Tag Archives: davao food

Cheesecake by Lachi’s and other October 2025 Favorites

Our October 2025 Favorites. Super late. Oops. But forgive us as we tackle our backlogs. We have pasta, hot pot, desserts, and a refreshing coffee concoction. Our top favorite? The Mixed Berries Cheesecake by Lachi’s. Of course.

Ready? Here are our favorites from February:

Garlic Alfredo Pasta by The Secret Garden Cafe
Beef Short Ribs with Kimchi Rice by Dulce Desserts
Hao Tang Hotpot
Cheesecake by Lachi’s Sansrival Atbp
Lemon Espresso Tonic by Cafe de Vivre

Garlic Alfredo Pasta

First, a pasta dish: Garlic Chicken Alfredo by The Secret Garden Cafe.

We love all sorts of pasta dishes and this one is definitely one we love. The pasta is al dente. The chicken is juicy and tasty. And nothing is drowing in sauce. The cream sauce is tasty and rich but not too thick nor too much. Just the right texture and amount.

The garlic is the best part of this because it cuts through the sauce and balances the flavor of everything. And the fresh basil on top adds freshness to the dish.

The Secret Garden Cafe is located in SM Village, Bangkal. We recommend calling or sending a message ahead to reserve a spot.

The Secret Garden Cafe

Cafe, Casual Dining

23 Opal Street, SM Village, Bangkal, Davao City, Davao del Sur 8000

09086298694

Social Accounts

Price Range

PhP100.00 - PhP400.00

Beef Short Ribs with Kimchi Rice

Second on this list is Beef Short Ribs with Kimchi Rice by Dulce Desserts.

Dulce Desserts opened at a new location just a stone throw’s away from their old location. Literally just a few meter away. Same street, same building, new and bigger spot. And of course, an expanded menu with savory dishes and more options.

We have tried a few of their savory dishes and the Beef Shortribs with Kimchi Rice is our favorite. Tender and savory beef with a hint of sweetness. Spicy, fluffy Kimchi Rice. Perfect cooked sunny side egg. The mix of flavors and textures is truly delightful.

Dulce Desserts is located at CT Drive in Tulip Drive, Matina.

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Dulce Desserts Davao

Cafe

CT Drive, CVA Avenue, Davao City, Davao del Sur 8000

+639178100260

Social Accounts

Price Range

PhP100.00 - PhP2,000.00

Hao Tang Hotpot

And we were able to finally try Hao Tang Hotpot.

Our friend ordered for us so we do not remember much of what we ordered but a few things stood out. First, the appetizer of Sweet Potato Chips. Thinly sliced, perfectly fried and seasoned sparsely. Second, the expansive sauce bar with way too many options. Our Editor Ria tried making her usual hotpot sauce and they had everything she loves. We also tried their own sauce mix as prepared by their servers and we recommend it to those who do not have their own favorite hotpot sauce mix yet.

We also love the Tomato Broth. Just the right mix of umami and sourness. All the meat we had looked fresh and tasted just right. The vegetables were crisp and fresh. And all the balls and dimsum tasted right. Nothing was frozen or limp in texture.

We recommend ordering the herbal tea. It cleanses the palate and gives a nice balance to the salty, spicy, umami flavors of the hotpot. And it is refreshing.

Hao Tang has a branch at Azuela High Street and at Sion Building in Juna Subdivision, Matina.

Cheesecake by Lachi’s

And we are back at our top favorite and most recommended Davao restaurant, Lachi’s Sans Rival Atbp.

We will probably never get tired of Lachi’s and we will never run out of stuff to recommend. While we love their signature sans rival, our Editor Ria’s first love at Lachi’s are their cheesecakes. It is always a treat to have cheesecake by Lachi’s. In this October trip to Lachi’s they surprised us with one of our favorites, a whole Lachi’s Cheesecake with a mix of berry toppings.

One fourth is Cherry, another fourth is Strawberry, and the half is Blueberry. The Our favorite is Cherry. The tartness is the perfect balance to the rich and creamy cheesecake. But having all three options in one cheesecake is a great idea for a dinner party with family and friends.

