Archive for the 'Dining' Category

Filipinos love eating, whenever, wherever, and well… whatever, as long as it is edible and tasty of course. Because of the love for good food, we’ve not only grown fond of eating, we also mastered the art of cooking… more or less. Adaptive as we will always be, we didn’t only master our own way of cooking, we also picked up techniques from all over the world. The product: A one of a kind cuisine culture so extensive that we can actually provide you the different tastes of the world in just one street. The proof: we’ll give you a free food trip in one of Davao’s nightlife destinations, Rizal Street.

Buckle up because this one’s going to be a really good ride.

That Street Named Rizal

Found in Metro Davao, this half-a-mile stretch is frequented by tourists and locals who are in search of some chow and booze. Tourists should have no trouble locating this well traveled road as it is very accessible ‘round the clock. As for variety, there’s just so much to find in here that you wouldn’t need to go far to suite the specific things your palate desires.

Fast Food? Get It Really Fast!

Jollibee

If you’re looking to go for a quick of pit stop from your touring all around the city, Rizal Street offers a wide variety of quick-cooks to relieve your hunger and fuel you up for your enjoyable race around town. Who wouldn’t recognize the famous fast food chain Jollibee? A yummy burger should do the job of satisfying you well and quick. Try their fried chicken fondly called the “Chickenjoy” too. That’s something that goes down as one of the Filipino’s favorite.

Merco and Mandarin Tea Garden

If you want a full meal of sorts and you want it quick, then go to Merco. This place is very well known for its cakes and pastries, but they don’t only focus on the sweet stuff. Right beside their pastry shop is a restaurant where you can get some American style dishes. They also serve “lutong-bahay” (home cooked) style Filipino dishes. However, if you’re looking for Chinese food, then you can go to the Mandarin Tea Garden right across the street. Rice toppings, dimsum, congee, there’s just a lot of delicious dishes to choose from. With these two good restaurants, satisfaction will surely be guaranteed!

Big Appetite? No problem!

The Rizal Strata offers you a lot of options for a good place where you can eat a lot with your friends and family. You never have to go far just to find the very famous Filipino style roasted pig a.k.a. the “lechon”. Whaw Litson Biik Grill and Restaurant specializes in roasting homegrown piglets at an affordable price. Eating big with a big group? This is the place to be!

As for buffets, we have two restaurants in the place to give you maximum satisfaction when it comes to the food and the price. Vist the Iron Horse buffet and you shall see why this street is well visited. For around 130 PHP, you can choose from a wide variety of Davaoeño dishes in whatever way you want them. Grilled, fried, or baked, it doesn’t matter. What matters most is that you enjoy the food! Also check out the Apung Kula Seafood Grill located further down the street. This place is highly regarded when it comes to catering for big events such as weddings and birthday parties. On a daily basis, it doesn’t fail to impress as well. For 118 PHP, you can eat all you can find a long buffet table of delicious delicacies including your favorite seafoods!

And when you’re visiting the city, you should never miss out on Davao’s very own TAPS. This fast-food chain started out and grew big in none other than Davao City itself. What started out as a small family business is now bigger than ever. Filipino dishes anyone? This place offers all the Filipino favorites such as the famous Tapa, Adobo and Ox feet among many others – all served with garlic rice and a scrambled egg. Truly delicious, truly Filipino, proudly Davaoeño!

Fine Dining Delight

Fine dining desires? You guessed it right, we have them here too! Check out Chico’s Music Bistro found in Casa de Habana. Casa de Habana is a compound where everything may seem too good to be true. Chico’s Music Bistro offers not only good food and wonderful drinks; they also offer good music, specifically Jazz and Samba, from Davao’s best musicians. If you’re looking to relax and spend the night comfortably after a whole day of tours and sightseeing, you should visit this place. Casa de Habana also houses the De Boute Koe European Restaurant. Indulge in fine European cuisine. Here’s a taste of Europe right on Philippine soil. Also, do check out the El Toro Spanish Cuisine. This restaurant offers Spanish cuisine at its best. You can choose from their menu which includes Tapa, Salads, Soups, and Paellas. Casa de Habana also has an inn for with rooms available at low rates.

