Restaurants in Zamboanga

Being located on the southernmost major island of the archipelago, and therefore not that much influence from the center of the country that is Manila, it is hardly surprising that Zamboanga City has retained much of its own identity through the centuries of its existence. One of the aspects of this unique identity that remains distinct from whole country is its cuisine which is influenced by the nearby Malay archipelago south to it. This is if one wants to have a taste of the only Latin city in Asia, then one must literally have a bite out of Zamboanga City through dining in its restaurants.

Alavar Seafood Restaurant

Foremost of the dining places to try out is Alavar Seafood Restaurant. It is located along Don Alfaro Street and from its name it is fairly obvious that it serves seafood dishes. They dont just serve them though as one can be sure that they will serve their offerings well. Alavar is primarily famous for its Alavar sauce, a curry-like concoction whose ingredients are a closely-guarded secret. The sauce is very unique making dining in Alavar Seafood Restaurant a must for anyone who will be able to be in Zamboanga City. The menu of the restaurant also features much of the citys creole past, making the dining experience a truly rich one especially for those who are visiting the city as a tourist.

Hai San Sea Food Market & Restaurant

Another seafood restaurant worth noting is the Hai San Sea Food Market & Restaurant which is situated along the expanse of San Jose Road in Zamboanga City. Unlike most of the other seafood restaurants that one has eaten in, Hai San is different because it lets its patrons to personally pick the fresh sea catch that they want to be cooked and served to them. By picking the one the want, customers will be sure that the catch that they will eat will be rich and fresh.

Mano-Mano Greenfiled Restaurant

For those who are looking for the casual fare, Mano-Mano Greenfiled Restaurant is the perfect destination. Some of the dishes served by Mano-mano that are worth noting include their grilled beef chop, their kilawin blue marlin, and their chicken barbecue.

Tinis Restaurant

Being in the southernmost major island of the Philippine archipelago, which has a large Muslim population, Zamboanga City has numerous diners that cater to those that follow the Muslim tradition of eating halal food. One of such diners is Tinis, which follows the Muslim way of butchering cattle and poultry apart from serving dishes that are absolutely free from pork meat or pork products. The dishes served in Tinis are inspired by Indian and Malaysian cuisine. One of the must-have in Tinis is their roti, which is unleavened bread heated in lamb oil and served with either beef, chicken, or egg. The beverages in Tinis are also distinctive which makes drinking them obligatory. Some of the unique drinks offered by Tinis are their tea tarik and kahawa native coffee.

Jimmys Satti

Another eatery that features cuisine clearly influenced by some of the Philippines Southeast-Asian neighbors is renowned Jimmys Satti. Satti is a derivative of the Malaysian dish satay and they definitely share more than their names. Like satay, satti is also grilled beef or chicken meat skewered in bamboo sticks. Both are also served with delicious sauces that complement their flavors. What differentiates satti though is its serving size as satti sticks typically has small strips of meat in it compared to the Malaysian satay which has the same amount of skewered meat as your regular barbecue.

Antonios Steak House

On the other hand, if one wants to satiate some big-time hunger, then Antonios Steak House is the place to go. Their tenderloin special is perfectly cooked and is served with buttered vegetables that excellently compliment the steak. Other house specialties include their baby back ribs, and their platter of chicken adobo, squid rings, and baked clams.

The restaurants in Zamboanga City offer a wide range of cuisine, making the trip to its restaurants an essential itinerary for those who want to intimately experience the Latin city of Asia.