Wakaba Station - A Hole-In-The-Wall Place In The Middle Of The City

”Patience is the secret to good food.” - Gail Simmons

Facebook ads are really something. The algorithm is so accurate, you would think they are following everyone around. Why am I talking about Facebook marketing even though this is a blog about food? Well, this latest entry is actually related to the way Facebook sent an ad my way. While looking for a restaurant on Facebook, an ad about a place offering hamburger steak in Mabolo suddenly came my way. It piqued my interest so much that I decided to visit the place.

Wakaba Station

This post is actually about my fourth visit to the place. The first time I went there, it wasn’t able to find it since it did not have any sign back then (I later found that the place is closed on Sundays, which was the day I tried looking for it). On my second visit, I did not take any pictures of the place. My third visit was quite early and the place was still closed. But on my fourth visit, I was able to take pictures of the food I ordered at the Wakaba Station.

Wakaba Station

Wakaba Station

When you think about hole-in-the-wall places, Wakaba Station fits to a tee. As I mentioned above, I wasn’t able to find the place when I first went looking for it. Unlike many hole-in-the-wall places I’ve been to, the place looked like the ground floor of someone’s house. But places like these actually offer good food. And that is the reason people visit these places. You can easily see the menu board since it is positioned at the entrance. The order taker/cashier is also sitting close to the entrance. They have five tables in the dining area. Each table can fit four or five people. Judging from the look of the place, it may have been the living room, dining room, and kitchen of the owner of the house. It is also ventilated by the electric fans at the place.

Wakaba Station Dining Area

For those bringing cars, it may be advisable to park it at SM City Cebu and walk to the place. Their parking area is limited to roadside parking. But I’m not really sure if traffic enforcers will allow this. Anyway, walking from the mall is a good exercise for anyone wanting to eat good food. Wakaba Station is open from 5:00 PM to 12:00 AM from Monday to Thursday and 5:00 PM to 1:00 AM on Friday and Saturday. The place is closed on Sundays.

Wakaba Station Dining Area

Food

The two times I was able to eat at the place, I ordered their hamburger steak since this was what piqued my interest in the first place. From a person who grew up loving the hamburger steak of Orange Brutus, I still liked the hamburger steak offering of Wakaba Station. But the place also offers other items on their menu. Their bestsellers are their Two-Piece Pork Chop (Mommy Betsy), Breaded Pork Chop, and Lechon Kawali. For chicken lovers, the place offers unlimited chicken wings. Shrimp lovers can try their Spicy Buttered Shrimp and Buttered Garlic Shrimp. If you are a silog fan, you may want to check out their Longganisa, Bangus, Spam, and Tocino (all are served with rice and egg). For sizzling dish lovers, the Sisig, Pork Chop with Gravy, and Burger Steak will be your obvious choices. These are also served with rice and egg.

Hamburger Steak at Wakaba Station

Whenever I eat, I try to order soup as much as possible. On my two visits, I ordered their Crab and Corn Soup, which was unlike the one you can buy at the supermarket since it had real crab and corn. Wakaba Station also offers Egg and Corn Soup as well as Cream of Mushroom Soup. Their menu board also shows some new items they are offering, including the Pork Chop with Cream Sauce (Kyla a la Cream Sauce), Kyle’s Chicken, Ysh Teriyaki Chicken Wings, Spicy BBQ Chicken Wings, and Pork Chop a la Pobre.

Crab and Corn Soup

Wakaba Station also offers Group or Bundle meals for groups of two, three, and four people. These bundles are ideal for people looking to eat at the place with family and friends. The place also offers party packs in case you want to order in bulk.

Hamburger Steak and Crab and Corn Soup

Price

The prices of their menu items are quite affordable. Their Pork offerings are between PhP95 for the Bread Pork Chop and PhP125 for the Pork Chop a la Pobre. The Chicken Wings are priced at PhP95 while the silog meals cost from PhP60 for the Longganisa up to PhP95 for the Spam. They also offer two budget meals priced at PhP50 each (served with egg and rice). Shrimp items are priced at PhP95 each while their soups cost PhP55 each.

