Dennis Coffee Garden — Restaurant in Zamboanga City

Visited this coffee shop/cafe twice and we enjoyed the experience both times. Their Kahawa Sug Php 70 ($1.20 Sulu coffee or Sulu robusta) is the best choice. Straight up caffeine for the purists. Sulu is a province in the Philippines, measuring 1600 Km2 and is known for their pearl beds. We Ordered the following on our second visit: Pastil 65 Php ($1.15- Hand pies with bean sprouts served with sweet spicy sauce)u Jualan Saing (65 Php)- Deep fried bananas served with a coconut jam dip Palih Kambing: 65 Php ($1.15 Deep fried banana balls; Pitis: 65 Php ($1.15- Glutinous rice flour sticky with sweet coconut filling wrapped in banana leaves) Patulakan: 65 Php ($1.15- Pounded rice mixed with milk & grated coconut wrapped in banana leaves. Dulang: P950 ($16.40) - Tray with Tiulah Sug (Beef soup with roasted/charred coconut, Utak Utak (fried fish cakes) Beef Kulma (stewed beef in coconut curry sauce) Chicken Pianggang, Kangkong (watercress) in Kulma Sauce, cucumber slices with sambal . Good for a group of five. Bangbang Bundle: 230 Php ($3.95- 3 pcs daral, 3 pcs wadjit, 3 pcs biyaki, 3 cups of coffee) Daral: Moisture-rich crepe with sweet coconut filling Wadjit: Purple glutinous rice cooked in pure coconut milk Biyaki: tamal- sweet corn steamed in corn husk (sweet corn tamales) Panggih-Panggih: 65 Php ($1.15-Soft and chewy flour rings "banana churros") Chicken Pianggang - P170 ($2.95- Chicken marinated in roasted coconut and spices) served with scoop of rice and cucumber slices with sambal. Satti Ayam: P135 ($2.35- Grilled chicken strips and cubed rice in a bowl poured with sweet and spicy sauce. Hot calamansi - P55 ($0.95) Philippine lime 4 regular coffees, (1) 12-oz coffee with hot milk, 5 bottled waters. The entire meal was P4000 ($69) including tip. This was...

Dennis Coffee Garden is not really a garden but a coffee shop for authentic coffee and delicacies from the provinces of Sulu, Basilan, and Zamboanga. Being located in the southern part of the Philippines in the Zamboanga peninsula, the reach culture of Sulu of brewing hot coffee while eating their homemade rice cakes or bread made this shop a must visit for coffee lovers. The menu price is affordable. The menu includes varieties of rice, viands for both muslims and non-Muslim customers. The comfort room is located on the first floor with segration of male and female with sinks for handwashing. The ambiance of the house adds to the traditional coffee drinkers the feeling of being at home in a humble abode away from the busy environment. It is said that the people from Jolo love to preserve the flavors of their brewed coffee and the delicacies of Jolo. Daral, putljmandi, and palih kambing are some commoners craving. The chicken piangan and other dishes can be ordered. I remember when visiting the place, there were electric fans for those who wanted the comfy tropical air. There is also a room with air conditioning units for a more temperate feeling of cool and calmness while taking a sip of brewed dark coffee. I have noticed that most of the customers came in partners, usually were couple. On the other hand, some went on solo, enjoying the smell of a nice and authentic dark brewed coffee. A bite and a sip matched with a sweet talk and smile can make your day. Paying a visit or dropping by is worth a try not...

I believe there was a smaller branch of Dennis Coffee Garden before in KCC but this is a bigger branch now. The food and interiors, true to the Dennis Coffee Garden, showcased the best of Tausug culture. The vibrant colors manifested in the visuals of the interior and of course their food is always a memorable experience best shared with friends and family.

Like what we would usually have at their original outlet, we had the Beef Kulma, Tiula Sug and their ever tasty Jualan Saing (fried banana) and Daral (crepe rolls with coconut filling). All were as good and tasted exactly the same as I remember when I first had them. I also tried the Chicken Pianggang which was surprisingly not as spicy as I rembered. I loved the sauce on it so much that I even added it on the Tiula beef and ended up liking it more than the Kulma. It was also my first time trying the Pitis (imagine sapin sapin with sweet coconut filling). I could easily finish a single order on my own.

Always a great experience dining at Dennis. I swear I will try their famous coffee next...