Lengua, Cochinillo, Callos and Canonigo at the Alba Restaurante Espanol's Daily Lunch and Dinner Buffet

Lengua, cochinillo, callos and canonigo, the delectable quartet of all-time favorites at Alba Restaurante Espanol. And you can have as much as you want and come back for more...

The name Alba is synonymous with authentic Spanish cuisine, an iconic institution loved for generations since the day it opened back in 1952. With its fifth branch now open at Estancia Mall in Capitol Commons, Alba Restaurante Espanol takes you back on a nostalgic culinary journey with their signature dishes of Lengua, Cochinillo, Callos and Canonigo and so much more with their daily Lunch and Dinner Buffet (for more on Alba Restaurante Espanol at Estancia Mall in Capitol Commons, see my post, Reunirse: Alba Restaurante Espanol Opens at Estancia Mall).

At Alba Restaurante Espanol's newest branch in Capitol Commons' Estancia Mall, you can enjoy a sumptuous Buffet offered daily for Lunch (P 875 net) or Dinner (P 935 net). The Buffet is also offered daily at the Prism and Tomas Morato branches, Saturdays and Sundays at Westgate Alabang and Sundays at Polaris in Makati.  

Now managed by the family's second generation, Don Anastacio de Alba's culinary legacy is lovingly preserved at Alba Restaurante Espanol. And this is immediately evident with their wide range of tasty starters, from their homemade Chorizo and Albondigas de Vaca...

...to Tortilla Espanola, asparagus, mushrooms and a variety of charcuterie and cold cuts. At Alba Restaurante Espanol, a sumptuous meal always starts with their signature Tapas Frias and Tapas Calientes.

And for the mains, the all-time favorites that built Alba Restaurante Espanol fill the plate...

...with the Cochinillo Asado, whole roasted suckling pig with tender and juicy pork capped by a lightly crisp layer of crackling. The pork delivers a savory richness with just a hint of sweetness contrasting with the richly seasoned notes of the crackling. Great even without the sauce, the flavors are clean and the crackling is perfectly crisp. It's flavors like these that make Alba Restaurante Espanol special, masterfully recreated and passed down from Don Anastacio de Alba to the second generation. 

Continue your feast of nostalgic flavors with the Lengua Sevillana, stewed ox-tongue that melts in your mouth followed by the nutty notes of mushrooms in a rich gravy. One bite immediately triggers so many memorable dining experiences at Alba, becoming a part of so many stories that have shaped and strengthened ties with friends and family. That's what dining at Alba's is all about. And the buffet is regularly replenished with these signature dishes, so there's no need to rush.

But it's the Callos a la Madrilena that had me coming back for seconds. And thirds. The stewed ox-tripe with its butter-like texture draped in a rich sauce draws inspiration from the founder's roots, preserving a culinary legacy firmly embedded in our own heritage through a shared history.

That distinctive "sticky" texture of the sauce enriched by the ox tripe and tender beef gives this dish an elegant savory finish that lingers long after the first bite. It's callos executed in a rustic and traditional manner, and Don Anastacio wouldn't have it any other way. Go ahead and have another bowl...

For dessert, have a big slice of Alba's Leche Flan, an indulgent custard one never tires of no matter how many times you come back for it...

...and the Canonigo, a decadent fluffy meringue covered in a sinful vanilla custard sauce to complete my quartet of all-time favorites at Alba. The deceptively light as a feather finish of the traditional dessert gives it a unique texture, coating your palate with a lavish richness like no other. 

Seconds? Absolutely. And you can do exactly that with Lengua, Cochinillo, Callos, Canonigo and more at Alba Restaurante Espanol's Lunch and Dinner Buffet at Estancia Mall. But better call for a reservation, and come hungry...