Cebuano Cuisine

The love for food can bring you to a journey of endless possibilities. Delicious food is a matter of personal choice and preference. However, the adventurous kind often discovers more than the usual new tastes and flavours of food, but also learns to appreciate the new cultures and ways of life of where the food was lovingly prepared.

Travel and food go hand in hand in many ways. When you travel to new places, there is the same exploration for the locals’ delicacies and food staples. Discovering new food is indeed like finding a secret treasure you are bound to share because of its goodness. Travelling brings that wonderful excitement, as food adventures offer the same warm and exhilarating feel.

Food prepared in the islands are often embraced by many tourists especially those living in the mainland. The food preparation alone for island foods is an extraordinary treat and a unique experience. The flavourful and tingling aroma of unusual mixes of herbs and spices leave the tourist or any local wanting to devour any well-prepared dish cooked in the islands.

There are times when dining predictable places can be a boring routine. If you are looking for exotic and different places to fulfil that adventurous streak, then why not try one of the following out-of-the-ordinary places of Cebu dining.

You have not felt Cebu if you have not eaten in Larsian Fuente Osmeña. Amidst the smoke-filled dining area of the place, one can enjoy the cheap grilled food available 24 hours of the day. If you are on a budget and want the sweet-style barbecue pork or chicken, you will definitely find Larsian the place to be. Unfortunately, the place is very public and may not be suitable for people who may be bringing precious belongings or for people allergic to smoke.

Larsian, Fuente Osmeña, Cebu City

Just beside Larsian is the ubiquitous Siomai sa Tisa. Each pork dumpling costs six pesos, and with a serving of 3 and a cup of rice, it is already a respectable meal. Even if Siomai sa Tisa originated in Tisa, Labangon, many siomai stores still use the place to perhaps advertise to the public that their siomais are good and delicious. Siomai is a great snack treat too, especially for those who are on a tight meal budget.

larsian-siomai

Other extraordinary dining nooks are shawarma places of Cebu. Although most shawarma places are found in malls, there is really no proper dining setup for these roasted beef and pita sandwiches. Shawarma is not a local concoction. In fact, this food is a Middle Eastern delicacy but has Filipinos wanting for more. Previously, many shawarma stands flooded the metropolis. Its tangy garlic sauce and onion add-ons are pure heaven to shawarma enthusiasts. Unfortunately, those shawarma shops that have successfully thrived have gone from a dozen to a handful. Still, one must try these wonderful pita sandwiches while standing. Just be careful not to get your hands soaked in the garlic sauces. Otherwise, you will end up licking them because even the sauce is great!

Cebu is famous for its delectable lechon, also know as roasted pig. Although all the 7,100 islands of the Philippines prepare roasted pig in any celebration or fiesta, Cebu takes pride in having one of the best-tasting lechons in the country. To further pick out the best of the best in the lechon market, here are the following:

Special lechon….

CNT Lechon House is undeniably one of the popular lechon houses in the city. Not only is it true for the locals, but also among local tourists visiting the city. Many would order lechon and have them packed and sealed for travel. CNT roasted pigs have crunchy skins and have salty meat. Unlike the Tagalog roasted pigs wherein the lechon meat remains bland, Cebu lechons pride in properly seasoned meat retaining its juiciness and tenderness and minus the layers of pork fat. Orders can be by kilo or by one roasted pig piece.

Alejo’s Lechon is also famous for its wonderfully seasoned roasted pigs. Unlike CNT wherein there are many branches around the city, Alejo’s shop can be found in Salvador, Labangon. Even if the place is a bit far from the bustle of the city, many loyal fans still flock to their shop to get a piece of that crunchy pork skin or get orders for their parties and gatherings.

@ lechon house

All over Cebu, small lechon houses ore or less offer the same great-tasting pieces of roasted pigs. But the common denominator with these shops is they have lechon suppliers from the famous cities of Cebu that are well-known for roasting the best-tasting roasted pigs. These cities are Carcar and Talisay. If you ask a local about where these lechons were prepared and he or she answers you with Carcar or Talisay, chances are, you are getting the finest lechons in the market all over the country.

If you are on a budget but still want to eat more than a plateful, going to restaurants that offer eat-all-you-can (EAYC) buffets would surely be a practical and sound choice. Many restaurants in Cebu offer this kind of enticement especially on midweek lunches and dinners. For the most part, these kinds of buffet meals are practical especially during these hard times.

 Family Choice Restaurant “eat-all-you-can”

For nonstop serving of sea foods and baked or steamed oysters, Tong’s restaurant is the best place to go. Located in Ayala Access Road/Mabolo area, one can enjoy a full meal and more at this restaurant for less than 300 pesos per pax. Although drinks are additional charges, the meal charges are often worth it. You are not only dining in quantities but also the quality of food is exceptionally great.

On weekdays, Ding Qua Qua at JY Square Lahug offers dimsum style Chinese food as eat-all-you-can treats. Dine your Chinese favourite viands at less than 300 pesos per person. No food should be left over to enjoy the eat-all-you-can price tag. You can get a complete meal from entrée, appetizer to full meals and dessert just by paying the EAYC charge. Unfortunately, weekends do not have these buffet-style menus.

Chinese eat-all-you-can Restaurant

For other cheap alternatives, Joven’s Grill is a favourite destination for people who want to eat loads with a wide selection of viands. On Sundays, this restaurant even serves lechon or roasted pig to the delight of gusto eaters. Additionally, Royal Concourse also offers the same EAYC buffet style treats at less than 200 pesos per person. What sets it apart from Joven’s Grill is that it offers international cuisine choices like Japanese and Italian aside from the native Filipino dishes. The resto also has a dessert bar for the fruit craving that you have.

