The first rule of the Filipino diet is that no plate is complete without the sight of a glorious mound of rice. Filipino rice meals come in all shapes and flavors, from the famous “silog” combos to the mouthwatering “tinapa” delights. However, one thing that has been stealing the show for the rice meal category in Cebu is Mindanao’s traditional food, pater.
Pater is a dish consisting of steaming hot rice and tender shreds of mouthwatering meat, be it beef, chicken, or fish, all wrapped up in a wilted banana leaf. It has different variations in different parts of Mindanao, such as Maranao and Maguindanao. This rice meal is often accompanied by the appetizing Maranao condiment called “palapa,” which adds a burst of flavor with its thinly sliced spices.
Pater is not only a convenient go-to meal for everyone, but it also comes at an affordable price, sometimes as low as P20. It’s no surprise that this traditional Mindanao cuisine has taken the city by storm, with some adding their own unique twists without compromising the concept of pater.
In this article, one will discover some of the best pater houses that have captured the city’s heart and become the talk of the town.
Pastil Baii
Jan Delfino, the store owner, reveals that his recipe originates from the traditional dishes they enjoyed during their upbringing in Maguindanao. He proudly states that Pastil Baii maintains the authenticity of the original Maguindanao recipe with just slight variations. Among their top menu items are chicken pastil priced at P39 and beef pater priced at P59.
“Originally, pater only has chicken to keep it Halal, our crab meat is invented here in Cebu already but mostly what we have is chicken pater,” said Jan Delfino.
The concept of Pastil Baii originates from the Moros who seek convenient and quick food options, especially for those who are in a hurry. Jan Delfino strongly believes in preserving this concept and keeping it alive, ensuring that the traditional flavors and convenience are maintained.
“Since this is our staple food in Maguindanao since elementary, I grew up loving this food and I know the taste by heart. I always cook this in Cebu whenever I miss pastil or pater, and now I made it my business to deliver the real taste,” added Jan Delfino.
One can find Pastil Baii at Chibogan sa Kamagayan, Junquera Street, Cebu City, and at Seaview strip Cebu foodhub, Basak, San Nicolas, Cebu City.
Twin Pastel
Store owners with roots in Mindanao share a strong commitment to authenticity, just like Michael Bacarro. Michael’s journey led him to Cotabato for work, where he had an encounter with a 92-year-old lady who graciously taught him how to cook pastil or pater. Michael’s dedication to preserving the original flavors led him to cook the recipe multiple times, carefully following the instructions passed down through generations in the lady’s family. Through this process, he aimed to ensure that the pioneer flavors of pater remained true to its heritage.
“Our recipe is so original that once you take a bite of it, you will feel the flavors first and then the spice right after,” said Michael.
Michael’s wife, Norma Abdula Bacarro, also introduced their menu, which includes chicken, scallop, beef, tuna and crab pater. They also offer a choice of side dishes like palapa or adobong talong to complement their delectable options all for P50.
“We take immense pride in our recipes, particularly our carefully crafted herb spices and our signature tuna pastil, which features the exquisite flavor of black tuna fish,” said Michael.
One can find Twin Pastel at Chibogan sa Kamagayan, Junquera Street, Cebu City.
Pater sa Tisa
With an impressive daily demand of over 2000 orders, Alexander Carandang, the owner of Pater sa Tisa, initially started his pater business by preparing the dish for his family. To his delightful surprise, the flavors of his recipe resonated with others too. Pater, a dish they cherished from their time in Mindanao, took on a distinct character under Alexander’s unique cooking style, perfectly tailored to suit the palate of Cebuanos.
“I didn’t expect that long lines would come into our small store, and we had repeat customers. So now we had to employ more manpower to satisfy our growing customer base, our vision became not just for customer satisfaction but also to provide a source of income to workers who lacked educational background but strived hard to provide for their families,” said Alexander.
Its menu boasts a delightful assortment of pork-free and Halal choices, such as chicken, tuna, spicy beef and the original creamy beef pater. To further enhance the dining experience, every order comes with complimentary palapa, a special condiment that, when combined with pater, elevates the flavors to new heights of deliciousness.
“Little by little, our one small store became a big branch and one branch became three branches after just a year of operation, thanks to our avid and loyal customer base and hardworking employees,” said Alexander.
Pater sa Tisa can be found at the following locations: Tisa, Cebu City, USC-Main branch, IT Park-branch.
Paterholic
At this Pater store, variety reigns supreme. Its extensive menu boasts options that perfectly complement its beef, chicken and tuna pater. Notably, its “lamaw” offerings are worth a special mention, as they come paired with pater. A delightful lamaw meal includes a cup of rice topped with flavorful crushed chicharrón, a slice of boiled egg and two steamed siomai served with sauce.
“Hailing from South Cotabato, Mindanao, our pater dish carries the essence of its authentic roots. However, what sets us apart is our dedication to elevating this traditional dish by incorporating the distinctive flavors of Cebuano cuisine. This fusion of culinary influences creates a truly remarkable and unforgettable dining experience for our customers,” said store owners, Cherry Malunjao, and Sarah Jane Alvarez.
To enhance the flavors of their dishes, they also proudly offer homemade chilli garlic sauce. Customers who dine in or take out receive a complimentary sauce with each order. However, for those who wish to purchase more, they have 120ml and 220ml sizes available.
One can find Paterholic conveniently situated at Acacia Boulevard, Consolacion, Cebu, right next to City Mall.
Pater ni Aki
Pater ni Aki’s distinct flavors of pater have garnered a dedicated following, leading to multiple branches across the city. One unique feature is the use of fresh yellow rice instead of the typical white rice. Moreover, this pater house takes pride in presenting pater dishes that authentically represent credible Muslim traditional food, maintaining the rich cultural heritage in its offerings.
“We want to provide credible Muslim-friendly food and promote and protect their culture,” said store owners, Lord Japeth Maraño, and Joseph Ryan Divinagracia.
Pater ni Aki’s flavorful pater dishes, including special chicken, special crab, special tuna, creamy shrimp and its best-selling beef pater, keep patrons coming back. Served with yellow rice, beef rendang and palapa on the side, these dishes create a memorable dining experience.
Pater ni Aki stores can be found at the following locations: near Guadalupe Church, Tisa-branch, The Barracks Carbon-branch, Bujik’s Place-branch, Dong Perven-branch, UCLM-branch and Compostela Cebu.