The food is half the fun when you visit anywhere in the Philippines, but especially Metro Cebu. And while there are so many must-try street food options, we know not all balikbayans are adventurous enough to seek them out. If you’re looking to dine out in comfort, whether on your own or with family or friends, a homegrown restaurant is your best bet.
To help you narrow down your choices, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 classic and modern restaurants you’ll want to try on your next visit to the Queen City of the South:
1. Lantaw Seafood and Grill
Branches: Cordova, Compostela, and IL Corso (SRP)
The restaurant’s name comes from the Bisaya word meaning “to look out or view,” and you do get a great view when you dine at one of Lantaw’s branches. For the OG branch, head to Lantaw Floating Native Restaurant in Cordova. Must-try dishes include any grilled meat or seafood like tuna panga, crispy pata, kare-kare na pata, garlic buttered prawns, and the baked scallops. A word of warning: Plan this on a day when the weather’s good to take full advantage of the al fresco dining! Covered dining areas may be limited.
2. AA BBQ
Branches (Cebu only): Ranudo, Lahug, Pardo, Minglanilla, A.S. Fortuna, Soong, Basak/Gun-ob, North Reclamation, Guadalupe
While the original AA BBQ was established in Cebu City, they have since opened branches all around Cebu as well as in Cagayan de Oro and Bohol. It’s a long-time Cebuano favorite, and offers casual, family-friendly meals at affordable rates. When dining here, make sure to try anything sinugba (barbecued), whether meat or seafood, like tuna panga, tuna belly, pork barbecue, pork belly, and grilled chicken. Also try the baked scallops and shell soup halaan (clams).
3. Sunburst Fried Chicken
Branches: Base Line, One Mango (Gen. Maxilom Ave.), SM City Cebu, Ayala Center Cebu, Ayala Central Bloc Mall, Robinsons Galleria Cebu, 8 Banawa Centrale, Oakridge Business Park, Maribago Mactan
Over 50 years of service proves this Cebuano favorite is here to stay. If your family is from Cebu, you must dine here for the sake of nostalgia for one of the family restaurants of your and/or your parents’ childhoods. Otherwise, it’s great for that plateful of crispy fried chicken. And don’t forget the fried chicken skin appetizer! Also try the Chick’n Crackers, your choice of pancit, and macaroni salad.
4. Harbour City Dimsum House, Dimsum Break, Ding How Dimsum House, and Ding Qua Qua Dimsum House
For more information on branches, visit harbourcitydimsum.com
If you once lived in or traveled to Cebu and are looking for the OG Ding Qua Qua or Ding How Dimsum House experience Cebu’s been enjoying since the 1960s, never fear. The offshoot brands actually serve the exact same menu with still-affordable prices, each with a different ambiance.
Regardless, you’ll get the not-to-be-missed pork steamed fried rice (formerly known as just steamed rice, but now with an expanded name so non-Cebuanos won’t expect plain rice), whether original or spicy; assorted siomai (plain, mushroom, quail egg); and other dimsum faves: empress roll, bacon siomai, crab pincers, shrimp toast, and more. This beloved dimsum brand has since expanded to Iloilo, Dumaguete, Tagbilaran, CDO, and more.
Branches (Cebu only):
Ding How: Ayala Central Bloc Mall, Robinsons Galleria Cebu
Ding Qua Qua: Marina Mall Mactan, JY Square Mall
Harbour City Dimsum House: Ayala Center Cebu, SM City Cebu, North Drive Mandaue, SM Seaside City
Dimsum Break: SM Seaside City, SM City Cebu, SM City Consolacion, Robinsons Fuente Cebu, Robinsons Cybergate Cebu, Parkmall, Pacific Mall, One Pavilion Mall, J Centre Mall, Cebu IT Park, GMC Arcade Lapu-Lapu, JESA ITC Building (Gen. Maxilom Avenue), Gaisano Grand Mandaue North, Gaisano Grand Mactan, Gaisano Fiesta Mall, Elizabeth Mall, Colon Street, Banilad Town Centre, Ayala Center Cebu
5. Casa Verde
Branches: Ramos, Cebu IT Park, Ayala Center Cebu, Parkmall, SM Seaside City Cebu, Mactan International Airport
If you’re a meat lover, you’ll want to check out Casa Verde, best known for its Brian’s Ribs and humongous The Mighty Ton Burger. If you’re going for the famous burger, make sure to bring family or friends along, as polishing one off is a group challenge. Other samplers on their menu are ideal for groups, which is not to say that there aren’t dishes that’ll suit solo diners, couples, or small groups. Try the buffalo wings with bleu cheese dip as well as the fish and chips.
