Kara Santos
Dumaguete, the capital of the province of Negros Oriental, is a university town and melting pot for students, professionals, artists, scholars and the literati coming from different parts of the world. But for foodies, the “City of Gentle People” is a great destination for dining, with unique coffee shops, fine-dining restaurants and bars. Here are a few sweet and savory local specialties and popular homegrown haunts worth hunting down in Dumaguete.
Dumaguete, the capital of the province of Negros Oriental, is a university town and melting pot for students, professionals, artists, scholars and the literati coming from different parts of the world. But for foodies, the “City of Gentle People” is a great destination for dining, with unique coffee shops, fine-dining restaurants and bars. Here are a few sweet and savory local specialties and popular homegrown haunts worth hunting down in Dumaguete.
Sans Rival Cakes & Pastries
Sweet treats from Sans Rival Cakes & Pastries are the most popular souvenir item among travelers visiting Dumaguete. Sans rival is a layered dessert where each layer of buttercream is topped with meringue and chopped cashew nuts. Silvanas are soft oval cooked made of buttercream sandwiched between cashew-meringue wafers. Tourists often buy packs of these local delicacies to take home to friends and family.
The Essentials:
- Business name: Sans Rival Cakes & Pastries
- Address: #3 San Jose St., Dumagete City, Negros Oriental, Philippines
- Contact number: +63352254440
- Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sansrivalcakesandpastries/
- Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/QcG9nh8cxfKWS2qx9
Hayahay Treehouse Bar & View Deck
Hayahay Treehouse Bar & View Deck is one of the most well-known party places and favorite evening hangout spots in Dumaguete. This relaxing restaurant is a bar and seafood restaurant along the boardwalk in one, where you can enjoy views of the beach and live music. Enjoy fresh flavors of the sea with their delicious kinilaw (ceviche), mixed sashimi (fish, squid and shrimps), sizzling blue marlin, fish and squid taco and lots more.
The Essentials:
- Business name: Hayahay Treehouse Bar and View Deck
- Address: Flores Ave Piapi, Escano Beach, Dumaguete City 6200
- Contact number: +63352253536
- Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/HayahayTreehouseBar/
- Map link: https://goo.gl/maps/9sTiyQpc2bjm2YWx9
Bud-bod and Puto Maya
If you’re looking for native delicacies, head to the painitan, or breakfast shacks near the Dumaguete City public market, frequented by locals for some bud-bod, puto maya and hot drinks. Bud-bod is a type of sticky rice cake wrapped in banana leaf, similar to suman. Bud-bod kabog is made from millet, a grain with a wheaty/nutty flavor that’s also used to make roti.
Puto Maya are sticky rice cakes cooked with a bit of coconut milk and stored in banana leaves for extra flavor. The treats are best paired with a cup of hot coffee, milo or tablea (native hot chocolate).
Chicken Inato
Chicken Inato is a homestyle type of barbecued chicken that gets its name from the Cebuano word “inato” meaning, “aton-atong lang.” While barbecued chicken is a well-loved dish sold in many cities and provinces in Visayas and Mindanao, Dumaguete’s version is distinct and worth sampling. Compared to other Visayan styled grilled barbecue, their recipe is not salty and has a sweeter taste due to special secret sauce. The chicken is served on platters of banana leaf with rice and pickled papaya or, “atchara” on the side. Diners are encouraged to eat the dish using their bare hands “kamayan style.”
Rizal Boulevard’s Tempura
Another iconic Dumaguete food experience is chilling out along Rizal Bouelvard’s tempurahan to enjoy their local street food. Unlike the expensive Japanese tempura, Dumaguete’s tempura is much more affordable. The deep-fried dish battered in flour and dipped in a homemade sauce tastes is very reminiscent of fish balls or kikiam sold by street vendors and food carts. Aside from tempura, you can find green mangoes with bagoong or fish paste, squid balls and balut.
Hopefully, we can all travel soon again and get a taste of these local specialties of Dumaguete.
