5 Restaurants That Are Putting Tacloban on the Culinary Map
Tacloban City, which sits on the eastern edge of the Philippines, is often spoken about by those in more cosmopolitan centers (if spoken about at all) in the context of loss: supertyphoons, poverty, self-serving political dynasties, incessant power interruptions. But proving those conversations incomplete is a culinary renaissance popping up across and around the city.
In vibrant Downtown corners and quiet nooks outside the Region VIII hub, cuisine spanning from local to Western to fusion fare is speaking the proud and criminally overlooked language of the Waray. This is a region—and culture—where edge and elegance meet: where the salt air of Cancabato Bay adds to the gustatory layers of a seafood paella; where the aroma of curry mingles with the subtle sweetness of puff pastry to create a uniquely intoxicating perfume; and where every meal served is a small act of defiance against the world’s underestimation.
As the city rapidly develops and new eateries sprout up, five kitchens stand out as leaders of the pack. Creative, hardworking, and homegrown, the teams behind these establishments are helping to elevate the entire region by crafting dining experiences worth traveling for. It’s no surprise then that the chefs who own and operate these restaurants are finding themselves catering to a distinctly diverse crowd. Over crabmeat crepes, you’ll hear francophone children negotiating portion sizes. In the center of a brasserie, you’ll see Italians gesturing wildly for another bottle of chianti. And yet, the food is decidedly local. The chefs from these five restaurants consciously seek out ingredients from local farmers, bringing Filipino ingredients—regardless of the cuisine—straight to the plate.
ALSO READ:
The Philippine Tarsier Has Just Been Sighted in Tacloban for the First Time
Today I Learned: The Indigenous Cultures of Western Visayas
What’s best? These five, listed below in no particular order, are just the beginning. They are a testament to what’s possible when excellence, heritage, and openness come together. Lucky for us, this spice melange is not a rare commodity in the region. Safe to say Tacloban’s culinary scene is here to stay. The world has overlooked Eastern Visayas for too long. But anyone who’s eaten here knows: the region has flavor, heart, and a story that deserves to be savored.
1| La Maison Punjab
Address: Tabuan National Hwy, Marasbaras, Tacloban City, Leyte
Contact: 0967-426-9380; [email protected]
Foodies in search of an unforgettable experience should add La Maison Punjab to their bucket list.
This elegant yet cozy restaurant by award-winning Chef Yan Jimenez and her husband, Chef Sandeep Singh, fuses the former’s specialty French pastries with the latter’s Indian fare. What makes this restaurant a must-visit isn’t just that there’s nothing like it in Tacloban (or Manila, for that matter)—but that the chefs behind the scenes put so much heart and hard work into bringing their vision to life. All the details, from the seasonal decorations that create a vibrant ambiance year-round, to the dainty packaging of the petits gâteaux, to the food photography and graphic design, are thanks to the chefs’ hands-on creative direction. And you can taste the level of inventive attentiveness they strive for in every bite, whether you’re enjoying the spice-packed squid curry or the Dubai pistachio chocolate-inspired croissant.
2| Kréme Patisserie
Address: Tierra De Milagros Resort, San Salvador St., Palo, Leyte
Contact: 0962-081-2756
Made with love, Kréme Patisserie’s breads and pastries are an authentic Parisian experience.
Situated in a resort at the foot of forested hills just a short drive outside Tacloban City, this authentic French bakery always feels like a step into another world. Bringing a taste of France to Leyte are Chef Kristia Reposar and Chef Clément Delanaud, who not only learned to bake and make pastries in Paris, but also fell in love there. They share this love through artisanal baguettes, premium tarts, and other quality dishes like quiche lorraine and croque monsieur. Without abandoning the science, art, and tradition of French baking, they also incorporate local touches and customer requests. One example was created after a German customer asked if they could add a taste of home to their menu. The chefs embraced the request with enthusiasm, creating a variety of pretzels. The one with the emmental, labuyo, and bacon pretzel stands out as emblematic of the restaurant: European, Filipino, delicious, and made with love.
3| Giuseppe’s
Address: 173 Avenida Veteranos, Tacloban City, Leyte
Contact: 0945-841-9400; [email protected]
The handmade pasta is a must-try at Giuseppe’s.
While this Italian-Filipino restaurant has been a Tacloban mainstay since 1992, garnering acclaim and loyal patrons for their brick-oven pizzas and prime cuts of meat, head chef Giuseppe Bonavitacola (who was born years after the restaurant was established) has been quietly elevating the institution since he took over its operations. Trained in some of the best osterias in Europe, he is seeing his vision—including hand-rolled pasta, a sophisticated cocktail bar, and a slate of nightlife events featuring top tier musicians—not only become a reality, but also transform this beloved eatery into one of the premier venues to be and be seen in the city.
4| Kitchen 2K
Address: 13 Real St., Barangay 75, Fatima, Tacloban City, Leyte
Contact: (053) 832-4684
A clean, well-lighted venue, Kitchen 2K is as easy on the eyes as it is on the tastebuds.
Arguably one of the most picturesque locales in the city, Kitchen 2K’s appeal doesn’t end with aesthetics. Run by Chefs Monch and Anna Salazar, the restaurant boasts consistently delicious dishes influenced by Chef Anna’s Italian roots and the chefs’ time in New York City, where, in apartment 2K, they conceived of the menu we get to enjoy today. Think: kare-kare paella featuring pork belly and eggplant, decadent Wagyu bolognese, and an outsized chocolate chip cookie baked—but still gooey—and served in a cast-iron pan next to a dollop of vanilla ice cream. All this while taking in the views of Cancabato Bay through floor-to-ceiling windows: chef’s kiss.
5| Ormoc Herbs
Address: San Lorenzo Village, Barangay San Pablo, Ormoc City, Leyte
Contact: 0917-569-5954
Much of the garden salad from Ormoc Herbs is harvested from their actual garden.
A bit of a wildcard, Ormoc Herbs is actually located in (surprise!) Ormoc—a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Tacloban, over the mountain and down to the other coast. Still, Chef Jin Ho Yoo deserves to be among the other chef-owners on this list for his sustainable and big-picture approach to dining. Although he’s an entrepreneur with projects all over, including in Tacloban, nothing beats his home kitchen. Ormoc Herbs is both an organic farm and a restaurant, with fragrant herbs wafting through the open-air, multi-tiered hillside dining area. Much of what you consume here was grown on the premises. As such, the garden theme ties together the seemingly disparate menu featuring everything from nachos to dumplings to steak frites to sushi. The freshness, flavor, and fine wine will leave you with a lasting hankering for the food, long after you’ve gone. As with the other restaurants on this list, you’ll want to keep coming back—and you’ll find it’s always worth the trip.
