This January 2026, we spent 5 days in Siargao and for 2 whole days joined tours which included lunch. Had a long list of dining options sourced from kin and their young friends. Honestly? I was surprised there’s a long list. Knowing the surfing capital of the country didn’t welcome food/restaurant chains, I assumed most of my meals will either be in hotels or in family-run mom & pop eateries. Of course, I heard of a few which became popular and set up branches in Makati like “Shaka” and “La Carinderia”. But we’ve tried quite a few and really enjoyed our dining experience. I hope this list helps some of you who are planning to visit Siargao. I have my own for my next visit — to cover more ground!
La Carinderia CEV Ceviche & Kinilaw ShackKermit’s PizzaShaka + X Bar in Cloud 9 BoardwalkEl Chapo: Tacos, Birria & TostadasBravo Beach Resort Kanin Baboy for LechonHalika Artisanal GelatoJorene’s Halo Halo & Maiz Con HieloIsland Hop Tours include boodle fight lunch consisting of generous servings of grilled meat, seafood, noodles and seaweeds.
Many I’ve missed out of those listed by others: Bebie’s Barbecue, Naga, Las Palmas, Warung, Roots, Lamari, Bar Ciao, Harana, St Thomas Coffee, Manu, Whitebeard, Harana. Let me know your experience with these dining spots! Bon appetit 🏝️
Sure, I was so looking forward to the beach life — sun, sand, beach chairs, swim in clear waters, ice cream melting as the sea breeze sticks more sand on your shoulders and back, sea salt on your hair, all that seafood plus some beach cocktails. Piña Colada, anyone? Enjoying every bit even if I passed up all chances for surf lessons (how the hell do I even get up on the surfboard?), diving off and into lagoon waters (can’t even balance walking towards the end of the diving board!), snorkeling in open sea (so hard to even walk to shore against the current), diving off the boat to swim or just treading water. And please, let’s forget paragliding. Too extreme for me.
Secret BeachCoconut View Deck
We joined a land tour but found out the tour included beach spots and visits to lagoons and tidal pools. Was happy to experience Siargao sans commercial food chains like those burger and pizza joints, and to find the island teeming with lush forests and vegetation. When I was 15, I drove my father’s motorbike and had a nasty accident. Half my face bandaged, only liquid nutrition for some weeks. Luck was on my side — no broken bones, no permanent facial scars, just a bent coccyx bone and a bad memory. With that, any scooter rental is out of the question. We joined the tours in a van filled with 10 pax. Lunch included and this was in a local carinderia where locals ordered pork sinigang and longganiza while the foreigners figured out how to eat the crablets and spider conch shells.
Boarded a small boat to reach Sugba Lagoon before it closes for renovation/maintenance. Scenes from the Diving Platform
The highlights of this land tour is the Sugba Lagoon where one can dive into cool waters, paddle board, kayak, snorkel, or just simply swim. We visited the last day before the lagoon area closes for a month of upkeep. The boat ride to this spot took more than a half hour, passing waterways hemmed in by tiny verdant islands . My eyes feasted on all this greenery. From here, we hopped back to our van for the ride towards the Magpupungko Rock Pools. I stopped midway and just contented myself with a view of the natural tidal pools among limestone formations. It was a steep rocky descent towards the tidal pools and I wasn’t willing to risk a slip. But my niece went on and happily took a dip and swam in the pools while I watched seated on a rock.
Magpupungko Tidal Pools
Magpupungko Rock Pools
The tour took nearly a day. The van fetched us from our hotel at 7:30am and brought us back by 4pm or so. But not before bringing us to Maasin River. Here you can go kayaking but after all the activities, not everyone has enough strength beyond posing for photos at the diving board. 🤣
This land tour is so worth it, even if it’s more expensive than the island-hopping tour and more so than doing it on your own with rented scooters. We enjoyed all the stops especially the Sugba Lagoon boat ride and visit. Lunch could have been served better in the area of the Magpupungko Rock Pools where there are beachfront eateries, and errrr more interesting desserts like the buko halo halo. But we’re good. We got good value for the P2,100 we paid for each person. By the time we were driven back to our hotel, we just dropped our bags and went in search of desserts. These deprived ladies found one near the church. Homemade ice cream, halo halo and maiz con hielo. But nearer our hotel, another shop prides itself for its artisanal gelato. So there. 😋😘🥰
Booked this 3 island hopping tour visiting Naked Island, Dako and Guyam Islands. Joined a group of 24 pax, half of which are foreigners and the rest locals. First off was Naked Island, which is actually a sandbar. Welcome, sunshine! No trees, no shelter. Just a sizeable oval shaped sandbar off the southern shore of Siargao, with just the sand and the sea to enjoy. A slather of sunscreen here and there but I get a sense no amount of skin protection would work. Naked Island is NOT a nudist island. The sandbar itself is “naked” as no single tree stands here. One hour here is all you need. Its proximity to Siargao Island makes it a top island hopping destination especially when you have limited time.
