Bai Ron, Back Ribs Ta sa Byron’s Back Ribs Grille

“Good food is good food. It doesn't have to come with pretense.” - Christina Tosi

It’s been over a year since I last visited this blog. In fact, in four months it will be two years since I wrote something here. While I visited several hole-in-the-wall places here in Cebu, I haven’t really gotten to take pictures, let alone write about them. But my recent visit to a place I discovered recently encouraged me to write about it.

Byron’s Back Ribs Grille

Byron’s Back Ribs Grille

Byron’s Back Ribs Grille actually opened around three years ago, but I only got to try the place when I decided to take a trip to uptown Cebu. Several food bloggers already wrote about the place in the past. And they all agree that the place offers great-tasting baby back ribs.

Byron’s Back Ribs Grille

Food

Yes, there are already several restaurants in the Queen City of the South offering baby back ribs. But Byron’s is Bacolod’s Best, and it has made its way to Cebu. This place uses their own barbecue sauce. And it’s not your run-of-the-mill barbecue sauce, it’s their own concoction that easily tickles your taste buds. I ordered the Backribs Jr. and I was in for a treat. 

Backribs Jr.

The meat was suitably tender and succulent. I could just put my finger on the taste of the sauce since it was a festival of flavors that took my tongue on an amazing ride. I wanted to order the Backribs Regular, but I am supposedly on a self-imposed diet. Well, more of an intermittent eating diet or something. If you are planning to visit the place with your family or group of friends, you can order the Family Platter or the half slab or whole slab of backribs.

Backribs Jr. 

Aside from the baby back ribs, the place also offers Grilled BBQ Chicken, which is one of the staples in Bacolod similar to Manong’s. They also have the Grilled Sizzling Bangus and Pork BBQ. Another item on their menu that I want to try soon is the Porksteak. All these items come with one cup of rice. If you are not keen on eating rice, you may want to try their Backribs Burger (I should try this the next time I visit the place). And last but not the least, they also have their own version of the Sizzling Pork Sisig.

Byron’s Back Ribs Grille

Price

The price of their meals is quite affordable, especially since the place is located in one of the malls in the city. The Backribs Jr. is priced at PhP99 while the Backribs Regular costs PhP175. On the other hand, the Half Slab of Backribs and Whole Slab of Backribs are priced at PhP598 and PhP1,188, respectively. Their family platter costs PhP1,288. Of all the rib meals, only the Family Platter comes with two liters of iced tea or lemon juice. Their Grilled BBQ Chicken and Grilled Sizzling Bangus are priced at PhP128 and PhP178, respectively. The Pork BBQ meal costs PhP128 while the Sizzling Pork Sisig is priced at PhP138. Their Backribs Burger and Porksteak are both priced at PhP128.

Byron’s Back Ribs Grille

For their drinks, a glass of either lemon juice or iced tea is priced at PhP45 while a pitcher costs PhP105. They also offer canned soft drinks at PhP55 each while their bottled water costs PhP25. If you want more rice, plain rice costs PhP20 while the garlic rice is priced at PhP25. On the other hand, if you want extra BBQ sauce, you can get it for PhP15.

Byron’s Back Ribs Grille

Location

Byron’s Back Ribs Grille actually opened its first branch in Robinson’s Galleria at the North Reclamation Area. The branch I visited is located on the second floor of Robinson’s Cybergate Mall in Fuente Osmeña. It is just a few steps away from the Manga Café. So if you are looking for something sweet after chowing down on the baby back ribs, you may want to check out the Manga Café. It is open from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM or based on the mall hours.

Byron’s Back Ribs Grille

Getting There

If you are coming from Ayala Center Cebu, you can get on a jeepney marked 14D or the one headed for Ramos St. You can tell the driver to let you off at the jeepney stop close to Robinson’s Cybergate. It will likely be at the intersection close to the National Labor Relations Commission office or Anita’s Bakeshop. Robinson’s Cybergate is just several steps away from the jeepney stop. Just ask the driver or your friendly sidewalk vendor to point which direction you should head for. Once you get to the mall, just go up to the second floor. Like what I said earlier, it is just a few steps away from the Manga Café.

Byron’s Back Ribs Grille

Cebuanos got acquainted with the baby back ribs after a homegrown restaurant offered this meat dish nearly two decades ago. Since then people have been lining up to taste the best ones offered in the Queen City of the South.  With the opening of Byron’s Backribs Grille, the rib gurus of Cebu should step on their rib game.

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.