Wakaba Station Menu Board

The sizzler menu items are priced at PhP95 for the Pork Chop with Gravy and PhP105 for the Sisig and Hamburger Steak. Bundle meals are priced at PhP199, PhP299, and PhP399 for the two-person, three-person, and four-person bundles, respectively. On the other hand, their party packs are priced between PhP150 for the eight-piece chicken pack and PhP600 for the Baked Zitti with White Sauce. Soft drinks cost PhP15 each while their shakes are priced at PhP50 each. They also offer an iced tea pitcher at PhP35. For unlimited chicken wing fans, their unlimited chicken wings are priced at PhP249 per person.

Rules For Unlimited Chicken Wings

Location

The Wakaba Station is located along C. Mina Street in Mabolo. It is the street right beside St. Joseph Patriarch Parish. The place is a few meters away from Mabolo Royal Hotel.

Priority Number

Getting to the Wakaba Station

If you are coming from SM City Cebu, good for you since it’s only a short walk away from the mall. You can walk towards Mabolo Parish Church and once you reach the church turn left until you reach Mabolo Royal Hotel is located. Turn right at C. Mina Street and follow it for several meters. Wakaba Station is on the left side of the road. On the other hand, if you are coming from Ayala Center Cebu, get on a jeepney headed for SM City Cebu. Tell the driver to let you off at the street right before Mabolo Parish Church (C. Borces Street). Follow the street until you reach the point where it intersects with C. Mina Street. Turn left until you reach Wakaba Station.

Want Some?

Wakaba Station is not your run-of-the-mill place since they offer items that are not usually offered in other restaurants at a reasonable price. In fact, I noticed they come up with new items to add to their menu every so often. If you are looking for a hole-in-the-wall place offering a variety of food items at a reasonable price in the middle of the city, then Wakaba Station is the place to go.

P.S.  Wakaba Station is also now available through Grab Food.

Rehashing Some Brews At Hashbrews Café Bistro

"Life's supposed to be an adventure, a surprise!" - Anton du Beke

I’ve been meaning to visit the place for a long time. I first noticed it when I was on my way to Cebu IT Park one evening. It looked like one of those American diner-type cafés in the 60s or 70s similar to the one we had here in Cebu back in the 90s. While I was able to have a bottle or two some time ago at the place, but I was really able to get the feel of the place. I finally got the chance one Friday evening, which is timely since I was craving a brew of a different kind.

Rehashing Some Brews At Hashbrews Café Bistro

Hashbrews Café Bistro

Hashbrews Café Bistro has been on my to-go-to list ever since I noticed it over a year ago. My curiosity was further piqued after I saw their Facebook Page. The pictures of their food, particularly their burgers had me salivating at the thought of taking a bite at them. My initial perception was an American diner-type of place. And when I first visited the place around a month ago, it had that diner vibe with the framed drawings and sculptures (not sure what you call them since I’m no artist). The bar also had a good inventory of drinks from whiskeys to rums and tequilas. But I’m more interested in their food, which was what attracted me to the place.

Hashbrews Café Bistro Coat of Arms

When I saw the pictures of their burgers posted on their Facebook Page, it not only piqued my interest, it also had me wanting to drop by the place. But as they say, fate had a different plan. When I got the chance to grab a bite at the place, I ordered something else . . . their Grilled Pork Belly with Rice.

Grilled Pork Belly with Rice

Food

While I was really looking forward to their burgers, their Grilled Pork Belly with Rice actually tasted great. In fact, I would have ordered an extra serving of rice if not for my so-called minimal-carb diet. But if I ate it at lunchtime I would likely order two extra servings of rice. So I guess fate was right to compel me (introvert mode activate) to ask for the house specialty rather than order the burgers, which I wanted in the first place. Aside from the burgers and Grilled Pork Chop, the place also offers a good variety of food items, including Beef with Onions, Beef with Broccoli, Fried Chicken (overheard someone saying this was good), Grilled Blue Marlin Steak, Sizzling Bangus, and everyone’s favorite, the Sizzling Sisig.

Grilled Pork Belly with Rice 

Appetizers while on a drinking binge aka pulutan, they Hashbrews offers Sauteed Hungarian Sausage and Mushrooms, Breaded Chicken Strips, Spring Rolls, and Bacon (who doesn’t love bacon?). The place also offers a good selection of soups and noodles, including the Chicken Mami, Cream of Chicken, Tinolang Isda, and Lomi, which I noted was served in a humongous bowl (I overheard the other table ordering this).

