Cebuanos know that there is no better place to get siomai other than Tisa.
A streetside eatery may seem quaint and small, but it can be the gateway to trying out the local cuisine. Not only that, but you also get to befriend locals who eat at these restaurants on a daily basis.
In Cebu, you will find all kinds of street food stalls, but one location is highly regarded as the island’s street food capital: the bustling neighborhood of Tisa.
Tisa is mostly known for its siomai offerings, which is a famous street food in Cebu.
Food stalls and pungko-pungko stands can be seen along the streets of Tisa, making them accessible for anyone passing by.
Cebuanos definitely love their street food, which you can enjoy any time of the day. Even during the wee hours, some stores in Tisa are filled with hungry customers, like Way Tugpahay and Braddex.
While there are a dozen meals and street food options to choose from, there is one specialty dish that you definitely have to try.
SIOMAI SA TISA
No food is more synonymous with Tisa than siomai, as this neighborhood was one of the first places in Cebu to make this Chinese dish accessible to the masses, coining the term “Siomai sa Tisa.”
There are several “siomayans” along the road, offering different versions of dumplings with their own signature sauces. Some stalls outside of Tisa even tried replicating this famous dish and bringing it to other areas on the island.
It is so popular that Tisa celebrates their very own Siomai Festival every year.
A few pieces won’t be enough, but thanks to its budget-friendly pricing, customers can order as many as they want. These are best paired with a spicy dim sum sauce, hanging rice (puso), and a bottle of your favorite soft drink.
Each siomai shop has its own delicious recipe, but the original Siomai sa Tisa can be found at Kuya Jeff’s Siomayan.
Their business started in 2001 after Jeffrey Quillosa, previously the owner of a halo-halo snack house, sold siomai to pair with their delectable dessert (2007).
Today, it’s the go-to meal that is both affordable and filling. They are open from 7:30 AM to 1:00 AM.
OTHER STREET FOOD DISHES TO TRY IN TISA
- Dim sum
Chinese cuisine has definitely influenced Cebu’s food scene, paving the way for countless restaurants specializing in Chinese-Filipino dishes.
In Tisa, one quaint eatery is famous for their dim sum sold at a rather affordable price.
Braddex Batchoy & Steamed Rice serves a variety of dim sum meals, from spring rolls and dumplings to their bestselling steamed rice. They have become the go-to dim sum shop in Cebu, opening several branches around different parts of the city.
Their steamed rice is a great budget meal, at only 60 Php. It consists of fresh jasmine rice topped with a flavorful stew made with savory chunks of pork.
Their batchoy costs 30 Php, and is best paired with their steamed and fried dishes like their bacon rolls, siomai, spring rolls, crab pincers, and shrimp balls.
Braddex hires persons with disabilities (PWDs) as their servers and cashiers. With that, customers can use the American Sign Language (ASL) guide on the menu to communicate their orders.
- Ngohiong
Another popular street food dish in Cebu is ngohiong, a Cebuano take on spring rolls using turnips, hearts of palm, and most importantly, the Chinese five spice powder, which is where it gets its name from.
These spring rolls are perfect for a budget-friendly meal. You can pair it with rice and its signature sweet and spicy sauce. You can try this famous dish at Ngohiong Express, also known to have several branches around the island.
Their ngohiong may be small, but it packs a lot of flavor. Aside from this, you can also order from their selection of other deep fried foods like hotdogs, bacon rolls, fried chicken, skinless chorizo, and more.
There are two branches of Ngohiong Express in Tisa, one close to other restaurants like Braddex, Pater ni Aki, and Liam’s Flavoured Wings, and another across several ukay-ukay stores near the Barangay Hall.
- Pater
Lastly, pater is a dish that originated in Mindanao. It has recently gained a lot of love from Cebuanos. It consists of rice and shredded meat, wrapped in banana leaves.
This is then mixed in with palapa, a condiment from Maranao that has scallions, ginger, grated coconut, and chili. Its combination of flavor and aroma makes it an irresistible meal just begging you to get seconds.
There are two spots in Tisa serving pater, namely Pater sa Tisa and Pater ni Aki. Both have physical stores offering various toppings for their meals, like beef, chicken, tuna, and shrimp.
Pater can be a great takeout meal too, since you can eat the whole thing right from the banana leaf that it’s wrapped in. With the plastic gloves they provide, you won’t need utensils, and you can simply throw the banana leaf away when done.
There are a dozen Cebu street food havens to try, but none have etched their mark on the history and lifestyle of the city quite like Tisa. With some of these stalls open 24/7, you will find plenty of customers lining up to indulge in the savory street food dishes of Tisa.
REFERENCES
Navarra, Beverly Irene M. 2007. “D’ Original Siomai sa Tisa.” The Freeman Cebu.
https://www.philstar.com/cebu-business/2007/02/24/386637/d-original-siomai-sa-tisa#:~:text=It%20began%20in%20June%201,more%20attention%20from%20the%20customers.