Naked Island. A treeless sandbar off the southern shore of Siargao.
In between the island hops, there was also a chance to jump off the boat, swim and go snorkeling. The current was quite strong though so only those confident with their swimming skills did. I stayed on the boat with the young Filipinos who are here on holiday break from their Qatar jobs. These guys made me laugh so much as they readily entertained us with their funny song and dance numbers that provided comic relief. Whoever you are, thank you guys. The “skit” where one acted like a flight attendant had me in stitches! And all that laughing made us grow really hungry and ready for the boodle fight. This is lunch, Filipino style. The spread was quite abundant — very generous servings of fried tuna, grilled pork belly, noodles, shrimps, spider conch, sea grapes or seaweeds, sautéed vegetables, mangoes and watermelons.
Noodle lunch in Dako Island
The boodle lunch was served in Dako Island where there was also enough time to swim, play volleyball or even to spread a beach towel for a quick nap on the sand. In Guyam Island, there are beach bars and some music and fruit stalls. More swimming or more naps or more volleyball games. By this time, the boat passengers have grown relaxed, friendlier and chattier. We were lucky to join a fun group. (Trivia: I was the OLDEST in the group. That means the boat crew paid more attention to my safety and welfare 🤣 )
We tried our luck in Cloud 9. But no surfers. No fiery orange nor pink hues across the sky from the Cloud 9 boardwalk. We waited until twilight and that’s when we decided to enjoy our piña colada, pizza and mango smoothie. The sky was woefully unstained by vibrant colors but that’s ok. It’s only our first whole day. The stray dogs and pearl vendors kept us company, relentlessly trying to make us succumb. I’m pretty good resisting this retail therapy but my niece is another matter. She’s a magnet for vendors of any kind!
Cloud Nine BoardwalkTwo lone surfers just before sunset
January must be off season. I was told it rains a lot the first month of the year. It rained when we arrived but soon enough, the sun was out. Late in the afternoon, the surfers must have gone to bars or for some nutrition as we only found a couple with their boards. The boardwalk wasn’t crowded at all. And there were empty chairs facing the waters from Shaka and X Bars where we picked up our aperitif.
Mango Smoothie Cereal Bowl from ShakaX Bar’s Piña Colada+ Pizza
The following day, we set out for AFAM Bridge. Yes, AFAM as in “A Foreigner Assigned In Manila”. The sunset warriors are all here! Some AFAMs bearing beer bottles which they uncork while watching the sun set. Local vendors plying their wares — pearls, shirts and some handcrafted souvenir items. The local boys offer their services to take photos, amusing foreigners with their “human drone” tactics. We tried looking for dining places nearby but found none interesting. Then we remembered our hotel driver mentioning “Jorene’s Homemade Ice Cream & Halo Halo” so we promptly hailed a tuktuk to get there. Thought we’d end the day on that sweet note but there’s this Italian-Filipino restaurant called “La Carinderia” right across our hotel. Actually, I first tried La Carinderia when they opened a Makati branch. Good food, good service, and the most charming couple owners. So yeah, we ended the day with that famous Mama’s Lasagna plus Siargao Salad which I swear is really good. Chef Stefano and Miss Po also trained their staff very well. Good simple Italian – Pinoy dinner.
