Cebu cuisine is one of the most diverse in terms of cultural influence and flavor. While this destination is repeatedly visited for its beaches, serene natural landscapes, and rich historical heritage sites – Cebu is also a haven for foodies.
Cebu delicacies range from staple meals to snacks and tasty desserts. This guide will help you dive into a symphony of tastes that come from stalls and restaurants all around Cebu.
25 Best Foods in Cebu to Eat on Your Next Visit
1. Cebu Lechon
A staple dish in Cebu that the locals pride themselves in is their lechon. It is a must-try on any Cebu food trip! Every restaurant has its own special twist on the lechon formula, each with its own blend of herbs and spices that make the skin to the meat much more succulent to eat.
FUN FACT: If you’re on a Cebu food tour and searching for the best lechon the place has to offer, go to Rico’s Lechon (Talamban Road) that is considered to be the best lechon in Cebu and for their specialty in spicy lechon. Visit Leslie’s Lechon (Dumlog, Talisay) for its smooth and crunchy caramelized skin. If you want a new take on lechon flavors come to House of Lechon (Acacia Street).
2. Pochero
Your Cebu food tour wouldn’t be complete without a taste of pochero. Pochero is a meal with many influences and varieties from Spanish, Mexican, and Brazilian dishes. Made usually from beef, corn, potatoes, and cabbages steamed in hot soup. This is a great meal on rainy days due to its warm broth and chunky flavors.
3. Kinilaw
Kinilaw is a traditional Filipino dish that should be on every Cebu food tour. It consists of raw fish marinated in vinegar and mixed with onions, ginger, tomatoes, and chili. The vinegar “cooks” the fish, creating a refreshing and tangy flavor that’s ideal for hot days. This ceviche-like dish is a must-try Cebu delicacy available at many local eateries across Cebu.
DID YOU KNOW: There is a renowned cook known for making the best kinilaw, Vicente “Enting” Lobaton, whose restaurant is in Sagay City.
4. Utan
If you’re on a vegan diet during your Cebu food tour, then you will want to try the all-vegetable dish called Utan. Its usual ingredients are a mix of okra, eggplant, spinach, tomatoes, and ginger with soup. Sometimes dried fish or ground pork are included to add more savory flavor.
5. Sunburst Chicken
This chicken is celebrated for its crispy fried chicken marinated in a special spice blend, offering a unique savory and slightly sweet flavor. The chicken is fried to perfection, with a crunchy exterior and juicy interior. This popular fast-food chain in Cebu provides various chicken dishes that are among the best foods in Cebu.
FUN FACT: The first Sunburst restaurant opened in 1971 at Iligan City, Lanao del Norte by Fernando and Victoria (wife) Congmon.
6. Pungko-Pungko (Crouch Eating)
Pungko Pungko is a unique Cebuano street food experience on your Cebu food tour, where diners squat at low benches and tables to enjoy deep-fried snacks like ginabot (fried pork intestines), chorizo, and buwad (dried fish). Served with puso (hanging rice) and vinegar dipping sauce, these flavorful bites provide an authentic local meal to try out many Cebu fried delicacies.
7. Pork Humba
This is a rich dish similar to adobo but sweeter and less vinegary, making it a standout on any Cebu food trip. Made with pork belly slow-cooked with soy sauce, sugar, black beans, and spices until tender and caramelized, this hearty meal is perfect for those who enjoy sweet and savory combinations.
DID YOU KNOW: Some say the dish originated from Fujian Chinese settlers and was a variation of red braised pork belly.
8. Balbacua
Balbacua is a rich and flavorful beef stew that should be on every Cebu food tour. It’s slow-cooked with oxtail, skin, and other gelatinous parts for hours. Spiced with peanuts and various seasonings, this dish is thick, savory, and perfect for beef lovers seeking a hearty meal among Cebu delicacies.
9. Pintos
One of the traditional Cebuano snacks, Pintos are a must-try among Cebu delicacies. Made from ground corn, sugar, and coconut milk, wrapped in corn husks, and steamed, this sweet and chewy treat is ideal as a midday snack or dessert. Its unique texture and flavor make it one of the best foods in Cebu.
FUN FACT: Every May 26 in Bogo City, they celebrate the Pintos Festival but was replaced by the Kuyayang Festival after the Covid pandemic.
10. Tuslob Buwa (Pig’s Brain)
Tuslob Buwa is among the unique Cebu delicacies cooked from pig’s brain, liver, and other ingredients cooked into a thick, savory sauce. Diners dip puso (hanging rice) into the bubbling mixture, creating rich and flavorful bites. This dish is often enjoyed communally with friends or enjoyed solo, since most restaurants offer unlimited refills of the pâté.
11. Siomai from Tisa
Siomai is a beloved street food you must try on your Cebu food tour, particularly in the Tisa area. These steamed pork dumplings are served with a special dipping of soy sauce, calamansi, and chili. Known for its juicy and flavorful filling, Tisa siomai is a favorite among both locals and tourists.
DID YOU KNOW: Siomai stalls only caught on in 2001 at Tisa, when an owner of a halo-halo snack house started serving it to customers and it became popular with customers.
12. Mixed Seafood Bowl
A Mixed Seafood Bowl is a highlight of Cebu cuisine which features a variety of fresh seafood such as shrimp, squid, fish, and clams, cooked together in a flavorful broth. Seasoned with garlic, ginger, and spices, this dish offers a savory and aromatic meal that showcases the best foods in Cebu.
