Still feeling hungover from the past month’s festivities in Cebu?
The parties may be over but if you’re still hanging around to explore what the city has to offer, there is a lot to do — and to eat.
Here, we’ve got our top five homegrown Cebu restaurants you’ve got to try before you leave. They’re so good, you’ll probably find yourself flying back for more.
Orange Karenderia
Orange Karenderia started as, you guessed it, a carinderia (food stall) in 2012. Owned by Cebuanos Mike and Beverly Pato in Mandaue City, Cebu, the “upscale carinderia” concept has expanded from one restaurant to four more in Cebu, Bacolod, and more recently in Manila.
Their standout dishes are Betsy’s Garlic Chicken [PHP135/US$2.70] (pictured above) and the tuna panga (price varies by weight).
The appetizers are dishes Cebuanos are known to love like kinilaw (PHP150/US$3), sinuglaw (PHP190/US$3.80), itlog na maalat (salted egg) [PHP35], and calamares (squid) [PHP160/US$3.20]
For more information and branch locations, check out their Facebook page here.
Isidra Comfort Cantina
Isidra Comfort Cantina is a small restaurant with only one branch in the entire Metro Cebu but it’s a joint many Cebuanos have come to love.
Owner and chef Lor Torres named the restaurant after her grandmother and specializes in Filipino comfort food, particularly Bisaya comfort food.
Our favorite is the crispy beef tadyang, manok bisaya, and their spicy chicken wings.
Prices range from an average of PHP150 (US$3) to PHP300 (US$6) per plate.
While they first opened in the Capitol area of Cebu City, they recently moved to Mandaue City.
Find out more on their Facebook page here.
Address: UN Avenue, 168 North Park, Mandaue City, Cebu
House of Lechon
If you don’t have time to head down to Carcar City, a town about 40 kilometers away from Cebu City, to try their unique style of lechon from the local market, House of Lechon is the next closest thing.
Located in Kamputhaw, Cebu City, it’s a good place to get lechon if you’re with family or a group of friends, but it might be too much if you’re eating alone.
A mark of a good lechon for many Cebuanos is one that has tender and juicy meat, while maintaining the crispiness of the skin. The meat is supposed to be on the salty side and flavorful enough to stand without adding any sauce to it. However, should you need sauce for your lechon, don’t look for Mang Tomas. In Cebu, lechon is dipped in one or all of the following: vinegar, soy sauce, calamansi, and pepper.
The price of the lechon will depend on how many kilograms you order.
For the Carcar special, 1/4th of a kilogram goes for PHP200 (US$4), while a full kilogram goes for PHP620 (US$12.4)
For a 1/4th kilogram of Classic Spicy, it’ll cost PHP230 (US$4.6), while 1 kilo PHP665 (US$13.30)
For more information on the menu, pricing and business hours, check out their Facebook page.
Address: Acacia Street, Kaputhaw, Cebu City
Kusina Uno
Aside from the spices used to cook the broth, the difference between Cebu pochero and the Tagalog region’s bulalo is minimal.
While they’re both simple soup dishes made with beef stock, Kusina Uno, which cooks a mean pochero is a spot in Cebu you’ll find many people crowding at after a night of partying and drinking.
The restaurant is semi-outdoors and is open 24 hours a day.
If you don’t feel like having the traditional pochero, you can try the sizzling version with a big bowl of soup on the side.
A traditional pochero cost PHP508 (US$10.16), while a sizzling pochero sells for PHP524 (US$10.48)
The food here is also great for preventing (or lessening the impact) of a hangover.
Check out their Facebook page for more.
Address: GND Complex, F. Cabahug Street, Kasambagan, Cebu City.
Abaca
If you’re feeling a little fancy, Abaca baking company is definitely a spot you should check out.
While not necessarily “Cebuano food,” Abaca is a restaurant that caters to those looking for international cuisine and a more cosmopolitan vibe.
The first thing you’ll notice walking in is the smell of fresh bread and the pastries beautifully lined up in the display case.
While each plate will cost you around PHP200 (US$4) to PHP500 (US$10), the portions are generous and will surely give you a bang for your buck.
We suggest trying their homestyle breakfast plates like their corned beef hash, chorizo fried rice, and breakfast quesadillas. This is also one of the few places in the city that offers fried chicken and waffles.
For more information and branch locations check out their website.
Happy eating!
