What Food To Try in Cebu and Food Prices
How much does lunch and dinner cost
Examples of food prices, cafes, street food and other dining options in Cebu for 2024.
National currency: Piso, symbol — PhP (international currency code PHP).
General Cafe Price Guide
Average prices in Cebu cafes and restaurants
$3.6
Quick Lunch for One
Starting from $1.81
$24.1
Dinner for Two
to celebrate your trip
Starting from $12.69
$3.3
Combo Meal
Starting from $2.72
What to Try in Cebu
Must-try Dishes
Chorizo Bilbao - Spanish Sausage (savory sausage) - Juicy and slightly smoky, these sausages are often grilled or fried until crispy. Locals typically enjoy them for breakfast, paired with garlic rice and eggs, making it a hearty start to the day.Isaw - Grilled Chicken Intestines (popular street food) - Tender chicken intestines marinated in a tangy vinegar sauce, then skewered and char-grilled to perfection. It's a popular late-night snack, devoured with spicy vinegar or soy sauce at street food stalls throughout the city.
Lechon - Roast Pig (Cebuano specialty) - Whole pig slow-roasted over charcoal for hours until the skin is crispy and the meat is tender and juicy. It’s a centerpiece for special occasions, but you can find it nearly any day at local eateries, often accompanied by a side of liver sauce.
Pancit Canton - Stir-Fried Noodles (hearty noodle dish) - A delightful mix of egg noodles, vegetables, and either chicken or pork, stir-fried with soy sauce for that umami flavor. Usually served at gatherings and birthdays, it symbolizes long life and good fortune in Filipino culture, making it an essential part of celebrations.
Pinakbet - Vegetable Stew (flavorful veggie dish) - A mixture of local vegetables like bitter melon, eggplant, and squash, cooked in a fermented shrimp sauce for a savory punch. Popular during the rainy season, it’s often found on dining tables across Cebu, embraced for its hearty and nutritious approach.
Sinigang na Baboy - Pork Sour Soup (comforting soup) - Tender pork belly simmered in a sour broth made from tamarind and assorted vegetables, producing a uniquely tangy flavor. This dish is best enjoyed during the rainy season, as it’s the perfect comfort food to warm you up.
Binignit - Warm Sweet Soup (seasonal delicacy) - A sweet and creamy coconut soup filled with glutinous rice, sweet potatoes, and bananas. Traditionally prepared during the Holy Week, it’s commonly served warm at family gatherings, bringing comfort and a sense of togetherness.
Goto - Rice Porridge (filling breakfast dish) - Creamy rice porridge made with beef tripe, ginger, and garlic, often topped with green onions and cracklings. Commonly eaten for breakfast or as a late-night snack, it's a soothing dish that locals have with a side of soy sauce or calamansi.
Desserts & Drinks
Tsokolate - Tsokolate (thick hot chocolate) - A rich and velvety drink made from tablea (pure cacao) mixed with hot water or milk, often sweetened to taste. Locals love to sip this during breakfast or merienda, especially on rainy days when the comforting warmth feels just right.Fresh Buko Juice - Fresh Buko (young coconut juice) - Sweet and refreshing coconut water straight from a young coconut, usually served with a spoon to scoop out the tender meat. You'll find it sold by street vendors, perfect for cooling off after a day of exploring (it’s especially popular during the dry season).
Gitara - Gitara (local rice wine) - A mildly alcoholic drink made from fermented rice, often enjoyed during celebrations or as an accompaniment to meals. It's typically poured into small cups and shared among friends or family, creating a warm, communal atmosphere.
Otap - Otap (crispy pastry) - Thin, flaky, and slightly sweet pastries sprinkled with sugar and often flavored with coconut. These are a go-to treat for those visiting with family or friends as they’re perfect for sharing over coffee.
Halo-Halo - Halo-Halo (mixed cold dessert) - A colorful, layered cold treat made with crushed ice, evaporated milk, and a mix of ingredients like sweet beans, jellies, and ube (purple yam). Best enjoyed during the scorching summer months, it’s a beloved way to cool down while indulging in the variety of textures and flavors. By the way, watch out for the talcum powder-like ube topping; some folks mistake it for regular dessert sprinkles!
Food and Groceries in Cebu
Vegetables, Fruits and Bread
| Bread | $1.12 |
| Bananas | $1.16 |
| Oranges | $4.54 |
| Potatoes | $2.15 |
| Apples | $4.21 |
Beverages
| Water 1.5L | $0.61 |
| 0.5L Local Beer | $1.18 |
| Imported Beer | $2.14 |
| Wine Rating >4.0 | $7.25 |
| Milk 1L | $1.7 |
Various Groceries
| Meat (Beef or Pork) | $6.6 |
| Chicken | $4.52 |
| Cigarettes | $2.63 |
| Rice | $0.9 |
| Local Cheese | $9.52 |
Overview of Cuisine and Specialties
As markets buzz with life in the early morning, I often see locals hurry past the street vendors lined up, each stall offering a unique take on traditional breakfast. One vendor specializes in tuhog-tuhog—skewers of grilled meats and fish served with a spicy vinegar dip—while another serves fluffy, freshly cooked puso (rice wrapped in a woven pouch). Morning meal times here are sacred; many families gather at home, or at nearby eateries, enjoying breakfast around 7 AM to 9 AM before heading off to work or school.
