7 Famous Local Restaurants in Cebu Find out where locals dine for the famous Cebu lechon and tinolang mamsa!
by: Arrah Camillia Quistadio-Manticajon SHARE this ARTICLE
The culinary landscape of Cebu is endlessly exciting. Every month or so, a new restaurant or food spot opens, keeping diners on their toes. But well after the initial buzz dies down, the restaurants who thrive are those that have captured the Cebuano palates. From the tried-and-true to the new favorites, here are some famous local restaurants you can’t miss when in Cebu.
1. Rico’s Lechon
Rico’s Lechon Promenade Mactan branch (Image: Rico’s Lechon)
Cebu is famous for lechon (roast suckling pig), and one of the lechon places that locals and tourists frequent is Rico’s Lechon. Customers love their lechon for its crispy skin and wellseasoned meat. Diners can have either original or spicy lechon, then eat it on its own or dip it in their in-house condiment called Suka Lami, which translates to delicious vinegar. At Rico’s there is more than one way to enjoy lechon, from prichon or pritong (fried) lechon, to lechon sisig, lechon paksiw, and more. These in addition to Filipino favorites like Bicol express, calamares, pancit canton, and the like. Read: Top 10 Best Lechon in the Philippines 2016
2. Laguna Garden Cafe
Façade of Laguna Garden Café in Ayala Terraces (Image: Laguna Garden Café) For Filipino comfort food in a homey ambiance, Cebuanos turn to Laguna Garden Café. What was once a 10-table carinderia (eatery) in 1979 has turned into a business with eight brands under its name. Laguna Garden is a full-service restaurant which specializes in Filipino cuisine, so one can expect homegrown favorites like sinigang (sour soup), kare-kare (oxtail stew), and chopsuey (stir-fried vegetables).
For birthdays and celebrations, they serve international cuisine through Laguna Catering. The Laguna Group also owns Vietnamese restaurant Lemon Grass, Asian restaurant Ulli’s Streets of Asia, and seafood spot Parilya. Read 5 Popular Coffee Shops in Cebu
3. Majestic Restaurant
Façade of Laguna Garden Café in Ayala Terraces (Image: Laguna Garden Café) The Chinese influence in Cebu is strong, and this has carried over to local food as well. One of the big names in the restaurant scene is Majestic, which has been serving Chinese food for 29 years. Their house specialty is pata tim (pork leg) with fried bread and their classic bestseller is pancit canton (stir-fried noodles). Also noteworthy is their is no-ice halo-halo made with flavored shaved ice. While their food prices are relatively affordable, they also have set menu packages for the budget-conscious.
4. Isla Sugbu Seafood City
Fresh catch at Isla Sugbu Seafood City (Image: The Grand Convention Center of Cebu) The island of Cebu is also known for sutukil, in which seafood is cooked in any of three ways: sugba, tuwa, kilaw (grill, stew, raw). Most sutukil restaurants are open-air stalls in public markets, but Isla Sugbu Seafood City aims to offer the sutukil experience in a modern setting. Diners can pick from live seafood in tanks, or fresh catch laid in ice. Their wide selection of seafood includes lobsters, crabs, shrimps, scallops, squid, prawns, salmon, tangigue (Spanish mackerel), bangus (milkfish), and many more. They offer a paluto-all-you-can package which allows customers to enjoy unlimited servings at a flat rate. Read: From Php 5 to a Thousand: Taste of Cebu in Every Budget
5. Orange Karenderia
Orange Karenderia Parkmall branch (Image: Orange Karenderia) A carinderia (eatery) has street-food connotations, but Orange Karenderia sits in a happy medium between being a whole-in-the-wall joint and a fancy restaurant. The industrial chic setting in this homegrown establishment is approachable and not too intimidating. Orange Karenderia serves Cebuano food like linarang (sour and spicy fish soup), tinolang dugso/mamsa (fish stew), and inon-unan (fish in vinegar), alongside exotic fare like crispy tuna bihod (roe), bagaybay (tuna gonad). But they are best known for their crispy tuna buntot (yellow fin tuna tail). Their non-seafood items are also worth trying, especially the award-winning Betsy’s Chicken.
6. Casa Verde
Casa Verde Ranudo branch, now Lim Tian Teng Street For meat lovers, one of the best places to get their fill of meaty goodness is Casa Verde. Though they specialize in American cuisine, the Cebuano owners of this family-owned restaurant have Spanish roots. Starting out as a small canteen in Ramos St. in 2002, Casa Verde has since expanded to become a full-service restaurant with six branches in Cebu and Manila. Customers keep coming back for Brian’s Ribs, a generous slab of baked pork ribs slathered with a smokysweet sauce, with a side of rice, corn, and carrots.
7. Abaca Baking Company
Abaca Baking Company IT Park branch (Image: Abaca Baking Company) A number of breakfast spots have emerged as of late in Cebu City. Leading the pack is Abaca Baking Company. Opened in 2011, Abaca serves artisan breads, baked goods, and pastries which are great for starting your day, or as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up. Their croissants, cinnamon buns, bagels, and vegetable focaccia almost always sell out. For those with a sweet tooth, they have chocolate truffles, lamingtons, and vanilla creme puffs. They also offer breakfast items like pancakes, omelettes, and sandwiches. Have you tried eating in these famous local restaurants in Cebu? Let us know in the comments section below! Click the store name links to see their exact addresses and contact numbers.