La Salsa Fil-Mex Cantina — Restaurant in Cebu City

As a La Salsa fan I am glad that we they have established a branch in Cebu and quite near to my area. The Zamboanga-based restaurant masterfully flaunts their hispanic heritage through a fusion of Filipino and Mexican delights. I came in with high expectations and they truly delivered.

We tried dishes that we didnt try at their home branch which was a revealing experience. Their pork and chicken asado were the "barbecue I never thought I needed in my life". Both kinds of meat were very tender, flavorful and the barbecue sauce made it a true fil-mex fiesta on the palate. The mexican rice on both meals were really good too and didnt overpower the meat. The two-piece versions of their meals can be easily shared by two persons. We also had their own version of pizza (grilled) and beef quesadilla. The pizza had a very thin crust and the quesadilla was almost like a closed version of the pizza. Both had generous amounts of cheese but offered different flavors.

The interior was equally colorful as their offering with murals on the walls and colorful lamps and this continued with their dishwares too which was quite charming. Service was good as expected and they were very proactive in dishing out.

Overalla great experience, the food stood out above everything else and I highly recommend La Salsa if youre in for some fun...

Service was okay, though when we ordered, several menu items were unavailable—like red sauce and beef. Not sure if it was just bad timing or if they’re not used to a full house. That said, the staff still offered alternative options, which we appreciated.

I came in with low expectations since we weren’t exactly getting their best foot forward, but I was pleasantly surprised by the food. I’ve tried a few Mexican spots, and I can say what we ordered was well-seasoned and balanced in flavor. The truffle shrimp pasta stood out—it had a nice little kick of spice, and despite the shrimp not tasting freshly cooked, the dish still worked for me.

Portions aren’t big enough to share with more than two people. The white nacho dip was also really tasty and balanced, but it wasn’t enough for the amount of chips it came with. Would have loved a bit more dip. The chili dog didn’t particularly stand out, but it was decent.

The ambiance is homey and casual, with cushioned seats and a few wall paintings that give off a Mexican vibe. Nothing mind-blowing or visually striking, but it’s chill and...

Great place, attentive staff, but I highly recommend looking up how to make birria or tacos in general before serving it. That wasn’t a birria taco and why would anyone place the “conssome” (it was some weird salsa at La Salsa) container above the tortilla? a dish ON food. 🥲

Maybe the Filipino leaning rice meals fare better here, but this is not the place for tacos and small Mexican fare. The worst of it all is that you can tell whoever made the food, made it with care and a lot of effort. The place itself looks like it was tended to with great detail. The food we ordered, unfortunately just missed the mark.

We gave it a fair shot, took a bite out of each,...