Where to Eat in Moalboal: Best Restaurants Near Panagsama Beach (Our Honest Reviews)
Most people come to Moalboal for the outdoor adventures – the Sardine Run, Kawasan Falls canyoneering, and hikes like Osmeña Peak.
That’s exactly why we visited too.
What we didn’t expect was to find such a lively little beach town with a surprisingly good selection of restaurants packed into the Panagsama Beach area – all within walking distance.
For us, since the focus was the activities, we quickly fell into a simple routine:
early activity → lunch → beach time → dinner near Panagsama Beach
And by the time dinner came around, we weren’t looking for anything fancy just:
- good food
- affordable prices
- somewhere close by
This guide is a simple, honest breakdown of the best restaurants in Moalboal we actually tried, all located near Panagsama Beach plus a bonus beer garden spot that became one of our favourite spots to unwind after a long day of touring around!
If you’re headed to Moalboal for all of the outdoor adventure it can offer, you might also like to read:
- Our guide to Kawasan Falls Canyoneering here
- Our guide to snorkeling the Sardine Run here
- Our guide to hiking Osmeña peak here
Quick Guide: Best Restaurants in Moalboal We Actually Tried
For context, we’re budget conscious travelers so we’re not splurging on dinner and honestly anything above a $15 / night dinner for two is “expensive” in our books.
None of the meals at these restaurants cost us above $20 – all of these are cheap relatively speaking, but if you’re on a budget like us ($100/day), we hope the price column here can help you make an informed decision on where to eat based on that budget.
| Restaurant 🍽️ | Best For 🥇 | Cuisine 💡 | Price 💸 |
| Hungry Monkeys | Variety + Big Portions | Filipino / Asian Fusion | 💲 |
| Ven’z Kitchen | Traditional Filipino Food | Authentic Filipino Food | 💲 |
| Taco De Rose Cafe | Mexican Food | Mexican / American | 💲💲 |
| Le Bistro | Brunch | Filipino / Western Fusion | 💲💲 |
Our Reviews: Best Restaurants in Moalboal Near Panagsama Beach
In no particular order, here are our honest reviews of the restaurants we tried in Moalboal:
1. Hungry Monkeys — All-Round Restaurant for Variety in Moalboal
- Our Rating: 4.4/5
- Our Bill: ~$15 for two
- Cuisine: Filipino, Asian & Western Fusion
Hungry Monkeys is one of the most popular restaurants in Moalboal and for good reason.
Located right in the busy heart of Panagsama Road, it’s surrounded by bars, other restaurants, and karaoke spots. The atmosphere is loud, energetic, and a little chaotic at first, but it actually adds to the experience once you settle in.
What we ordered
- Nasi Goreng
- Pork sisig
- Beer (Red Horse & San Miguel specifically!)
The restaurant itself is clean and we were impressed by the portion sizes, the flavor of the food, and the prices. Also, the waiters were very friendly and there’s plenty of seating.
The only downsides were that it was hot up there and it was loud as a result of the surrounding karaoke bars which you do get used to after a while, however it’s not a quiet dinner spot – but it is a fun one.
2. Ven’z Kitchen — Traditional Filipino Restaurant in Moalboal
- Our Rating: 3.9/5
- Our Bill: ~$15 for two
- Cuisine: Traditional Filipino
Ven’z Kitchen was consistently packed every time we walked past.
Located along Panagsama Road, it has a warm, casual, open-air setup with plenty of outdoor seating and a welcoming evening atmosphere.
What we ordered
- Chicken adobo
- Vegetarian kare-kare
- Halo-halo for dessert
We really enjoyed this menu as we learned a lot about traditional Filipino food and the prices were very reasonable. The food was good, but not the best that we’ve ever tried and we found that we were waiting for a while for the food and it was hard to get the attention of the waiters even though it wasn’t that busy at the end of the night. So much so that we were sitting right near the kitchen and when we wanted to order dessert, we were waiting for so long to order it that we just asked the kitchen and eventually got our halo-halo.
I think Ven’z kitchen is a solid affordable option in Moalboal, but don’t be expecting much more than “ya it was fine”!
3. Taco De Rose Cafe — Best Mexican Food in Moalboal
- Our Rating: 4/5
- Our Bill: ~$17 for two
- Cuisine: Mexican & American
We actually found Taco De Rose Cafe by accident as we were right outside trying to figure out where to eat and two fellow travelers walking past casually told us, “Food is good, beer is good,” and that was enough for us.
Compared to the busier Panagsama restaurants, this place felt calmer. We sat in a shaded, garden-style area which made it feel relaxed and slightly tucked away from the main road. The chairs were also super comfy!
