Tag Archives: favorites

Lachi's Cheesecake

Cheesecake by Lachi’s and other October 2025 Favorites

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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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Recuerdo Filipino Cuisine

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.

Pancit Molo by Recuerdo Filipino Cuisine
Pancit Molo

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.

Creamy Truffle Pasta by Paramount Coffee featured with Pancit Molo as our February 2025 Favorites

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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Chicken Biryani Dani's Palace Shawarma and Grill

Chicken Biryani and other January 2025 Favorites

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Let us welcome 2025 with our favorite Chicken Biryani by Dani’s Palace and other favorites from January 2025.

Our top picks from what we tried last month are:

  • Fried Mandu by Chung’s Kimchi,
  • Spinach Croissant by Dulce Desserts,
  • Chicken Biryani by Dani’s Palace Shawarma and Grill,
  • Burnt Basque Cheesecake by Wood and Coffee, and
  • White Peak by Purge Coffee Roaster.

Fried Mandu by Chung’s Kimchi

First on our list is Fried Mandu.

We have been to Chung’s Kimchi many times and have tried their Steamed Mandu. It was ok for us. Light and a good contrast to their more flavorful and heavy dishes.

This time, we tried their Fried Mandu and we love it even more. The meat filling is flavorful and the dumpling is fried crisp but not greasy. The sauce it comes with is salty and a bit sour and sweet. The Fried Mandu is great on its own but the sauce also complements the flavors well.

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

Chung's Kimchi
Casual Dining, Family Style
Sobrecarey Street, Obrero
09541620004
Social Accounts
Price Range
PhP100.00 - PhP1,000.00

Spinach Croissant

Next on our list is Spinach Croissant by Dulce Desserts.

Spinach Croissant by Dulce Desserts

Dulce Desserts is one of our go-to cafes for meetups. They have a limited savory menu and this is our favorite from their savory offerings. The spinach filling is creamy but not too rich. It is seasoned lightly and goes well with the croissant shell. The pastry is flaky and buttery. This savory pastry is good as a snack or a light meal.

They are located at CT Drive along Tulip Drive (CVA Avenue) in 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

Chicken Biryani by Dani’s Palace

Last month’s absolute favorite is Chicken Biryani.

Danis Palace Shawarma and Grill

The Chicken Biryani is sublime. 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. The chicken and the rice go well with each other. The serving is large for 2-4 persons.

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.

We recommend ordering an extra side of our favorite Garlic Sauce. It is creamy and flavorful. It gives a different layer of flavor to the dish.

Dani’s Palace Shawarma and Grill is located at Limaria along Maa Road in Maa.

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

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Shuga Beibi

December Favorites [Davao Food Recommendations]

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Hello, 2025! Here is another favorites list from 2024. Our December Favorites is here. Mostly, our favorites from the holiday events we attended. And it is longer than usual. Plus, three coffee drinks we love.

December 2024 Favorites

Our top recommendations for December are:

  • Tomato and Basil Soup by Made Simple,
  • Kare-Kare by Romualdo’s,
  • Beef Caldereta by Chippens,
  • Mango Passion Fruit Kakiguri by Shuga Beibi,
  • Paris Brest by Dulce Desserts,
  • Sea Salt Latte by Club’s Bakery,
  • Spanish Latte by Priore Cafe, and
  • Kori-Kohi by Beans and Berry.

List is longer than usual and we have 3 coffee drinks on it.

Tomato and Basil Soup by Made Simple

We went back to Made Simple and we tried the soup.

December 2024 Faves Tomato and Basil Soup by Made Simple
Tomato and Basil Soup by Made Simple

The Tomato and Basil Soup is rich and flavorful. Tangy, a bit salty and creamy. It goes well with their bread. It is a good starter to your meal or could be an entire light meal on its own.

Made Simple is located at CT Drive along Tulip Drive.

Kare-Kare by Romualdo’s

Our next two recommendations are by two of our favorite caterers in Davao.

The Kare-Kare by Romualdo’s is a winner. Tender beef and oxtail and vegetables in a tasty rich peanut sauce. It is apparent that it is cooked with care with homecooked quality to it. Superb.

The team behind Romualdo’s recently opened their first restaurant, Recuerdo in Juna Subdivision.

Beef Caldereta by Chippens

Another favorite from the holiday events we attended is Beef Caldereta by Chippens.

Chippens is undoubtedly the most popular caterer in Davao. Oone of our favorites is their Beef Caldereta. The beef is tender and flavorful and the sauce is rich, savory, sour, and just a bit sweet and spicy. There is a perfect blend of flavors that make any occasion just a little bit more special.

