to be in the area early in the morning, there’s no need to worry because there are restaurants and cafes that open for breakfast.
Of course, Pancake House and Conti’s are among the leading options for breakfast fare, but you can find those outside of BF Homes. If you want an option that does not have too many locations elsewhere, there’s Illo’s Home. Open from 7 a.m., Illo’s Home offers breakfast staples such as champorado, waffles, omelette, and even eggs benedict in a homey setting.
Another breakfast option is Olivia’s, which opened a BF Homes location that’s more accessible to those from the south compared to its Scout Lozano branch in Quezon City. Similar to Illo’s Home, Olivia’s opens at 7 a.m.
Olivia’s menu includes all-day breakfast options such as chicken tocino, egg croissant, and big breakfast plates that can either be American-themed or Filipino-themed.
Satisfying lunch and dinner options
As for restaurants that serve food you normally have for lunch and dinner, well-known options such as Shabunoki and Premier The Samgyupsal are located along President’s Avenue. Among those you’ll find only in BF Homes is Fritzza Pies, which serves artisanal sourdough pizza.
The menu has a lot of time-tested favorites that you find in any pizza shop, such as margherita, four cheese, and premium pepperoni. But if you want something different, go for the tofu sisig, which puts a twist on a Filipino classic.
If you’re craving Asian flavors, there’s Kopi Kaki, which serves Singaporean and Malaysian dishes. On the menu, you’ll find curry chicken laksa, fried Hainanese chicken chop, and nasi lemak, which comes in either pork or chicken. Of course, the menu is not complete without the famous toasts from our Southeast Asian neighbors, led by the kaya butter toast.
A sweet or caffeinated finish to your food trip
Cafes are also aplenty along President’s Avenue. Starbucks is probably the most popular option available, but just a short walk down the road from it is Amelia Bistro & Patisserie. Owned by the same couple who run Book & Cook in BGC, Amelia does serve lunch and dinner fare.
But what it’s more known for is its selection of pastries, which include different flavors of eclairs, mascarpone tiramisu, cream puffs, and pecan tarts.
Like Amelia, Afino Coffee is another cafe where you can enjoy a good meal as early as 7 a.m., but it’s the coffee that started it all. In fact, Afino started as a takeout counter where you can order drinks such as the rock salt latte, Spanish latte, matcha latte, and the Afino Signature Latte, which is actually a coconut latte.
Afino now occupies a bigger location that allows for dine-in customers, but another coffee shop has taken its previous takeout space. Funky Brewsters Coffee and its orange-themed facade are pretty easy to spot along President’s Avenue when you want to order lattes, frappes, and sea salt cream drinks to-go.
But if you wanna linger (and order some pizza from Fritzza Pies, which is only a few steps away), there are a few outdoor seats in the parking area.
Honorable mentions that can’t be left out
If you’re willing to brave the long lines and temporarily part with your ID just to get through the village gate, we’ve got a few recommendations to make the trip to Aguirre worth the effort.
The first is Flock Chicken Rice, which is near the intersection of Aguirre and Elizalde Avenue. It’s been the go-to for anyone who wants Hainanese Chicken Rice, and while the restaurant may be small in size, the food packs a whole lot of flavor.
Kumba, the Chef Tina Legarda-owned Asian restaurant included in the Michelin Bib Gourmand, is also a must-visit along Aguirre Avenue. Its sister restaurant, Bamba Bistro, can also be found along this famed restaurant-lined road.
And for matcha fans out there, here’s a bonus spot to check out. Oh Hey There Matcha Cafe calls Aguirre Avenue its home, and it’s where you can find fun, creative matcha drinks like banana pudding matcha latte, pistachio cream matcha latte, and matcha taho.