Only in Cebu: Larsian sa Fuente

A trip to Cebu is not complete without visiting Larsian sa Fuente, Cebu City’s most popular barbecue haven. Not only is it a favorite foodie destination among people looking for affordable and delicious grilled food, but it is a unique experience to have in Cebu as well.

isaw and chorizo

pork barbecue, baticolon

I went to Larsian twice during my recent trip to Cebu. After practicing in Abellana Sports Complex in preparation for the Dancesport sa Sugbu, my dance teammates and I all went to Larsian to satiate our hunger. It is best to enjoy Larsian when you’re in a big group, so you can order a huge variety of fare. In addition, when you come in big groups, vendors offer perks like free 1.5L soft drinks.

Larsian is set up like a food court, each stall offering a selection of meats, seafood, innards, and street food like kikiam and fish balls. Others even have sinigang and other soups on their menu – it’s up to you what you are craving for at the moment!

inside Larsian

We chose Wella’s Barbecue because they have these glove-like hand wraps. Last year when I went there, we didn’t know about Wella’s and we were given only plastic bags to eat with in some other stall. Not that I’m complaining, it’s just that the glove-shaped ones are easier to put on.

We ordered several sticks of isaw (chicken intestines), chorizo, and pork barbecue, as well as some grilled chicken and siomai. Wella’s gave us two bottles of 1.5L 7-Up, for free!

siomai (what was left after I glanced in the other direction)

isaw, chorizo, and barbecue

grilled chicken

The food tasted ordinary—nothing special, just like street food in Manila—but what I like most about eating in Larsian is the puso or hanging rice. This delicately cooked rice variety is wrapped in banana leaves before being steamed. Since it is packed that way, it feels heavier than normal rice—almost like a rice cake even. Actually since the barbecued food come in sticks, you won’t need plastic hand wraps anymore as you take alternately take bites on your barbecue and then on the puso. However, I like dipping my barbecue in vinegar and soy sauce with my “bare hands”—it just feels much more rough and genuine, LOL!

Puso is sold not only in Larsian—it is widely available in almost all food stores in Cebu and is sold at P3 to P5, depending on the place.

After our barbecue feast, we almost couldn’t budge! I absolutely love it when I just had a cheap but satisfying and delicious meal!

BMG and Team Cebu at Larsian

The next night, I took my Mom and sister to Larsian just so my Mom would experience how it’s like (she’s a first-timer in Cebu). We bought some isaw, pork barbecue, baticolon (chicken gizzard), grilled chicken, white marlin, and stuffed squid. She didn’t like the ambience, but she loved the marlin, haha!

white marlin, stuffed squid

I know I should be exploring more grill places in Cebu but somehow I keep on coming back here. Perhaps it’s because it reminds me of Tiendesitas, where I had a lot of good memories of chilling and good food back when I was still in college. I promise that the next time I’m in Cebu, I will try other barbecue places –like AA’s BBQ. Wait, that’s a valid enough reason to book another flight to Cebu. Let me know when there’s a seat sale!

~*~

Larsian sa Fuente

Fuente Osmena, Cebu City

(near Chong Hua Hospital)

Don’t miss any of these posts in the Cebu 2013 series:

• 6^th Queen City of the South Dancesport sa Sugbu Open Championship
• Fab Finds Friday: 4 Desserts from Cebu Worth Traveling for
• Where to Eat in Cebu: Lantaw Floating Native Restaurant
• Confessions of a Non-chocoholic: Tablea Chocolate Cafe in Cebu
• Where to Eat in Cebu: Hukad sa Golden Cowrie

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About Pepe Samson

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