Other must-try cheesecakes by Lachi’s are the Triple Chocolate Cheesecake and the Matcha Cheesecake. The Durian Cheesecake is also a great dessert to try, even if you are not a durian lover.

Lachi’s Sans Rival Atbp is located at Poblacion Market Central along Bangoy Street.

Lachi's Sans Rival Atbp

Casual Dining

Poblacion Market Central C. Bangoy St, Poblacion District, Davao City, 8000

+639169841183

Social Accounts

Price Range

PhP100.00 - PhP550.00

Cafe de Vivre

Finally, our latest recommendation from October 2025 is Lemon Espresso Tonic by Cafe de Vivre.

We tried to accomplish the Davao Coffee Crawl but was just too busy. Luckily, we were able to try three spots and this one was our favorite. It is light and refreshing. It was tangy and a bit sweet. If you are a fan of citrus and coffee concoctions, this is a must-try.

Cafe de Vivre is located at the 3rd Floor of the Expansion Wing of Abreeza Ayala Mall along JP Laurel Avenue.

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Holy Week Dining Guide

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Looking for a delicious spot to visit during the Holy Week break? Here is our quick and easy Holy Week Dining Guide.

While we welcome the respite it offers, Holy Week can be challenging for those who are not observing abstinence and the religious traditions. More so for travelers and visitors in town. A lot of the usual dining spots and popular foodie destinations are closed. But worry not. We gotchu.

Davao Holy Week Dining Guide

Here are the restaurants open during Holy Week holidays from April 2 to April 4 (Holy Thursday – Black Saturday):

Alors: A Home Kitchen (food tray orders from the commisary only)
andMatcha
Bairrada Churasquerria
Chosun Chicken
Chung’s Kimchi
Classio Mobile Wood Fired Oven
Dani’s Palace
Fabian’s Pizza
Grateful Bread
Kindred Cafe
Made Simple
Mojicans Mexican Restaurant
Nonki (DGT only)
Oboza Compound: Tola, Huckleberry, Chiang Mai Superstar
Pilgrim Restaurant
Sitio Babak Korean Restaurant
Vegan Dinosaur

andMatcha

Starting our recommendations with our favorite matcha bar: &Matcha.

andMatcha Three Yards Hojicha and ereader

They craft rich and diverse matcha blends that cater to every taste. Keep an eye out for their seasonal offerings which include specialty matcha blends and regional matcha.

Their beautiful, minimalist interiors and picturesque locations are the perfect retreat for a quiet time this weekend. Whether you’re going alone or with family and friends, &matcha is a great matcha bar stop for the weekend. You can even bring a book to read or your journal.

Both their north and south branches are open during the Holy Week, Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday, April 2 -5, 2026.

North: Don Dionisio Complex, Cabaguio Avenue, Agdao, Davao City
South: Three Yards, Casiana Villa-Abrille Street (corner Tulip Drive), Juna Subdivision, Matina, Davao City

Chung’s Kimchi

Next on our list is one of our all-time favorite dining spots in Davao: Chung’s Kimchi. Whether you’re observing meat abstinence or not, they have a variety of Korean dishes you should try.

Holy Week Dining Guide Chung's Kimchi Bokkeumbap — Cheese Ttekbokki

Our favorites are the Cheese Tteokbokki, the Kimchi Bokkeumbap, and the Kimchi Jjigae. The Bokkeumbap is available with meatloaf or without. And the Jjigae may be ordered with tuna or pork.

Looking for meat dishes? We love their Beef Galbi Jjim, the Osam Bulgogi, and the Tangsuyuk.

And for those looking for halal food, they have halal options, as well. Just ask their servers.

Chung’s Kimchi is located along Sobrecarey Street in Obrero.

Chung's Kimchi

Casual Dining, Family Style

Sobrecarey Street, Obrero

09541620004

Social Accounts

Price Range

PhP100.00 - PhP1,000.00

Dani’s Palace Shawarma

We have had many shawarmas in our life but we think Dani’s Palace Shawarma is one of the best.

