UPDATE: Totong has passed away and not his children run Totongs. I do not know if it is as good since I haven’t tried it after he passes away.
There is an on going debate on which lechon (roast suckling pig) is better, Cebu or Iligan/CDO. I still stand by this: The best lechon is from Iligan and Cagayan de Oro (since it’s my blog I can say so heehee).
Ultimately it boils down to your lechonero (the guy who makes it for you). And ever since I can remember, all our family parties, weddings and even homecomings have been celebrate with lechon from Totongs.
If you are in CDO or Iligan, you MUST try lechon. It will be one of the most unforgettable gastronomic experiences of your life. My friend from Cebu told me that despite being Cebuana she admits that the BEST lechon she has ever tasted was from Iligan. It’s so good you don’t need any sauce to go with it. (Though Pinakurat can take it to the next level too!)
It’s in the outskirts of Cagayan de Oro, on the way to Iligan City. It’s not a restaurant. You can call to order, but usually we like to drop by ourselves and choose the pig. We always pick a small one (it’s more succulent than the bigger pigs) that is lean (if it’s fat it’s sorta gross to eat).
Keep your eyes peeled for this or you might miss it. The sign is so old, a bit faded and under the the shade of a big tree.
So if you are in the CDO or Iligan Area, you should ask around for Totongs Lechon. They also know how to pack it so well if you are bringing it to Manila that the skin remains crunchy. Best to eat the moment you arrive.
Try any of the numbers below for Totongs. I got it from my sister but she isn’t sure which one is the current one. If you are able to get in touch, I would love to know which numbers work. Thanks!
0906 – 1725794 • 0926 – 1000 735 • 0920 – 3425245
Related reads:
Other lechon options in Iligan | Our Awesome Planet
Iligan’s Spicy Pinakurat – the perfect pair to lechon!
can you enter your contact number pleas
is there contact number?
thank you so much sir …
totong baa and family
Our family is a loyal customer of Totong’s lechon. No one can refuse on their lechon because it is very tasty and most is the crispness in it. You must try to visit their place and order some because it’s all worth it.
I totally agree, Stella! That is still how we order our lechon… a family member goes and chooses the pig personally. Btw I would be really grateful if you could confirm… is their contact number still the same? I would love to get an updated one.
Iligan’s lechon is one of the best I’ve ever tasted! Especially lechon Bayug. There’s something different about the version from Iligan.