Sunset. AFAM BridgeJorene’s Maiz con Hielo and Halo Halo topped with homemade ice cream. Mama’s Lasagna & Siargao Salad from La Carinderia
It’s been 25 years since I retired at 47. Technically, I continued to work though not on a regular 9-5 desk job. Rather,I had 2 meetingsa month. Anything more and I’m “overworked”. In between the meetings, I traveled, spent time with my friends, went to church and simply had a wonderful time celebrating life. Through it all, I ticked off destinations from a long list, searched for exotic dishes and adventures and promptly prepped for the 2 monthly meetings that sustained my lifestyle. I’m putting all that behind me now. Absolutely no more work. Nailed the last chapter of my career. No more graphs and financial reports to review. No more special zoom meetings that consumed more thinking hours. No more document deliveries for signature. The simple act of stepping down and out was liberating. Trips now need not go around the scheduled meetings and more importantly, there was no compelling rush to cover as much ground as possible. When I quit my full-time job back in 2001, I appreciated the relaxed pace already. But it is an even more elevated sense of freedom now. As in, no more worries. No more anxieties. No midnight or early morn zoom meetings while I’m abroad on a different time zone. Absolutely no stress now. No rush. Let everything take its natural course.
No rush. Love that. The luxury of time. Hours in a bookstore just browsing around, coffee breaks that are truly “breaks” and not just caffeine nutrition, sweetly poring over restaurant menus without being fussy if the dishes took awhile before being served. Traveling without an agenda, or leaving the task of crafting the itinerary to a younger set who has a long list to tick off. No rush. Every minute celebrated. Off with the travel lists and must-do’s. Just go. Explore or linger. Savour every second. I learned there is actually an art to waiting. It is when one pays more attention to details that a more authentic sense of appreciation blooms. A deeper sense of gratitude. Would you rush through a scrumptious meal, or even a good cup of brew or an excellent book? It parallels being mindful. When every single detail matters. A rushed, busy life takes that away. Where I sit now, I refuse to multi-task. Done that when I was way younger. I’d rather focus on a single item now and preserve the thoughtfulness attached to it.
Bravo Beach Resort in Siargao.
So time rolls by. Whether in the city or in the beach, it is living without the rush. It is life. 🥰
Thought we’d start our New Year right with a visit to our favorite charity projects . Always the most appropriate way to start the year. As we uphold Fr. Boyet’s legacy and mission, we likewise took note of how blessed we are the previous years.
Fr. Boyet in Bahay at Yaman ni San Martin de PorresMy Sydney-based nephew and his family plus US-based friends including my godson.
While my friends spent the holidays abroad, I stayed home to welcome my balikbayan kin and friends. A joyous occasion always to meet up and celebrate with them. Friends from school are truly a treasure — I’ve always reminded apos about this. While in school, you choose who’d be your lifetime friends. One can’t choose family (ouch) but one can choose friends. So there. Their friends — some have since migrated — are my “adopted apos” and like them, I am just as excited to see them.
No matter how far, it’s only a P2P ride away to be with these friends.
Apo’s BFF who’s been my “adopted apo” since their grade school days.
Oh yes, there are no forthcoming trips yet but we sure welcomed the year with as many Resto bookings. Besides that, there’s the appointments with my doctors and lunch/coffee dates with Mu. It’s only been 10 days this first month of the year, yet we seem to have filled out our calendar good! Same old grind? It’s 2025, but we continue to celebrate. Thank You, for the energy. The opportunities to meet and hug people we’ve missed!
Lunch at ChingoloOur iced matcha latte and shakerato coffee at 12/10
Intramuros comes to mind whenever we have foreign visitors to take around Manila. Over the years, I’ve lost count of foreign guests and “balikbayans” I’ve toured around the former walled city and nearby historical and cultural spots. But today is different. We have a free day and we’ve decided we’d check out the now pedestrian zone around Plaza San Luis Complex where you’d find San Agustin Church, Casa Manila, Casa Blanca, Barbara’s, Cafe Intramuros, Batala Bar, and not too far away, the Centro de Turismo and Museo de Intramuros. I’m only too happy to stroll along the cobblestoned General Luna Street devoid of motor vehicles and the ubiquitous pedicabs and tricycles. Now you’d find visitors on bamboo bikes, segways or horse-drawn calesas competing for space with the pedestrians. It even felt strange to find the San Agustin Church without cars crowding its beautiful frontage. Such scenes completely changed, nay transformed Intramuros. About time!
