During your trip to the Philippines, you can’t miss Moalboal located on the island of Cebu. There are so many things to see and do in this area, like Canyoneering at Kawasan Falls, hiking Casino Peak and snorkelling with thousands of sardines.

One thing I did not expect when I visited Moalboal is just how incredible the food would be here. There are a number of restaurants and bars that I visited time and time again and would highly recommend.

During your visit to Moalboal make sure to check out these places located in the Panagsama beach area and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Venz Kitchen

Venz Kitchen is an incredible restaurant for authentic Filipino food. I returned to this place so many times and every single time I was blown away at just how amazing the food was. They have a whole page of vegan options and another page dedicated to vegetarian dishes.

Some stand-out dishes that I recommend are:

Chicken Pastel - a creamy dish of chicken, and vegetables serviced with rice.
Chicken Adobo - an authentic Filipino dish of chicken cooked with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, pepper, vinegar and onion, served with rice.
Pork Kaldarete - a hearty tomato dish with pork, potatoes, and carrots, served with rice.
Chicken Curry - a yellow curry made with coconut milk and spices, with vegetables and served with rice.
Chicken Afritada - a tomato-based stew with chicken and vegetables, served with rice.

Dishes cost between 200 and 300 PHP, which are very reasonably priced for good portion sizes. They serve a few drinks, I loved the iced tea and Calamansi juice, they also have a mango float for dessert.

This is a popular place and can sometimes get pretty busy. Try arriving early to grab your spot, or take a seat and wait for an available table. The wait is definitely worth it.

Two plates of food at Venz Kitchen in Moalboal, the Philippines. — Venz Kitchen Chicken Pastel and Chicken Afritada

Hungry Monkeys

Hungry Monkeys is located on the second and third floors above the Bawud Cafe. The food here was some of the best I had in the Philippines, it’s phenomenal. They serve authentic Filipino dishes, vegetarian food and other dishes like Pad Thai, Nasi Goreng, and Fish and Chips. Dishes cost around 200 - 300 PHP. They also have a wide drink and cocktail selection here.

Some dishes I recommend include:

Chicken Adobe - authentic Filipino dish of chicken cooked in vinegar, soy sauce and black pepper, served with rice.
Zizzling - spicy and savoury seasoned chicken, pork or seafood with Calamansi, onion and chilli served with an egg and rice. This dish comes out on a hot plate still sizzling and still cooking, hence the name.
Thai Red Curry, is not a Filipino dish but I love Thai food and this red curry was so good. You can have your red curry with chicken or shrimp served with rice.

This is another popular spot so get there early to get a table. You can actually book in advance here and I would recommend it as it’s always busy. Even pop down when they open in the afternoon to reserve your table for later in the night.

Isla Bar

Along the main road in the Panagsama beach area is the Blue Mango restaurant and Isla Bar. The restaurant serves basic Western food like pizza, pasta, salads and burgers. The food here isn’t anything spectacular, but it’s worth visiting the bar. They have a variety of tasty and fun cocktails and do a 2-for-1 special with a voucher you get on the door.

They have a ground floor and first floor, the interior looks newly refurbished and gives off a beach bar aesthetic. They play tropical house music and have a resident DJ playing on weekends. This is one of the best places to go in Moalboal in the evening.

Two cocktails in coconut cups from Isla bar in Moalboal the Philippines. — Isla Bar Cocktails

Chief Mau

Chief Mau is a hostel with a restaurant. The menu is smaller than some of the other restaurants but I liked this place for breakfast. They have a variety of different options like pancakes, eggs, cooked and continental breakfasts and smoothie bowls. Dishes cost between 150 - 250 PHP. There aren’t many good coffee options in Moalboal, but they do have a decent selection here so I was grateful they could give me an iced latte. As this is also a hostel, the atmosphere is very laid back. They have plenty of space to relax with bean bags and pool tables.

Chili Bar

Chili Bar is the place to go if you want to party late into the night. It’s located right on the beachfront and stays open till at least 3 am every night. The drinks are not amazing but they are cheap and it’s a fun and lively atmosphere.

Shaka

If you love smoothie bowls check out Shaka. They’re a popular chain all over the Philippines, and it’s not a surprise why. They have a variety of different smoothie bowls to choose from and you can get them any time through the day. Bowls cost around 300 PHP, and you can get coffee here too. The only downside to this place is that they only do smoothies and smoothie bowls so there are not many options if you’re travelling with others who don’t want one of these.

Veranda Restaurant and Bar

Veranda Restaurant and Bar is located overlooking the beach so it’s the perfect place to go for sunset. They have a restaurant area by the beach and a newly built bar space, D’Attic, upstairs across the road. There is a wide variety on the menu from authentic Filipino dishes to typical Western food. Dishes are around 200 - 400 PHP.

These are some of my top recommendations for food and drinks in Moalboal but there are many other restaurants in the area that I haven’t mentioned that offer something different.

7 Restaurants and Bars to Visit in Moalboal, the Philippines