Best of Dumaguete Restaurants

Janet and I have always been restaurant people. For the four years she lived in Portland, Oregon it was our primary form of outside entertainment. We weren’t fancy restauranteurs, spending hundreds of dollars, but we enjoyed our favourite restaurants many many times.

When we moved to Dumaguete we continued our habit. Since I was retired by then and most restaurants in Dumaguete are cheap our habit got even more engrained. We almost always went out for either lunch or dinner, occasionally doing both. So while I don’t want to pretend we know every restaurant in town, we know a lot of them. So here are various categories and our favourites, including comments on price and service. BTW, we are not giant eaters so often share an entree (maybe adding a salad) which keeps prices even lower and our addiction to restaurants higher.

I should also add that we’ve never been ultra sophisticated eaters so things like high end wines, continental cuisine, or $50 steaks are not areas we’re worried about. We target places with good food, good prices and service that doesn’t keep us at the restaurant all night.

Best Italian Restaurant: Pasta King. Kind of an easy one. While many Dumaguete restaurants have some Italian food, and some of it’s good, not many are strictly Italian restaurants. Almost all the pasta dishes I’ve had here have been good to very good. The pizza is decent though not Dumaguete’s best (see below), the service is above average, and the prices are decent. In addition there’s a small parking lot next to the restaurant and at the early times we usually go (I’m an old fart, after all) there is usually available parking. In addition, one of their few non-Italian dishes is one of Dumaguete’s best (see below). https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pasta-King/103534199784843

Best Japanese Restaurant: Mifune. Another slam dunk. There’s a couple Japanese restaurants here and some sushi places and a noodle place (Ichiraku) that’s decent but no one can touch Mifune. A huge menu, very good food, large portions, saki if that’s your need, good miso soup and tempura. They have it all. Two nights a week there’s an all you can eat buffet. We can’t eat enough to justify the buffet, so we stick to the other nights, but the buffet is very good and popular. Besides, the place reminds me of my favourite samurai actor, Toshiro Mifuni. We go monthly and on those occasions when Janet goes to visit the family and leaves me alone, I try to make a stop at Mifune. It’s downtown, a block off the boulevard so parking can be tough. The prices are just a spec higher than Duma average, but it’s a deal for what you get. https://www.facebook.com/mifunedumaguete/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARCnZlwx_2LrwpEBhQqsE3QFyKQ2UxgOU0lvsDpWr61pfT-Kcg9Eo3-Qp4SPKJF87OV1dlyrmA07bs0-

Best Filipino Restaurant: Lantaw Native Restaurant. As a kano, I probably have no right to weigh in on this but we’ve been to Lantaw dozens of times: just the two of us, with friends, for parties, etc. Since the place is always packed I don’t think we are alone in our fondness for Lantaw. The food is strictly Filipino; you’re not gonna find Western food for some finicky tourist. The quality is typically good or better. The prices are very good. There’s a nice view of the beach. Most importantly the San Mig is very cold.

The only negative in our view is that the place is so popular there are many loud tourist groups that come and dominate the restaurant. https://www.facebook.com/Lantaw-Dumaguete-798376510295211/

Two Honorable Mention: Gerrys Restaurant: If Lantaw is cheap, Gerry’s is not. But the food is good. I get the chicken skewers nearly every time I am there.

Mooon Cafe. While the style of the restaurant is Mexican (though the Mexican food is not great) the Filipino food is good. It’s sort of all over the place with pasta (not bad), and several inexpensive steak offerings for when you really want a steak but don’t want to spend the cash for a steak. I mean Filet Mignon for 300P? Mostly stick with the Filipino food, though the onion rings are good (make sure to ask them make them crispy). https://www.facebook.com/moooncafedumaguete/

Best Pan Asian: KRI. A variety of different asian styles; everything I’ve had there is good or better. The portions are not huge so Janet and I need two entrees. The prices are a bit high. But the atmosphere is nice and the food creative and of high quality.

Best Barbecue Ribs: Lord Byron. Lord Byron always had the best ribs in town but they were located in a place that no one knew existed. Since their relocation near Siliman University, they’ve become more popular. The menu is sparse, with only a few items, mostly their ribs and their hamburger. The rib platter is large enough for Janet and I to share happily. https://www.facebook.com/lordbyronsdumaguete/

Honorable Mention: The previously mentioned Pasta King also has a great ribs platter. Janet loves it but there’s no way she can finish it herself, so I happily help.