For pricier EAYCs, head up to the Chinese restaurant in Club Ultima along Osmeña Boulevard for that pricey authentic Chinese dish craving. Although expensive at 500 plus pesos per person, you get to be served pecking duck and exotic Chinese dishes prepared by authentic Hong Kong-based chefs. For sure, you do not have to pay for airfare to taste real Hong Kong food.

When driving around Cebu City, the term sutukil is a common sight. Sutukil literally means “sugba, tinola, kinilaw” which translates to grill, stew and eat raw. Sutukil restaurants, therefore, specialize in cooking foods the ways it is translated. Most sutukil restaurants once started as small eateries that have flourished and turned big. They also come with the common ambiance of outdoor dining: nipa roofs, outdoor style and plastic dining pieces. And because of the open-air reception, menu rates are usually affordable and the grilled foods are often hits. The following are the best sutukil restaurants in Cebu City:

SutuKil - Sugba Tula Kilaw 

First choice is AA restaurant. Before they even hit big and put up all these branches around the metropolis, AA’s main branch was at the reclamation area. It was a small shanty under the category of carenderia or roadside eatery. Because of the wide array of sea foods choices and very inexpensive servings, many loyal customers flock for a piece of AA servings. Even the rich market does not hesitate to sit within the open air and tight eatery just to taste their food and mingle with all social classes. Fortunately, AA restaurant has made grilling and sutukil orders more varied and more available to the great public.

Manna Restaurant Sutukil

Mactan Shrine not only holds the landmarks of Cebu history, but also it is a place where good food and sutukil restaurants abound. In particular, No Problem restaurant specializes in cooking seafood that are grilled, stewed and prepared raw but cooked in vinegar acid. One does not expect very high class surroundings here because almost all of the restaurants in the row of Mactan Shrine follow a native-style kind of dining. Apart from good food, prices for the food are sometimes more than the usual Cebu City-based restaurants. Since most foreign and local tourists herd to eat here, chances are menu prices can go up than the usual Cebuano budget. Still, sutukil food is delectable and sumptuous.

Are you tired of the usual burgers in popular American fast-food chains? For some variety, Cebu has more to offer in the burger department. Although the burgers share the Western flair of ingredients, but the lack of commercialized taste will make your burger experience more fulfilling.

my favourite…. burger.

Flame-It Burgers undoubtedly tops the burger movement in Cebu. This restaurant which is proudly Cebu-based boasts of great-tasting burgers at affordable prices. You do not have to travel on a plane to enjoy the best luscious burgers because Cebu has them. Apart from the typical beef burgers, they have other offerings like Hungarian sausages, and other burger varieties. You can find them at Ayala malls and at their main branch near Philhealth.Burger Joint is another proudly Cebu-based burger outlet. This fastfood chain makes burgers that are juicy and thick, a far cry from the commercially prepared burgers in most popular fast-food burger chains. One must try their onion rings as well and the burger varieties on the menu. Best of all, the burger prices are very affordable. The Mabolo branch will surely serve for that burger craving.

double cheese burger with fries

Last but not the least is Orange Brutus. A true-blue Cebuano will not leave out Brutus as one of the best burgers in town. Although the burger sandwiches are not really to-die-for, their burger steaks are the opposites. Skip the usual burger sandwiches and order for the standard burger steak or the variety topped with egg instead. Surely, you will find this burger steak meal with rice very filling and delicious. Since you are already ordering that steak, do not miss out on the mango shake too. Perhaps both come as a value meal, and guess what? You will not spending more than 150 pesos for everything. So, what are you waiting? Head to any Orange Brutus restaurant near you.

Since Cebu dining is nothing without Chinese cuisine, one should at least try one of the best Chinese restaurants while you are enjoying your food trip. There are many popular Chinese restaurants, but those given here are tried and tested to be the best in terms of Chinese authenticity and affordable rates.

Chinese Foods…get one and pass…

Grand Majestic will probably be one of the best Chinese dining places in Cebu. Not only does it offer authentic Chinese dishes, but the restaurant also offers eat-all-you–can buffet lunch or dinner on certain days of the week. You can enjoy wonderfully delicious Chinese dishes with the enjoyment of Chinese interiors of the restaurant. Although, food rates are not typically cheap, what you pay is worth the gustatory feeling.

Harbor City Dimsum is another Chinese dining place that has jumped into the fast-food chain bandwagon. If you go to malls and popular shopping centres, you might find a branch in the area. One should try the hotpots that are affordably priced at almost fifty pesos. Viands such as Chinese favourites like siomai, sweet and sour pork and others are offered at same rates. One can easily fill-up the stomach and enjoy the delicious Chinese fare with this kind of budget.

Hungry?….select one or more…

Jochin’s Times Kitchen found near Cebu Doctors’ hospital is another small-time Chinese restaurant that packs in on their great Chinese dishes at great prices. One must try their sweet and sour pork dish and pancit canton. Although not many flock to this restaurant, loyal clients often get their catering services for their parties and packed food meals.Cebu Lumpia House is another Cebuano Chinese restaurant favourite. This restaurant has been in Cebu for many years, and they specialize on Chinese dishes like shrimp lumpia, chicken feet, Chinese lumpia, steamed rice and siomai. More or less, prices are similar with Harbor City Dimsum’s food rates.