Their Beef Caldereta is also available in their stores freshly cooked or frozen.

Special mention to their Lechon Baka which we also love.

Chippens is located at Roxas Avenue. You may also enjoy their Calderata at Salome’s Garden in Cabantian.

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November Favorites

November Favorites [Davao Food Recommendations]

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Continuing our monthly favorites series with our top picks from last month. Here are our November Favorites. It is a mix of old and new dishes to try.

November 2024 Favorites

Our top 5 recommendations for November are:

  • Shawarma by Dani’s Palace,
  • Piri-Piri Plate by Bairrada,
  • Combi A Lachi’s, and
  • Strawberry Cake by Alor’s.

Some are new. Some are old. Everything is a must-try.

Shawarma

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

November Favorites Dani's Palace Shawarma
Chicken and Beef Shawarma by Dani’s Palace

Their Shawarma is filled with tasty and savory beef (or chicken) and fresh vegetables wrapped in a light pita bread. It is served with a spicy sauce and a garlic sauce. We recommend ordering the Single serving. It also comes with sides of fries and coleslaw.

The garlic sauce is sublime. Smooth. Full of umami flavor. The shawarma itself is undoubtedly good but the garlic sauce makes it over the top good. If you have a huge appetite, their Overloaded Shawarma is extra big and comes with your choice of three sauces.

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

Piri-Piri Plate

Our second recommendation is Frango Piri-Piri Plate by Bairrada Churrasqueira.

Piri-Piri Plate by Bairrada
Piri-Piri Plate
Piri-Piri Plate by Bairrada
Potatoes and Tomato Salad

The Piri-Piri Plate includes half of a chicken, potatoes, tomato salad, and rice. The chicken is wood-charcoal-grilled. It is spicy and salty. This is contrasted well by the tomato salad with its tangy dressing. Our favorite on the plate is the salty, umami-filled potatoes. It seems to be smashed and double-fried. It is crispy with a moist interior. There is a good mix and balance of flavors and textures in one plate. If you love spicy food, give the Piri-Piri plate a try.

Bairrada recently opened at The Compound along Tulip Drive.

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October Favorites: Katsu Curry by Nonki Japanese Restaurant

October Favorites [Davao Food Recommendations]

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We love eating out and we love sharing with you our recommendations. This month, we are starting a new series where we share our favorites from the past month. Here are our October Favorites. 

October 2024 Favorites

We will keep our lists simple and recommend just 3 to five dishes per month. Maybe a bit more at times. The past month, our top 5 recommendations are:

  • CHEESE TTEOKBOKKI by Chung’s Kimchi,
  • KATSU CURRY by Nonki Japanese Restaurant,
  • SALMON HEAD ARANI by Nonki Japanese Restaurant,
  • MATCHA MILLE CREPE by andMatcha Cafe, and
  • MILO DINOSAUR by Kopi lah Roti.

Everything on our list this month are intentionally all Asian cuisine dishes.

Cheese Tteokbokki

First on our list is Cheese Ttteokbokki by Chung’s Kimchi.

October Favorites
Cheese Tteokbokki by Chung’s Kimchi
October Favorites
Cheese Tteokbokki by Chung’s Kimchi

Most of the Tteokbokki dishes we have tried are one note, just spicy. The Cheese Tteokbokki by Chung’s Kimchi is savory and spicy, a little bit sour and sweet. It is super cheesy. There is a good balance of flavors. It also has a generous amount of odeng (fish cakes) and of course, melted cheese.

This is the perfect starter for a meal at our favorite Korean restaurant. It will delight diners who already love Korean cuisine and those who have not tried Korean food yet.

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

Nonki Japanese Restaurant

Next on our list are two dishes by our favorite Japanese Restaurant, Nonki.

Katsu Curry by Nonki Japanese Restaurant
Pork Katsu Curry
Salmon Head Arani by Nonki Japanese Restaurant
Salmon Head Arani

We love Nonki but this is the first time our Editor Ria has tried their Katsu Curry. You may choose pork or chicken. We tried the Pork Katsu Curry. The pork is exquisitely breaded and fried. It’s is crunchy and not greasy at all. The Katsu is well-seasoned. The curry sauce has the right balance of umami, spicy, salty, and sweet. The potatoes and carrots are nicely cooked, not mushy. It comes with rice and a side salad.

We also got to try their Salmon Head Arani. It was the owner’s birthday and he gave this complementary dish to every table that night. We all love it. The salmon is perfectly cooked and the sauce is salty and sweet. This is a good dish to be shared on the table.

Nonki Japanese Restaurant in Davao is located at Autoville Compound along Torres Street, in Poblacion.

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