Interior of Hashbrews Café Bistro

If you are into vegetables, you may want to order the Ampalaya with Egg, Chao Pat Chin, or the Chopsuey. Their All-Day-Breakfast menu includes the Corned Beef, Beef Tapa, and Longaniza, all of which are served with two eggs and rice or bread. Pancake lovers will be keen on ordering their Classic Pancake with Butter and Maple Syrup or the Waffle with Bacon and Egg. For a taste of Italy, they also have the Spaghetti Bolognese, Creamy Pesto Pasta, and Carbonara. So Hashbrews offers everything for everybody.

Price

When it comes to prices, Hashbrews has a rather competitive price range. For their starters or appetizers, prices range from PhP99 for the Fried Pusit (Squid) Platter up to PhP205 for the Calamares. Their Main Courses have prices between PhP165 for the Sizzling Sisig and PhP450 for the Bagnet. The Soup and Noodles of the place have prices ranging from PhP135 for the Sweetcorn Soup up to PhP295 for the Sinigang Isda. Vegetable lovers can look forward to prices between PhP95 for the Ampalaya with Egg and PhP185 for the Chao Pat Chin. The price of the pasta at Hashbrews is from PhP165 for the Pasta Pomodoro up to PhP195 for the Spicy Danggit Pasta. Fruit Shakes are priced at PhP95 for the Banana Shake up to PhP145 for the Banana & Mango Shake, while sodas cost PhP55 each.

Menu of Hashbrews Café Bistro

If you want to have breakfast . . . in the evening, you can have them at PhP165 for the Corned Beef with rice and egg up to PhP175 for the Beef Tapa with rice and egg. Beer prices are between PhP50 for the Pale Pilsen and PhP75 for the Smirnoff Mule. And last but not the least, the price of their burgers and sandwiches are quite competitive from PhP125 for the Ham and Egg Sandwich up to PhP185 for their Hashbrew’s Cheese Burger.

Menu of Hashbrews Café Bistro

Location

Hashbrews Café Bistro is located on the ground floor of Northwinds Hotel along Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu City. It’s a short walk away from the Cebu IT Park and close to some of the best restaurants the Lahug area has to offer.

Getting There

If you are coming from Ayala, you can get on a jeepney headed for Lahug (04M) and tell the driver to let you off at Northwinds Hotel. You can immediately see the place when you turn towards the hotel. You also have the option of getting on a Beep bus and get off at IT Park. You can ask any guard in the area to point you in the direction of the hotel. You can also ask the guard to point you to where Chikaan sa Cebu restaurant is located. You can either ride a jeepney or walk towards the place (it’s probably a five- to ten-minute walk away). The café bistro is right across the restaurant. If you are coming from SM City Cebu, you can get on a jeepney headed for the Cebu IT Park and tell the driver to let you off at Chikaan sa Cebu restaurant.

Interior of Hashbrews Café Bistro

While I was not able to take a bite off their burgers, Hashbrews is definitely one of the places I will not think twice of visiting on any given Friday night.

PS: The place has a live acoustic band playing on Friday and Saturday evenings. If you are overflowing with confidence in your bathroom voice, you can also ask if you can sing your heart’s out with the band.

See Ben Eat At Se Ben’s Lechon

“You can never put too much pork in your mouth as far as I'm concerned.” - Lewis Black

It was all a stroke of luck (and a hungry stomach) that I discovered this quaint, little store selling the heart-stopping delicacy from Cebu somewhere in Mabolo. I was supposed to visit a different hole-in-the-wall resto in the same area, but I shied away from the place since I noticed it was rather full. Since Manong’s Original Bacolod Chicken Inasal was still closed, I walked around the area looking for a place where I can feed myself. While walking around, an image of the pig in overalls on a window of one of the shops seemed to call out to me. With my stomach already grumbling, I went in to check out what they had to offer.

See Ben Eat At Se Ben’s Lechon

Se Ben’s Lechon

Se Ben’s Lechon is a hole-in-the-wall resto offering the world-famous Cebu lechon. The branch I visited opened recently, while its Gaisano Country Mall branch has been open for some time already. I wasn’t able to ask more about the place since I was already famished and needed something to eat. But based on their Facebook Page, they have been in the lechon business for over a decade. They have a branch at the food court of Gaisano Country Mall and this branch in Mabolo only opened in August 2019. Aside from offering lechon on a per-kilo basis, they also offer whole lechon orders.