13. Cheesy Scallops
Cheesy Scallops are part of some of the delightful Cebu delicacies to enjoy on your food trip. Fresh scallops are topped with a creamy cheese sauce and baked until golden and bubbly. The combination of tender scallops and rich cheese creates a delicious contrast of flavors and textures for your tastebuds.
FUN FACT: The Carbon Market in Cebu is where many of the best foods in Cebu are freshly made and sold. Most notable among their seafood dishes is their affordable cheesy scallops.
14. Nilarang Bakasi (Eel Soup)
This meal is a traditional Cebuano soup made from eel cooked in a savory broth with tomatoes, ginger, and spices. Known for its rich and slightly tangy flavor, the tender eel meat absorbs the aromatic spices well. This unique soup is a must-try for adventurous eaters on a Cebu food trip.
15. Fried Eel
This is another eel-centered popular dish you should include on your food tour. The eel is marinated in spices and deep-fried until crispy, resulting in a flavorful and crunchy dish, often served with a dipping sauce. It’s a tasty and unique way to enjoy eel among Cebu delicacies.
DID YOU KNOW: If you want the best eel dishes, Entoy’s Bakasihan is located near the seaside in Barangay Buagsong, Cordova.
16. Ginabot (Chicharon Bulaklak)
Ginabot or also known as Chicharon Bulaklak is a popular Cebuano street food to enjoy on your Cebu food tour while on the move. These are pork intestines bits that are deep-fried, this dish is crispy and flavorful, often served with a vinegar dipping sauce.
17. Sugar Cane Juice
After many meals on your Cebu food tour, you need some refreshing sugar cane juice to wash it down and cleanse your palate. Created from freshly pressed sugar cane, it is naturally sweet and often served chilled with a hint of calamansi or lemon juice to balance the sweetness. Perfect for quenching your thirst on a hot Cebu day.
FUN FACT: There have been businesses such as Tubo Ko and Tubó Cane Juice that serve all kinds of sugarcane juice mixed with other fruits that have become famous in Cebu.
18. Pinaypay na Saging (Banana Fritters)
This a sweet Cebuano snack to include in your Cebu food trip. They are ripe bananas sliced thinly, coated in batter, and deep-fried until golden and crispy, these fritters are often sprinkled with sugar and served hot. They make for a delicious and satisfying treat among Cebu delicacies.
19. Puto Sikwate
Puto Sikwate is a traditional Cebuano dessert pairing that’s perfect for your Cebu food tour. It consists of sticky rice cakes (puto) paired with a rich and thick hot chocolate drink (sikwate). The combination of sweet rice cakes and bittersweet chocolate makes for a delightful and comforting snack or breakfast.
DID YOU KNOW: The word “sikwate” from one of the tastiest Cebu delicacies is a localized adaptation of the Spanish word “chocolate.”
20. Lato (Sea Grapes)
Also called green caviar or sea grapes, lato is a type of seaweed commonly eaten in Cebu. With a unique, crunchy texture and slightly salty taste that bursts in your mouth. Often served fresh in salads with vinegar, tomatoes, and onions, lato is a refreshing and healthy side dish you gotta try on your Cebu food tour.
21. Puto Bumbong
This purple-colored rice cake dessert is made from glutinous rice, traditionally cooked in bamboo tubes and served with grated coconut and muscovado sugar. Often enjoyed during the Christmas season but available year-round in Cebu, its chewy texture and sweet flavor make it a favorite on any Cebu food trip.
FUN FACT: After mass ended, Filipinos would enjoy breakfast and shake off excess sleepiness with puto bumbong and salabat, a traditional rice delicacy believed to have been introduced from Mexico by the expedition of Miguel Lopez de Legazpi during the early Spanish colonial era.
22. Rosquillo
This traditional Cebuano cookie is a delightful treat on any Cebu food trip. Baked from flour, eggs, sugar, and butter, these small, ring-shaped cookies are slightly sweet with a crumbly texture. Beloved as a snack, rosquillos are one of the best Cebu delicacies and make for a great souvenir.
23. Masareal
Masareal is a Cebuano delicacy that peanut lovers must try on their Cebu food tour. Created from ground peanuts and sugar, formed into rectangular bars, it has a sweet and nutty flavor with a crumbly texture that melts in your mouth.
DID YOU KNOW: One of the oldest masareal sellers is Mana Acion’s Special Masareal which began in Mandaue City during the 1960s. It was discontinued in 1994 but was revived in the 2000s by the original owner’s daughter Agripina “Penny” Bellen.
24. Otap
This is a popular Cebuano pastry that’s a must-try on your Cebu food trip. Baked out of puff pastry dough sprinkled with sugar, the pastry is flaky and crispy, with a sweet and buttery flavor. Otap is often enjoyed with coffee or tea and is a favorite snack eaten at breakfast or afternoon.
25. Ampao
Ampao is a traditional Cebuano rice puff snack to eat while on your Cebu food tour. It is dried rice grains cooked and coated with caramelized sugar, this light and crispy treat is sweet and satisfying. Enjoyed as a snack or dessert, ampao is a popular souvenir item and one of the best foods in Cebu.
FUN FACT: Ampao has its origins in the pre-colonial period of the Philippines which was used as an offering during rituals and ceremonies.
A Cebu Food Trip to Remember
The chance to explore the best foods in Cebu awaits you! All from sweet desserts and refreshing drinks to savory Cebu delicacies that will leave you feeling famished. Through these Cebu cuisine you will see how foods also add more character and history to each place in your Cebu food trip, making it a memorable experience to share with others.
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