Pamahaw Cafe — Restaurant in Cebu City

I learned about Pamahaw from tiktok vlogs as im really looking for a nice and sulit silog place that will be my to-go place every weekend mornings here at Cebu. So yes, I drove from Mandaue and tried Pamahaw on a Saturday morning. The place is not hard to find, easily searchable here at maps and they have their signage when you come nearby the place. I did get a hard time parking. Pamahaw only has 3 parking slots for their own, and the coffee shop beside them also let cars park for pamahaw. It will be difficult to park on a croweded time. There were no available table as well and had to wait on queue for table. Took me 15mins wait, my table was upstairs (which is airconditioned). First floor has atleast 5 small tables and 1 long side table while there are atleast 5 small tables on 2F. I ordered the chicken adobo flakes with garlic rice and scrambled eggs (260php) and brewed coffee (50php). Coffee was served almost immediately. They have plenty of staff to serve customers but what led to my dismay is how long they served my food—took 40mins, just immediately after I did follow up on the 30th minute. Also their staff focuses on the ground floor, none stays up to attend diners at 2nd Floor. I have drank my coffee already when food came and ordered another cup of coffee. They served my food without serving or even asked condiments for my table (while all other tables were served). I need to go downstairs just to request the condiments because again, no one stays upstairs to attend. Good thing the food is good. I can finish another cup of rice if I am that hungry. I finished everything up and told the cashier of my experience. Pamahaw is good for their food but needs to work on more on dining experience. This is not my place for crowded days, I might return for a breakfast meal on non-breakfast hour, where the place is not busy. But for...

I ordered a dark choco champorado and the puto and sikwate.

The champorado was good. A sweetened dark chocolate champorado base with a thin layer of milk on the surface, and a good few pieces of crispy salty buwad as toppings. I loved it. If I would prepare this though, I'd decrease the sweetness of the dark chocolate to allow for the salty buwad to come forward.

The puto and sikwate was okay. 3pcs fluffy, moist, fresh puto a side of thinly sliced mango, and the sikwate....

The sikwate tastes like a rich hot milk chocolate. It tastes modern. I would not recommend it simply because I was looking for the rich and simple tablea and brown sugar water mixture that gives sikwate is distinct flavor profile. Pamahaw's take on the sikwate does have good mouthfeel and body but the flavor isn't for me.

The place is rather small and parking is severely limited. Come early, before 7, and you will have a great time enjoying the space. If you like crowded intimate spaces, eat at peak hours.

All in all, I am coming back for that champorado, and I might try their rice meals.

It's Jume 29,2025, and I'm back for breakfast. This time, I tried their spicy chorizo breakfast meal (2 eggs prepared your way, and rice) with a side of danggit, extra garlic rice, and cucumber lemonade.

The spicy chorizo is an appropriately sized chorizo that is 1/10 on the spice (extra mild). What surprised me was the restraint in the salt of the garlic rice-- a really welcome take on garlic rice. The cucumber lemonade was also more like 60% cucumber juice and 40% lemonade which is nice.

Overall, Pamahaw is a place to celebrate an elevated traditional cebuano breakfast.

I will be coming back for the champorado and...

Good food, okay chocolate (sikwate), bad juices.

We went during the soft opening period at night for dinner around 7pm and stayed until closing hours at past 8pm. Ordered spicy sugbo chorizo, danggit, and adobo flakes. Also ordered champorado.

The breakfast meals are great and should be for the price. Go for the scrambled eggs rather than the fried ones. Adobo flakes are too crispy for me bordering on floss texture, making it a bit too dry (pair it with a LOT of cucumbers and vinegar) but otherwise tastes great.

Champorado is not too sweet, which is great but will lack a bit of creaminess unless you ask for that dash of milk (and they will give it to you in small dipping dish containers). We shared 1 serving for 3 pax for dessert.

Chocolate is not as thickened and is sweeter than expected. I do not recommend the cucumber lemonade (attached photo). Took 1 sip, and it's just not good. Staff need more training. Do not sweep the floors on the 2F if there are still people at the lower deck....