Interior of Se Ben’s Lechon

Food

I’ve been to a lot of lechon places in the city and most of them offer something unique to their customers. And this place is one of those places. One thing I liked the most was their crispy lechon skin. The pictures I took do not do justice to the delicacy, but believe me or not, the lechon skin was indeed as crunchy as it gets. They gave me the option of getting the regular lechon or the lechon belly. Since I’m more of a belly person, I opted for the latter. They have a budget meal size for their lechon belly, but I opted to get the 1/4-kilo serving of the dish. They have the regular and spicy variants of the lechon belly. Similarly, their whole lechon also comes in the regular and spicy variants.

Crispy lechon skin at Se Ben's Lechon

Price

Se Ben’s Lechon offers per kilo price and whole lechon price for their products. The price of a 1/4-kilo order of their classic lechon is PhP155. A 1/4-kilo order of their regular boneless lechon is priced at PhP175. On the other hand, a 1/4-kilo order of their spicy boneless lechon costs PhP190. These orders are good for one to two persons.

Boneless lechon at Se Ben's Lechon

The prices of their classic whole lechon are between PhP5,500 for 15 persons and PhP8,500 for a lechon good for 30 to 40 persons. The price of the spicy variant of the lechon is from PhP6,000 for 15 persons up to PhP9,000 for 30 to 40 persons.

Lechon prices at Se Ben's Lechon

Their boneless lechon is available in family packs. The regular boneless lechon family pack costs between PhP2,200, which is good for 12 to 15 persons, and PhP3,600, which is good for 20 to 25 persons. In contrast, the price of the spicy boneless lechon family pack starts at PhP2,400, which is good for 12 to 15 persons, up to PhP3,800, which is good for 20 to 25 persons.

Lechon skin and boneless lechon at Se Ben's Lechon

I was not able to take note of the price of their other products since the hunger pangs got the better of me. After eating the 1/4-kilo order of their lechon belly, I was already getting ready to go home and take the afternoon off. But this gives me another reason to visit the place to get the prices of their other products.

Boneless lechon at Se Ben's Lechon

Location

The Se Ben’s Lechon branch I visited is located at GDN Arcade, Mabolo. It is located in the same area as Manong’s Original Bacolod Chicken Inasal. They also have a branch located at the food court of Gaisano Country Mall.

Boneless lechon with puso at Se Ben's Lechon

Getting There

From Ayala Center Cebu, you can get to Se Ben’s Lechon by getting on a jeepney headed for Mabolo. Tell the driver to let you off at Ngohiong Express across PLDT. You need to cross to the side of PLDT and get on a jeepney marked 03A. You can get off in front of the gasoline station next to the GAGFA building. Se Ben’s Lechon is located at the GND Arcade, which is right across the gasoline station. You also have the option of walking to Skyrise Alpha where QBE is located and get on a Beep bus headed for Mabolo. The GAGFA building is one of the stops of the Beep bus.

See Ben Eat At Se Ben’s Lechon

With the opening of Se Ben’s Lechon at the GDN Arcade, the Mabolo area is gradually cementing its position as one of the best foodie destinations of Cebu. The lechon belly of Se Ben’s Lechon ranks up there among the best inCebu, but their crispy lechon skin is probably the best I’ve tasted so far.

Mangga Mo Bay Sa Mangga Cafe

“When life gives you lemons, throw it back and say I said I wanted a mango!” - unknown

The Queen City of the South may be home to the world-famous Cebu lechon, but this little island in the middle of the archipelago also offers some of the best mangos in the world. In fact, this has become a major industry in the island. Sometime last year, a college friend of mine invited me to the opening of a new café on the second floor of Robinson’s Cybergate Mall. The café is unlike other cafes in the city since it offers products using mango as one of its ingredients.

Mangga Cafe in Cebu

Mangga Café

The Mangga Café is a small, cozy place offering food and products made from mangos. When I went there, there was no other customer. One side of the store had a long table and four seats for customers who may want to have a bite at the place. The products offered by the café are displayed on racks on the other side of the place. Quaint and cozy were the two words that came to mind when I first visited the place.

