Secret foodie places
Whether it's already a popular spot or still a well-kept secret, Cebu has a chock-full of hole-in-the-wall restaurants—some, we know about by word-ofmouth, some, we chance upon on social media. To satiate our hunger for a good culinary adventure, Plus & Special talks to passionate foodies as they let us in on where to eat off the beaten path.
Carlo Andrew Olano Blogger / Kalami Cebu
Batchoyhouse328 in Guadalupe is perfect for the rainy season. It's really affordable and the batchoy with bone marrow is spectacular.
Chef Lor Torres Isidra Comfort Cantina
One of my favorite hole-inthe-wall places is the cafeteria inside Cebu Home Builders along A.S. Fortuna St. My favorites are its siomai and squid rolls.
Jay Chiongbian Musician
Mortings Bbq in Escaño Road, Cebu City and Batchoyhouse328 in Guadalupe are the two holesin-the-wall I like because of quality. And even being a hole-inthe-wall, they are super good and can compete with establishments.
Josua S. Cabrera Art Director of SunStar Weekend
“I love the food in Larang De Chupadidos. Its fish are fresh and the cuts are huge. I like their tinola which has a lot of aromatics. They also serve grilled fish, shellfish, kaldereta, pancit, pinakbet and many more. Since it is a karenderia, the place is very simple and no-frills but the food is very good.” (Larang De Chupadidos is located along F. Ramos St., Cebu City)
Noel S. Villaflor Editor of SunStar Weekend
“Vcnte Batchoy—yes, that's how it's spelled— is one of those rare 24-hour holes-in-the-wall in Cebu that never seems to run out of customers. Each bowl of delicious batchoy in this Mandaue joint is served just seconds after you make an order. I always go for a serving of "Super" batchoy:
noodles topped with tender meat, offal and pork cracklings, plus fresh raw egg that's cracked and cooked in the piping hot broth, the way Cebuanos love their batchoy. Vcnte's just opened its second branch in Talamban, so batchoy lovers living or working near the area have a reason to celebrate.” (Vcnte Batchoy is located at S.B. Cabahug St., Ibabao-Estancia, Mandaue City and North Agora Regency, Miñoza Street, Talamban)