Barato na, swak pa sa budget! 

The Philippines is home to many diverse dishes in each region, it is always the highlight of every festival in every city or province as its culinary traditions flourish but there is one festival that stands out for its grandeur and significance—The Sinulog festival in Cebu. This festival is celebrated annually every year and it not only mesmerizes the colorful street dances but also the delicacies that we learn to love and enjoy. 

Food is a universal currency that everyone can enjoy and spark a connection with a certain place or person. So, join me in this article as we venture into the world of Cebuano delicacies in the time of the Sinulog. Without further ado, here are the delicacies that are a must-have for everyone to try: 

Carbon Market Cebu

How about a journey to the market? 

Carbon Market is a place for locals to buy a wide selection of fresh produce at a cheap and affordable range. At night, it is packed with people as it has given vendors an opportunity to sell their products including many Cebuano delicacies, Sutukil food, and a variety of food stalls. Have you tried tuslob buwa?

Tuslob Buwa is a merienda staple and it literally means to dip in bubbles. The ingredients consist of pork brains, liver, and pork broth. It may not sound appetizing but don’t judge until you give it a try. It’s rich and savory flavor with a hint of smokiness and tastes like a liquefied sisig and it is eaten by sopping the stew in puso or hanging rice wrapped in coconut leaves. 

RATES & OTHER INFORMATION

OPENING HOURS

Saturday & Sunday – 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM

However, tenants may close early or stay long due to the traffic. 

OTHER INFORMATION

• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CarbonMarketCebu

FOOD STALLS

The classic stalls like Zagu, Santino’s and Fruitas are present in the Carbon Market. Meanwhile, new stalls have been added. Here are a few examples: 

• The Coffee Mobile
• Seaside Scramble 
• Happy Sundae
• Nine Tea Mobile
• Sutukil Stalls (Sugba, Tuwa, Kilaw)

HOW TO GET THERE?

• By Car: Waze and Google can be utilized, just enter Carbon Night Market Parking
• A walking distance from Magellan’s park and Freedom Park
• From Mactan-Cebu International Airport – You may hop into a taxi; fare is P180

AA Barbeque 

A smoky and savory Filipino barbeque is on the list! 

Have you heard of AA Barbeque? Experience Filipino goodness with a restaurant that serves a variety of short, grilled orders, and pa luto dishes in a casual and family-friendly restaurant. Filipino style barbeque is the creme dela creme where it serves a smoky, savory, and grilled barbeque that many locals and foreigners enjoy. 

Filipino style barbeque is pork barbeque in a bamboo skewers that is marinated in a special mixture of spices and seasonings. In the Philippines, we normally grill over wood charcoal  and dipped in a tail jar of spicy vinegar before eating. 

RATES & OTHER INFORMATION

RATES

The meñu is available on their website. 

OTHER INFORMATION

• Contact Number: 412-4911 / +63 922 845 2168
• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/theoriginalaabbq 
• Website: https://aabbq.org/ 
• Email Address: [email protected] 

HOW TO GET THERE?

Exact Location: Consolacion, Philippines 

• By Car: Waze and Google Maps can be utilized and set your destination to AA Barbeque Consolacion

Pungko-Pungko sa Fuente 

I am excited to share with you a very popular way of eating in the Queen City of the South. It’s called Pungko-pungko, which means crouch and squat while you eat. Our favorite fried foods are served like fried sausage, lumpia, chicken, longganisa, pork chops and others. There are many pungko-pungko stalls in Cebu and the best ones are in Fuente. Aside from eating at an affordable range, it is also one of the best ways to socialize and eat with your friends while spending and talking about their meals. 

The food is best served with vinegar, puso, and soft drinks. Their special vinegar is mixed with a lot of onions and chili. Micro businesses in Cebu are quite lucrative and it is open to a wide variety of people. It’s famous everywhere for workers, students, family, and even for events. Other than being cheap, it’s so good. 

Rates & More Information

Price List: 

• Ginabot (chicharon bulaklak): P15
• Fried Pork: P35
• Crab Meat: P25
• Puso (hanging rice): P4 per piece 

Located right across Apple Tree Suites or behind Fuente Circle (near Hi-Precision Fuente), Pungko-pungko sa Fuente is open everyday from 6 AM to 10 PM. 

How to get there? 

Exact location: 52 A J Llorente Street, Cebu City. Just right across Apple Tree Suites or behind Fuente Circle, near Hi-Precision Fuente. 

• By Jeepney: Ride any jeepney going to Mango Ave. Drop off at National Book Store – Mango or Caltex Gas station. From there, walk a little further for 5-10 minutes from Century Plaza and then turn left on the first alley (before Century Plaza) and just follow the road until you have reached the place. 
• By Car: Waze and Google Maps can be utilized. Pin your location to Pungko-pungko sa Fuente. Parking is available. 

Siomai sa Tisa 

Do you like dumplings? Tisa is a city district in Cebu that specializes in making siomai. Siomai in the Philippines is a steamed chinese pork dumplings and one of the few Chinese names that retained their spelling since arriving here. It started out from a fad ten years ago where many people went to Tisa to eat their siomai at roadside eateries.

Though no one can recall who started the siomai fad, siomai sa tisa has evolved into the Cebu standard for street-style pork dumplings. They’re accompanied by limonsito or vinegar, soy sauce, and chile-garlic oil that makes you want even more. 

Rates & Other Information 

Where: 

• A humble chain called D’Original Siomai sa Tisa claims to sell the original siomai sa Tisa in a more accessible location. It can be found in the intersection ride of Salinas Drive and Archbishop Reyes Avenue. 

When: 

• This is virtually a 24 hours joint since it’s part of the main rows of eateries servicing IT Park, where there’s a high concentration of call-center offices. 

How To Get There?

Exact location: Brgy. Tisa, Cebu City

• By Car: Set your destination to Brgy. Tisa, Cebu and pin your location on Waze or Google Maps. Parking is available.

Lechon de Talisay

Going to the Queen City of the South wouldn’t be complete without lechon!

Lechon or roasted pig is mostly served during gatherings or events. However, you can get a budget meal of P100 and it is already served with puso, lechon, or dinaguan (pork blood stew). Talisay and Carcar are one of the best places to go in Cebu. Did you know that Cebu is hailed as the Lechon Capital in the Philippines? Our lechon doesn’t need sauce because it is slowly roasted to perfection and marinated with a special blend of spices and seasonings making the roasted pig tender and crispy. 

RATES & OTHER INFORMATION

RATES

The rates are depending on the meñu.

OTHER INFORMATION

• Contact Number: (032) 324 4192
• Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/ruthyslechontalisay 
• Email Address: [email protected] 

HOW TO GET THERE?

Exact Location: Burgos Street, Poblacion, Talisay City, Cebu, Talisay, Philippines

• By Car: Pin your location on Waze and Google Maps and set your destination to Ruthy’s lechon. Parking is available.