Have a bite at the Mangga Cafe in Cebu

Food

While a good number of their products are bread made from mango flour, they also offer cookies, malunggay bread sticks, energy bars, mango jam, cakes, and pastries. In addition, Mangga Café also has a selection of sandwiches for their customers to choose from. But, choosing a sandwich is more than just pointing at what you want. You basically build your own sandwich.

Racks of mango goodies waiting for you to buy

Building Your Own Sandwich

1. The first thing you do is choose the filling you want in the sandwich. Their filling selection includes the Margherita, BLT, Pesto Chicken, Humba, and Tuna Salad Melt.

Build your own sandwich at Mangga Cafe

• Margherita – is made of marinara sauce, basil leaves, and Mozzarella cheese
• BLT – is your basic bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich
• Pesto Chicken – consists of seared chicken breast fillet, pesto sauce, and cheddar cheese
• Humba – is made of tender pork stew topped with a caramelized pineapple slice
• Tuna Salad Melt – consists of tuna, apples, mayonnaise, pickle relish, lettuce, and cheddar cheese

Margherita Sandwich using Whole Wheat Bread

2. You then choose the presentation of the sandwich. Your choices include the Tortilla Wrap, Whole Wheat Bread, Bagel, Focaccia, and Ciabatta.

Bread choices at Mangga Cafe

3. Wait for the sandwich to be assembled and viola, you have your sandwich

You can also order hot or cold drinks to quench your thirst after eating the sandwich. Hot drink options at the café include the Mango Mint Tea, Mango Ginger Tea, Mango Lemon Grass, Turmeric, and Calamansi, among others. On the other hand, their cold drink options include the Mango Minced Iced Tea, Mango Strawberry Iced Tea, Passion Fruit Drink, and Mango Juice in Can.

This sandwich goes well with a hot or cold drink

The bread options at Mangga Café include the Pesto Loaf, Ciabatta with mango flour, Focaccia with mango flour, and ensaymada. They also offer Tortilla Chips that you can dip in their Mango Jam. If you want to make your own bread at home, Mangga Café also sells all-natural, gluten-free, all-purpose Mango Flour. You can pair your bread with Mango Tea or Mango Coffee. Mangga Café also offers some cakes and pastries to satisfy your sweet tooth. Some of these delectable sweets include the Mango Tart, Mango Cheesecake, and the Mango Mousse.

A sandwich and drink combo is a perfect snack in the afternoon

Price

The prices of the products offered at the Mangga Café are friendly to your wallet. It is between PHP35 for the Ciabatta bread and PHP175 for their Go Healthy Bars. The sandwiches are priced at PHP99 for the Margherita and BLT while the Pesto Chicken, Humba, and Tuna Salad Melt are priced at PHP148 each. All their hot drinks cost PHP49 while their cold drinks are priced at PHP75 each.

Affordable goodies at Mangga Cafe

Location

Mangga Café is located on the second floor of Robinsons’ Cybergate Mall. It is situated close to the escalator. The place is open from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM. You have the option of eating what you bought at the café or simply take them out and enjoy them at home.

Eat healthy at Mangga Cafe

Getting to Mangga Cafe

Getting to the Mangga Café is rather easy since it is located inside a major mall at the Fuente Osmeña area. You simply have to get on a jeepney headed for Fuente Osmeña and get off at the jeepney stop close to the mall. If you live in the Lahug, Guadalupe, or Talamban area, you can actually reach the mall after getting a free tour of the city. You can do this by waiting for the free shuttle service of Robinsons to Robinsons Galleria Mall. From the Robinsons Galleria Mall, you can get on another bus headed for Robinsons Cybergate.  Well, this is probably for people who have a lot of time in their hands since these buses normally have a schedule to follow.

Mango flour offers a healthy option for diners

The Mangga Café is just one of the innovations in the food landscape of Cebu. Aside from showing the ingenuity of Cebuanos, the café also reflects the current trend towards a healthier lifestyle.

Mango chips at Mangga Cafe

Mango jamming at Mangga Cafe

Malunggay breadsticks at Mangga Cafe

Mango cakes and pastries are also available at Mangga Cafe

Mango flour at Mangga Cafe

If you have any leads on other hole-in-the-wall places in the Queen City of the South, do give me a heads up so I can visit the place and promote it to the world.