Also, don’t forget to visit Claude’s Le Cafe de Ville just beside the Iron Horse. This place specializes on French cuisine, something you would have pre-empted from the name of the café alone. Anyway, this café has been around since the early 90’s, and has established itself as the only authentic French restaurant in Davao City. The elegance is reflected by its sumptuous servings of awesome steaks and stews; not to mention mouth watering appetizers! We’re bringing Europe to Davao, and there’s no other place where you can find it better than here!

The Nightlife

We already expressed how a lot of people frequent this avenue for its nightlife. Now, the only thing left is for you to experience it. But for now, let’s go through the establishments which make this street tick during the night. This area is known for a place named The Rizal Promenade, an arcade flanked by a number of bars that will make you dance the night away. Good booze, lots of people and music that should make you sway to the beat – all of these make this place awesome. Your presence should make this place awesome even more!

And if ever you get tired of dancing and decide to go singing instead, right across the street in front of Rizal Promenade is a commercial establishment named Cats and Dogs. For 100 PHP per hour, you can get a room hooked up with a Karaoke system so good it will only make you sing even more. Also, there are food stations outside Cats and Dogs where you can order some food and take with you to your karaoke room. You can choose from grilled meat, even the famous Asian dish we all know as the Kabab. Yes, they have that one too, in Majid’s Kabab, a small restaurant outside Cats and Dogs. They don’t only offer their signature kababs, they also offer a few Eastern dishes. Wasn’t I right when I said we have everything in this place?

A Good Coffee for a Good Night

A truly satisfying night wouldn’t be complete without a cup of coffee. Visit Las Casitas de Angela, a hotel beside the Rizal Promenade. This exquisite hotel doesn’t only offer wonderful rooms at value prices; they also house the Coffee Mood Coffee Shop. Spend an easy time with a warm cup of coffee and a Mexican-inspired ambience. After a lot of partying and a lot of very satisfying meals, this should pretty much sum up everything well. And a bit of a reminder, go slow on the caffeine. You deserve a very good sleep after a tour around Rizal Street!

That deep sleep should re-energize you for another tour around Davao’s main streets one of these days. And we’ll make sure you’ll be up for that. Until next time! Have a good time in Davao City everyone!

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This article on Rizal Street is written by Randolph Reserva. In Davao, you don’t have to go far to have Good Food, Good Coffee and Good Music. They are all in one street, according to Randolph.

Today’s edition of our Davao traveler tour brings us northbound, to a favorite hangout for people staying in the Bajada area and beyond. We’re talking of none other than The Damosa Gateway. Let’s check out what this area has to offer in terms of both business and pleasure; perhaps a combination of ample food tripping and some business matters should convince you that there may be such thing as “another place like home”. Why so? Because we’re taking you somewhere that has everything you will ever need, and more than you’ll ever want! So, shall we begin?

The Gateway to Davao Travel

I remember this place being dusty and lifeless about a decade ago; save for a few small shops in the area, there was really nothing to care about. However, with passing time came consequential success, and for this Damosa Land owned estate, there was no way but up. It was a prime lot about to reach it prime; and that it was just a matter of time before it lives up to the hype. Now, this buzzing hotspot caters to business, nightlife, food, booze, and a lot of things that should make Davao proud, and every traveler happy!

Aptly named The Gateway, this booming domain can be found on the side of the Pan-Philippine highway, while flanking the ever alive Mamay Road on both sides. This position does not only give the place some much needed human influx, it also serves as an “oasis” to travelers. After all, this gateway is more or less, just a ten-minute ride away from the airport. The moment you land on Davao soil, you don’t have to go far to enjoy your stay right away!

Business By Day

The special thing about this area is its versatility. Whether you’ve been in Davao for days already and you’re looking for a place that offers essential services in the Lanang and Bajada areas, or you just landed and you need to do some quick transactions straight from the airport, you can be sure that this place means business.

To start with, the area has a number of banks, a travel agency, a barbershop, a massage and beauty salon, a spa, and a dental clinic. The Market Basket is also settled in the area, an establishment which houses dining and shopping boutiques. While in here, you’ll never run out of essential basic supplies as this place has a grocery too. That’s one good reason that makes this place a convenient hang-out. And then there’s even more!

