Overwhelmed by the many new food spots in Davao? Let us take you on a CT Drive Food Trip featuring some of our favorite spots and dishes.
About CT Drive
Carlos Villa-Abrille Drive (also CVA Drive, formerly Tulip Drive) used to be a quiet space with a few residences and a handful of establishments. With the opening of The Compound, CT Drive, and several other commercial spaces, CVA Drive is now bustling with activity and a must-visit place for foodies.
Located along the CVA Drive is CT Drive, a food, drinks, and lifestyle destination.
MADE SIMPLE Davao offers a vegetable-forward dining experience. They serve Small Plates and Dishes for Sharing, mostly vegan dishes. Seafood and chicken options are available. Made Simple is best experienced with an open appreciation for their vegetable-forward dishes.
First, start your meal with an appetizer. We love their Enoki. The mushroom is crisp and tasty. And the dipping sauce perfectly complements the mushroom.
Then, enjoy a salad. The Figs and Mushroom Salad is delicious and filling. Just the right balance of flavors and textures.
You can opt for the Pulpo or Gambas for your entree. But we prefer feasting on their Burnt Tomatoes with chevre. Or enjoy the mind-bending Mushroom Scallops served with Pesto Butter.
They also serve wine and cocktails. We love the Whiskey Sour and the Basil Margarita.
The holiday season is almost here. And with it, numerous parties and gatherings. Make your special moments sweeter with a Goldilocks Greeting Cake. And it’s even more special because it is no ordinary cake, it’s the iconic Goldilocks Fruity Greeting Cake.
Goldilocks Fruity Greeting Cake
The Fruity Greeting Cake is available in 2 variants.
You may get a 12″ inch Goldilocks Fruity Greeting Cake in Chocolate or in Marble. The huge size makes it good to serve for 20 persons. More or less. Depending on how hungry you are.
The Chocolate is perfect for chocoholics. It has layers of chocolate cake with chocolate filling in between. And rich chocolate frosting.
Meanwhile, Fruity Greeting Cake Marble Cake has layers of vanilla and choco marble cake. With vanilla filling and with vanilla frosting.
Marble Cake
Both the Chocolate and the Marble are decorated with Vanilla Frosting on the edges and topped with the iconic Goldilocks Fruit Toppers. These toppers are made of white chocolate and are sure to make adults and kids happy.
And because it is 12″ you may have your own greeting or special message written clearly by Goldilocks’ trained staff.
Madayaw! Happy Kadayawan Dabawenyos! Enjoy the best from Davao’s homegrown food establishments and get the chance to win up to PhP10,000 worth of vouchers. Join the Grab Kadayawan Promo.
Join to win up to P10,000 worth of vouchers.
Make sure to join to be one of 35 lucky winners who can win up to P10,000 worth of GrabFood vouchers
How to Join the Grab Kadayawan Promo
To join the promo entitled “Grab FEASTival,” all you have to do is order, use a promo code, enjoy a discount, and fill out a form.
Order. Use a code. Get a raffle entry.
Here is a step by step guide.
Open your Grab app.
Click on the FOOD icon.
Click on the “Win P10K GrabFood! icon.
Order from any establishment listed under “Win P10K GrabFood!”
Use the promo code MADAYAW and enjoy a discount.
When your order is completed, you will receive a message in your Grab app Inbox. Open the message, click on the link to the raffle form.
Accomplish the raffle form, with 1 order equivalent to 1 raffle entry. You may also access the raffle form here: https://grb.to/FEASTival.
Easy, right? You get to enjoy food, avail of a discount, and join a raffle. Plus, you get to support local businesses.
Have a sweet tooth? Treat yourself to something delicious. The good news is there are a lot irresistible desserts around Davao. Bakeshops, desserts shops, food entrepreneurs, and home bakers are aplenty. Problem is it can get confusing. So we bring you here our favorites and recommendations so can better choose the best ones to suit your budget and your taste. These may not necessarily be the best Davao Desserts but we can assure you all these are personally picked and endorsed by Davao Bloggers.
Classic Davao Desserts
Let’s start off with two favorites by many who grew up in Davao City.
Butter Roll by Bistro Rosario
Plain and simple. But definitely not boring. We will never get tired of Bistro Rosario’s Butter Roll. This is Miah‘s favorite. And she shares that it is her daughter Miel’s favorite, as well. Miel can even finish off an entire roll on her own. We’re pretty sure Miel is not the only one who can finish this entire roll on their own.