Their Shawarma is filled with tasty and savory beef (or chicken) and fresh vegetables wrapped in a light pita bread. And the garlic sauce is sublime. Smooth. Full of umami flavor.

Another dish we highly recommend is their Chicken Biryani.

The rice is aromatic, cooked well, and bursting with the flavor of spices. The chicken is juicy and flavorful. It is spicy, salty, a bit tangy, with a hint of smokiness. It comes with a Yogurt Sauce and a Spicy Sauce. The Yogurt Sauce is creamy and balances the spice well. But if you love spice, go for their Spicy Sauce to make the Biryani extra spicy.

Other favorites are the Kofta, the Hummus, and the Veggie Pizza.

Dani’s Palace recently opened their Maa Branch at Limaria right outside Le Jardin along Maa Road.

Dani's Palace Shawarma and Grill

Casual Dining

Limaria Le Jardin de Villa Abrille, Maa Road, Maa, Davao City, Davao del Sur 8000

09666949550

Social Accounts

Fabian’s Pizza

Here is a new entry in our Holy Week Dining Guide: Fabian’s Pizza.

We love almost everything in this pizzeria. We are glad they are open this week. Among their pizzas, our favorite is the Prosciutto Arugula. Salty prosciutto and fresh bitter arugula go well together.

Among their burgers, our favorite is the Blue Cheese Burger. Meaty, savory patty with a generous dollop of blue cheese sauce and fresh veggies all in between a pillowy brioche bun.

And an underrated dish on their menu which we love are their tacos. Perfectly seasoned beef, refreshing tatziki sauce, tomatoes, and herbs, on lightly grilled tortillas.

Fabian’s Pizza is located along Camia Street in Juna Subdivision, Matina.

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Savory Flea Market Finds

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2025 has been busy. We have been to many cafes, restaurants, and events. And more flea markets and pop up markets than we have ever been to. Sharing with you our favorite savory flea market finds from February to November 2025.

Favorite Savory Flea Market Finds

Here is a list of the most memorable, mouth-watering, and filling savory flea market finds we tried this year:

Andare Hoagie Rolls
Little Italy Pizzeria
Charkol Food Truck
Kaniii Slow Bar
Fresh Lock Seafoods
Bitoy’s Barbeque

Andare Hoagie Rolls

First on our list is Andare Hoagie Rolls.

They have a lean menu but each item is as delicious as the next. Choosing one to order is always a puzzle. Our top pick is Mortadella. Salty deli meat, fresh, crisp veggies, and savory and tangy sauce all in between crunchy, airy bread. Pastrami is for people who love spice in their meal. And we recommend their Eggplant Parmigiana if you are not craving meat.

One sandwich is good as a meal on its own. Or if you’re eating it as a snack, ask for it to be sliced in half and share with your flea market buddy.

View this post on Instagram

Follow them on Instagram @andarehoegierolls to know where they are popping up next,

Little Italy

Another delicious flea market find that’s great for sharing is Little Italy pizza.

They serve some of the best pizzas in Davao. Their menu varies from time to time. Our top two favorites are Truffle Pizza and Straciatella Pizza. One slice is only P125 and filling enough to be a meal. But we recommend buying one whole pizza and sharing it with your friends. You can even have a custom pizza with two flavors in one whole pie.

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Little Italy Pizzeria has branches at Lanang and Ecoland. Follow them on Instagram @littleitalypizzeria.davao to know more.

Charkol

Next, is a staple at Davao flea markets: Charkol Food Truck.

We love Charkol. From their Nori Fries to their Grilled Chicken, we rarely skip the chance to buy something from them. Our top favorite? Spicy and tangy Buffalo Chicken Sandwich with Blue Cheese Sauce. Superb.

When they are not at pop up markets, the Charkol Foodtruck is parked in Obrero. Follow them on Instagram @charkol_foodtruck for more information.