You can also find the Damosa IT Park in this area. The IT Park was developed by Damosa Land to house big IT companies (think: Call Centers) going about its business here in Davao. This doesn’t only make the gateway known throughout the nation; it also is making waves in the global field of Information Technology and Business Process Outsourcing in particular!

We Love The Japs

For our Japanese and Filipino-Japanese travelers who are looking to stay in the city for a relatively long time, this place has a grocery shop made exactly for you. Visit the Fuji Mart Japanese Grocery for your authentic Japanese shopping experience. Not only that, they also have two Japanese aided schools in the area that can provide your (or your children’s) educational needs – the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai International School and the Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku.

Accommodation

Also, if you just arrived in Davao City and you’re looking for a good place to stay, you might want to check the Microtel Inns and Suites out. Conveniently found only minutes away from the Davao Airport, this hotel is also in the vicinity. That means you don’t have to go far from the airport to find whatever it is you’re looking for once you stay in this hotel.

Fun, Fun, Fun at Night

The Damosa Gateway offers a fun-filled night as much as it offers serious business during the day. With the oozing population preferring to stay in the area to spend the night away, the gateway never runs out of life round the clock. May it be booze, deli, or coffee, people just can’t resist visiting this place.

The Flavors of the East

For some Oriental taste, you might want to visit Taj Minar Bar and Restaurant. They offer Indian cuisine at its best. This place also caters to vegetarians via their vegetarian meals. All the dishes they offer come with authentic Indian spices that make the food even tastier.

How about Japanese food? Tsuru and Tadakuma are two Japanese Restaurants in the area. With two Jap restaurants offering a large menu in the area, what type of food could we probably miss out? Even the ambience in these two diners makes you feel you’re in Japan while you’re in Davao!

And then there’s the Hanoi Vietnamese Restaurant. This one’s my personal favorite. With dishes like Fried Spring Rolls, Cha Noung (pork barbeque, lettuce, rice noodles and basil wrapped in rice paper), and the scrumptious Butter and Garlic Crabs (this one is a must try!), you’ll surely have a happy stomach the moment you step out of the restaurant to continue your Davao travel.

How about some Fillipino dishes? Visit Dencio’s Kamayan for the beautiful food this beautiful country has to offer. For some Chinese food, Dimsum Diner offers fresh and hot Chinese delicacies round the clock.

The Wild Wild West – Flavors from the Other Side of the World

If you’re craving for Mediterranean food, Ristorante Spirale won’t disappoint. Food in this restaurant is, as they say in Italy, Delizioso! How Italian? Carbonara Spaghetti, Spaghetti with Meatballs, and pizza; all prepared the Italian way. How delicious? Food is “must try”, and this place is a “must visit”. All because saying they’re all delicious is understatement!

For booze and deli, go to La Taverna and Hola España. After you get some good Spanish meal including the likes of Gambas and Paella, there’s nothing better than a mug full of ice cold beer. They also offer the rustic Spanish ambience inside, while outside, they’ll lure you by playing some smooth Latino music.

Pizza anyone? The Damosa Gateway is home to the Yellow Cab Pizza Co. and Giacominos. The former is very well known for their hefty, American style pizza. The latter thrives in preparing pizza the Italian style. They also serve something other than pizza. You can order things like chicken fillet, chili wings, barbeque ribs, and carbonara spaghetti.

Burger lovers will have an easy time finding their favorite in the area. Space Burger offers grilled burger patties and a lot of yummy stuff in between. Or if you’re always on the go, McDonald’s is open 24/7. That place doesn’t need a lot of introduction, right? Ronald McDonald is just everywhere every time, just like the traveler in you!

You might also want to check that place that looks like your typical cowboy cavern named the Avenue S Bar and Grill. While the look of this place looks comfortable old-school, the ice cold beer should be just as good as it always is! For chicken lovers, there’s the Q Resto. This resto is famously known for their eat-all-you-can greaseless chicken meal which you can get at only PhP 95 PHP. Now I’m hungry.

Coffee Love

Because a day without coffee is never a day; only a fleeting moment.

