Golden Cowrie: Cebu Lechon Belly, Pocherong Katag, and more!

Golden Cowrie Filipino Kitchen

Cebu's homegrown restaurant for Filipino comfort food is now in Manila. With various branches and franchises in Visayas and Mindanao, Golden Cowrie Filipino Kitchen has opened its first branch in Luzon last November 2016 at S Maison, Conrad Manila.


dining area near the entrance	a very pleasant ambiance

This branch will welcome you Mactan stones-padded walls and creative pieces that will surely capture your attention. The dining area near the entrance may appear narrow but just walk further and you'll be delighted by a very pleasant surrounding composed of high ceiling, glass windows, and white walls accented with variety of weaving. They also have an al fresco area with a beautiful view of Manila Bay for a more laid-back dining experience. This restaurant has a casual modern Filipino ambiance but very suited for family gatherings.

always a feast

Dining at Golden Cowrie is "always a feast" and a celebration of both traditional and modern Filipino flavors. It is here where you can find Pinoy favorites (such as sinigang, adobo, crispy pata, sisig, etc), old and forgotten dishes revived (such as Zarsuela de Mariscos, Pinaupong Manok), and street food cooked the Golden Cowrie way. Here are some of the dishes I had here:

Crispig's Ears (185Php)

Crispig's Ears

Great as appetizer or "pulutan", Crispig's Ears is seasoned deep fried pig's ears. Contrary to my former experiences with pig's ears, this is not chewy nor rubbery. Its crispiness made me consume every piece of it. Your taste buds will also enjoy the combination of sweetness, saltiness, and spice in its seasoning, perfect when dipped in sour vinegar.


Crispig's Ears	Zarsuela de Mariscos

Zarsuela de Mariscos (595Php)

Zarsuela de Mariscos

First, I want to apologize that I wasn't able to take a picture of Zarsuela de Mariscos in its full glory as it was a crowd's favorite and was consumed fast. So the picture I have here is not a representative of the actual serving size. I do not know what charm it has but this dish loaded with seafood and cooked in light tomato sauce is really good. I guess the secret is in the well-balanced richness and flavor of the sauce.

traditional and modern Filipino food

Miki Aligue (205Php)

Miki Aligue

Miki Aligue is very much like aligue pasta, except, of course, the noodle used. Expect it to be a bit salty as the aligue and crab meat taste is very evident in this dish.


Miki Aligue	Miki Negra

Miki Negra (205Php)

Miki Negra

Miki Negra is Pinoy pasta negra. Although topped with squid fats and flavored with squid ink, I still find that the squid essence is subtle in terms of flavor.

Pinaupong Manok (570Php)

Pinaupong Manok

Pinaupong Manok literally looks like a sitting chicken. It looked so simple but is naturally tasty, even the white meat.

Pocherong Katag (685Php)

Pocherong Katag

Pocherong Katag is like deconstructed bulalo plus more. The soup is like bulalo but with a bit of spice. While the bone marrow is baked and best to be topped on the toasted bread, together with onion jam. The combination is not so familiar but good.


Pocherong Katag	Cebu's Lechon Belly

Cebu's Lechon Belly (1/4 kilo - 310Php)

Cebu's Lechon Belly

For me, this is the best among all the dishes served to us -- this authentic Cebu's Lechon Belly. Skin is oh-so-crispy, while the meat is just tender and flavorful that it matches the sauce perfectly! Definitely recommended.

Filipino desserts

Ube Halaya Crisp ala Mode (145Php)

Ube Halaya Crisp ala Mode

Ube Halaya Crisp ala Mode is a modernized ube halaya. Ube halaya is enclosed in crispy wrapper, then topped with cheese ice cream. Ube and keso (cheese) is a classic combination, while the crispy wrapper added texture, comparable to eating sorbetes on a cone. Though I wish the ube portion was more significant than the cheese ice cream.

Chilled Taho (135Php)

Plain or choco

Chilled Taho

Chilled taho is available in plain and choco flavors. I tried the choco taho and I loved it! Velvety taho, topped with the right sweetness and consistency of the syrup. The choco taste has enough strength to be noticeable but still blended well.

Halo Halomazing (160Php)

Halo Halomazing

Halo Halomazing is just amazing! But why do I think it's good? First, it is not too milky nor too sweet that I get to enjoy the different ingredients more. Second, the ice, there must be something about the shaved ice that it doesn't melt easily. Third, everything just works well together, even the corn flakes topping!

chilled taho and halo halo

Agua Fresca (pitcher - 305Php)

Pineapple cucumber, Watermelon, Green Apple Cucumber

Agua Fresca

Agua Fresca is another one of those I wasn't able to get a decent picture of. But this is served by pitcher and I got to try Pineapple Cucumber and Green Apple Cucumber. I cannot really pick which I like better, but both are really refreshing, feels and tastes so natural.

Dining at Golden Cowrie is really like a feast. It also makes me proud of our very own tradition and heritage, that Filipino dishes can be this good. It roots to traditional dishes and also embraces changing trends. It celebrates our love for food -- oh, unlimited rice, included, all in a pleasant and welcoming ambiance. Food prices may appear expensive, but I would say reasonable.

Golden Cowrie Filipino Kitchen
Level 2, S Maison, Conrad Manila, Seaside Boulevard Corner Coral Way, Pasay City, Mall of Asia Complex (MOA), Pasay City