Local businesses are slowly returning to form, allowing the Best of Cebu team to add more categories under lifestyle and travel, beauty and wellness, and shopping. From 78 awardees in 2021, SunStar’s Best of Cebu lists 118 winners for 2022.
From Jan. 23 to 29, SunStar’s Best of Cebu 2022 winners will be featured in the Lifestyle section of SunStar Cebu.
These winners went through a stringent selection and judging process conducted by the Best of Cebu committee and an esteemed panel of judges. If there’s one thing we learned going through this batch of awardees, it’s that anyone can have what it takes to win Best of Cebu.
Here are some of the winners:
Best Breakfast Buffet: Abaca Baking Company
Abaca Baking Company offers a wide variety of food to wake your stomach up with a hearty breakfast. From puff pastries to savory meats and delectable eggs, Abaca has everything you need to start your day. Grab some breakfast at Abaca Baking Company, which has multiple branches and kiosks across Cebu.
Best Dessert Place: Merci
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, Merci is the right place for you to indulge in your cravings. With its offerings of bite-sized macarons, fruity tarts and fluffy cakes, Merci provides a visual feast and a sugar high. Merci is located in the ground floor of Streetscape, Banilad, Cebu City.
Best Indian Restaurant: Cherry’s The Spice
Cherry’s The Spice provides an authentic Indian food experience that satisfies all spice and dietary preferences. From kebabs to vegetable samosas and chicken tikka masala, The Spice offers food that can take you back to the streets of India. The Spice is located along Gov. M. Cuenco Ave., across Banilad Elementary School, Cebu City.
Best Merienda Buffet: Cebu Grand Hotel
Cebu Grand Hotel offers a rotating selection of traditional Filipino delicacies such as biko, puto with dinuguan, pancit, palabok, sweet leche flan and halo-halo. The hotel is located on Escario St., Cebu City and its merienda menu is a great way to experience the flavors of the Philippines and enjoy a traditional afternoon snack.
Best Thai Restaurant: AJ Street Thai Food
AJ’s Street Thai Food offers the best of Thailand’s culinary delights with its bold flavors, aromatic herbs and spices, and the perfect balance of sweet, sour, salty and spicy dishes. From its best-selling favorites like Tom Yum Shrimp with Pork and Kai Mamuang, to dishes like Pad Thai and Pad Priking, AJ’s menu has something for everyone to enjoy. AJ’s Street Thai Food is located on Gorordo Ave., Cebu City.
Best Chicken Cordon Bleu: Vienna Kaffeehaus
Look forward to this chicken cordon bleu’s perfect balance of flavors and textures in every bite. Vienna Kaffeehaus does it best with a succulent chicken breast stuffed with ham and cheese, breaded, and then fried to perfection, served with a creamy and delicious sauce that will elevate your taste buds. Grab a taste of its excellent chicken cordon bleu at the Bonifacio District on F. Cabahug St., Cebu City.
Best Fried Chicken: Chosun Chicken
With branches around Banilad, General Maxilom Ave. and Mabolo, Chosun Chicken serves fried chicken that is crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Its batter is well-seasoned and carefully fried to keep the chicken meat tender behind that flavorful, crispy crust.
Best Liempo: Kap Litang’s Barbecue
Established in 1978 in Poblacion, Pardo, Cebu City, Kap Litang’s Barbecue and Lechon Manok serves the most savory grilled liempo. These juicy pork slices are brushed with a marinade of soy sauce and various spices to bring out its piquant taste.
Best Palabok: Caca’s Palabok
Palabok is a Filipino-native noodle dish infused with a savory orange sauce (from the atsuete), topped with lots of egg, shrimp, chicken and chicharon bits. Located in F. Llamas St., Punta Princesa, Cebu City, Caca’s is known for serving palabok that’s generously garnished with a variety of toppings that will enhance one’s palabok experience.
Best Shabu-Shabu Hot Pot: Long Men Hotpot
Long Men Hotpot presents a menu that features a diverse array of food offerings. From casual diners to more experienced foodies, Long Men’s menu has everything for everyone’s hotpot cravings. Control your soup’s spice level, and enjoy Long Men’s authentic ingredients and spices at Queensland Manor Building in Rahmann St., Cebu City.
Best Vegan Food: Gaïa Simply Nature
Gaïa Simply Nature has won Best Vegan Food since 2020 and it prides itself in offering tasty, affordable, healthy, and 100 percent vegan food options to anyone who visits its branch on the fourth floor of AyalaMalls Central Bloc. Gaïa excels in providing the best vegan food options in the city.
Best Holistic Wellness Destination: Soul Sierra
Get away from the hustle and bustle of the city as you focus on finding inner peace at Soul Sierra in Babag, Busay. With an outdoor pool and a breathtaking view of the mountains of Cebu, Soul Sierra tucks you into a slice of heaven amid the beauty of nature. Soul Sierra offers other activities such as a Healing Sound Bath, Distance Reiki and Day Retreats.
Best Waxing Salon: No Strips Waxing Salon
No Strips Waxing Salon is best known for its cold wax method, which ensures a painless and comfortable waxing procedure for its clients. The waxing salon is one of Cebu’s first homegrown waxing brands with multiple branches all over Cebu. Its major branches are located in Ayala Center Cebu and SM Seaside City Cebu.
Best Karaoke Bar: Open Mic Acoustic Lounge
Open Mic Acoustic Lounge is an impeccable hangout spot for after-work shindigs with colleagues or casual sing-alongs with friends and loved ones. Open Mic Acoustic Lounge is located at Salvador Extension, Corner Happy Valley Access Road, Labangon, Cebu City.
Best Supermarket: The Marketplace at Robinsons Galleria Cebu
Grocery aisles should feel like home and The Marketplace at Robinsons Galleria gives you just that and more. From home goods to quality grocery items, it has you covered. It is located on Gen. Maxilom Ave. Extension, Sergio Osmeña Jr. Blvd. in Cebu City.
Best Home Depot: Belmont Hardware Depot Cebu
Belmont Hardware Depot Cebu is a home depot with a wide array of choices for its customers. Since it was founded in 1973 as a general hardware store in Cebu City, Belmont has expanded its product line to industrial, light construction and woodworking machines. It is located in Legaspi St., Cebu City; and MC Briones St., Mandaue City.
Best Jewelry Selection: Oro China
Shining, shimmering, splendid! Since 1967, Oro China has been committed to giving exquisite quality jewelry pieces that are perfect for the sophisticated Filipina. Each piece of jewelry is a celebration of unparalleled Filipino craftsmanship, made from premium quality stones that have contributed to the elegance of the Filipino over the past 50 years.
Best Strip Mall: Bonifacio District and Faustina Center
Get your hair done, eat some samgyeopsal, and grab some coffee all at the same place: the Bonifacio District and Faustina Center. Whether you’re in for a quick errand or simply having a nice day out with friends and family, this strip mall has all that you need to complete the day. The Bonifacio District is the one-stop place for all your needs, located in F. Cabahug St., Cebu City.
More winners will be announced in the upcoming days. Follow SunStar Cebu and SunStar Best of Cebu on social media for news and updates.