Whether it’s in Coffee Dream or in Caffe Firenzo, complete your night with a cup of warm or cold coffee. Or perhaps, some chilled blends? As long as it’s coffee in a good coffee shop, you’ll never find it dead boring. Top your coffee with some pastry or sandwich, and you’re all done – the day will surely be complete. Though I haven’t been to Coffee Dream, I’ve spent some time in Firenzo. Apart from the Wi-Fi connection, the place offers a relaxing and cozy ambience. I’d give big ten stars to rate whoever did the interior design of this place. He or she just did us a lot of favor by providing us comfort that goes with the coffee. All in all, the whole experience is truly remarkable!

So there you have it, the Damosa Gateway scouted and reviewed for your convenience. All that’s left is for you to actually visit the place and experience the fun for yourself. Just be sure to tune back in for some specific visits to the shops in the area. Aside from that, we’ll continue to give you every Davao destination that suits your interest. I hope to see you around town one of these days. Have a good week everyone and bon voyage!

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The Damosa Gateway article is a personal review by Randolph Reserva. He has more travel stuff to review in the pipeline.

Torres Street in Davao City is now a bustling hub of nightlife and restaurants. I pass that way everyday to and from work and I can’t help remember my childhood days when it was an out of the way street we would visit only on special occasions. Though the old Torres Street was usually avoided at the time it was secluded and “out of the way“, lined by unkempt banana trees and very dimly lit, that was a special and almost magical place from my childhood. The reason was that Harana, my parent’s favorite restaurant was there. To this day, the Harana of my childhood has changed with the times but the food and the ambience still echo the happy memories we had there. Even now, when the family finds an excuse to eat out together, Harana is still the place to go.

A Brief History of Harana Restaurant

Harana has a history that started in 1966, when it began as a simple place where friends and family could get together in the backyard of Attorney and Mrs. Fermin Abella in Matina, Davao City. The house specialties, which you can still order to this day, were sinangag (fried rice) and spare ribs, the original recipe of Mrs. Rosario Abella-Lizada. The “outdoor picnic feel” of the place attracted friends and neighbors of the couple to come over with family and friends, especially in the evenings when the yard was lit by little gas lamps. Eventually, word of mouth made the little place popular with Dabawenyos for its good food.

In the 1970’s a bigger Harana was set up in a new site along McArthur Highway in Matina to cater to the growing number of patrons. Knowing that Harana was a family restaurant, the owners added a playground with the intention of making Harana a place where families could spend their quality time together. Harana’s popularity grew with the laughter of children and families having fun filling the free flowing garden ambience. On its opening night in June 29, 1970, the Feast Day of St. Peter, Harana cemented its place as one of Davao’s most beloved places for special family occasions and as a place to relax and unwind over a special meal. I find my memory jogging down memory lane as I walk around the restaurant, remembering the times when I was there with my parents. It always seemed like one big family reunion whenever we were there. My parents would even relate the times they were still teenagers and enjoyed a meal or two with their families at Harana. There was always more than enough good food, light conversation and children’s glee to go around.

Davao’s Food Street?

On June, 28, 1979, the second Harana was put up along Torres Street, encouraged by the continued swell of the number of its patrons and the start of Davao’s boom as a city. The bright lights brought the dim street to life and the cheer of the place made its patrons forget the world outside. Most Dabawenyos consider the opening of Harana along Torres Street as “the day Davao’s Food Street came to life.” Over the years, the children who once played on the gardens of Harana have grown and had families of their own. Still, their childhood memories of the place keep them coming back and year after year the playgrounds of Harana have seen children grow from toddlers to adults. The benches around the gardens has been the site of many a whispered first “I love you” and marriage proposals. The original Harana customers have handed down the “Harana dining experience” to younger generations that at present, its common place to see groups of friends and even young couples to enjoy the original house specialties. Even until now, the menu hasn’t changed much. Also on the property are the Mongolian Garden, which serves its signature Mongolian barbecue, and Sarung Banggi Steak House. Now manned by the third generation of its original owners, the Harana tradition of family values and good food is alive and thriving in this one of a kind place that is beloved by generation upon generation of Dabawenyos. What was once a backyard family affair has now become synonymous with good food and family memories.

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This article is written by Monique Musni. Obviously, she loves this restaurant. If you have not been there yet, you will love it too.

She would like to give special thanks to to Mr. Carlo Aquilar for helping her out with the history of Harana Restaurant.