A few times here on LiP, over the past 5 or 6 years, I have written about my favorite restaurants here in Davao City. Believe it or not, this is the most requested article for updates. For some reason, lots of people e-mail me and ask me to update this information, as restaurants come and go, and people want to know what the latest great restaurants in Davao are.
Well, everybody’s taste buds are different, and because of that we all have our own favorites. It’s been a couple of years since I have posted a list of my favorite restaurants in Davao, so it’s about time I updated it. This time around, I have a number of new favorites to list. Probably, I suppose, there are only a couple of restaurants that are still on the list this time, which were also on the last the last time that I updated it!
My list this year includes different types of restaurants. I have Vietnamese, American, Japanese, Mexican, Italian, French and Filipino cuisine represented in this year’s edition of Bob’s Top 10 Restaurants in Davao.
I will list 10 favorite restaurants, in no particular order. All 10 of them are great, in my opinion, for different reasons, which I will explain.
So, let’s get started!
Hanoi
Hanoi Restaurant originally was located near People’s Park in the City Center area of Davao, near Apo View Hotel. Hanoi has recently re-located and can now be found at Abreeza Mall here in Davao City. Hanoi, as the name implies, is Vietnamese food. I never really thought that I’d be a big fan of Vietnamese food, but my first time to try it was at the original location of Hanoi. I’ve been going back for more ever since! My very favorite at Hanoi… well, to be honest, I can’t choose a favorite, they have so many great dishes. So, my favorites at Hanoi are the Beef Tenderloin in Tomato sauce and the Pork rolls in rice paper. There are so many other great dishes that I just don’t even know where to start! Believe me, you will find the food delicious, I am sure of that!
Tadakuma
If you like Japanese Cuisine, I believe that Tadakuma is the right place in Davao for you! There are a couple other Japanese restaurants in town, including a very good one (Tsuru), but I think that Tadakuma is the best! I can’t really make any strong recommendations on what to try there, because everything I have had there is always delicious! I am a big fan of their Sashimi (especially the tuna) though, and I don’t think it is right to go out for Japanese food without including some Sashimi! I love the stuff.
Their Tempura dishes are also excellent, but I guess my favorite is their Beef Yakisoba. You can see a full review of my last visit to Tadakuma over on my Davao Eats website.
Tadakuma has two locations in Davao. Their original location is on Jacinto Extension, just across the street from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas. The location that I like the best is in Damosa, though.
Murray’s New Orleans Restaurant
New Orleans Restaurant is a new arrival in Davao, after being open in Manila for some time already. The New Orleans Restaurant is located at the newly opened SM Premier Lanang, outside at the Food Walk, which is located at the back of the mall, near the new water show area. I lived near New Orleans for about 10 years, and as I told Feyma the first time we tried this restaurant, this is like comfort food for me, a good memory from my younger years! And, the food at Murray’s is delicious!
I have tried a number of dishes at Murray’s New Orleans Restaurant, and so far I have been happy with everything I tried. I guess my two highlights there so far have been the Seafood Parade and the Shrimp Etouffee. The Seafood Parade is a platter of seafood, which includes Blackened Salmon, Mussels, Clams, Calamari, Popcorn Shrimp and Oysters. I enjoyed everything on the platter, I must confess, and Feyma did too! The Shrimp Etouffee was also an excellent meal with Shrimp over linguine pasta. On the Etouffee, my only “complaint” (which is not even really a complaint) was that I expected it to be spicy, and it was really not, but that was OK with me too.
Army Navy Burger and Burrito
Yeah, it’s a fast food place, and to be honest I am really not listing Army Navy for their burgers (although they are great), but rather for their Burritos. I did not really say that this was an article about high end food, just stuff that tastes good and is available in Davao!
Decent Mexican food is hard to find in the Philippines, but I have to say that the Burritos at Army Navy Burger and Burrito are really good. I find them to be quite authentic too, which is a hard thing to find here… authentic Mexican flavor. But, I think you will be happy with the flavors you can find at Army Navy.
The burritos at Army Navy Burger come in three different varieties: Beef, Pork and Vegetarian. I have tried the Beef and the Pork and they are super. I wrote about Army Navy Burger and Burrito over on my Davao Eats blog a while back and mentioned that I am not really a vegetarian style eater, and two people that I know strongly commented that I should try the vegetarian burritos because they are excellent. Those were John Miele and Randy Countryman. Randy is a vegetarian, so I expected to hear that from him, but John is not, and he really vouched for the vegetarian burrito, so I will be giving it a try.
Army Navy has two locations in Davao now, at Abreeza Mall and also at the new SM Premier Lanang. Give them a try, I think you’ll like them! I know that I do.
Mama Maria’s Pizza
Pizza is easy to find in the Philippines, but good pizza is not so easy! I know that I have tried dozens of pizza places in different parts of the Philippines. Some were OK, some were terrible, but it was hard to find that really good one that I longed for. Mama Maria’s surprised me when I first tried it a couple of years back, and I keep going there whenever I want good pizza!
My favorite Pizza at Mama Maria’s is the Grandiosa pizza, which is an all-meat style pizza, and it’s great.
Mama Maria’s is a thin crust pizza, which is my favorite style. If you are looking for a Chicago Style pizza, Mama Maria’s is probably not the place for you, but even if you like thick crust pizza and are open minded, I think you will really enjoy the pizza from Mama Maria’s.
