Mommy Eichel: The Legendary Lydia's Lechon

A blessing came and we were able to book our Cebu trip for my birthday this coming November 28. After planning and finalizing our itineraries, one crazy thing happened - we craved for Lechon! Just in time when another blessing poured in when we received an invite from Lydia's Lechon, the best tasting and well-loved lechon in the Philippines.

This November 5, 2015 they will be celebrating their 50th Year Anniversary. Yes dear, 50 years of lechon goodness. Wow! I remember when I was a kid when my lolo and lola treats us to a sumptuous lunch after hearing a mass at Baclaran Church. Those were one of my happy childhood days. Even now that I have my own family, Lydia's Lechon still has a special place in my heart and stomach (wink!). My hubby also loves their tasty and not-so-fatty lechon and that is why Lydia's Lechon in Baclaran became part of our food trip during our dating stage and still up to now that we have our baby love Skye! #MulaNoonHanggangNgayon

Every time we long for the crackling skin and the tasty and juicy lechon, we would go directly to Lydia's Lechon's holy branch in Baclaran (wink!)

Celebrating 50 years in the business is a great milestone. And behind those successful years is the iron woman herself, Mrs. Lydia de Roca together with her supportive husband Mr. Benigno De Roca. Nanay Lydia's strong personality, faith and determination helped them from their humble beginnings.

During our conversation, I learned how they started their career in the Lechon business way back in 1965 with just Php 500 as their starting capital and that money came from their second son's pakimkim. They opened their first retail stall outside the Our Lady of Sorrows Church in F.B. Harrison St. Pasay City. Word of mouth began to spread because of the quality and freshness of their tasty lechon. With the initial success of their retail stall, they opened the iconic and first self-service restaurant in service road of Roxas Blvd., Baclaran in 1986 in which they gain more patrons. The couple thought of having a lechon with a twist, hence, the lechon stuffed with paella was born and became a hit.

In their humble retail stall, they only used a small table and under that table was where she puts and takes care of her first son, Darly. She will cover the table with a karton so people will not see that there's a baby underneath that table where Nanay Lydia chops her lechon. Time came when Hyatt Regency Hotel asked her to be their lechon supplier and she willingly accepted the offer not knowing where to get a big capital. But, the high-spirited Nanay Lydia did everything and gave it a shot until other 5-star hotels and famous restaurants became her constant customers up until now like Solaire and Resorts World. Mr. Henry Sy, who was one of her patrons also offered him to open an outlet in SM malls. "Diskarte ang kailangan mo para ka mabuhay" she said. Up to now, Nanay Lydia is still hands on in her business and a very helpful and down-to-earth person. I truly admire her passion, dedication and her generosity (not to mention her hilarious side hihi!). Nanay Lydia is also a philanthropist by nature. She has a soft heart for those people in need and she noted "Alam ko kung ano ang pakiramdam ng wala, dahil nanggaling din ako dun" and true enough, once you share your blessings, it will all come back to you a hundredfold time. Now, with their hard-earned success, they already have different branches in Metro Manila and Cavite. You may visit them near your area.

Baclaran Main Branch

Address: 551 Service Road, Roxas Blvd. Baclaran, Parañaque Metro Manila

Telephone No.(+632) 851-2987, 851-2988, 851-2989

Fax No.(+632) 854-9103

Timog Branch

Address: 126 Timog Avenue, Quezon City

Telephone No.(+632) 921-1221

TeleFax No.(+632) 924-4192

Roces Branch

Address: 49-A Roces Avenue, Corner Scout Reyes, Q.C. Metro Manila, Philippines

Telephone No. (+632) 376-5173, 376-1818

TeleFax No. (+632) 376-9016

Marcos Highway Branch

Address: 24 Marcos Hiway Corner Pambuli Street, Marikina City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Telephone No. (+632) 682-8927

TeleFax No. (+632) 646-0871

Pasig Branch

Address: E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue Corner C.J. Caparas St., Brgy. Ugong, Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Telephone No. (+632) 671-9023

