Camiguin
Camiguin's culinary profile is given a big boost by this restaurant housed in a large yellow villa on an isolated bit of waterfront. The culinary-school…
Must-see restaurants in Mindanao
Davao
The polished wood floors, carved trellis work and white clapboard exterior make this beautifully restored colonial-era home one of Davao's treasures…
Davao
The base for the growing artisanal cheese-making business of Olive Puentespina and her husband (Dr Bo, a veterinarian). Tastings accompanied by wine and…
Camiguin
Made from recycled wood, shells, rocks and a hotchpotch of other materials a la Robinson Crusoe, this eccentric Belgian-owned cafe is a good place for a…
Cagayan de Oro
The ground floor of the Red Planet Hotel, on the city's primary traffic-jammed road, is an unusual spot for a restaurant espousing slow-food movement bona…
Siargao
Until 9pm this is CEV, which specialises in highly original ceviche and kinilaw bowls – basically marinated raw fish bits mixed with rice, seasonal…
Davao
Three siblings – a chef, a decorator and a farmer – have opened up this 'barn to table' restaurant in which they've vowed to get back to the basics…
Davao
An unassuming sun-baked collection of low-slung buildings behind the mall of the same name. More than a dozen quality restaurants, including several large…
Cagayan de Oro
For the freshest seafood, head to this restaurant perched on stilts over the water around 10km west of Cagayan de Oro on the highway to Iligan.
Northern Mindanao
Excellent and massive thin-crust pizzas with a few tables and waterfront boulevard seating. 'Extra super-size' pies are a ridiculous 36in with 50 slices.
Mindanao
Seafood, of course, is the speciality here – choose the species, size and cooking method from a menu of delicacies. What sets Alavar apart is the…
Cagayan de Oro
No plates and utensils – a bit of a gimmick – does prompt table photos of everyone in their bibs and plastic gloves. No matter how the crabs, prawns,…
Siargao
American–Filipina–owned roadside spot in sleepy San Isidro dishing out a variety of pizzas, including Hawaiian, vegie and seafood (squid, mussels and…
Cagayan de Oro
In addition to standard Filipino meat and noodle dishes, Lokal does its own version of pinakbét (an Ilocano dish of mixed vegetables steamed in fish sauce…
Camiguin
Seafood (such as bangus P60 per 100g) comes straight from the pens on the Benoni lagoon, which this restaurant overlooks; popular with large groups on…
Siargao
Named after the famed Oaxaca surf break, Zicatela whips up Siargao's best tacos and burritos, complemented by modern Mexican mains (try the Yucatan slow…
Camiguin
Allesandro, the Italian owner-chef at this open-air place across from the airport, fires up delicious thin-crust brick-oven pies using only high-quality…
Siargao
Attached to the resort of the same name, Buddha's occupies a lovely two-storey structure where a Thai chef delights gastronomes with authentic Siamese…
Camiguin
An earthy little garden cafe serving healthy fare like smoothie bowls topped with granola, vegan and non-vegan shakshuka and mains like stir-fried…
Cagayan de Oro
True to its old-school decor of antique plates and doilies that would make grandma happy, there's no wi-fi on offer at this postage-stamp-sized cafe…
Northern Mindanao
Surigao's most dependably lively spot is an open-air pavilion within the Hotel Tavern's grounds. Fresh seafood is the speciality (you can select from the…
Northern Mindanao
Part of the Hotel Tavern complex, this contemporary cafe qualifies as hip, for Surigao. Sandwiches, burgers, plus pastries, cookies and excellent coffee…
Siargao
Kawayan's restaurant does food inspired by French, Basque, Moroccan and Filipino cuisines (Moroccan tagine is the speciality), served in a sumptuously…
Davao
Long running and stylish Hanoi serves tasty Vietnamese cuisine, including excellent banh mi (baguettes); some dishes are dumbed-down versions to appeal to…
Davao
Paellas and other Iberian–style meat dishes dominate most of the chalkboard menu at this bustling and homey place, where the owner roves the tables…
Davao
Centrally located. 'The Peak', a 5th- and 6th-floor addition, has an outdoor plaza lined with cafes and restaurants, including Kublai Khan's, an all-you…
Northern Mindanao
Not much curb appeal to this utilitarian-looking restaurant next to the Surigao Coast Guard office. However, it's pleasant enough inside and serves…
Davao
Tadakuna doesn't look like much: a handful of tables in a modest dining room. However, the owner, a passionate fisherman, knows how to turn out some of…
Siargao
Warung's Indonesian chef serves up good-value specialities like nasi rames (dish with small portions of rice, meat and vegies), laksa (spicy noodle soup)…
Original Conching's Native Chicken
Davao
A whole chicken and a bucket of beers. What's not to like? Celebrities apparently are on board. Their photos are plastered on one wall of this otherwise…
Cagayan de Oro
Filipino comfort food, especially lechón (roast suckling pig) and kambing (goat) dishes, and imported beers like Stella Artois and Asahi are on offer at…
Camiguin
Luna does excellent thin-crust brick-oven pizza, a mean mixed-seafood grill and good-value breakfasts. Pasta dishes are of uneven quality. Tables are…
Guiseppe Pizzeria & Sicilian Roast
Cagayan de Oro
The best Italian restaurant in CDO serves up wood-oven pizza, homemade pastas, including top-class pappardelle lamb ragu, and meat dishes like lamb shank…
Siargao
To maintain the healthy vibe after hours out in the surf, try one of the delicious power bowls and smoothies at this postage-stamp-sized spot. The super…
Siargao
Associated with neighbouring Sagana Beach Resort, this place sits under palm trees on a rare (for Cloud Nine) patch of sand, offering sandwiches, brownies…
Siargao
Every evening the surfing herd converges to feed on skewered pork chops, chicken and beef at this modest BBQ shack about 1.5km north of GL. And then, just…
Davao
Late-night cravings meet their match at this modest eatery serving this restaurant's eponymous dish made of stewed carabao with ginger root, onion, chilli…
Davao
One of three locations in the city, this informal and popular eatery specialises in seafood by the kilo (eg lapu lapu and tuna). When it's busy here, most…
Cagayan de Oro
Around 10km west of Cagayan de Oro, Seablings has a good boodle fight menu – basically, group meals served on banana leaves and eaten with hands. The…
Siargao
Part of the dive centre of the same name, this pleasant spot along the GL waterfront does a good mix of salads, burgers and paninis. Waffles and crepes…
