The following seafood restaurants in Cebu are sure to satisfy your sutukil cravings.
Cebu has 167 neighboring islands with an abundance of marine resources. Therefore it’s no surprise that seafood restaurants are popular among locals and tourists alike.
These restaurants come in many forms, from streetside eateries to large-scale establishments. Most traditional Filipino restaurants even have a seafood section on their menu.
But if you’re looking for the best seafood restaurants in Cebu, we’ve come up with a list of the top 5 places that are known for their memorable dishes made from quality ingredients.
- Mayang Seafoods and Restobar (Formerly Manna Restaurant)
Mayang Seafoods (formerly Manna) is a popular sutukil restaurant in Mactan.
The historic Mactan Shrine in Punta Engaño is surrounded by several small-scale seafood restaurants like Inday Pina’s Sutukil and Salo-Salo, known for their delicious budget-friendly meals made from the freshest catches of the day.
There are also other sutukil restaurants in the area, with Mayang’s Sutukil House being one of the most famous. This restobar serves some of the freshest grilled, stewed, and ceviche dishes.
Mayang’s was formerly called Manna Restaurant, and they had been featured in many local and international cooking shows, highlighting their seafood dishes such as shrimp, parrotfish, scallops, and many more.
It’s also notable for its al fresco dining setup, with an overlooking view of the picturesque sea near the Mactan Shrine.
Among its most famous offerings are crabs, which come in three different sizes, at over Php1,000 per kilo.
The Pacific Lobster is their most premium offering, costing around over Php4,000 per kilo.
Aside from their delicious food, Lantaw offers a relaxing outdoor ambiance.
- Lantaw Native Restaurant
Another restaurant famous for its ambiance is Lantaw, which in Bisaya means “watch.” This is an appropriate name because customers can take delight in the seaside view while enjoying their delicious meals.
The first branch is located off the coast of Cordova, and the other branches are at IL Corso Lifemalls along South Road Properties and a newly opened one in Danao.
Previously, Lantaw was a “floating” restaurant stationed right by the pier. However, the mostly wooden materials were destroyed during a typhoon. The restaurant was soon rebuilt, situated by a cliff to retain the famous seaside view.
Among their must-try dishes are the garlic butter shrimp, calamari, and their version of kinilaw, the Cordova Express.
Enjoy a selection of their Cordova coolers as well, which is their very own specialty juice made with fresh fruit.
- Tongs Seafood Buffet
Buffet-style restaurants are pretty popular around the island. Many Cebuanos enjoy going back and forth to these places for extra servings of their favorite meals.
One place you should try is Tongs Seafood Buffet, which is located right across from the Sarrosa International Hotel along F. Cabahug Street in Kasambagan. It is notable for being one of the best places to get unlimited seafood in Cebu City.
For Php479, you can try top quality specialties like their shellfish, baked scallops, mussels, and oysters, which they claim are the best in town.
They also offer unlimited juice with their Php479 package.
- STK ta bai! Paolito’s Seafood House
Paolito's STK ta bai is famous for their tuna panga.
Another popular sutukil restaurant is Paolito’s, which has multiple branches in several shopping malls, with the original branch located near Cebu Provincial Capitol.
It was previously a small eatery which grew to be a staple restaurant on the island, as more and more customers tried out their irresistible dishes.
The restaurant is headlined by their Tuna Panga (jawbone), which the cooks grill in front of the restaurant for customers to see. Its extremely juicy meat gives it a rich flavor, especially with the sauce that they douse it in.
Aside from this, the restaurant has its own recipe for tinowa (fish soup) and kinilaw (seafood ceviche), as well as other non-seafood dishes like grilled meat and vegetable salads.
- Parr’t Ebelle Tinola
Enjoy a selection of Filipino barbecue favorites at Parr’t Ebelle Tinola!
The jawline isn’t the only part of the fish that Cebuanos enjoy. They also love a hefty serving of tuna belly, especially if it’s from the grills of Parr’t Ebelle Tinola.
This streetside eatery is famous for its smoky meals grilled right in front of the restaurant as well, which customers can instantly spot.
The tuna belly is one of the most popular Filipino barbecue specialties because of its balance of lean meat and fat.
Parr’t Ebelle is known for their offering of fish stew, which contains a fish head that is mixed in with several spices for a flavorful dish that is good for sharing.
The restaurant is pretty affordable compared to the other places on this list, so you can expect a lot of customers during lunchtime no matter what day of the week.
WHERE TO BUY THE FRESHEST CATCH
If you want to make your own seafood dishes at home, consider visiting Pasil Wet Market. According to Business Insider, this is the largest seafood market in Cebu, where locals can shop and resell various types of seafood.
The best time to go there is at 2:00 AM, which is when fishermen haul in their catch. Frequent buyers have mentioned that it is the smaller vendors that sell the freshest fish.
There are a couple of small eateries nearby as well, offering unique seafood dishes that you might want to try yourself. Larang is a pretty popular exotic dish, which is made of pufferfish.
Make sure to stay vigilant when you’re in the area.
In Cebu, trying out a number of seafood restaurants is simply a must. You can look forward to indulging in a vast selection of dishes that you won’t find anywhere else.
Many of the best seafood dishes are available, and you can’t go wrong with the quality and service. Whether you like your seafood grilled, cooked in soup, or made into ceviche, you have tons of options to enjoy.
Most importantly, one quality stands strong: taste. Each dish is made with an exquisite technique to get you asking for more. Trying out any of the signature dishes of the aforementioned restaurants will definitely be a memorable experience.
References:
Descalsota, Marielle. 2023. “I followed one of the world’s most poisonous types of fish from the seafood market to a roadside stall in the Philippines, where it’s turned into a $1.80 delicacy that’s surprisingly addictive.” Business Insider.
https://www.businessinsider.com/pufferfish-food-philippines-tourist-poisonous-seafood-market-photos-2023-8#i-arrived-at-the-fish-market-in-the-heart-of-cebu-just-before-midnight-2:~:text=The%20Pasil%20Fish%20Market%20is%20the%20largest%20seafood%20market%20in%20Cebu.%20It%20opened%20more%20than%20100%20years%20ago%2C%20and%20it%27s%20located%20right%20outside%20the%20largest%20informal%20settlement%20in%20Cebu.
