The southern coast of Cebu may be famous for its pristine beaches and relaxing resorts, but it’s also a foodie’s paradise; every town each with its own restaurant or cafe worth raving about and coming back to.
From freshly brewed coffee and milk tea to juicy pork chops and delicious dim sum, check out these mandatory stopovers in the south for a bite or a drink.
Café Alfonso | Address: Sitio Lower Caimito, | Barangay Nasipit, Barili
This cafe specializes in dim sum staples such as steamed fried rice, siomai, and empress roll, as well as a mix of Filipino classics like crispy pata and sizzling sisig, and also Chinese favorites including a variety of noodle dishes and fried garlic shrimp, to name a few. For cravings of something warm and comforting, you can’t go wrong with the pochero and tinolang manok.
Lokal Brew | Address: Petron Gas Station, Poblacion III, | Awayan, Carcar
Aside from the standard coffee-based beverages, Lokal Brew also has house specials like the Sikwatte, Lavender Latte, and the best-selling Kabkad Latte, which you can get hot, iced and even blended! To pair with the drinks, the cafe also carries baked treats like cookies and pastries, all sourced from Carcar’s own community of bakers and home-based entrepreneurs.
Cardams Kitchen & Bar | Address: Poblacion I, San Jose Street, Carcar
Cardams’ menu is pretty extensive—ribs, pasta, pizza, stromboli, to name a few—but if you’re looking for something unique to try, don’t miss out on the Mac ‘n’ Cheese Pizza and Lasagna Pizza. Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it. You can worry about the carbs later. Also, they’ve got unlimited wings if you’ve got a hankering for classic fried chicken.
Kugita Seafood & Charcoal Grill | Address: Panagsama Road, Basdiot, Moalboal
Located right along the most-visited part of town, this restaurant is a no-brainer of an addition to the itinerary. Aside from specialty sushi rolls (including the torched tempura-topped Kugita Roll), other highlights on the menu are the Tomahawk Chop, a juicy pork chop bathed in fermented local coconut wine and olive oil; and Charlie’s Chicken, fried chicken drenched in a sauce made with coconut milk and Asian mirepoix.
Tēology Cafe | Address: South Park by Big Brother, Panadtaran, San Fernando
Come for the milk tea, stay for the food. The cafe may be known for its beverages, but its food offerings are just as good too. Some of the standouts on the menu are the Flaming Buffalo Shots, Four Cheese Quesadilla and Tēology Burger. If San Fernando is a little too far for you, Tēology also has a branch in Minglanilla.