Laoag Shopping - What to Buy

Shopping in Laoag is the best way that you can take home some of the experiences you have just gone through. Fortunately there are several places you can go to buy both necessities and souvenirs.

When buying or shopping in Laoag, among the priority items in your list will be the food, as Ilocanos are renowned for their delicacies, including pinakbet (a special type of vegetable stew), longganisa, puqui-puqui (made up of eggplants, tomatoes and eggs) and local desserts like the bibingka.

One of the most popular places to purchase these items is the City Market in Laoag. As you buy local treats, do not forget to have some baradibud too, a tasty vegetable stew, and also their omelets, bagnet and the ever popular empanada.

Shopping in Laoag, of course, includes hunting down souvenir items, and one place where you can get local crafts at reasonable prices is the Sarusar, which is located in the Museo Ilocos Norte. Among the many products on display here are the locally made baskets, household decorations composed of sea shells and even shirts. Local food and seasonings, like bagoong and basi (wine) is also available.

If you want to go shopping in Laoag for some ceramics, a good place to drop by is Veronica Ceramics. The ceramics on sale here are made of fine terracotta and there are also other valuable products on sale including beautiful chimes, key holders, rings, ash trays and other souvenirs. These items are not only attractive and charming, but the low price at which they are sold makes the purchase even more enticing.

There are also malls where you can go shopping in Laoag. One of the most popular is SM City Laoag, a branch of the popular SM chain of stores. Here you can purchase virtually every necessity you may need, including clothes, cell phones, slippers, shoes and jewelries. There are also sections where you will be able to purchase toys, sporting apparel and paraphernalia, as well as souvenir items. It is not uncommon for this store to hold sales, so you can have these products at lower prices.

SM City Laoag also features an extensive range of electronic products, from computer software to audio CDs, DVDs, and stereo equipments. There are also several fast food centers where you can buy both locally produced food and imported goods as well.

Another crowd drawer is Robinsons, just located off the San Nicolas National Highway. Here you can conduct your shopping in Laoag with convenience. Fully air conditioned, you can buy garments, designer outfits, furniture and various appliances. The products here are a combination of both local and foreign merchandise so you can have your pick.

Another great thing about shopping at Robinsons Mall is that there are several restaurants and fast food joints nearby where you can eat. From cheeseburgers and fries to local food to sweet desserts like ice cream and cakes, the vast array of eateries in and around this area adds to the excitement and pleasure of shopping in Laoag.

The Metro Laoag Shopping Plaza is one of the finest examples of how shopping in Laoag has progressed. There are several shops located in the Plaza that offer different products and sells them at affordable prices. There are stores that sell cell phones and associated accessories, books, kitsch souvenirs, shoes, electronic equipment and more. There are also stores and shops where you can buy frozen food, from meat, chicken, vegetables and fish.

As tourism grows, so do the number of souvenir shops in Laoag, and the same can be said for the malls and department stores in the city, making it easier than ever to bring home the memories.