Note: Prices may change without prior notice.

There’s No Place Like Doming’s Ngohiong

It has been five months since I last posted something on this blog, and a lot has happened since then. While I may have taken a long respite from writing, I was still able to visit some hole-in-the-wall places here in Cebu. One of those places is a small eatery in the downtown area offering one of the more familiar comfort food of Cebuanos, Doming’s Ngohiong.

Doming's Ngohiong in Colon

Accidental Discovery

I actually discovered the place by accident. One afternoon, I wanted to get out of the house and clear my head of things that were bothering me at that time. So, I got on the first jeepney that passed by my place. Apparently, it was a jeepney headed for downtown Cebu, which I only realized when it reached the Capitol area. Anyway, since it was going to the downtown area, I decided to go to the row of fruit stands close to Gaisano Metro Colon. After reaching the place, none of the fruits I wanted to buy were available. So, I started walking towards Carbon Market passing through Osmeña Boulevard. As I was walking along V. Gullas Street, something caught my nose as I passed by a small eatery.  Ngohiong! I took a step back and checked the sign of the eatery. Lo and behold, the sign said Doming’s Ngohiong. So, I immediately walked in and ordered their ngohiong.

Scrumptiously delicious ngohiong

Doming’s Ngohiong

The place is similar to many eateries in the downtown area, but a way bit cleaner. It was simple with their monobloc tables and chairs. People go to this place not for the ambiance but for the ngohiong. I was pleasantly surprised that they were more systematic in the way they handled the orders. In addition, you do not have to wait for long to get your order. A few minutes after I sat down (after taking some pictures, of course), my order was ready. I also noted that they accept bulk orders for their ngohiong since there were some employees packing some of the ngohiong inside a plastic bag. These were apparently going to be picked up by a customer.

People go to Doming's for thei ngohiong

Food

While I have not been to the original location of Doming’s Ngohiong for a very long while, their ngohong still tasted scrumptiously delicious. It was still the same crunchy ngohiong I first tasted way back in college. Paired with puso or hanging rice, it was a meal that can easily fill your stomach at a very reasonable price. Aside from the ngohiong, they also offer Manok Bisaya (native chicken), Liog (chicken neck), and Atay-Batikon (chicken liver and gizzard), among others.  

Still the same ngohiong I came to love since college

Price

The ngohiong of Doming’s Ngohiong is quite cheap at PHP7 each while their puso is priced at PHP3 each. So a PHP30 budget can get you three pieces of ngohiong and three pieces of puso, which is enough to get you by for a few hours. The Manok Bisaya is priced at PHP45 while the Atay-Batikon costs PHP15 each. Their Liog is also priced at PHP15 each. For the drinks, the Pepsi, 7-Up, and Mirinda cost PHP12 each while the Mountain Dew and Bottled Water are priced at PHP15 each. Even as the place is incredibly affordable, their products are exceptionally appetizing.

Incredibly Cheap Yet Delicious Food

Location

The downtown branch of Doming’s Ngohiong is located at the ground floor of the M. Gotianoy Building, which is along V. Gullas Street. It is several meters away from Osmeña Boulevard.

The place is easy to find

Getting There

You can get to the downtown location of Doming’s Ngohiong by getting on a jeepney headed for Colon. If the jeepney passes through Osmeña Boulevard on the way to the Basilica del Santo Nino de Cebu, you can get off at the corner of V. Gullas Street. This is the second street to the right after passing Gaisano Metro Colon.   If the jeepney will not pass through this way, you can get off close to Gaisano Metro Colon and simply walk to the place. Just make sure you get off at a jeepney stop unless you want to play tag with some traffic enforcers in the area.

The Ngohiong is best paired with Puso

Cebu may be known for being the home of the “best pig in the world” according to Anthony Bourdain, but the Queen City of the South has a lot more to offer than the Cebu lechon. One of these delectable dishes that Cebuanos have grown to love through the years is the ngohiong. And when you talk about ngohiong to a Cebuano, the first place that normally pops into his or her head is Doming’s Ngohiong.

Note: Prices may change without prior notice.