Places to Eat in Subic Bay

Many expats have made Subic Bay their home and as such the restaurant scene here is a mouth-watering smorgasbord of different cuisines. From American, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, you name it and they most probably have it.

Traditional Food

Not surprisingly, there is hardly a place here for street food exploration but we can recommend two excellent local restaurants that serve Filipino goodness. Cocolime Restaurant (Harbor Point Mall, Rizal Hiway) is definitely an old favourite. It's always a toss between the pineapple rice or the bagoong rice for us, either way both are bursting with flavour. We also cannot get enough of their staple dishes like chicken sisig, sizzling bulalo, and squid sisig. Servings are good for sharing and everything is priced reasonably. Word about good food spreads quickly so we suggest coming early for lunch or dinner.

Done with your survival skill training at JEST? Complete the experience by dining at its onsite restaurant, Kawayan Kitchen. In keeping with its ‘survival in the wild’ theme, they cook Pinoy favourites including rice inside a bamboo segment. If you haven't tried it yet, you must not miss it. The aroma and the taste are unlike any you've had before. We had the sinampalukang manok, sinigang, and liempo and everything tasted divine. Because of their cooking method, it can take 30-45 minutes to serve what you ordered but it'll be absolutely worth the wait.

Western and International Food

Texas Joe’s House of Ribs (Waterfront Rd. | cor. Mc. Kinley St.) consistently tops short list of best restaurants in SBMA. The reason? Great steaks and ribs. We always have the baby back ribs here and it's always tender, juicy, and delicious. Their side dishes are not to be ignored either and we are especially keen to recommend their savoury cornbread. Not only is the food amazing – the ambiance is great and the staff are polite and attentive. For scrumptious American cuisine, you simply cannot go wrong with Texas Joe’s.

If you are fond of Japanese food, Sakura Restaurant (Lot 5 Time Square Bldg. Corner Sta. Rita Rd.) serves the freshest sushi and sashimi in the area. We always opt for their set menu but if you order separately, portions are good sized and big enough to share. Make sure to try their tori karaage set and maguro carpacio. Their ramen selection is not bad either and even their miso soup can really hit the spot especially on rainy days.

Cafes abd Coffee Houses

Xtremely Xpresso (#1 Dewey Avenue) is a popular cafe that's almost always buzzing with good conversation over plates of fresh and delicious food. Unlike some cafes, you don't come here just for a cuppa although they do serve good coffee. However, their pizza is a standout along with other menu items such as nachos, ribs, gelato, pasta, and a whole lot more. Reasonably priced and with a pretty extensive menu. As can be expected, the place is always packed but they do have an outdoor seating.

Sweet Finale Desserts and Pastry Shop (Harbor Mall, Subic Bay Freeport Zone) is also perfect for a little tea party with your friends. As its name implies, it is a perfect ending to a fully satisfying meal. What we love about it is that you actually get your tea served with an actual teapot and they have plenty of tea varieties to choose from. Desserts are really pleasing to the eyes and tastes just as heavenly. The pleasing aesthetic isn't just limited to their mini cupcakes, cheesecakes, and cake slices either. The milkshakes look so good it's almost a shame to devour it. The interior leans towards the cutesy side that is in line with the eye candies they're selling. Plus point, they do not have WiFi so pretend like it's the 90's and talk with your friends.