Experience a Filipino cuisine restaurant blooming with innovation at Abli and Amigos!
In the vibrant culinary scene of Cebu, where tradition meets innovation, a blossoming gem is emerging: Abli and Amigos.
The name, meaning “open” and “friends,” perfectly reflects their ethos: a welcoming invitation to enjoy authentic Filipino dishes in a warm and cozy setting.
Abli and Amigos isn’t just any typical Filipino cuisine restaurant; it serves as a testament to the Philippines’ rich, diverse flavors, reimagined and presented with a fresh outlook.
From the moment you enter, this Filipino restaurant welcomes you on a culinary adventure that honors local ingredients, cherished recipes, and a fervent commitment to showcasing the finest in Filipino cuisine.
INNOVATIONS BY ABLI AND AMIGOS
With a focus on Cebuano customs and culture, Abli has been meticulously crafting their menu. For anyone who was raised in Cebu or has been exposed to the culture, it’s a familiar process that starts with an ideation phase driven by feelings and memories.
Much of the restaurant’s challenge is in reproducing and refining the recipes, but “inspiration is all around, especially with local ingredients that are familiar and comforting.”
“Convincing people that it’s acceptable to stray from traditional Cebuano recipes and offer something new and innovative is one challenge we face,” Karen Abello, one of the co-founders, says candidly.
However, as stated in an article by Red Maleta, working together with their team to develop new menu items is one of their greatest pleasures. Together, they are able to produce inventive and distinctive dishes. They think that by taking this strategy, they can continue to be fresh and captivating. (2025)
That being said, their concoctions feature a remarkable Filipino cuisine menu.
REIMAGINING CEBUANO COMFORT FOOD
They offer popular local cuisine and sweets with a contemporary, upscale makeover, such as the following:
- Morta – This is their most well-known creation. With flavors including Original Queso de Bola, Mango Float, Mocha, Ube Cheese, Yema, Tiramisu, and Banana Cue, it’s a creative twist on the traditional Cebuano “torta”—a kind of sweet cake or pastry.
Their creative approach is highlighted by the fact that the word “morta” itself is a play on the phrase “murag torta” (like a torta).
Ginabot sa Abli – Replicating the popular street food “ginabot” (deep-fried pork intestines), this dish is one of their most sought-after offerings.
- Hmmmmmba – A gourmet take on “humba” (braised pork), served as sous vide pork belly with a spicy spring onion puree and a deep-fried egg.
- Crispy Cebu Express – Slow-roasted pork belly, “lechon kawali” (crispy deep-fried), served with their distinctive Bicol express sauce.
- Pinoy Sweet Ravioli – A sweet Filipino version of ravioli served with torched kesong puti and lambanog sauce.
CLEVER COFFEE AND DRINK SELECTION
They offer more than simply regular coffee; they also incorporate novel concepts and regional flavors:
- Champorado Cold Brew – An exclusive combination of cold brew coffee, oat milk, and tablea syrup.
- Buko Pie Coffee – Latik-infused coffee with pie crumbs, espresso, and coconut milk, garnished with desiccated coconut and meringue.
- “Kuan” Cocktails – These are impromptu, experimental drinks that ingeniously combine coffee, alcohol, or both to suit the tastes of the customer. Savor an unexpected mixture with this one!
- Kape sa Gi Ubo – A coffee mocktail that pays homage to traditional remedies by including ginger and calamansi.
Who would have thought that in mid-2022, shortly after the turbulent national elections, head chef and co-founder Karen Abello would call up Alyssa Dayot? Dayot cites her personal frustration with the lack of creative culinary offerings based on local cuisine as the motivation behind the creation of Abli and Amigos.
Abello says she was struck by a compelling desire to “contribute something meaningful to the community.” Eugene Labella, another co-founder, joined the team shortly after.
The rest, as they say, is history, and today Cebu is home to wonders like Abli and Amigos.
BRANCHES AND OPERATING HOURS:
- A. Climaco Street, Capitol Site Branch (across STK ta Bai! Sa Paolito’s Seafood House)
Sunday to Thursday: 12:00 NN – 9:00 PM
Friday to Saturday: 12:00 NN – 10:00 PM
Full Menu Available
- 2nd Floor, Streetscape Mall, Paseo Saturnino, Maria Luisa Road, Banilad
10:00 AM – 8:00 PM daily
Mortas and Cold Brew Coffee only
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Whether you are searching for Cebu City cafes to hang out with a lover or a friend, or are in the mood to take your taste buds on a Filipino cuisine restaurant adventure, Abli and Amigos is your spot.
Come for the food, stay for the company.
REFERENCE:
Meet the Amigas Who Opened Abli Cebu – Red Maleta. 2025. Red Maleta.
https://redmaleta.com/2025/01/13/meet-the-amigas-who-opened-abli-cebu/