Have A Taste Of Something Special At Monbis Halo-Halo

The halo-halo is the most popular Filipino dessert made from ice shavings, boiled sweetened beans, evaporated milk, different fruits, and gulaman. It is called halo-halo since you basically make “halo” or mix the ingredients used on the dish. Well, Cebu has a number of halo-halo places, ranging from your friendly neighborhood carenderia-cum-dessert place to big-name fast food restaurants located in major malls in the city. But, there are also some halo-halo places that have attracted the attention of locals and piqued the interest of visitors. One of these places is Monbis Halo-Halo in Tisa, Cebu City.

The Halo-Halo at Monbis

Monbis Halo-Halo

Monbis Halo-Halo is a hole-in-the-wall halo-halo place that has caught the interest of residents of Barangay Tisa. The place actually started out as your run-of-the-mill restaurant along Katipunan Street, Cebu City. Their halo-halo was just one of the items on their menu, which included beef stroganoff and siomai as well as sizzling dishes.

Rain or Shine, People Still Flock to Monbis Halo-Halo

But, as things would have it, the halo-halo was a runaway success as most of their customers ordered this popular Filipino dessert. The owners, Edmon and Bambi, decided to focus on offering halo-halo instead. And thus, Monbis Halo-Halo was born. The name of the store is a combination of the names of the owners. They just added a letter “s” at the end to make it sound good.

The Sign Leading to Something Good

Edmon is hands-on when it comes to making the halo-halo. You can see him at the store supervising or even assembling the halo-halo itself. On the other hand, Bambi takes care of cashiering duties at the store. They already have two branches of the store and both are located along the same road. Despite the close proximity of the two stores, they still attract customers like ants to sugar.

Halo-Halo Assembled and Ready to be Served

When I went to the place with a couple of friends, it was actually drizzling. But, after arriving at Monbis Halo-Halo, the place was teeming with people. Some were even standing waiting for a table to become vacant.  To keep things organized, they used priority numbers based on the orders of their customers.

Now Serving

The Halo-Halo

Now, let’s talk about the halo-halo of Monbis Halo-Halo. They only serve one type of halo-halo, the halo-halo special. And special it is. The ice they use on the dessert features fine granules that when mixed has a similar consistency as ice cream. In addition, they also add a number of real fruits, including jackfruit, mango, and bananas. Add the scoop of ice cream and crushed Graham crackers and topped with a good amount of Hershey’s choco syrup, the dish is definitely pleasing to the eyes. The whole dish also has a colorful wafer stick to complete the presentation.

My Halo-Halo Waiting to be Devoured

You can also try making your own halo-halo at home. Just make sure you have a good ice shaver to make the shaved ice. You can try this Kyowa KW-5100 Electric Ice Shaver or the heavy duty SS-11 Ice Cube Shaver. Then make sure you have all the other ingredients you can use to make your own version of the halo-halo.

The Kyowa Electric Ice Shaver

The Price

The halo-halo offered at Monbis Halo-Halo is priced at PHP75, which is rather reasonable since it has a good amount of ingredients on it. In addition, you will likely want to have more of it after consuming one serving.

Have You Tasted the Halo-Halo at Monbis Already?

The Location

We were only able to visit the second branch of Monbis Halo-Halo, which is located along Katipunan Street, Tisa, Cebu City. The first branch is located on the same street around a kilometer or two down the road.

Monbis Halo-Halo

Getting There

Getting to Monbis Halo-Halo is as easy as getting on a jeepney passing through Katipunan Street. Just look for the colorful sign of the place on the right side of the road. If you are coming from Ayala, you can get on a jeepney marked 12L and tell the driver or conductor that you want to get off at Monbis Halo-Halo. If you are taking a taxi to the place, just tell the driver you want to go to Monbis Halo-Halo. If the driver is unsure of its location, tell him to pass through Katipunan Street and simply look for a big crowd of people waiting for their orders or look for the sign on the right side of the road.

Look for the Crowd of People at Monbis Halo-Halo

Monbis Halo-Halo will be a fitting place for you to end the day after tasting the pochero at Gate 5 Pochero House or the chicken at the King of Chicken. It is just one of the many places in Tisa where you can find great-tasting dishes at a reasonable price. This hole-in-the-wall dessert place will definitely be on your list if you want to try the best halo-halo in town.

More Halo-Halo Waiting to be Served

Note: Prices may change without prior notice.