We also love their cakes. We highly recommend their Mango Charlotte Cake and their pretty Ribonette Cake. These are perfect for special occasions. Or to make ordinary days special.
Bistro Rosario is open for dine in and takeout. Contact them at +6382-2217780. Follow them on Facebook at fb.com/bistrorosariodvo.
Cecil’s Bakeshoppe
Another Davao homegrown bakery that we recommend is Cecil’s Bakeshoppe.
EclairMocha Cake
Nep-C of the Pop Blog picks their Eclair as one of her favorites. And we agree. It is the perfect mix of pastry, cream, and chocolate. This is priced at just P35. And it is easy to find. Just drop by any of their branches. More info below.
We are fans of Lachi’s Sans Rival Atbp. And by we, I mean the entire My Davao City Team, Davao Bloggers, and basically most of the people I know. On this blog alone, we have posted about them several times. We hope you continue to patronize and love them, as we do. Here are some of our Lachi’s favorites which you might want to try.
Why We Love Them
Lachi’s Sans Rival Atbp is one of Davao’s most popular food stops. As the name suggests, their business began with their Sans Rival and has now grown into a thriving food business with 3 branches serving crowd favorite savory dishes and decadent yet affordable desserts and pastries.
What makes them stand out is the excellent quality of their food that has not changed over time. Every time you visit Lachi’s you can expect the same masterfully prepared homecooked meals. Nothing fancy. Just good old comfort food that will delight any diner.
And yes, their desserts are to die for. Each one is perfectly balanced. Nothing too sweet. Every component properly prepared.
Our Lachi’s Favorites
Number one in our list of Lachi’s favorites is their Laing.
Lachi’s famous Laing.
Our contributor Athina shares “I was never a fan of laing until I tasted Lachi’s famous laing. As somebody who is not a fan of vegetables, this specialty definitely changed my mind.” Almost everybody who has tried it will agree. Laing is great as a companion to their other savory dishes like the Lechon Kawali and the Pork Ribs. Or you can just eat it on its own with some steamed rice. A bit of warning though, you will definitely consume a lot of rice when you eat laing.
Here is great news for all. Laing bottles their laing and you can bring it home or gift as giveaway or pasalubong.
Bottled Laing
We have been buying their frozen laing in tubs and the bottled one is just as good. Lachi’s bottled Laing is available in both Mild and Spicy varieties. Buy one or more and make sure to satisfy that craving anytime you want. These are available at both their Marfori and Tulip Branches for just P170 a bottle.
Unforgettable Pork Ribs
As mentioned, Lachi’s serves great ribs aptly named “Unforgettable Grilled Pork Ribs.”
Lahci’s Unforgettable Grilled Pork Ribs
Our Managing Editor Olivia picks this as her favorite: “Unforgettable Grilled Pork Ribs is one of my all time favorite when dining at Lachis. It is soft and tasty too! Mapaparequest ka talaga ng extra rice.” And we are sure this is also on the list of a lot of people’s Lachi’s favorites. It sure is on the list of many of our friends.
The meat is tender and falls off the bones. You can just use your spoon and fork to take the juicy and flavorful meat. The taste is a good balance of salty and sweet with a bit of sour all tied together by the great smokey flavor of the grilling process.
You can order this at their Marfori branch as a packed hot meal with rice for only P200.
Asian Spicy Chicken
Another top recommendation to order at Lachi’s is the Asian Spicy Chicken.
Asian Spicy Chicken
I guess it can be said that Lachi’s is masterful in balancing flavors and textures. Their famous Asian Spicy Chicken is proof of that. Juicy on the inside. Crispy on the outside. With a sauce that is all at once spicy, sour, sweet, and salty. Superb. Our correspondent Renz recommends this.
Unfortunately, this dish is not available at Lachi’s right now. But let us keep our fingers crossed that the situation improves for Lachi’s and for everybody.
Pork Binagoongan
And here is a recommendation for all those whose heart belongs to Filipino cuisine.
Pork Binagoongan
Our Editor Ria picks the Pork Binagoongan as one of her current Lachi’s favorites. (Her list changes from time to time.) She loves how perfectly salty it is. Salty enough to demand at least 2 cups of rice but not too salty to be overwhelming. “You can still taste the tender pork even when it is drowned in more than enough bagoong.”