San Agustin ChurchAcross the Church is the Plaza San Luis Complex
The coffee scene in Intramuros now counts Batala Bar and Cafe Intramuros alongside Barbara’s. We started our day with brunch in Batala Bar. From its windows, we have views either of the San Agustin Church or the Plaza and Casa Manila.There were not too many visitors but I need to mention that despite the summer heat, it was such a pleasant experience to go around the area. The service crew and the security staff are very friendly, accommodating and generous with their knowledge about the place. When people go out of their way to please, it is always a sign of good training and work ethics. 👍
Plaza San LuisView from Batala Bar
Casa Manila gives a glimpse into the lifestyle of the “illustrados” — Filipino families who enjoyed affluence during the Spanish times. The Casa or house is actually a mansion bearing the colonial style of architecture and taste — in stark contrast to the more modest “Bahay Kubo”. The antique furniture, wide windows, huge kitchen with antique cauldrons is a trip down memory lane. Like as far back as the 1850’s. Easily, one can spend an hour here. Around the Casa, one is never short on dining options.The cafes and restaurants are to be found just as soon as one exits Casa Manila via the staircase from the kitchen spilling into the plaza with the fountainat the center. There are also souvenir shops though I think they can improve in this department.
Inside San Agustin Church Inside Casa Manila
The Centro de Turismo is under renovation so we spent an hour or so instead in the Intramuros Museum. Housed in what was then the San Ignacio Church and Convent, it is a treasure trove of historical and religious artifacts. For sure, the Intramuros Admin did a terrific job on this project. A half day itinerary for tourists may include visits to San Agustin Church and its Convent cum Museum, Casa Manila, followed by lunch in any of the cafes and restaurants within the Plaza San Luis. And there’s also Ristorante Delle Mitre across the street where there’s a good assortment of desserts and baked goods.
Museo de IntramurosInside Museo de Intramuros
Now if you still have energy and time left,you can always proceed to Manila Cathedral and Fort Santiago. We did, but not so much to tour around but to check out Papa Kape inside Fort Santiago. We heard so much about their Black Gulaman Americano Coffee and the Tahoat Coffee — a concoction that blends “taho” and oat milk cafe. Both iced, we enjoyed our bev as well as the resident cats within the cafe. Not a bad day to spend like “local tourists” in our own city!
Mr. Cat sleeping on the best seat of the house. Tahoat and Black Gulaman Coffee best served “iced”. Papa Kape
Home now for a good month. Finally found my rhythm back. The jet lag lasted a solid 2 weeks after crossing 3 time zones. Then we had some guests and visiting friends so we got busy organizing meet-ups and reunions. Plus, being home after 2 months of travel required some sprucing up, health-wise and grooming-wise. Trips to the doctors, dental clinics, lab tests, spas, beauty parlor, and other wellness-related stuff.
Meditation Garden near the Adoration Chapel
The rhythm of church duties and meditation sessions put me back to normalcy. On top of the simple and regular mundane stuff we do, I yearn for the spiritual and emotional tranquility following a hectic and physically-challenged routine imposed by traveling. You can say that “in between trips”, we yearn for solitude and calmness . A perfect reminder too to celebrate the blessings and express gratitude that we’re back without any major mishap or misadventure. After all, I bet our daily pace when traveling must be at least triple, if not way way more than our regular load.
Visiting Friends
It’s also time to apply or renew expiring/ expired visas to prep for future travels. I have a load here: UK, Schengen, Australian and New Zealand visas. Kinda tiring but one’s got to do what one’s got to do. This is when I get truly jealous of friends and kin holding stronger passports! Poor me had to submit bank certificates, travel itineraries, flight and hotel reservations, etc. And it really bugs me that some embassies issue only one year-visas after all the trouble.
