With the decision to become a vegetarian comes the acceptance that there are some foods that I love that I will never be able to eat again. One of them is the Ilocos empanada, a half-moon-shaped, deep-fried pastry with meat, veggies, and egg fillings. I still remember the best Ilocos empanada I’ve ever tasted; I bought it from a small stall near a bus station in Laoag.

On my recent trip to La Union, my friends and I discovered a vegan restaurant that offers a plant-based option of this pastry, which they aptly named veganada. So see, my fellow vegetarians, all hope is not lost. This vegan empanada is available at Kape de Arko.

ℹ️ Kape de Arko quick information

📍Address: MacArthur National Highway, 2514 Ili Sur, San Juan, La Union, Philippines
🕑 Store hours: Open Mon-Fri, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | Sat, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
💰 Price range: USD 0.87-3.50 (PHP 50-250)
🍴What to order: Veganada

📍Kape de Arko location

Within old church ruins on gravel-covered grounds lay Kape de Arko, a vegan cafe along the national highway in the municipality of San Juan. The ambiance is rustic and has its charms.

Kape de Arko is located in San Juan, La Union. You may take any bus that plies the Manila-La Union route to get there from Manila.

When I traveled solo to La Union, I went to the Partas bus terminal in Pasay (note that they also have a terminal in Cubao).

Take the bus that goes to San Fernando, La Union. The fare rate ranges from USD 10 to 15 (PHP 600-850). The travel time takes about 5 to 7 hours, depending on the traffic situation.

Once you get there, you can take a tricycle to Kape de Arko.

🥯 Kape de Arko food

Veganada

Price: USD 0.90 (PHP 50)

Since everything on their menu is plant-based, my only dilemma was choosing which dish to order. I started with the Veganada made with monggo, squash, and papaya. The taste reminded me a lot of samosas, a famous Indian pastry. The dough was thick and a bit tough, so I struggled to cut it in half. It was pretty filling that by the time they served my kornbiflog, I was already full.

Kornbiflog

Kornbiflog is Kape de Arko’s plant-based take on cornbeefsilog (corned beef, fried rice, and sunny-side-up egg).

Stirfry canton noodles

Apart from individual orders, we shared a plate of Stir-fried canton noodles made with cabbage, monggo sprout, carrots, nuts, and sugar-glazed coconut shreds.

My friends also ordered Vevengka avocado and Marinara pasta (USD 3.24 – PHP 180).