Kaniii

Next is a food booth that you will only see at select Davao flea markets. We love them and we highly recommend you give them a try.

SAVORY Flea Market Finds: Chicken Inasal Bowl by Kanii

Delicious Flea Market Finds: Chicken Teriyaki Bowl by Kanii

Kaniii Slow Bar is a cafe that specializes in cold brew and cold brew blends. Occasionally, they join pop up markets where they serve special menu items. Our favorites are their Inasal and Teriyaki Chicken Bowls. Their Tapa Tacos and Sisig Lumpia are also must-try dishes.

Of course, we cannot overlook their superb 12 Monkeys Cold Brew Coffee. And recently, we tried their Mont Blanc Cold Brew. And it was light and refreshing.

So on the rare occasion you do see their ubiquitous booth at a pop up market, order a savory meal or a refreshing cold brew.

Kaniii Slow Bar recently opened their shop in Talomo. Follow them @kaniii.sb on Instagram for more information.

Fresh Lock Seafoods

Here is another one you should not miss: Fresh Lock Seafoods.

It’s rare to find good seafood at pop up markets so we are always happy to see Fresh Lock. Their Ebi Fry is superb. As well as their Dragon Balls. Both are great as snack items. And both are even better with their Fried Rice.

It is one of our all-time favorites, the Fresh Lock Fried Rice. It is perfectly seasoned. And every serving is generous. We also love pairing it with beef and other dishes from other food purveyors.

If you want to cook up your own seafood dishes, you may also order shrimps and other fresh and frozen seafood from Fresh Lock. You may contact them via Instagram @freshlockseafoods to know more.

Bitoy’s

Finally, we recommend Bitoy’s Barbeque.

They have only joined one flea market event so far but we hope they join more. Their menu consists of Pork Barbeque, Chicken Barbeque, and Chicken Inasal. The Chicken Inasal is our favorite. Juicy and tasty.

In case you do not see them in pop up market anymore, you may order via their Instagram account @BitoysBBQ.

More Savory Flea Market Finds

We enjoy discovering new treats and dishes to try at every market event. Here are more savory flea market finds to try:

Jane’s Kitchen
Steaks and Butter
Bonbonz Dumplings

We are glad that homecooks, home bakers, and other small food businesses are reaching new diners via local flea markets and pop up markets. And we are always excited when we discover new favorites.

More Flea Market Favorites

Interested in knowing more of our favorites? Check out this list by Diyosa Life.

Beautiful Flea Market Finds

Support local. Shop local. Dine local.

We will post more of our favorites soon. And you can also see more of these brands and other local shops in the vlogs of our Editor Ria: Davao Diaries.

See all upcoming Davao Flea Markets in the My Davao City Events Calendar: mydavaocity.com/davao-events/.

For more information on Davao restaurants, cafes, matcha bars, and other Davao dining options, visit our Davao Food Directory.

Follow us on social media for more events and stories in Davao. Watch our adventures on Tiktok @MyDavaoCity and on Youtube @MyDavaoCityBlog. Our Facebook Page is at http://www.facebook.com/MyDavaoCity. We are @MyDavaoCity on Instagram.

Mahi by Made Simple and other September 2024 Favorites [Davao Food Recommendations]

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We are sharing our favorites from the past year. Here is a look back at our favorite dishes from August and September 2024. A memorable Mahi by Made Simple and more dishes that we loved. Let us know if you like our August and September Favorites.

August & September Favorites

We did not go out much last August so we are sharing just one list for August and September 2024. Here were our favorites from those two months:

PANCIT LUGLUG by Pansititoy via Grab,
MAHI by Made Simple,
CANELE by Dulce Desserts, and
ORANGE DARK MOCHA by Spark Coffee.

It’s a mix of new things we tried when we dined out of the house and 2 things we loved at home.

Pancit Luglug

One of our favorite pancit dishes is homecooked Pancit Luglug (or Pancit Palabok). We found one that comes close to tasting like our homecooked favorite, Pancit Luglug by Pansititoy.

