10 Food Destinations in Dumaguete City

If you haven’t been to Dumaguete and planning to visit soon, you would ask, “Where to eat in Dumaguete City?” So we prepared “10 Food Destinations in Dumaguete City” just for you.

In this post, I have enlisted fellow travel bloggers, RV of looneyplanet and Elal of The Shades of Grey who are locals of Dumaguete. Hope this guide helps:

1. Budbod at the Public Market.

James praises, “Great for breakfast! Nothing fancy about the place as its located in the public market; but hey here you find real people smiling and enjoying each sip of tsokolate or a locally brewed coffee. Here everyone is a friend and eats without frills. If you love to meet locals or just hear their stories, you should eat your breakfast here. Order budbod or budbod kabog and partner it with a coffee and tsokolate mix.”

Address: Dumaguete City Public Market (tell the tricycle driver to drop you at Budbud stalls), Open: Everyday, breakfast and afternoon merienda; Budget: Php20 up

2. Kri Restaurant.

If you are a burger-junkie and don’t mind spending more than a Php200 for a burger delight then Kri’s Bleu cheese, truffle and bacon burger is for you. RV raves, “the juicy goodness of the patty which is 100 % Australian beef; the crunch of the bacon; Yes! This.is.meat.porn! My burger was dripping with burger juice down to my plate! No amount of description is going to fit how the truffle oil, bleu cheese and meat created a perfect delicious explosion inside my mouth! I say: yes, this is probably the best burger I have eaten in years! “

Address: 53rd Silliman Avenue (just across the Silliman University Post Office), Operating hours: Mon-Sat: 10:30am – 9:00pm; Budget: Php200 up

3. From the kitchen of MELs Cafe.

Elal expresses her thoughts, “One of the places that we often go to chill, chat, eat, study or relax is MEL’s cafe. Its very accesible for its near downtown and Rizal Boulevard… When you go inside of MELs you’ll definitely love the feel ‘coz its cozy as home… The best thing about MELs is that their dishes are guilt free because they have a certified nutritionist who checks on food nutrients and benefits of the food they are serving.”

Address: 2nd floor, UTH Bldg. Sta. Catalina St. (near Matiao Gasul) Operating hours: MMon-Sat: 11:00am – 8:00pm; Budget: Php 30 up

4. Don Roberto’s Bar and Pizza.

Elal states, “This is one of the family businesses in Dumaguete that has maintained its name because of their delicious meals at a reasonable price! They also have a bakery that’s why have cake and bread. You can also choose to dine in or reserve their convention rooms during special occasions… Aside from that ice box cake and their special house pizza, my other favorites are special baked burger, special halo-halo, angel cake and their very popular siopao in different varieties: chicken, pork and vegetables.”

Address: Along Gov. M. Percides St., Operating hours: (035) 225-3909

5. Jutz Cafe.

James says, “Artsy. Cozy. When you enter this small restaurant you feel you are in a museum. No one was there so I took the time for some vanity shots while waiting for my Chicken Milanese. I love the crispiness of the chicken fillet, perfectly breaded and fried. It came with enough gravy and sliced cabbage for a healthy fill. Look at the plating too, simple and makes the food yummy to the eyes. They definitely know that food is not only about taste but style too.”

Address: Sta. Catalina St. (just across FoodNet), a block away from the famous Rizal Blvd. Budget: Php100 up

6. Kalikaf

Talk about a restaurant for vegans, vegetarians, nature-lovers and everyone who wants to eat healthy. RV discusses, “Kalikaf restaurant advocates healthy food and lifestyle and it promises to deliver only the select and freshest ingredients which are sourced out locally thereby reducing carbon footprints… Between Sunday lunch and dinner buffets, Kalikaf offers a variety of healthy food options in their menu. From vegetarian pizza to squash bread to seafood bounties like kinilaw, gambas and the Filipino comfort food tinola, just to name a few.”

I guess I should try this when I get back to Dumaguete.

Address: Al Fresco dining area, Robinson Mall Dumaguete (across Go Hotels), Operating hours: 10:00am – 9:00pm; Budget: Php 150 up

7. Qyosko 24.

RV shares his experiences as he kept returning to this 24/7 cafe, “I wanted baconsilog last week but it was out of stock. I ordered buwadsilog (P55) when the server said danggit. As it turned out, it was an anduhaw buwad in flakes. I didn’t complain because it was really good in a kagumkom way. [The next visit] I came back for baconsilog tonight but still out of stock! Tsk. I had cornsilog (P73) instead.

Anyway, the sinfully blueberry cheesecake would always satisfy your sweet tooth.

Address:  Along Sta. Rosa Street, Store hours: Mondays to Saturdays, Open 24 hours, Budget: Php70 up

8. Food Net.

James says, “One night, I was looking for a cheap place to eat and I found Food Net. Food Net has three branches in Dumaguete, one at Sta. Catalina street, one near Robinsons, the last one I dont know. What made me love this canteen-type eatery are the cheap beers (Php25/bottle), large LDC TV screens, free wifi and of course countless of food choices. I ate twice at Food Net near Robinsons Mall. Ordered two cups of rice, 2 viands and a bottle of SanMig light and I paid less than Php150. How I love cities with lots of universities.”

Address: Sta. Catalina St. (just across Jutz Cafe) and Near the Bus terminal, Budget: Php40 up

9. Sans Rival Bistro.

James remembers, “Their original San Rival Cafe is a fave since I first visited Dumaguete. Just recently they opened their Bistro near Rizal Boulevard and what can I say? I’m in love with the place. Probably the best adaptive reuse I ever saw in Negros (adaptive reuse is the process of reusing an old site for the purpose other than what it was built for). They renovated an old heritage house and converted it to a cozy bistro that brought me back to the olden times, maybe 50 years ago.”

“I can’t help but rave about this place even if it means diabetes- “Sans rival. Sans rival. Sans rival.” Sans rival is the best creation in the planet (sorry, no photo because I ate them all). Of course, you should not miss their cakes (must-taste: Salted caramel cheesecake and Dates & Walnut Dacquoise) and my fave main course: Callos. (Sorry, dessert comes first)”

Address: San Jose St. corner Rizal Ave, facing Rizal boulevard, Operating hours: Sunday-Thursday: 10:00am – 11:00pm, Friday-Saturday: 10:00am-12:00mn Budget: Php 150 up

10. Hayahay

James suggests, “Perfect for barkadas and to cap the night off with some booze. Hayahay means “relax or slouch” in the local tongue. Not only is this place a hang-out fave, they also have local artists sing every the night. I love their Reggae nights every Wednesday. Must-order are “Binakol” and “Baked Mussels with cheese.”

The treehouse place is just too dark when we went there so I wasn’t able to take a nice photo of the food.

 

Did we forget something? I guess we not only forgot our name but other great food destinations in this city because of all we have tasted. So, please do add your fave.

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You can read the rest of the Dumaguete and Negro Orienrtal series by visiting the links below:

• Zipline at Tierra Alta, Valencia, Negros Oriental
• Dolphin Watching at Bais City + Mangoves and Manjuyod Sandbar
• Southern Negros Oriental Tour
• 10 Food Destinations in Dumaguete City

Where to Sleep in Dumaguete City?

Go Hotels Dumaguete. Its new, clean and affordable. Located near Robinsons Mall and Bus terminal for your convenience. Just a 20-minute drive from the airport.

Cebu Pacific Air flies to Dumaguete from Manila thrice daily and from Cebu daily for as low as P488. For bookings and inquiries, go to www.cebupacificair.com or call (02)7020-888. The latest seat sales and promos can be found on Cebu Pacific Air’s official Twitter and Facebook pages.