Things Never Go South At 21 South Burger

We all have our comfort food. Some like pizza while others love chicken. There are also those who love burgers. For me, I love all three, so whenever a new hole-in-the-wall place opens up offering any of these three items, I’ll find myself checking it out. A good friend of mine who lives in the Plisant . . . um . . . Pleasant Homes Subdivision gave me a heads-up on a new burger place that opened up near his place. 

21 South Burger

21 South Burger

The name of the place is 21 South Burger. My friend already gave me some details about the place. He said their patties were all home-made along with their buns. So, one slightly cloudy afternoon, I went to the place to see if it lived up to the hype.

Bacon Mushroom Burger With Parmesan Fries

When I went there, there were some students from my alma mater enjoying their burgers. The place is actually close to the school where I graduated from high school a long, long time ago. I proceeded to order their Bacon Mushroom Burger and a drink. While waiting for the burger to be cooked and assembled, I took pictures of the place. 

21 South Burger

I looked for the owner, but he was not there at that time. So, I talked with his brother instead. 21 South Burger actually opened last February, and it is slowly making a name for itself among the people living in the area. In fact, when I went to 21 South Burger there was another customer who was curious about it since she passes the place every day.

Dining area at 21 South Burger

The Food

They make their own patties, which is one of the reasons why their burgers are full of flavor. The Bacon Mushroom Burger I ordered consisted of a huge beef patty, their in-house sauce, cheddar cheese, lettuce, bacon and mushroom. All of these were assembled in between their home-made toasted buns.

Bacon Mushroom Burger with Parmesan Fries and Drink

A closer view of the Bacon Mushroom Burger

I loved their Bacon Mushroom Burger, but it would have been better if the bacon was crunchy. Despite this, the meat was very juicy. It was so juicy that I would likely come back here to try the other burgers on their menu. The fries were also crunchy and not like the ones you get at a fast food restaurant that would sometimes become soggy. I also liked the parmesan cheese they sprinkled on the fries.  In fact, I would have wanted more of the parmesan cheese on the fries. 

All the Burgers come with a side of Parmesan Fries

Parmesan Fires at 21 South Burger

You can actually make your own burgers at home if you have the right ingredients and equipment. A good grill like the Electric Barbecue Grill Outdoor BBQ or the Portable Charcoal Outdoor Barbecue Grill will allow you to charbroil burgers in your own back yard. 

You can try making your own burger at home using an outdoor grill

The Price

The price of the burgers at 21 South Burger is quite reasonable since the burger itself is bigger than the ones you find in a fast food restaurant. Their Classic Chicken Burger and Classic South Burger are priced at PHP99 each. The Bacon Mushroom Burger is priced at PHP129 while the Double Double Burger costs PHP149. The Beast is priced at PHP179. All orders already include a side of Parmesan Fries. Their drinks are all priced at PHP12 each.

The Prices are quite Reasonable

The Location

21 South Burger is located along E. Sabellano Street, Punta Princesa, Cebu City. This is the road on the left side of the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes or popularly called Lourdes Church. It is quite accessible, but the place only offers street parking. So, if you are bringing a car, just make sure to park it properly since the road can get congested at around 4:00 PM or 5:00 PM. 21 South Burger is open from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM every day. 

21 South Burger is located close to Pleasant Homes Subdivision

Getting To 21 South Burger

It’s actually quite easy to find the place if you are familiar with Punta Princesa or Lourdes Church. You just have to ride a jeepney that passes through the intersection next to the church. From Ayala Center Cebu, just hop on a jeepney marked 12L and tell the driver to let you off at Punta. The fare would be PHP9 from Ayala Center Cebu to Punta Princesa. After getting off, you have the option of riding a tricycle or a motorcycle for hire. You can also walk since 21 South Burger is around 10 to 15 minutes away on a leisurely walk. The place is on the right side of the road, just before you reach the entrance of Pleasant Homes Subdivision. If you are not familiar with the area, tell the tricycle or motorcycle for hire driver to let you off close to the entrance of the subdivision. 

21 South Burger

If you want great-tasting burgers at a reasonable price, 21 South Burger is definitely the place to go to if you live in the southern part of the city. Residents of Pleasant Homes Subdivision are lucky to have a great burger place close to where they live.  Now, if someone would be so kind enough to open a new hole-in-the-wall place offering chicken, pizza, and burger in the city. That would be manna from heaven for me. Plus, offering San Mig Light would definitely make everything perfect. 

Dining nook at 21 South Burger

Can't Get Enough of the Bacon Mushroom Burger . . .

. . . or their Parmesan Fries

Note: Prices may change without prior notice.