Pansititoy’s Pancit Luglug is tasty with the right ratio of sauce to noodles. Plus, a generous topping of meat, chicharon, and boiled eggs. The sauce is shrimpy without being nakakaumay. Salty and full of umami.

Pansititoy has branches around Davao City and they are available for delivery via Grab. So if you want pancit luglug that tastes homecooked, order from Pansititoy today.

Mahi by Made Simple

Next is Mahi by Made Simple.

September 2024 Favorite Made Simple Mahi — Mahi

Honestly, I do not know where to start with this. I ordered this because I wanted to eat a light fish dish. And it turned out better than expected.

The fish is cooked properly. Moist not dry. Tasty. Crispy skin. The sauce was velvety with just the right calamansi tanginess. This was a well-balanced, tasty dish that we all enjoyed.

Made Simple is located in CT Drive along Tulip Drive.

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Pancit Molo and other February 2025 Favorites

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We’re back with the best of February 2025. From a savory Pancit Molo by Recuerdo to sweet Bombolini by AB Bakery, we have selected our favorites from the past month.

Ready? Here are our favorites from February:

Pancit Molo by Recuerdo Filipino Cuisine,
Creamy Truffle Pasta by Paramount Coffee,
Kale Ceasar Wrap by Clean Cafe,
Biscoff Croffle by Wakeful Coffee, and
Bombolini by AB Bakery.

Pancit Molo by Recuerdo

First on our list is Pancit Molo by Recuerdo.

We love everything about this. The soup is garlicky and salty with just a hint of sweetness and tang. There is a good amount of dumplings with molo wrapper, tons of garlic bits and green onions. This is a great way to start your meal at Receurdo. We underestimated this and ordered only one cup of rice. But this (and the Inasal Skewers) was so good, we had to order another cup.

Recuerdo is located along Molave Street corner Mangga in Juna Subdivision.

Recuerdo Filipino Cuisine

Casual Dining, Family Style

500 Mangga corner Molave Street, Juna Subdivision, Matina, Davao City, 8000

09951140218

Social Accounts

Price Range

PhP100.00 - PhP1,050.00

Creamy Truffle Pasta by Paramount Coffee

Next on our favorites is Creamy Truffle Pasta by Paramount Coffee.

This one makes us happy. Most cafes in Davao barely serve savory dishes. So we are glad to see this and other savory dishes on Paramount’s menu. And we are happy to report that this Creamy Truffle Pasta is a must-try. The sauce is smooth and creamy with just the right amount of (what we assume to be) truffle oil. It has a generous amount of fresh mushrooms. All tossed in withproperly cooked pasta. It might not be the most picturesque, but it is definitely one of the best pasta dishes we have tried recently.

Paramount Coffee has branches in Lanang, along Mabini Street in Poblacion, and inside Riverfront Corporate City.

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Discover Samal this 2025

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Start 2025 with an island getaway at nearby Samal. Discover Samal. Enjoy the tranquility, sights, and flavors that Discovery Samal Resort has to offer.

Book at Discovery Samal Resort

Have a restful getaway with a comfy bed and a glorious sight.

Discovery Samal has 153 villas and suites. Book a room and wake up to a breathtaking view of the Davao Gulf.

Stroll by the beach. Take a dip in its pristine waters or swim in Discovery’s pool. Relax. Enjoy a massage. Chill. Or take advantage of the resort’s many amenities and have an active and fun-filled stay.

Overnight guests get to enjoy a sumptuous breakfast at The Shoreline restaurant. They also have a 10% discount at the resort’s restaurants and Samal Escape Spa treatments.

Indulge in Discovery’s Dining Delights

Aside from a scrumptuous breakfast at The Shoreline, there are many dining options around the resort.

Your Samal experience is not complete without tasting fresh seafood. Visit Morning Catch and enjoy seafood dishes by the beach club. They have a selection of fresh seafood: shrimps, crabs, scallops, and more. Choose what you like and have it prepared the way you want it.

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