Siargao may be best known for its surfing and natural wonders, but it’s quickly become a destination for some of the Philippines’ best dining. Unlike many beach destinations where good restaurants can be few and far between or grossly overpriced, Siargao just has so many great places to eat that we didn’t even make it to half of the places I wanted to try over the course of our 5 day trip.
While Siargao might be best known for their epic boodle fights that are part of their most popular island hopping tour, there are countless restaurants of all price ranges to try in town and around the island, and seemingly everywhere is a โจ vibe โจ with beautiful native decor and island aesthetics. You can find practically every cuisine here: Spanish, Korean, Greek, Chinese, Turkish, the list goes on. We focused our dining on Filipino food and only-in-Siargao restaurants, though we snuck in a lot of western food as well. Here are my top picks for where to eat in Siargao.
Roots
Our favorite meal in Siargao came from Roots. They serve the only tasting menu in Siargao, but itโs worth trying even if you arenโt a fan of fine dining as the vibe is relaxed, the service is warm and friendly, and itโs priced reasonably at 2500 PHP (45 USD/350 HKD). The 7 course tasting menu is inspired by the teamโs Peruvian, Mexican and Italian roots but uses only local Filipino ingredients that change daily based on whatโs available in the market. The menu always includes the most incredible house baked bread basket with an insanely addictive butter, and a ceviche inspired by the team meeting while working in Peru. The rest of the rotating dishes include some kind of pasta or risotto, a protein, and 2 desserts, and everything we had was unique, well-executed, and super tasty. Expect a full video of this meal soon!
Bayani at Harana Surf Resort
If you can only dine at one Filipino restaurant in Siargao, it should be Bayani. This relaxed open air eatery at Harana Surf Resort serves their own delicious takes on traditional Filipino classics, as well as dishes from the southern region of Mindanao that are rare to find in other parts of the Philippines. This was my first time trying Beef Kulma, a peanut butter beef curry served on a sizzling plate thatโs a must-order, and Tiyulma Itum, with chunks of beef and potato swimming in a unique burnt coconut sauce.
Donโt miss Bayaniโs vegetable and dynamite lumpia, bangus sisig, and turon (banana spring rolls) with peanut butter and jelly plus a side ube ice cream. The crispy pata is also excellent if you have enough mouths to feed. Plus, you can grab drinks at Haranaโs gin speakeasy or have a boogie at their infamous Saturday night parties after your meal.
CEV: Ceviche and Kinilaw Shack
This popular spot in Catangnan specializes in its namesake Peruvian and Filipino raw fish menu, and serves some of the best kinilaw I’ve ever had. Most dishes feature their catch of the day (like raw tuna or sailfish) in seriously delicious combinations of bright and balanced ingredients like the Pacifico ceviche with roasted corn and sweet potato or the General Luna kinilaw with spiced mango and grilled eggplant, though you can’t miss the Sante Fe cooked shrimp kinilaw with garlic rice.
If youโre having dinner with a group of 4 or more, Iโd actually recommend just trying 2-3 ceviche/kinilaw items and then having a second dinner elsewhere if youโre still hungry. Every main starts to taste the same since they all feature the same catch of the day or shrimp with a base of citrus or vinegar, though you can break the flavors up with their minced fish lumpia and grilled fish belly. Be sure to book a table at least a few days in advance to avoid long wait times by messaging +639394008804.
Siago Beach Resort
The restaurant inside this luxe beachfront property in General Luna is an excellent option for brunch with a view, as pictured at the top of this post (though itโs supposed to be great for dinner as well). Even if youโre not staying at the resort, you can dine on everything from high quality Filipino breakfast silogs (their house made corned beef is ๐คค), Mexican-inspired eggs, a decadent vegan grilled cheese with shiitake mushrooms, and nostalgic crab rangoon empanadas, all served until 2:30PM. Itโs perfect for fueling up before spending the day on the beach just steps from the restaurant.
Trogonโs Perch
This gorgeous restaurant overlooking the resort‘s infinity pool is located in the northern region of Siargao next to Pacifico Beach, making it a great stop if youโre spending the day surfing at the beach or exploring the island. We made it our lunch pit stop during our private land tour since itโs just a short drive to the Magpupungko Rock Pools. It’s more expensive than most places in Siargao, but we thoroughly enjoyed the fried calamari, chili mussels, club and tuna sandwiches, and cheesy oysters Rockefeller from the Mediterranean-inspired menu. You can also pay a 500 PHP fee if you want to use their infinity pool for the day.
Last Chance
We visited this gorgeous cocktail bar two nights in a row, and while I only tried one food item, it was so good that I recommend visiting if you want to have a quality cocktail with your dinner. The menu includes bar snacks like cheesy bread plus heartier dishes like fried chicken and cajun steak frites, but we tried the Singapore chili shrimp that reminded me of my restaurant Barkadaโs spicy funky coconut noodles in flavor. It had a big portion of baby prawns swimming in a rich shrimp, crab fat and coconut sauce paired with super crispy fried milk toast sticks. This dish alone is worth a visit, though the cocktails and vibe of this bar make it a destination in and of itself.
Shaka Cafe
Siargaoโs famous Cloud 9 surfing spot is also home to this popular beachfront shack serving smoothie bowls and vegan fare. You may have to wait for 20+ minutes for your order, but itโs worth it for big portions of beautiful fresh fruit and granola smoothie bowls that you can enjoy with a view.
Halika Gelato
If youโre looking for a frozen treat in the Siargao heat, look no further than Halika. This artisanal gelato shop serves both Filipino and western flavors of super creamy gelato in homemade sesame seed-dotted waffle cones and cups. We absolutely loved the ube cheese, mango float, and salted caramel Oreo flavors and wish we went back to try more.
Isla Turon
This roadside shack serves decadent, giant turon, or warm banana spring rolls, dusted in powdered sugar and drizzled with your choice of sauce, from Belgian chocolate to Filipino ube and yema. They even have an option to pair it with Halika gelato, though they were sold out of this by the time we got there late in the afternoon so I definitely need to go back!
Coco Frio
If you love coconut, then Coco Frio is an absolute must visit. They serve a variety of drinks made from freshly grated coconut, including a shake topped with coconut ice cream and a frozen coconut coffee thatโs the perfect tropical pick-me-up.
More restaurants to try in Siargao
Big Belly – fast casual spot in General Luna for satisfying wagyu beef burgers (they have non-beef and vegan options too!)
Mondayyys – laidback cafe in Catangnan with delicious fruit shakes and a solid bacon, garlic confit tomato and egg toast. Itโs one of the few places that opens at 5AM so you can grab an early morning breakfast
Bulan Pizzeria – wood-fired pizzas and tasty, homey ravioli and 4 cheese pasta in a relaxed open air dining room in General Luna
Bar Ciao – satisfying chicken parm alla vodka and good pizzas in General Luna (though I preferred Bulan!)
Tradicion – simple Filipino breakfast plates in General Luna
Restaurants I wanted to try but ran out of time – Kanin Baboy, Kurvada, The Hub by Lokal Lab, Catangnan BBQ, Bulaloan, Goodies, Wild, La Carinderia, L’Osteria, The Smoking Joint BBQ, Secreto, Bravo, Kermit Pizza, La Brassica, the list goes on!