This week, all roads lead to Azuela Cove because the Big Bad Wolf is back in Davao. It is a great week for family and friends to get together and shop together. And of course, to eat. Great thing there are several dining destinations at the cove. We have prepared our Azuela Food Recommendations to guide you.
Breakfast at Nord’s Bread Hub
Starting the day early? Have a cup of coffee and some bread at Nord’s Bread Hub.
Lemon Brioche
We highly recommend the Lemon Brioche.
To be honest we love evertyhing here. So if you are up for a hearty breakfast, check out their sandwiches and their meals.
Grilled Monte Cristo Golbi Gogi Crispy Samgyeupsal
If you are dining with a large group, order the Nord’s Sampler. Among their savoury offerings, our favorites are the Crispy Samgyeupsal and the Chicken Pastel.
Pizza and More at Union Market
Love pizza? We do!
Pancetta and Arugula, Margherita, Aglio y Gamberini, and Pork Belly and Egg Pizzas by Union Market
Whether it’s Pizza Friday (like today) or not… it’s always a good idea to have some. Order one or two and share it with friends. We highly recommend the Quattro Formaggio and the Pancetta and Arugula by Union Market.
There’s also a Yellow Cab Pizza at Azuela Cove. And a Classio Mobile Wood Fired Oven Outlet at the Azuela Food Bazaar. So if it’s pizza you want, there are several choices in the area.
Filipino Merienda at Cafe Laguna
In the afternoon, unwind and have a chika session over Ginger Tea and Filipino sweets.
EspasolFilipino Tea SetSalabatTuronBibingkaPuto with Adobo Flakes
Cafe Laguna has a must-try Filipino High Tea Set. It includes spread of espasol, adobo in puto bun, turon, and bibingka plus, salabat (ginger tea). All for only PhP430. This afternoon merienda is definitely one of our top Azuela Cove food recommendations.
They also offer other Filipino rice cakes and other specialties that will make your palate happy and your tummy full. And of course, various Filipino appetizers, main dishes, drinks, and more.
Desserts by Dulce Vida
If you are craving for cake, indulge at Dulce Vida.
Ube Frozen BrazoQuezo de Bola Cheesecake
They serve a variety of cakes and pastries. Their Frozen Brazo de Mercedes are best-sellers. We also recommend their Quezo de Bola Cheesecake. Decadent and rich.
Azuela Cove Food Bazaar
And if you want to try new and exciting dishes and drinks from Davao foodtrepreneurs, visit the Azuela Cove Food Bazaar.
Azuela Food Bazaar
We highly recommend our favorite chicken wings by Southwing. Lemon Pepper and Sweet and Spicy are their best-sellers. And they have a new offering, Salted Egg Wings. We love it. You will, too.
And they are sharing a booth with Teasay. Our Editor Ria (kusinamaria.com) loves the Hokkaido Milk Tea. It’s just PhP90 for 2 cups.
We also recommend pizzas by Classio and crispy fried food by Samantha’s Kitchen.
More Azuela Food Spots
Other food spots in the area include Yellow Cab Pizza, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, and Bless Oniikiri Japanese Restaurant.
So yes, there are so many food choices at Azuela. And whatever you are craving for, there is surely something that will satisfy you and your tummy.
Now is the best time to visit Azuela and try our recommendations. The Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Davao 2019 is currently at the Azuela Tent and will close on December 2.
Big Bad Wolf Davao 2019Enderun TentAzuela Cove, Lanang
Do not miss this chance to grab books and more at discounted prices. And yes, have an excuse to do a food trip at Azuela Cove, as well.
Go Cashless at Azuela Cove
To make your Azuela Cove food trip and BBW shopping experience hassle-free, we recommend going cashless.
We have tried paying with our PayMaya Visa Debit Card at Nord’s Bread Hub, Union Market, and at Cafe Laguna. And there were no extra charges at all.
And if you #ScantoPay at the Big Bad Wolf, you also get rewarded.
BBW cashiers accept QR payments through the PayMaya app. Shoppers can get cashback for a minimum spend of P1,000 when you Scan to Pay with PayMaya QR. Get up to 100% cashback every time you pay using PayMaya for your purchases. Plus, get another P250 cashback can be rewarded to your account if you spend an accumulated purchase amount of P5,000.
HAPPY EATING! Do not forget to share with us your Azuela Cove faves and recommendations.
Find out more about PayMaya’s amazing offers and deals by visiting www.paymaya.com/deals or following @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
