Cebu Food Experience – My eatsperience

More foods in Cebu and Lapu-Lapu Cities

March 14, 2025March 14, 2025Leave a comment

Exploring Cebu City

One of the must-visit spots in Cebu City is the Temple of Leah. It’s a bit far from the city center, so renting a car or motorcycle is a smart move to make the most of your time. We made the mistake of commuting and walking on our first days, which ate up a lot of time. If your budget allows, I highly recommend renting a vehicle upon arrival for convenience.

For the best experience, visit the Temple of Leah around sunset—the view is stunning, and it stays open later than other attractions nearby. When we arrived around 4 PM on a weekday, it was already bustling with tourists.

Dining at Ristorante Teodorico

After exploring the temple, we grabbed a meal at Ristorante Teodorico, located in the semi-basement of the temple. While there’s no view from the restaurant, it’s a cozy spot with elegant chandeliers, plenty of plants, and an open-air setting.

Ristorante Teodorico Menu at Temple of Leah — Ristorante Teodorico Menu

Here’s what we ordered:

Our Orders at Ristorante Teodorico, Temple of Leah — Our Orders at Ristorante Teodorico

• Lumpiang Shanghai (P250) – 16 crispy spring rolls, perfect for sharing.

• Carbonara (P350) with two slices of toasted garlic bread– Good flavor but a bit too saucy, making it mushy over time.

• Pancit (P220) – Lightly sauced, well-balanced flavors with generous vegetables.

• Honey Lemon Tea (P220) – Similar to the ones sold at S&R, a bit too sweet for my taste.

The food is reasonably priced for the location, and the servings (except for the pasta) are great for sharing.

Cebu Lechon at The Barracks

Cebu Lechon at The Barack's — Cebu Lechon at The Barack’s

Cebu is famous for its lechon, so we had to stop by The Barracks for another round. We ordered 1kg of Cebu Lechon (P320), and while the free taste came with crispy skin, the actual order wasn’t as crispy. Still, the vinegar dip made up for it.

While waiting for our Cebu de Lechon Order at The Barack's — While waiting for our Lechon de Cebu Order

Lapu-Lapu City Eats

We stayed at Pacific Cebu Resort, located on the quieter side of Lapu-Lapu City. Of course, we had to try their in-house Bloom’s Bar and Café. It’s a bit on the pricey side, but the food quality and ambiance made it worth it.

Plated Breakfast meal at Bloom’s Bar and Café

Here’s what we tried:

• Margarita Pizza (P450) – Thin and crispy, simple but flavorful

• Gnocchi Formagie Pasta (P520) – Soft potato dumplings in white sauce, surprisingly filling

Gnocchi Formagie Pasta at Bloom’s Bar and Café

• Squid Calamari (P540) – Crunchy on the outside, soft and fresh inside, served with Marinara Sauce and Roasted Garlic Aioli

Squid Calamari at Bloom’s Bar and Café — Squid Calamar

Their service was excellent, and the peaceful ambiance made us want to come back. I’m not sure if they offer buffet breakfast on all Sundays since we experienced it during our stay.

Local Food Stop: Mica’s Turo-Turo

For an affordable local food experience, we stopped by Mica’s Turo-Turo along the highway. It’s easy to spot with the number of motorcycles parked outside. The food was budget-friendly and flavorful. My favorite? Their grilled chorizo—juicy and smoky, a must-try! They often serve freshly cooked dishes on batches so we’re lucky to have hot- served viands.

Final Thoughts

Our Cebu trip was a great mix of sightseeing and food adventures. Next time, we hope to bring family along to explore more beaches and hidden gems. If you have any questions about car rentals or food spots, feel free to comment below. Happy travels!

P.S. some photos of Bloom’s Bar and Café Menu and our view at Pacific Cebu Resort 😘.

This is the 3rd pool since there’s a main pool and diving pool. No photos taken, sorry.

Pacific Cebu Resort 3rd Pool — Pool No.3

Bloom’s Bar and Café buffet breakfast table on a Sunday — Bloom’s Bar and Café buffet breakfast on a Sunday

Clear Sky at Pacific Cebu Resort — Clear sky at Pacific Cebu Resort

Cebu’s Esmen Carinderia: A Must-Try for Fish Soup Lovers

February 6, 2025March 7, 2025Leave a comment

Our first day in Cebu had been a series of near misses when it came to food, so we made it our mission to redeem our taste buds on Day 2.

After a morning visit to a museum, we set out on a quest for Esmen Carinderia, a humble eatery tucked away on Rallos Street, known for its famed fish tinola. I had read about it in multiple blogs, and knew it wouldn’t be for everyone—especially those who aren’t keen on dining in an open-air, no-frills setup.

Finding the carinderia proved to be a challenge. We had unknowingly walked past it, only realizing our mistake when we doubled back and spotted groups of people dining outside. A tarpaulin sign finally confirmed that we were in the right place. The eatery was bustling before lunch time, with only a few seats available. It was clear this place was a local favorite.