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Best High End Restaurant: Casablanca Restaurant. Yes, by Dumaguete standards it’s expensive. You can easily drop 1000P or more for a couple; if you want a steak double or triple that price. As I mentioned before, Janet and I often share an entree which at Casablanca is typically enough for the two of us. Because of cost we probably treat ourselves 4 or 5 times a year. They are also well known for holiday specials: we’ve gone there for Thanksgiving dinner the last two years. It’s spendy but the liver pate they had two years ago reminded me of home! On the boulevard the view is nice as well. Treat yourself once in a while. It’s worth it! https://www.facebook.com/dumaguete.casablanca/

Best Pizza: Esturya Tapas and Bar. I’m a pizza lover, particularly fond of New York style pizza. There is no New York pizza in Dumaguete, and possibly none to speak of in the entire country. However, there are places that make West Coast brick oven style pizza. Esturya is an up and coming restaurant with a varied menu but they are perhaps best know for their pizza. We love the 4 topping variety: no not 4 toppings all over the pizza but 4 varieties all on the same pie. It’s the West Coast thin crust pizza, so I am still jonesing for thicker New York style, but for what it is, it is very good. The prices are decent, the restaurant atmosphere is upscale (by Dumaguete standards) and there are a few parking spaces in front. The service is typically excellent. https://www.facebook.com/esturyabarandrestaurant/

Honorable Mention: This one’s a surprise but the brick oven pizza at Bambulo Resort is nearly as good as Esturya. That may be because we swim there and after a dip in the pool a pizza and beer tastes great. Prices are good, as is the push a button service. https://www.facebook.com/BambuloBacong/

Update: I forgot South Beach Grill, which has a good brick oven pizza and other fine items.

Best Bagel: Rolling Pin.There are few options in this category but Rolling Pin makes a decent bagel. No, it’s not a New York water bagel, but it’s far better than just a piece of bread with a hole in the middle. Their other breads and pastries are also good. Prices are excellent, and service is good. They sometimes sell on Sundays in the Valencia Market, though usually by the time I get there the bagels are gone. https://www.facebook.com/RollinPinDumaguete/

Best Breads: The bakery at Octagon Sports Bar. In Bacong it’s a bit out of the way for us but whenever we are close we try to stop by. Very good breads and pastries.

Honorable Mention: The previously mentioned Rolling Pin.

Best Submarine/Steak Sandwiches: Gie Gies Sports Bar. A simple sports bar, Gie Gies has basic and mostly good bar food. But their hoagies/heros/subs (or whatever you call them in your part of the world) are good and large. The fries used to be excellent but recently changed to shoe string types – not quite as good. But to make up for it, try the potato salad. https://www.facebook.com/giegiessportsbar/

Best Bar Food: Grumpy’s. I’ve just started eating there and 3 or 4 times would typically not be enough to list a restaurant, but everything we’ve had there has been good. It’s a simple bar with a popular Open Mike on Saturdays but the food is basic, plentiful and good.https://www.facebook.com/Grumpys-Tavern-309845783047448/

Best Fried Chicken: Sunburst Restaurant. Another surprise because behind Robinsons it doesn’t look like much . But the fried chicken is very good; certainly a step or two above fast food fried chicken. The prices are not bad. It comes with a strange cole slaw which I kinda like and three (count ’em) three french fries. Janet gives me her fries; nice asawa! https://www.facebook.com/Sunburst.Dgte/

Best Tacos/Burritos: Paco’s Tacos. People just know it as the taco cart in Valencia but this is your best chance to get American style Mexican food: tacos, burritos, nachos, fajitas, breakfast burritos, etc. All are very good and the prices are good too. Seating is outdoors and limited; it is a cart after all. https://www.facebook.com/pacos.ph/

Honorable Mention: I don’t know how I can give out an Honorable Mention to a place I haven’t been to but everyone says Senoritas at the airport is excellent. Damn, I have to get there!

2 thoughts on “Best of Dumaguete Restaurants”

  1. Hi Dave, I must agree with you on your choices as to the places we have been. you have also provided leads to places i need to try. I think we could disagree on pizza all day long, but thats the nature of the beast! Thank you.

    1. Thanks Kent. As to pizza if you know a great pizza place here I’d love to hear about it. Esturya, South Beach, and Bambulo are about as good as I have found but none of them compare to any corner pizza shop in NYC.

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