I’m doing a month-long series on my Cebu Food Trip last year. Today, I’m writing on what I call a “love affair” of the Cebuanos.

When I was exploring the city of Cebu, I noticed something: There are lots of restaurants and roadside stalls dedicated to grilled meat and seafood. Granted, there are also lots of roadside barbecue stalls in Manila. But people usually just drop by for a snack. In Cebu, they come to have a meal, pairing their barbecue with rice or puso (hanging rice). I think it’s safe to say that the Cebuanos love all things barbecue or inihaw/sinugba (grilled)!

To my foreign readers, don’t expect something like American barbecue. A Filipino barbecue is any protein (chicken, pork, seafood, and even innards) usually marinated, skewered, and grilled over charcoal, basting it with the marinade or banana catsup (yes, we have that in the Philippines) while grilling. The marinade ingredients vary per recipe or region. But I think the most basic ones are soy sauce and calamansi (Philippine lime), making it distinctly Filipino. Many recipes include sugar or honey for sweetness, and/or sili labuyo (the most common Philippine chilli) for a kick of spice. Some even add lemon-lime soda or pineapple juice as tenderizer.

One can’t miss on barbecue food in any true Cebu food trip. Together with Lechon (read my crawl here) and seafood (and my articles here and here), barbecue completes the trinity of quintessential Cebuano food experiences. And to help you plan for your Cebu food trip, here are 3 barbecue spots that I recommend:

AA BBQ

I have an American officemate who used to live in Cebu. He has a go-to spot for barbecue and he loved everything there. That spot is AA BBQ. If it made an impression on him, then it must be really good!

AA is a barbecue chain that started out in Lahug and has branches throughout Metro Cebu. That speaks a lot about the restaurant’s success, especially its food!

The style of ordering here is slightly different from other barbecue spots. In other spots, you just point which items you want from an array of choices. In AA, you will have to help yourself with the items you like and place them on a tray. When done, the waiter will get the tray and have the items grilled.

I love everything item I got in AA:

Chorizo de Cebu: This is Cebu’s version of the longganisa (Filipino-style sausage). But unlike the typical longganisa which is boiled until it cooks on its own fat, chorizo de Cebu is grilled. It is also bite-sized (longganisa is usually longer) and on the sweet side (others are garlicky). AA’s version is rightly sweet and nicely smoky. They also have regular and spicy options.

AA’s Chorizo de Cebu — AA’s *Chorizo de Cebu*

Grilled Chicken: It’s juicy, tender, and nicely charred. But what I like about it the most is it’s lightly basted with barbecue sauce so there’s a nice sweetness to it.
Grilled Squid: The flesh is rightly chewy and the stuffing of tomatoes and white onions give a refreshing crunch and sweetness.

AA BBQ has several branches. Check them out here.

Larsian sa Fuente

Want to know how much the Cebuanos love their barbecue? They have an entire complex of barbecue stalls…open 24 hours! Wow!

This complex is Larsian sa Fuente, an institution that has been feeding Cebuanos with barbecue for decades. It was renovated in November 2018 and reopened in January 2019. Thank God I didn’t go during those times!

It is said that the place can be packed at night with locals and tourists alike. I went there past midnight (Monday early morning), fresh from checking-in at my hotel. Thank God again, there were only a few people eating!

To avoid the crowds, go at weekday midnight! LOL.

I didn’t do any research which stall to go to. There were also no queue as I visited in the early morning (long lines are good indicator that a food spot serves good food). So I just chose the one with the freshest-looking items. I ended up with Smiley Best BBQ, which has the logo of SunStar Best of Cebu (think of it as Cebu’s Michelin Guide).

Honestly, the barbecue items don’t match AA BBQ’s and Matia’s (more on this in a bit). But if you’re looking to satisfy your barbecue late at night (or past midnight like me!), then Larsian will suffice.

Address: Don Mariano Cui St., Capitol Site, Cebu City | Operating Hours: Daily, 24 hours | Facebook

Matias BBQ

What better way to eat barbecue than under a tree? Matias is known for their open-air, under-the-tree dining experience.

But aside from the dining under a tree concept, they’re also known for their grilled items. While their pork barbecue may not be most tender, the chicken barbecue makes up for it. It’s the star of the show, as it is wonderfully juicy, tender, and charred. It’s also smothered with barbecue sauce, which I think is made of catsup.

Among all the chicken barbecue I tried, Matias’ is the best one!

Address: A.S. Fortuna St., Banilad, Mandaue City | Operating Hours: Daily, 11:30AM-10PM

What barbecue spots above have you visited or would like to visit? What spots should I try next? Comment them below!

Other entries in the Cebu Food Trip series: Trying the Local Dishes of the Queen City of the South | The Search for the Best Cebu Lechon | The Ultimate Seafood Experience Part 1 (SuTuKil and Paluto All-You-Can) | The Ultimate Seafood Experience Part 2 (Linarang and Bakasi)

Cebu Food Trip: Sharing in the Cebuanos' Love for Barbecue

AA BBQ

Larsian sa Fuente

Matias BBQ