Last month, I decided to set aside my tasks and take a break from all the stress coming my way. Hence, I took an afternoon bus and I am so glad I found myself setting foot in Davao!
It is not my first time in this city. In fact, I was there last February, but fresh from stress, I made the most out of my trip and recreated it compared to what I usually do when I am there, like visiting a durian candy shops, tasting durian ice cream and shopping for pomelos! This time, I smiled at my new friends, stayed in what they say a uniquely-designed hotel, slept quite late, and devour every single food I find in Davao. I am so grateful to share the trip with amazing people, this trip went on successfully as I planned it.
There are so much I can share about my business there but let me put it one thing at a time. First things first, and what I mean by that is food first! LOL.
Without further ado, let me pour you my top ten (10) Davao food that you should try when you get to visit Davao.
- PASTA at The Green Bounty Kitchen
I found the most delicious pasta at The Green Bounty Kitchen, specifically their Gourmet Tuyo Pasta. It is made with “tuyo” (dried fish) in it. It is heaven! Especially when you’re hungry from strolling around the mall. You can pair it with their pomelo calamansi juice and your hunger is solved!
Aside from Gourmet Tuyo Pasta, I also highly recommend their Chicken Wrap, Dabawenyo Salad, Shrimp aglio olio Pizzadilla, and Kale Basil Pesto.
This resto is found just right inside the prestigious SM Lanang Premiere, near Uniqlo. What I as well find very nice about this food venue is their products are Farm to Table, which means their food offerings came from fresh ingredients. They also prepare organic products which are healthy and very good alternative for the food you usually eat.
- CHICKEN MEAL at Fowl Play
This one hip of a meal could be found at Fowl Play Kitchen + Dive Bar. Whether you would like to take a dinner or simply a heavy snack, then you will be at the right place. Their Chicken Meal is very delectable. In fact, this is the resto’s bestseller. Aside from this, you can also devour their Classic Burger and French Fries which is by the way my favorite pair.
Also sharing that Fowl Play has very neat and clean interiors, perfect for your OOTD shots.
- PORK RIBS INASAL at Bistro Selera
If you crave for Pork Ribs, then Bistro Selera is the one you’re looking for! They serve theirs with attitude. Selera Bistro’s Pork Ribs Inasal is naturally crispy with right amount of softness.
They also have this very unique appetizer made of pomelo, onions, herbs and local patis. Davao City is not known for a particular dish. Thus, residents brought out their creativity by highlighting Davao products such as pomelo and durian in different dishes. In this, Bistro Selera is one Davao restaurant which recreated some of the dishes that made it more of a Davao signature taste. For example is, as I mentioned, their Pomelo Salad which I like very much.
Their Tapioca is also to die for! When I tasted, it feels very milky and ingredients are so enjoyable to munch on while waiting for the Mama and Titas finishing their catching up convos. The dessert is tasty and elegantly served, very perfect to end the lunch feast.
You can find Bistro Selera near the Food Hall of SM Lanang Premier.
- KAN-ON NEGRO at Bistro Selera
This Kan-on Negro is what I find very unique. As a rice eater (Hehe) that I am, my eyes can easily catch sight on a cup of rice when hungry. Kan-on Negro is mixed with squid sauce, making its color and taste.
You can find Kan-on Negro inside Bistro Selera, as the same.
- HOT CAPUCCINO at Coffee Grounds
Coffee Grounds have been tagged as “selfie coffeeshop.” Maybe because the place is perfectly instagrammable. True, it is not just their coffee which tastes great, but the interiors is homey too. It feels like it wanna relax us from stress, or wake us up from a deep slumber.
There are a lot of options for coffee, frappe, hot and cold tea you can choose from (In my case, I chose Hot Capuccino because I love it’s effect on sleep me). Plus, you can pair it with pizza if you like.
- HALO-HALO at Aling Poping’s
Aling Poping’s Halo Halo is the colorful cart-designed halo-halo/ice cream shop you will find at the Sky Park of SM Lanang Premier.
They offer Halo-halo with different-flavored ice cream you can choose from. What I love the most about them is that you could fill out a form where you can check the add-on ingredients that you would like your Halo-halo to have. I find it very sassy, and cute at the same time.
- LECHON KAWALI at Toryano’s
I never mentioned it but when I visit Kave Restaurant or Missy Bon Bon in Cagayan de Oro, I always look for and choose Lechon Kawali, or Liempo. I know it’s not always a body’s bestfriend but when you’re hungry already and so much drained from doing a task, all you would wanted is to eat your favorite meal.
So when I visited Toryano’s in SM Lanang Premiere in Davao City, I did exactly the same. I love how crispy their Lechon Kawali is, it’s juiciness and how tasty it is.
- BILA-O MEAL at Boxed Up Davao
There are times in our lives where we cannot instantly decide the meal we could have for lunch, dinner or even just an afternoon snacks. If you feel like this and you’re in Davao, then Boxed Up Davao is the go-to place for you because they boxed up all kinds of food in one venue. From pork, chicken and beef meat, seafoods to all-time favorite siomai, dumplings, kikiam, fish ball or even buko pie, cakes, and pizzas.
They even have restos offering Malaysian food, Thai food, Japanese dishes and a lot more. Boxed Up Davao is much more like Lifestyle District in Cagayan de Oro, it is just that it is bigger in size, with larger number of tenants inside and with a capacity that could cater all classes of diners, from A, B to C.
What I just observe while I am there is that if you prefer to be on the open area (Because there is an area where you could just sit after visiting stalls, instead of entering restos), just prepare your handy fans because it’s a bit warmer, especially in the afternoon.
It is almost dinner time when I was there. So, I choose this Bila-o Meal (plus beef steak) which I believe could satisfy my hunger that time (LOL). I tell you, it is delicious as the same. The place is perfect for your family dinners, barkada night outs, or catching up with a balikbayan friend. Everyone are welcome in Boxed Up Davao.
- SPICY CHICKEN at The Kitchn
The Kitchn is located at the Food Hall of SM Lanang Premier. I know lots of us are chicken-people, which by the way what I mean are so much into fried chicken. I love the flavor of their chicken meals and how it is cooked. The spiciness and sweetness rolled into one meal is superb comes to effect because it is yummy and delicious.
Beside The Kitchn, you could also find the Zen Sushi where they offer (obviously) their best created sushi. I am not actually into this kind of food but I suggest you should try because it is sooo different when I tasted it.
- CLASSIC CHICKEN at South Wing
South Wing Cafeteria’s Fried Chicken is a must-try! Though they have a physical venue, you can also order for your take-out. I should also mention that their Fried Chicken are cooked in many different flavors.
As for me, I chose the Classic Fried Chicken which is very near to original. I like it because aside from it is very delicious in the mouth, I can still feel a little bit of oil around it, so it looks not that dry. It is my type of Fried Chicken.
More photos here.
Hence, that’s all for this time. I hope I gave you helpful ideas you could adopt when you travel to Davao. Davao is a beautiful place, their people are super cheerful, and their food are taste to remember.
Until the next food post!
Gem Tadefa says
Wow! Great blog and beautiful photos.
Irene says
Thank you for the support, Gem! <3 See you again soon!
Triz Tan Barreno says
Thank you for sharing this information! The foods look very delicious and I must try this one!
Irene says
Thank you so much!
Jon says
Yummy content. Thank you for sharing your Davao top foods. It sure is fun and mouth-watering to read your article. And when this pandemic is over, I hope you can visit Davao City once again. Be safe.
Irene says
Thank you so much for your comment and for visiting this blog. Surely, excited to be back in Davao!