Madayaw! Welcome to Davao. Is it your first time in Davao? Or maybe you live here or have been here before but looking for the best food spots to try this Araw ng Dabaw weekend. We have our list of our Top Davao Restaurants that represent the best of Davao cuisine.

Our Top Davao Restaurants

Davao has a great abundance of fruits and vegetables, seafood, poultry, and other meats. And it is home to a mix of peoples, cultures, and cuisines. So for Araw ng Dabaw, we have chosen five establishments that we feel best represent local produce, cuisine, and our culture.

We carefully picked these restaurants based on how well they represent Davao cuisine and our fresh produce. And we took into account their consistency in terms of taste and service.

This is our list of recommendations, in no particular order.

• Balik Bukid
• Lito’s Grill
• Yellow Fin
• Blue Posts Boiling Crabs and Shrimps
• ArtisAna Comfort Food

Balik Bukid

Our first recommendation for Araw ng Dabaw is Balik Bukid Farm + Kitchen.

“Balik Bukid” translates to “back to the farm.” And that’s what a meal at Balik Bukid feels and tastes like. The restaurant has a buhay kubo feel with quirky elements made of upcycled materials. We won’t spoil them for you but we especially love their menu.

We never recommend based on aesthetics alone, so trust us when we say their dishes are superb. They create their dishes to highlight the produce from their farm. The availability of their menu items usually depends on the availability of ingredients from the farm and from their handpicked suppliers.

Balik Bukid features regional dishes from Mindanao and other parts of the Philippines. These include Sinuglaw, Kesong Puti, Sinaing, and Kagikit. And for those with a sweet tooth, end your meal with their homemade ice cream.

Balik Bukid is located along Quimpo Boulevard.

See their Full Menu and Other Info: Balik Bukid

Lito’s Grill

Our second recommendation is an underrated one: Lito’s Grill.

Simple. Straightforward. No frills. Lito’s Grill is as homey as one can get. If you want good food prepared as your favorite tita would, Lito’s Grill is the place to visit.

There are many grill and barbeque restaurants in Davao. Many good ones, to be honest. But Lito’s Grill stands out for us for their consistency in delivering the same good quality over the years.

We recommend the Imbao Soup, the Native Chicken Barbeque, the Pork Belly in a Stick, and their much talked about Champorado.

They are located along Tulip Drive extension at the side of SM City Davao.

Yellow Fin Seafood

Next on our list is another Davao staple: Yellow Fin Seafood Restaurant.

Yellow Fin Seafood Restaurant has been around for several decades now and they still serve some of the best seafood dishes in Davao.

We recommend the Sizzling Seafood Platter, their Tuna Laing, and their Greaseless Fried Chicken. The last one is not seafood, but trust us. Their Fried Chicken is superb. Plus, their Halo-Halo is also really good.

Yellow Fin is also located along Quimpo Boulevard, beside Balik Bukid.

Boiling Crabs and Shrimps by Blue Posts

We cannot make a list of our top Davao restaurants without Boiling Crabs and Shrimps.

They are most popular for their fresh crabs and shrimps cooked with your choice of sauce. Butter Garlic and Sambal are our top choices. If you enjoy getting messy while feasting on crabs and shrimps, Boiling Crabs and Shrimps is worth every peso.

You must not miss out on their other offerings. We recommend the Pomelo Shrimp Salad and the Sinuglaw.

Boiling Crabs and Shrimps by Blue Posts is located along JP Laurel Avenue in Bajada and they have a branch at the Annex of SM City Davao.

ArtisAna Comfort Gourmet

Finally, we recommend ArtisAna Comfort Gourmet.

And for something more refined and elevated, we recommend ArtisAna Comfort Cuisine. They served a mix of Filipino and Spanish Cuisine. Local produce are greatly highlighted in their well-crafted dishes.

A little bit more pricey than our other recommendations, but worth every peso, as well. They have a more cozy, less frenetic ambiance compared to most other local restaurants.

ArtisAna is located along Araullo Street.

Full Menu and More Info: ArtisAna Comfort Gourmet

More Top Davao Restaurants

There are, of course, many good food spots around Davao. But this list is focused on restaurants that serve local cuisine and have, over the years, consistently delivered good quality meals, memorable dining experiences, and all in all excellent service.

Other local restaurants serving Filipino food that deserve to be mentioned are Marina Tuna, Cafe Tavera, and Rekado.

And for desserts, we recommend Aling Foping’s Halo-Halo for their Durian Halo-Halo and Lachi’s Sans Rival Atbp for their Durian Cheesecake and Durian Sans Riva. Or better yet, visit a local fruit market along Magsaysay Avenue for fresh durian, pomelo, and other fruits. Stalls are open 24/7.

Check out our Davao Dining Directory for more.

Map to Top Davao Restaurants

Here is our map to our Top Davao Restaurants for your Araw ng Dabaw weekend.

Link to Map of our Top Davao Restaurants: LINK

Let us know your local favorites. Or, ask us for recommendations and we’ll give you more reasons to visit and explore Davao.

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