IN THE past decade, there have been no shortage of great restaurants serving delicious food in Cebu. As you may have noticed, we now have most of the major international fast food chains on the island. Who hasn't gone to KFC, Kenny Rogers Roaster, Pizza Hut, Shakey's, and of course, the world's largest food chain, McDonald's? And recently, Burger King in Ayala just opened.
So yes, we have all these international food chains in Cebu. But most of them are actually just the same American fare, that are sometimes given a Pinoy twist to suit the Filipino palate.
Are you aware, though, that the island has so much more to offer than those world popular restos? As a matter of fact, we have a ton of Asian restaurants that are worth as much of our hard-earned peso as McDonald's.
So if you're tired of all the French fries, burgers, and fried chickens, then perhaps, you should sample the following scrumptious Asian cuisines.
1. Chinese
Must-try:
Spicy steamed fried rice, siomai, lumpiang shanghai, steamed fish, vegetable spring rolls, ube buchi, choco Bavarian creme
Restaurants:
Harbour City Dim Sum House (Ayala Center Cebu and SM City Cebu)
Ching Palace (Salinas Drive, Lahug)
Ding Qua Qua (JY Square, Lahug)
Hainanese Delights (Cybergate, Fuente Osmeña
Choi City Seafood Restaurant (Banilad Town Centre)
Manila Foodshoppe (Manalili Street, SM City Cebu, and Parkmall Cebu)
2. Japanese
You see, I always had this notion that Japanese restos are a bit pricey. And I wasn't entirely wrong. Like other American and European restaurants, there are rather expensive Japanese restaurants in Cebu. Thankfully, there are also those with an affordable enough menu. My personal fave places to visit whenever I crave Japanese food are Teriyaki Boy and Tokyo Joe's. But the rest on the list below certainly have their own epicurean appeal.
Must-try:
Gyoza, ramen, kani salad, yakimeshi rice, yasai itame, makis or rolls, chicken teriyaki, tonkatsu, and green tea ice cream
Restaurants:
Joed's Lutong Hapon (Pres. Quirino St, Cebu City, Cebu - Mabolo)
Japengo (Cybergate, Fuente Osmeña and General Maxilom Avenue - near National Bookstore)
Teriyaki Boy (Ayala Center Cebu)
Nonki Japanese Restaurant (One Pavillion - Banawa)
Red Kimono (Ayala Center Cebu)
Tonkatsu by Terazawa (Ayala Center Cebu)
Tokyo Joe's (Ayala Center Cebu - Food Choices and SM City Cebu)
Sumo Sam (Ayala Center Cebu)
3. Indian
Must-try:
Butter chicken, egg fried rice, gulab jammun, samosas, chicken masala
Restaurants:
Firozian Indian Tea House (Don Jose Avila St, Cebu, 6000 Cebu - near CDU)
Mr. India (Gaisano Country Mall, Banilad)
4. Thai
Must-try:
Pad (phat) Thai, pineapple fried rice, Thai bagoong rice, spring rolls, sticky rice with ripe mangoes, chicken curry
Restaurants:
Siam (Ayala Center Cebu)
Krua Thai (Gov. M. Cuenco Ave, Cebu City, Cebu and SM City Cebu)
Mae Krua (F. Ramos Street - near Diplomat Hotel)
Lemongrass (Ayala Center Cebu)
5. Korean
Must-try:
Bibimbap, kimbap, kimchi, ramyeon, samgyeopsal, bulgogi, jajangmyeon
Restaurants:
Noodle House (corner F. Cabahug Street - Mabolo)
Korean Samgyupsal (Pope John Paul Avenue - Mabolo)
Chosun Chicken (Banilad Road - near USC-TC)
How about you? What Asian, or other international, cuisines have you enjoyed here in our humble city (or island)? Which restaurants would you recommend? I bet your fellow Cebuanos would love to know. ^_^ (HangingRice.com)
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