Front of Esmens Carenderia — Front of Esmens Carinderia

Hubby ordered two bowls of fish soup. At first glance, they looked identical—both featuring medium servings of fish heads submerged in steaming broth. But as soon as I took a sip, I understood the difference. One was made with porcupine fish, its broth rich and flavorful, the meat unbelievably tender. The other had a unique taste, distinct but just as satisfying. Three large kawa (woks) stood at the front, each brimming with a different variety of broth, ladled out according to the customer’s order.

Two orders of different linarang (fish stew)

One thing that stood out was their attentiveness. The staff quickly offers a refill of the hot, comforting broth whenever a bowl was nearing empty—a heartwarming gesture that added to the experience.

Noticing that many customers were ordering a small plate of kilawin, I decided to try one myself. It was unlike the kilawin I had in Davao back in 2023. This version had chopped white onions and tomatoes, but no trace of the usual calamansi or vinegar. Instead, it had a distinct fermented taste—almost like tuba (palm wine). The fish used in the dish was porcupine fish as well, which added to its unique flavor profile.

For two bowls of fish head soup, a small plate of kilawin, one order each of corn rice and regular rice, plus two bottles of soda, our total bill came to just around ₱467—a great deal for such a satisfying meal. More than the price, though, it was the warm service and the honest, comforting flavors that made this dining experience memorable.

Cebu Food Adventure: From Lechon to Pater ni Aki

December 5, 2024March 8, 2025Leave a comment

Our flight from Clark, Pampanga, departed at 11:30 AM, so by the time we arrived in Cebu, it was almost lunchtime. Instead of eating at the airport, we decided to save our appetites for Cebu’s iconic lechon. Luckily, as we exited Cebu Mactan International Airport, we spotted a small queue at a stall selling Ayers Cebu Lechon. We couldn’t resist and ordered 1/4 kg of lechon (₱335) with two servings of rice. While the lechon skin wasn’t crunchy anymore, it was still tender and easy to chew, even for those with dentures. The real star was their flavorful vinegar, which elevated the taste of the lechon.

Cebu's Ayers Lechon — Cebu’s Ayers Lechon

Cebu's Ayers 1/4 kg Lechon — Cebu’s Ayers 1/4 kg Lechon

3A’s Makabusog Grill Original Larsian BBQ

After checking into our hotel, we decided to explore Larsian BBQ at Fuente Osmeña, about a 23-minute walk away. Arriving at 4:30 PM, the place seemed uninviting, with only a few open stalls and no diners in sight. Based on online recommendations, we tried 3A’s Makabusog Grill Original Larsian BBQ. Our order included grilled tuna panga, a squid skewer, two chorizo de Cebu sticks, and rice (₱475 total). Unfortunately, the panga and squid tasted stale, lacked seasoning, and had a raw, unpleasant flavor. The rice was cold and hard, and only the chorizo de Cebu met our expectations. It was a disappointing experience that left us regretting the long walk.

Our Orders at 3A’s Makabusog Grill Original Larsian BBQ

Shamrock Pasalubong Center

We then headed to the Shamrock Pasalubong Center at Fuente Osmeña Circle to buy local delicacies as pasalubong. Although their items came highly recommended, we were surprised by the steep prices—more than ₱3,000 for just a few treats.

Pungko-Pungko at Fuente

Still unsatisfied, we searched for pungko-pungko, a popular Cebuano street food experience near the circle. The first thing we noticed was the energetic staff in matching orange shirts, enthusiastically welcoming customers. The setup was simple, humid, and lacked basic amenities like tissues. We ordered an assortment of fried foods, including 4 pieces Ginanot (chicharong bulaklak), 1 piece liempo, half shell of rellenong crab, 1 piece sausage, 2 lumpia, and a soda (₱249 total). The dipping vinegar is too sour on my palate and a bit salty. Unfortunately, none of the items were crispy or flavorful, leaving me puzzled about how vloggers rave about this experience.

Pater ni Aki Stall

As the day wound down, we stumbled upon a lively program near the circle with several food stalls. Here, we found two dishes that redeemed our culinary adventure: grilled scallops and Chicken Pater, a Maranao dish. The scallops, priced at just ₱99 for 18 pieces, were small but perfectly grilled with butter and garlic. Meanwhile, the Chicken Pater (₱80) featured fragrant rice cooked with coconut milk (I assume), tender shredded chicken, and a spicy sambal-like side dish. It was a satisfying end to an otherwise mixed food journey. They also sells spider snail with vinegar as the dipping sauce but haven’t tried it. It’s only PhP 25 per piece.

While our Cebu trip had its ups and downs, the grilled scallops and manok pater made the long walks worth it. As they say, food is an adventure, and sometimes it’s the surprises that make it memorable.

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