Mama Maria’s has a number of locations in Davao. The original location is on JP Laurel Avenue in Bajada, not far from Victoria Plaza. There is also a location in Lanang, Ecoland and at G Mall, and probably other locations that I have not remembered. Basically, no matter where you are in Davao, there should be a Mama Maria’s branch nearby.
To learn more about my experience at Mama Maria’s Pizza, check my article on my Davao Eats blog.
Only 5, Bob?
Well, I said that I would be listing 10 Davao Restaurants as my favorite places to eat in Davao, and I will. So far, though, I have listed only five, but you will have wait for next week for my final five entries! Like I said, I am not listing these in any particular order, just give all 10 of my favorites a try. I am betting some of them will be your favorites too!
Want to see my 5 other favorite restaurants in Davao? Check here.
Army Navy has the best Breakfast Burrito in the Philippines.
Hmmm.. I forgot that they had a breakfast burrito.. OK… gotta try that one too now! 😉
I wonder if Luz Kinilaw will make the list — Saw the video. 1 or 2 of these will be on my to-do list 🙂
Ha ha.. no, Luz didn’t make the list this year, unfortunately! 😉 Maybe next year!
Hi Bob,
Rather than just list favorites, perhaps a rating system for restaurants. What I have found when talking to folks is they are normally most concerned about: Prices, Cleanliness, service level IE: Fast, Slow, attentive, etc. Hours, address etc. Type of food.
Sort of a Yelp, or Zagat type listing…for the Philippines. Keep it simple with little or no ads and you may have a new hit. Paired up with your other reviews and that’s icing on the proverbial cake.
…and by the way, you left one off the list! That place that made the masarap BBQ Burger with Fried Onion rings. I think the name was Minda-Bobs house of BBQ Burger and ATBP! LOL! (Wink)
Hi Joe – Thanks for your suggestions. I prefer to just keep it simple here on LiP, and I won’t be posting this so often, so the improvements you are talking about would not be here. Maybe over on my Davao Eats site, though!
You are right, that was a great hamburger that I featured over on the other site, the pulled pork burger!
Hi Bob,
Rather than just list favorites, perhaps a rating system for restaurants. What I have found when talking to folks is they are normally most concerned about: Prices, Cleanliness, service level IE: Fast, Slow, attentive, etc. Hours, address etc. Type of food.
Sort of a Yelp, or Zagat type listing…for the Philippines. Keep it simple with little or no ads and you may have a new hit. Paired up with your other reviews and that’s icing on the proverbial cake.
…and by the way, you left one off the list! That place that made the masarap BBQ Burger with Fried Onion rings. I think the name was Minda-Bobs house of BBQ Burger and ATBP! LOL! (Wink)
I appreciate the suggestions.
Hey Bob – Oh my yummy! It’s morning and I’m hungry! He he. Army Navy is walking distance where I live but haven’t eaten there. must try burrito! not veggie ones though. I’ve never been to Davao.. ever.. but if I do.. will try try that Mama Maria’s pizza. All meat type and no pineapple! he he
Hi Sugar… Mama Maria’s is a national chain. If I am not mistaken, they originate from Bacolod. They must have outlets in Manila, no?
Bob,
Sounds like some great choices to eat. I love vietnamese food too. Especially the Pho Noodles and the Banh Minh sandwich. Both are very good. Ate at a good Japanese restaurant in Makati when i visited there. Great Shrimp Tempura and California Rolls. Will have to try Army/Navy next time there. Menu looks great. Could not find any Mamma Marias in Metro Manila. There is a very good pizza restaurant in Metro Manila called Big Apple Pizza. They have very good thin crust pizza too. Looking forward to your last 5 choices. Always good to know good food choices when visiting different places. Take care.
Hi PapaDuck – No Mama Maria’s in Metro Manila? Well, that is a shame! Well, I am sure they will end up there soon enough! Probably one reason is because there are already a lot of decent pizza places in Manila, I suppose!
Tune in next week for my last 5 favorites!
It’s a good burrito, Bob. I’d still love to have a real full Mexican restaurant here in Davao. I think it’s coming, as I understand Manila has some now and we usually aren’t too far behind. In the meantime I can get by with my own doings.
Hi Randy – During my time here in Davao,we have had two Mexican Restaurants in town which were fairly good. Neither of them was able to make it. One was down in the Venue Compound when it was still open, and owned by a friend, Tom Macintosh, they had really great Mexican food, but not enough customers. The other place was in La Habana Compound on Rizal Street, but they also did not make it. Tom Macintosh recently opened a place called California Cafe located on Jacinto Extension. I have yet to try the place, but I believe that they may have a Mexican dish or two.
I’d heard about California Diner but figured they were mostly burgers and such.
Found this on FB:
– Bringing you the West Coast taste…Classic American burgers, tacos, fajitas, nachos, chili dogs, fries, shakes, and even rice toppings!
So they have a few things. Do you think with the increase of expats here that a Mexican restaurant would have a chance now, or is there still not enough support to make it go? I know that Pilipinos typically do not care for Mexican food at all.
Hi Randy – Yeah, there are more foreigners here now than 7 or 8 years ago when Tom had his first Mexican Restaurant here. Personally, though, I just don’t think there are enough foreigners to keep such a place going. Perhaps with Tom’s mix of burgers and such in the new place, though, it will attract enough local customers too! I hope so. Tom is a really nice guy, and I hope he will succeed in his new venture!