But it’s good to find one’s rhythm. After all, life has many chapters and like a good book, we put it down to pause. Even reflect on what’s been and how things are. It’s being present. And being well. 👍
This is my neighbourhood. It’s a bit off the CBD, perhaps a couple of blocks. But here lies a slice of Japan with a cluster of izakayas serving authentic Japanese food with price tags ranging from quite cheap to pricey. Makati Cinema Square is now called Makati Central Square, MCS for short. Within this old mall are many tiny Japanese restos, the most popular of which is Manmaru. That is, judging by the queues nearly every mealtime outside this Japanese eatery. A few more restos within the same mall is Unakichi (entrance near Mcdo and KFC area) which specializes in unagi and Sakura Yakiniku (near Unakichi) and Yakiniku Kenshin (beside Manmaru). There is also our fav Wabi Sabi (2nd floor above Kenshin) for vegetarian ramen, dumplings and homemade ice cream. From MCS, we step out and cross the street towards LITTLE TOKYO which is another cluster of izakayas with a truly Japanese vibe. The Torii gate, narrow alley lined with red lanterns look more Japanese in the evenings when the lanterns are lighted and the courtyard seems more festive with banners.
It’s easy to miss it but this Torii gate is just across Manmaru in Makati Central SquareBehind the Torii gate is this narrow alley towards the izakayas.
Within Little Tokyo, the most popular and my personal favorite is Kikufuji whose entrance fronts the main road (Chino Roces Avenue), and for ramen, there is Shinjuku. Both are iconic izakayas in the Little Tokyo area fronting the main road and must have stood there for at least 2 decades along with Hana which is situated in the inner “courtyard”. Parking is always a challenge so I’d advise parking in the MCS basement and just walking across to Little Tokyo.
Izakaya Kikufuji may look rundown but it consistently ranks among the best izakayas in Makati. Hana is in the interior part of Little Tokyo and is one of the 2 oldest izakayas there.
Inside Little Tokyo, you may choose to go for simple snacks like takoyaki, kakigori (flavored ice shavings), okonomiyaki (pan cake) or have serious yakiniku or bento boxes. Plenty of choices here. Menus are on display by the izakaya’s door so there shouldn’t be any surprises especially if one is on a budget. You may also opt for al fresco lunch or dinner or step into the tiny air conditioned spaces. I have tried Kikufuji, Shinjuku, Yakiniku, Hana and Oishinbo in the Little Tokyo cluster. Pricing observes a wide range as it largely depends on what you order. Less expensive would be the rice bowls or rice toppings, called donburi. Ask also if they have set meals which are really combo meals to include your chosen dish, miso soup, pickles, rice and sometimes a drink. There are a few more izakayas waiting for me to try. 😁
Oishinbo in INSIDE Little TokyoInside Hana
Seryna is also quite popular. It is right beside the Torii gate entrance and across Manmaru in MCS. But my personal favorite remains to be Kikufuji — love those wagyu cubes and sushi. Just that it is always fully booked so I always end up settling for Shinjuku ramen or one of those bento boxes in either Hana or Oishinbo. Unless of course I’m craving for unagi which means crossing towards MCS’ Unakichi. As for Manmaru, I’d rather order online (via Grab) than braving those long lines!
Wagyu Cubes from KikufujiLittle Tokyo at Night
The latest addition to this izakaya cluster is EDOYA. It is right beside Seryna and a Japanese grocery store and right across Manmaru housed in Makati Central Square. Some of the food we ordered tasted good but they’re still on soft opening when we visited so the service can actually be improved. It took a while for our food to be served. Also, we stayed in one of the cubicles on the 2nd floor and we found the acoustic properties of the place to be problematic. I hope they do something about this because the place looks nice and we’re willing to give the Resto a second chance. The iced coffee bevs are ok but we were frustrated that none of their ice shaving desserts were available. I promise to dine there a 2nd time and update this blog. So there. 😉
As I often say, our pleasure barometer has nothing to do with the price tags. Dining options, for one, can range from cheap to pricey. But there is always a fine middle ground where something really good can be enjoyed for a reasonable price. Not necessarily cheap cheap, but value-for-money. Yum without burning a hole in the pocket.