What we ordered
- Pork carnitas tacos
- Pork carnitas burrito
- Beer (2 Red Horse!)
The pork was the standout – juicy, well-seasoned, and full of smoky flavor. For my tacos I was given the option to add a fourth taco or rice and beans as a side and I opted for the rice and beans. Unfortunately, they were underwhelming so a heads up that if you’re given that option I’d recommend going with the extra taco.
Overall, we were impressed by the ambiance and the Mexican food itself. We’re docking points for the underwhelming sides and it was on the pricier side.
4. Le Bistro — Best Brunch Spot Near Panagsama Beach
- Our Rating: 3.9/5
- Our Bill: ~$13 for two
- Cuisine: Filipino & Western Fusion
Le Bistro is a cute little brunch spot. It has a beachy, laid-back vibe with teal & white décor and a huge sardine-run mural that gives it almost a “beach shack” essence – and we love a beach shack. We ate here after we snorkeled the Sardine Run. We highly recommend doing this during your trip to Moalboal, you can read our guide to this here.
The menu has a mix of American and Filipino brunch options and they offer all day breakfast.
What we ordered
- American breakfast
- Greek salad
- Coffee and iced tea
Harry really enjoyed the full breakfast. My salad was fresh, though the olives were missing (my favourite part) and they didn’t let me know that was going to be the case which I was kinda bummed about because I probably would have changed my order.
Although the food was good and we enjoyed the beachy vibe, these prices were definitely higher and we usually try not to spend over $10 on brunch. If you’re ok with that though, I would recommend this place, I think I just ordered wrong.
BONUS — Moalboal Beer Garden
- Our Rating: 4.7/5
- Our Bill: ~$14 for two
After hiking Osmeña Peak, this was exactly what we needed – a cold drink in a relaxed outdoor setting.
We had passed Moalboal Beer Garden multiple times during our stay, and it always looked inviting. It ended up being one of our favorite places to unwind in Moalboal.
What we ordered
- 2 pale ale beers
The beer selection was better than expected, with options beyond the usual San Miguel and Red Horse. The pale ale was strong but really enjoyable.
My favorite part about this place was the outdoor setting – they did a really good job at creating a chilled outdoor setting that was nice to spend time in. The music was good, there were fairy lights in the trees, and a lot of comfortable outdoor seating. We usually drink the local brew in a place given our budget so this was a little expensive – paying $7 for a beer – but I think worth it if you are craving something more along the lines of a craft beer.
FAQ
1. Where to eat in Moalboal near Panagsama Beach?
Panagsama road is the central street in Moalboal that’s lined with bars and restaurants. If you’re looking for consistency, variety, and not too much thinking – head to Panagsama road for dinner.
2. Is food in Moalboal expensive?
Food is expensive near the Panagsama beach area relative to less touristy areas in Cebu. However, it’s still cheap relative to western prices and you can definitely get dinner for two for ~$15.
3. Do restaurants in Moalboal accept cash only?
All of the restaurants that we tried as listed here accepted cash or G-cash. We’re able to pay with G-cash in the Philipinnes using the MORETA app. You can read our guide on that here.
4. Are there vegetarian restaurants in Moalboal?
While we didn’t eat at any restaurants specifically vegetarian only, there were many vegetarian options at all of the restaurants that we did go to. Ven’z Kitchen in particular had a whole section dedicated to veggie options on their menu.
5. Is the food good in Moalboal?
I would say yes although it won’t be the same culinary experience as you can get in places like Cebu city or Siargao. We were impressed by the variety of food options in Moalboal and the standard of the food in the places we went to.
Final Thoughts: Where to Eat in Moalboal
Overall, Moalboal is an outdoor adventure activity destination – that’s where it really shines. After traveling to some other islands in the Philippines, honestly it was probably the most underwhelming from a food perspective however, that was never the focus for us and all we wanted at the end of the day was something convenient and tasty! And that’s what restaurants on Panagsama road do well.
Hopefully this guide helps take a little bit of the decision fatigue out of your trip – because after a long day exploring Moalboal, sometimes the hardest decision is figuring out where to eat dinner.
Cheers & safe travels,
Julie & Harry
If you’re headed to the Philippines, you might also find our other guides helpful:
Read our guide on getting a visa for the Philippines here
Read our guide to Kawasan Falls Canyoneering here
Read our guide to snorkeling the Sardine Run in Moalboal here
Read our guide to hiking Osmeña peak here
Read our guide to finding the best Lechon in Cebu here
Read our ideal 2-week Siargao itinerary here