Post-Typhoon Yolanda has shaped a different Tacloban City. Businesses are booming and the presence of numerous foreign aid workers has prompted locals to open up not only more lodging but eating places too. People of Tacloban love to eat and its a delight to see some quality home-grown establishments popping up to join old favorites. With the presence of foreigners though, prices have gone up but there are still some affordable options around. This list is not a ranking but the places I have personally tried during my stay. Tacloban City Eats has a nice mix of comfort food, cafes, dessert places and a hotpot. Check out Chew Love, Dream Cafe, Libros Atbp, Porbida Burger, K Patisserie, Miyara Patisserie, Sofa Cafe, Huhku Hotpot Express and Oppa’s Kitchen.
Dream Cafe
I was searching for a place to have good coffee and breakfast and it’s funny most of the cafes I know are closed early in the morning. Tacloban is not a place of for morning persons I guess. Dream Cafe was open before 8 am. as they have a bakery on the side which opens as early as 5:50 am. I was the first customer and decided to order the Sausage with Hash Brown and brewed coffee. I was a little underwhelmed by the appearance but was surprised at how good it was. The sausage was really tasty, the bun was more than ordinary, it was butter-toasted from the inside for added flavor. The homemade hash browns were thick and packed with full-bodied mashed potatoes. The brewed coffee was also my kind of strong but I wish the serving size was a lot bigger. I would dine here again and grab a few bread on my way out.
222 M. H. Del Pilar St. Tacloban City
Operating Hours: Bakery (5:30am-11pm) Cafe (8:00am-11pm)
Contact: (053) 325.8222, 0916.659.5574
Sofa Cafe
Here’s another cafe open by 9 am in the morning. Interiors are nice and they have fast wifi. The brewed coffee is also good and sandwiches are like something I could whip up on my own at home. Meals are affordable and the place is cozy. Students seem to enjoy the rice meals a lot which I should try next time. They also got cupcakes but weren't able to try that time.
Del Pilar St. Tacloban City
Operating hours: 9:00am to 9:00pm
Contact: (053) 321.5409, 0915.953.2029
Chew Love
Its colorful murals elicit a sense of cheeriness in this side of town. Chew Love will definitely make you smile one way or another. May it be from the beautiful interiors, the witty names of the dishes on the menu or the food itself. Chew Love was borne post-Yolanda to bring the color back in Tacloban one diner at a time. Don’t miss this out. It’s time to find Chew Love. Read my full review here.
P. Gomez St., Tacloban City
Operating Hours: 11am-8:30pm (Monday to Saturday)
Contact: 0917.310.8286
Libro Atbp Bookstore and Coffeeshop
If ever I would set up my own coffee shop, it would look something like this. A combination of the things I love, reading and coffee. Libros has a wall of shelves dedicated to books you can read and buy. Those comfortable couches invite one to stay longer. Then add in some affordably priced fruit and coffee blends with panini or cupcakes is a recipe for a long stay here. I tried their Ice Blended Caramel Mocha and a Peanut Butter cupcake both were so good I also want to try the other offerings next time.
Corner P. Gomez and Sto Niño St., Tacloban City
Operating Hours: 12nn-9pm
Contact: (053) 523.2738
Porbida! Flame Grilled Burger House
Walked by this establishment along Sto Nino St early in the evening in time for dinner. The place is quite spacious and has an interesting wall decor. I tried a combo meal of Spicy Porbida Burger with Potato Chips and Iced Tea. I was surprised by the tasty homemade sliced potato. The Porbida burger pattie was good but the buns could have been better. Plus on the presentation though. When I was there, other people were ordering the rice meals too.
Sto Niño St, Tacloban City
K Patisserie
It’s easy to spot K Patisserie at the corner of P. Gomez and Paterno St. The colorful interior is eye-catching and one look at the counter will entice passersby to look closer at their colorful and delectable cupcakes. K Patisserie is more than a cupcake place, they have a “DIY (Do it yourself) Burger”, rice meals, and pasta. I did try their burger and it's one of the better ones I’ve tasted in the city. Cupcakes are really a treat at P55 each and good-priced brewed coffee.
JTC Building, Corner P. Gomez and Paterno St.
Operating Hours: 10:00am to 8:00pm
Contact: (globe) 0926.211.4748, (smart) 0912.429.2223
Huhku Hotpot Express
Was looking for something different to try and chanced upon this hotpot place along Burgos. It was raining and I also wanted some hot soup for dinner and my gut was right to try this out. I ordered a superbowl for Php 95 which contains a soup with egg noodles, veggies, and 6 hotpot balls or sticks. I tried a couple with fillings inside, mushrooms,and crabsticks. I really enjoyed the one with a filling that tastes like nori and the one with cheese. Really enjoyed the whole bowl and the soup base was really flavorful.
Burgos St (across Philhealth)
Operating Hours: 10:00am to 11:00pm
Contact: (053) 321.9277
Oppa’s Kitchen
The K-pop-themed Oppa’s Kitchen is one of the new restaurants that opened at the building near Dream Cafe along M.H. Del Pilar St. It is also the first Korean Restaurant in Tacloban. Located at the second floor of the building, a Korean music video was playing on a big screen on the wall, with some pop stars and a mini library on the side. K-pop fans would feel at home here. I tried the spicy Jeyuk Bokkeum and a Ube Shake. At first, I was kinda disappointed with the serving size of the meal but soon found it was a lot since it had more meat than fat. It has also something to do with the plating with a lot more space making the serving size seem small. I did like the medium heat and peppery taste of the dish. The Ube shake was also smooth and had the right amount of serving for the price.
M. H. Del Pilar, Tacloban City,
Operating Hours: 11:00am to 8:00pm
Contact: 0917.633.3621
Miyara Patisserie
Was looking for a place to have dessert past 9 pm and found this patisserie open at Burgos St. The place looks too ornate though with furniture pieces plucked from a princess doll house. But never mind those as the pastry here takes center stage as the place specializes in custom cakes. Their Banoffee Cake is one of the best desserts to have tried in the city and do try their cheesecake cupcakes too. Their coffee is from Illi. They are open until midnight. A nice place to work in as they have fast wifi.
222 Burgos St, Tacloban City
Operating Hours: 10:00 am to 12mn
Contact: 0917.628.4963
There are a lot more interesting Tacloban City Eats and this list is just a start. Have you been to any of these restos or have other favorites? Feel free to suggest :)
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