6. CnT Lechon
Branches: Ayala Center Cebu, SM Seaside City, North Reclamation Area (across SM City Cebu)
While fancier lechon restaurants have since gained fame all around Cebu, we’re still partial to CnT Lechon, which has been a favorite since they opened in Guadalupe back in the late 1980s. Enjoy Cebuano lechon with a side of puso (hanging rice) at any of the no-frills branches, some of which you’ll find in mall food courts. Just remember: Skip the sarsa! You probably won’t even need sawsawan when you have this lechon, but if you do, go traditional with patis and suka—just remember that, to Cebuanos, patis is actually soy sauce (unlike Tagalogs, who use the same word for fish sauce).
7. La Vie Parisienne
371 Gorordo Avenue, Lahug, Cebu City
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In case you are looking for a more European menu and a classy spot to catch up with your amigas, whether Cebu-based or your travel companions, French-inspired La Vie Parisienne is a great option. Their fare is not too heavy, and the restaurant is particularly Instagram-friendly. Between its eclectic furniture and large selection of wines inside and its colorful LED garden outside, you’ll find lots of places to take memorable group photos before or after you dig into their signature pizzas or sausage dishes, or even just their assortment of pastries.
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Try their La Vie Smoked Sausage, croquettas of your preferred variety, La Vie Pizza, and La Vie’s own blends of wines and beer brews.
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8. The Pig and Palm
MSY Tower, Pescadores Road, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City
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Michelin-starred Chef Jason Atherton’s The Pig and Palm is a great choice if you’re looking for something a little fancier than usual, perhaps for a date. You’ll be surprised, though, that the price is reasonable. Just a short walk from Ayala Center Cebu, this restaurant serves up delectable dishes you’ll definitely want to photograph before digging into. From our own experience, the confit pork belly with apple caramel and mashed potato is divinely tender, and for dessert, the moelleux is a chocolate lover’s dream. While they do accept walk-in customers, to avoid a long wait time, it’s best to make a reservation.
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Other dishes to try are their roasted gnocchi, chargrilled miso carrots, and seared coral trout.
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9. Top of Cebu
Transcentral Highway, Busay, Cebu City
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Best head to this mountain restaurant in the late afternoon to catch the way Metro Cebu lights up as the sun goes down. Although definitely a fair-weather-only option, the gorgeous view of the city will only enhance your enjoyment of new and classic takes on beloved Filipino dishes like beef bulalo, crispy pata, and of course, an array of grilled (sinugbang) seafood and meat options.
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We recommend you try their salted egg calamares, beef salpicao, sizzling bulalo ala pobre, crispy pata, tuna belly with green mango salsa, grilled tangigue steak with herbed garlic butter, and pancit de Cebu.
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10. Abaca Baking Company
Branches: Ayala Center Cebu, Crossroads Banilad, Baseline Center/Citadines, TGU Tower IT Park, Skyrise 2 IT Park, Filinvest Cyberzone IT Park, Robinsons Cybergate, SM City Cebu, NUSTAR Resort & Casino, SM Seaside Cebu
Whether you’re doing brunch, lunch, dinner, or just a morning or afternoon coffee break after visiting tourist spots, this homegrown café will satisfy with its selection of comfort food. Known for their filling sandwiches and breakfast fare, late-night goers can also take advantage of their daily sales on pastries. Note that full restaurants like the ones in Crossroads Banilad and Ayala Center Cebu will have expanded menus compared to the kiosks or smaller coffee shops.
Some dishes to order are their Bakery Benedict with crisp bacon or smoked salmon, croissant sandwich, and waffles (paired with your choice of savory or sweet sides).
These are just a few of the restaurants you can try when visiting Cebu—trust us, there are hundreds of options to choose from! Which one are you excited to try first? Tell us in the comments on KUBO’s Facebook and Instagram.