I recently had breakfast at a bustling local spot in a neighborhood known for its authentic Cebuano dishes. For just ₱50, I tucked into a hearty plate of sinangag with longganisa (garlic rice with sweet sausage), which is a steal compared to some higher-end restaurants downtown where similar meals can go for upwards of ₱150. The best part? Eating here felt like stepping into a family affair, with laughter and clanking plates filling the air.
Visitors often make the mistake of assuming that every meal should be a sit-down affair. Many locals make it a point to grab food from street vendors or cornershop eateries, keeping it casual and quick. This makes sharing a meal with friends or family in the park or at home common practice, as lunch becomes a social occasion rather than just a pit stop.
Payment customs here are straightforward; cash is still king, although some places have started accepting cards. When you finish your meal, it’s customary to pay at the counter rather than your table—a little quirk that trips up visitors sometimes. As for tipping, it’s not as mandatory as in Western cultures, but a small tip, say 10%, is always appreciated for good service.
During lunch hours, particularly from 11 AM to 1 PM, the popular dining spots can become quite chaotic, especially if you’re near the office districts where workers spill out in droves. Planning to eat a bit later, say around 1:30 PM, will reward you with a more relaxed atmosphere.
Oh, and before I forget, if you’re looking for a unique local experience, try ordering your food “take-out” by saying “to-go” rather than “take-away.” It’s one of those small language quirks that will get you a nod of respect from local staff. If you're thinking about heading to one of those well-known restaurants, it’s best to make a reservation, especially on weekends, as locals flock there in droves.
The local food scene here truly reflects the vibrant mix of traditions and innovations—I'm always on the lookout for how these patterns evolve, especially as younger generations embrace culinary influences from abroad while keeping their roots intact.
I recently had breakfast at a bustling local spot in a neighborhood known for its authentic Cebuano dishes. For just ₱50, I tucked into a hearty plate of sinangag with longganisa (garlic rice with sweet sausage), which is a steal compared to some higher-end restaurants downtown where similar meals can go for upwards of ₱150. The best part? Eating here felt like stepping into a family affair, with laughter and clanking plates filling the air.
Visitors often make the mistake of assuming that every meal should be a sit-down affair. Many locals make it a point to grab food from street vendors or cornershop eateries, keeping it casual and quick. This makes sharing a meal with friends or family in the park or at home common practice, as lunch becomes a social occasion rather than just a pit stop.
Payment customs here are straightforward; cash is still king, although some places have started accepting cards. When you finish your meal, it’s customary to pay at the counter rather than your table—a little quirk that trips up visitors sometimes. As for tipping, it’s not as mandatory as in Western cultures, but a small tip, say 10%, is always appreciated for good service.
During lunch hours, particularly from 11 AM to 1 PM, the popular dining spots can become quite chaotic, especially if you’re near the office districts where workers spill out in droves. Planning to eat a bit later, say around 1:30 PM, will reward you with a more relaxed atmosphere.
Oh, and before I forget, if you’re looking for a unique local experience, try ordering your food “take-out” by saying “to-go” rather than “take-away.” It’s one of those small language quirks that will get you a nod of respect from local staff. If you're thinking about heading to one of those well-known restaurants, it’s best to make a reservation, especially on weekends, as locals flock there in droves.
The local food scene here truly reflects the vibrant mix of traditions and innovations—I'm always on the lookout for how these patterns evolve, especially as younger generations embrace culinary influences from abroad while keeping their roots intact.
Tourist Reviews
All photos and texts belong to their authors
It’s funny how vendors instantly raise their prices when they see a foreigner. I wanted to buy bananas from an old lady. She sold a big bunch to a local girl for 20 pesos, but I got just two bananas for 13!
Seafood prices at the market in Boracay are outrageous! They mark things up by at least 3-4 times. Even if you manage to negotiate down to half, you still end up paying a crazy markup.
When you approach local eateries, the prices aren’t displayed, and Filipinos just make them up on the spot. Now I understand why foreigners prefer to eat at more civilized places like McDonald’s; there, you don’t feel like you’re being scammed. Plus, they sometimes have Wi-Fi.
In Cebu, food prices are about half, sometimes even a third, of those in Boracay. For example, ice cream at McDonald’s in Boracay costs 50 pesos, while the same in Cebu is just 20 pesos.
Water in Boracay is 120 pesos, but in Cebu, it’s 50. Milk is 220 pesos in Boracay and 160 in Cebu. They say local rum here goes for 140-180 pesos per liter, but I haven't tried it yet; I hear it goes well with Cola! »