This Cebu food park is the city’s newest culinary and tourism hub.
Many Cebuanos were excited for Pusô Village, a Cebu food park and tourism hub that was set to open along with the Carbon Public Market modernization.
An article in Sunstar Cebu described it as a “sophisticated commercial development showcasing the best of Cebu food and retail.” (2022) It was said to have over 300 stalls for food, gadgets, and even ready-to-wear (RTW) clothing.
By 2022, its interiors and the famous puso-inspired facade were nearly complete, and the vendors were already set on serving their delicious Cebuano food. It was targeted to have a soft opening in November of the same year.
Unfortunately, the development faced some hurdles, particularly a land dispute between the Cebu Port Authority and the Cebu City government. Its opening date was pushed back several times, until operations were halted indefinitely.
The structure still stood, and the local government persevered to start operations. A new date was set for 2025, before the Sinulog Festival officially returned to the city streets.
The interior of the food park was still unfinished, so vendors sold outside the structure instead. This only lasted for a week, with the contractor fast-tracking its completion after that.
Finally, under the new city administration and the owners acquiring all the needed permits, Pusô Village opened its doors on July 17, 2025, with a grand celebration set for September.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT PUSÔ VILLAGE
Previous vendors from The Barracks occupy the kiosks to draw in customers.
Exact Location:
Behind Senior Citizens Park, beside Compania Maritima
Operating Hours:
10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
The name is an obvious nod to puso (hanging rice), commonly sold at streetside eateries and karenderias. Aside from being a big part of Cebu cuisine, puso is also a religious and historical symbol.
The Cebu food park will now house around 100 food and retail businesses. This includes clothing from renowned designer Cary Santiago and other Cebuano-made furniture.
There will also be a mezzanine deck with a scenic view of the Mactan Channel and the longest bridge in the Philippines, the Cebu Cordova Link – Expressway (CCLEX).
For an element of aesthetics, 50 banaba trees will be planted to replicate Japan’s sakura trees. Also called “The Pride of India,” banaba trees are notable for their bright pink or light purple flowers.
However, we can expect that most will visit the food park for a healthy selection of the best food in Cebu. Luckily, they have plenty.
FOOD SELECTION AT THE CEBU FOOD PARK
Enjoy an array of Cebuano food from startups and popular names in the industry.
Most vendors are from The Barracks, a temporary site built for displaced vendors in Carbon. With its subsequent closure in June 2025, Pusô Village is now officially the city’s newest high-end hawker center.
Like those in Singapore, Pusô Village gathers small-scale Cebuano food vendors in one location. Management has also made it easier for customers by organizing food sections.
Here are the different food sections inside Pusô Village:
- Dalang Sinugba – section dedicated to grilled dishes. Cebu is famous for its streetside barbecue culture consisting of different variants of barbecue skewers.
- Litson Avenue – dedicated solely to lechon, one of Cebu’s most popular dishes. There are stalls for both Carcar and Talisay Lechon.
- Taugna Satangrubu – a section for local delicacies such as balbacua and paklay, which are both made from exotic beef and pork parts.
- Nagasa – dedicated to fresh seafood to allow customers to try out sutukil.
Aside from this, a Bo’s Coffee branch is set to open inside the park. This nationally recognized coffee shop is notable for originating in Cebu and supporting many of the country’s local farmers.
Other notable names include Ally Mango, Moshi Manju, Fruitas House of Desserts, and more.
WHY GO TO PUSÔ VILLAGE?
It goes without saying that Cebu is home to many food parks. In fact, Pusô Village is close to the Carbon Sunday Market, another food bazaar in line with the public market’s modernization.
So what makes it stand out? According to its developers, its scale.
The aforementioned Sunstar Cebu article quotes the Cebu2World Development Inc., claiming that it’s more for tourists with an above average income, whereas the Sunday Market is more for budget-friendly meals.
Pusô Village is spacious, with a wide selection of non-food items as well. It’s an aesthetically pleasing and lively location, thanks to its partnerships with designers and artists.
Pusô Village highlights brands like Bo’s Coffee and Cary Santiago as it gathers not just the best food, but also the best lifestyle and shopping options.
So, if you have some extra cash and want to see what this food park has to offer, it’s definitely worth a visit.
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It’s common for businesses to encounter several struggles before becoming successful. Pusô Village has seen a similar fate already, but it continued on and is finally open to the public.
In preparation for the grand opening this September, you can enjoy the atmosphere and the food with friends and loved ones. This Cebu food park is sure to see a lot of happy and satisfied customers along the way.
REFERENCE:
Tan, Ivan Rey R. 2022. “Puso village to open in November 2022.” Sunstar Cebu. https://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/puso-village-to-open-in-november-2022.
