I’M FROM Mati City, Davao Oriental and every time I travel to Davao City, we always pass by Maco Public Transport Terminal. But I never purposely visit this town, always just a stopover.
But last month, I had a chance to explore a piece of this emerging town in Davao de Oro when a friend, Irene Causing Orcullo, invited me to try her new restaurant in Maco – GRIKK’s Yaka.
Just a 15-20 minutes’ drive from Tagum City, GRIKK’s Yaka can be easily located as it’s situated along the road going to the municipal hall.
Entering the restaurant, we were greeted with a bamboo-dominated aesthetics, it’s refreshing and calming for the eyes, it gives one an impression that this spot is for those looking for a laidback getaway.
Irene asked if where do we want to settle – upstairs with their yaka-inspired setup where one should squat like a Japanese while dining or downstairs where we can comfortably sit in their Bali-inspired kiosks. We chose downstairs, but I checked the “yaka” setup upstairs and it’s quite interesting.
The food we were served with seemed like a feast. Good thing, I brought along my friend Karen, I have someone to help me finish all the food.
Irene served us with the restaurant’s best sellers: Seasonal salad, Bulalo ala Cebuano, Chicken Tonkatsu rice bowl, Beef braised rice bowl, and Honeycured chicken.
I tasted all the food she served, and yes, all are mouthwatering and delicious, but the dishes that stand out for me are their seasonal salad, Bulalo ala Cebuano, and Beef braised rice bowl. Good thing about GRIKK’s all are made affordable for the general public.
When we dine there, I observed the profiles of their customers cut across almost all markets – millennials or group of friends chilling, young professional just dining out, families, and even old couples – probably in their 60s, having their date.
“It’s just a chill place. This can be your spot when you want to eat, have a booze, or just chill. We have a mini stage where we invite local bands and artists to play and entertain the customers, but customers can also jam and sing their heart out there when we have no invited artists. We just want people to dine, drink, and have fun,” Irene shared.
I am looking forward to visit again GRIKK’s Yaka, this time trying to dine with their ‘yaka’ setup. But hopefully next time, I get to explore more of Maco. I heard a lot of stories that this town is gifted with natural wonders like waterfalls and hot springs. And of course, I want to also try that famous Bern’s Halo-halo.