Fax No. (+632) 671-9053

Commonwealth Branch

Address: 77 Fairview Avenue, Fairview Subdivision, Quezon City

Telephone No. (+632) 937-2369

TeleFax No. (+632) 935-5095

Retiro Branch

Address: 101-A "R" Place Building N.S. Amoranto Sr. Avenue Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines

TeleFax: (+632)354-5703

Visayas Branch

Address: Visayas Avenue near Tandang Sora Quezon City, Metro Manila

Cash & Carry Branch

Address: 20 Filmore St., Palanan, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines

TeleFax No. (+632) 475-7558

BF Aguirre Branch

Address: 312 Aguirre Avenue, Phase 3 BF Homes, Paranaque City Metro Manila, Philippines

TeleFax No. (+632) 450-0801

SM FOOD COURT OUTLETS:

SM Taytay

SM Food Court, FS#4 SM City Taytay, Manila East Road, Dolores Taytay, Rizal, Philippines

TeleFax No. (+632) 661-2249

SM Megamall

SM Food Court, Julia Vargas Ave., Corner EDSA, Mandaluyong City Metro Manila, Philippines

TeleFax No. (+632) 633-4966

SM North Edsa

SM Food Court, North Avenue Corner EDSA, Quezon City Metro Manila, Philippines

TeleFax No. (+632) 926-1620

SM Manila

SM Food Court, Concepcion St., Cor. Arroceros St., Ermita, Manila, Philippines

TeleFax No. (+632) 400-9408

SM San Lazaro

SM Food Court, Felix Huertas St., Corner Lacson Ave., Sta. Cruz, Manila, Philippines

TeleFax No. (+632) 353-2637

SM Fairview

SM Food Court, Quirino Highway, Corner Regalado Ave., Novaliches, Q.C. Metro Manila, Philippine

TeleFax No. (+632) 939-5743

SM Muntinlupa

SM Food Court, National Road, Tunasan, Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, Philippines

TeleFax No. (+632) 659-1669

SM Sucat

SM Food Court, New Sucat Road, San Dionisio Sucat, Parañaque Metro Manila, Philippines

TeleFax No.(+632) 829-4460

SM Bacoor

SM Food Court, Aguinaldo Hi-way Corner Terona, Bacoor Cavite Philippines

TeleFax No. (+632) 046-417-2967

SM Southmall

SM Food Court, Alabang Zapote Road, SM Southmall Alabang Metro Manila, Philippines

TeleFax No. (632) 840-1833

SM Dasma

SM Food Court, FS#1 SM CITY, Governor's Drive Brgy. Sampaloc I, Dasmariñas Cavite

TeleFax No. (632) 046-41664454

LANDMARK FOOD COURT OUTLET:

Landmark Trinoma

Landmark Trinoma Food Court, Food Stall Pag-asa, #10 Upper Basement Brgy. Bagong Quezon City

TeleFax No. (+632) 373-2114

Landmark Makati

Landmark Makati Food Court, Food Stall # 14, Ayala Center, Makati Avenue, Makati City

TeleFax No.: (632)808-4701

168 MALL OUTLET

3rd Floor 168 Shopping Mall, Sta. Elena St., Binondo, Manila

TeleFax (+632)254-1907

KIOSK OUTLETS:

Las Piñas

Real St., Zapote Alabang, Las Piñas Metro Manila, Philippines

TeleFax No. (+632)882-6358

Molino

678 Molino Boulevard, Molino Philippines

Mobile No. +63 922 842-2252

Lydia's Lechon restaurant has delectable and truly fresh and satisfying Pinoy dishes to choose from. We really enjoyed every single bite during our lunch feast.

Seafood Paella

Sweet and Sour Maya-Maya

Chopsuey

Korean Beef Stew

Laing

Beef Mechado

They also have their own Pinoy delicacies such as cashew, pili nuts, tart, turones, polvoron, and chicharon.

Lydia's Lechon has their own brand of soy sauce, vinegar, fish sauce, liquid seasoning and lechon sauce. All in a plastic and bottle containers ready to use for cooking.

The iconic Lydia's Lechon in Baclaran is now newly renovated with a modern look with lots of beautiful changes in the interior. And with the request of their patrons, they will be putting air-conditioning units for a more comfortable dining experience.