Beef Tripe Porridge from GOTO MONSTER near Pablo Ocampo and Kamagong Streets Laksa from Nanyang
I like soupy dishes so that explains my love affair with porridge, ramen, laksa. The first photo — goto or beef tripe porridge — is from Goto Monster which is listed in the international book “Where Chefs Eat”. It is truly a comfort food, and by itself a wonderful, satisfying meal. It is also the kind of food you’d like to serve someone who’s sick or on the mend. Don’t ask me why. But it seems uncomplicated but filling enough. As for ramen or laksa, now this is a tad more complicated. It may look like a simple dish but in actuality, requires good kitchen wizardry to come up with a good version. And it’s always easy to tell if it’s good or not with the first spoonful. Trust me.
Katsu Curry Ramen or Odori Ramen from Surugin Ramen House in Alfonso, CaviteThai Street Eats is 1 of many food trucks and booths in GYUD Food Hub within UP Diliman Campus
If you like quick meals but do not favor sandwiches, these soupy dishes can solve your hunger pangs in a few spoonfuls. Another foolproof tip on where to find affordable eats is to search within, around or near campuses. Here and abroad, this theory applies. At student prices, you can scour the area for good eats. That means where students line up. Gyud Food Hub is one such example. It is inside the UP Campus near the College of Fine Arts and just off Jacinto Street. Many choices here from Thai to Chinese, Persian, Indian or Pinoy. They even have steak meals at affordable prices. These dining outlets price their meal sets within a student’s budget. Overhead is kept to a minimum as paper plates and bowls are used and dining is al fresco.
Near Greenbelt along Palanca Street is Panco CafeFor Vietnamese Coffee, try Pao Cafe in Yakal Street
Around Makati, our random finds include 2 coffee shops with good food. Panco Cafe may have a limited menu but quite frankly, we keep ordering the same food because, well…. they’re good! In my book, it is always a choice between the breakfast brisket or the Inasal. And yeah, try their coffee or their not so ordinary beverages. Great concoctions!But if you like Vietnamese coffee and food, try Pao Cafe in Yakal Street. We have been searching for iced coconut coffee which we first tried in Sapa and Hanoi, Vietnamand we’ve found Pao Cafe. They also serve good bentos (tried the roast pork), Bahn mi, spring rolls, and buncha, which we now prefer over the more popular pho (though Pao Cafe serves good pho too). We noticed they also have good cakes and pastries so we’re sure to try those come next visit.
The Annex House in Poblacion, MakatiBibingka or Puto Bumbong from Cafe Via Mare
One can easily do a cafe crawl within the Poblacion area in Makati. So many choices. It is easy to miss Annex House as it is really a house in what looked like a compound behind a closed gate. But if you’re one who loves to discover new places, here’s a good one for you. They don’t serve hot meals to pair with your coffee but there are buns and pastries. The coffee concoctions are interesting so you can just imagine what they come up with in the cocktails department. Annex House presents itself as a social club — so feel free to drop in for coffee or some pub drinks. But hey, where do you bring your balikbayan friends for good old Filipino dishes and snacks? Cafe Via Mare is one of those default places if only for their bibingka (rice cake), puto Bumbong or halo halo. Priced higher than the average snack shop but if you want a reasonably decent place, and guaranteed good food, this is the place.
Try this from a booth spread all across Manila
Lastly, let me mention Avocadoria. Seen this almost everywhere. A small food booth in many malls. Never gave it a thought till a cousin fetched a cup for me to try. OMG it’s sooo good. I bet it’s packed with calories but trust me, it’s worth all the calories 🤣 I love frozen desserts — halo halo, maiz con hielo, bingsu, kakigori, anything with ice shavings OR ice cream, sorbet, sherbet. Try this sweet ending as an alternative to what you’ve been having thus far. If you love avocados, all the more that you should give this a try. Yum. Won’t regret it. 👍
Update:
Just needed to update to include more value-for-money eats. We need not skip those bonding moments with fam and friends just because dining out can be expensive. There are still many dining spots offering under P500 meals.
Botejyu in Greenbelt 3 or Newport MallBon Pho and Roll in Parqal Mall and Alphaland in Malugay St, MakatiMamma Kopi Tiam in Glorietta 1Whenever I visit Makati Med, I almost always drop in in either Banh Mi or Pancake House on 3rd floorAnother Vietnamese restaurant: Old Saigon
Located in Linear Towers at Yakal Corner Mayapis
Remember Ling Nam Noodle House? Now in Grid Co-Living along Yakal Street in San Antonio Village
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