Golden Cowrie Filipino Kitchen is the premium brand of the foremost Cebu restaurant deeply rooted in the heart and culture of every Cebuano bringing generations of diners together for 35 years.
Its menu features classic recipes to pay homage to the heritage of Philippine cuisine and celebrates culinary creativity in terms of modern execution and play of flavors. The name pays tribute to the Cowrie, one of the Philippines’ prized indigenous shells.
In Cebu, they are famous for their Crispy Pata, while their original Cebu Lechon Belly is a hit in Manila.
I have nothing but happy memories of eating at Golden Cowrie in Cebu, so I’m glad that they’ve decided to expand here and bring their authentic Cebuano cuisine to Manila.
Here’s what to order and expect at Golden Cowrie Filipino Kitchen / Hukad…
GOLDEN COWRIE FILIPINO KITCHEN
Golden Cowrie Filipino Kitchen’s 150-seater flagship store is the most affordable restaurant in S Maison, with a simple ambiance celebrating its Cebuano roots.
You can reserve the private room with a maximum capacity of 48 for those special big family celebrations.
Golden Cowrie Filipino Kitchen Menu: Cover | Souperb Comfort, Starters | Salads, Merienda, Veggie | Meat Dishes Galore | Main, Seafood Specials | Drinks, Desserts | Halo-Halo
Golden Cowrie has special items on their menu that are not in Hukad, but all Hukad items are available in Golden Cowrie.
Baked Bantayan Scallops (P265)
Make sure to order these small tasty Bantayan scallops, which are baked and topped with oozing garlicky cheese. I bet you’ll order a second serving.
Pocherong Katag (P695)
Th Cebuano version of bulalo with actual bone marrow on the side, which you use as “butter” for the bread. Make sure to top it off with some onion jam.
Pomelo Salad (P270)
Our favorite salad in Golden Cowrie! Pomelo with turnip slices in calamansi dressing and ingeniously topped with crispy dried squid.
Vegetarian Sisig (P305)
Golden Cowrie specializes in Vegetarian dishes, like this meatless sisig made with mushroom and tofu.
Ngohiong (P145)
The Cebuano street food version of vegetable lumpia (spring roll), deep fried and served with hot sauce.
Pinaupong Manok (P585)
Chicken bathe in its own oil, cooked in salt and other secret recipes, and served with sweet potatoes.
Zarzuela de Mariscos (P595)
Big seafood selection cooked in light tomato sauce with olive oil, tomatoes, and coco wine–a Golden Cowrie specialty.
Crispy Pata ( Chico – P495 | Grande – P665 | Mas Grande – P765)
Golden Cowrie is best known in Cebu for their deep fried pork legs, which is a centerpiece of any Filipino feast, along with Lechon and Kare-Kare.
Best to order the whole one served with bone, crispy skin, and tasty meat. I personally like slicing the meat off on my own, but you can also ask to have your order served chopped.
The Lechon Belly is roasted daily and flown in directly from Cebu. It’s the most authentic-flavored lechon belly you’ll find in Manila, so make sure to reserve one.
Their boneless lechon belly is stuffed with herbs and marinated in salt and simple seasonings, just like how you’d enjoy it in Cebu.
Cebu’s Lechon Belly (1/4 Kilo – P310)
You can order a small 1/4 kilo portion, chopped into cubes and topped with crispy skin. Lami gyud!
Agua Fresca (P315).
Pineapple Cucumber – combination of pineapple and cucumber
Green Mango Cucumber – combination of green mango and cucumber
Watermelon – watermelon combined with lemongrass flavor
For something refreshing, order the combination of Green Mango and Cucumber to clean the palate.
(Trivia: We would usually order the juices last so that the kids don’t get full easily. They can also treat it as a sweet ending.)
Chilled Taho (Plain – P135).
This is one of the few restaurants that serve this childhood favorite made of soy, topped with small pearls and a sweet syrup.
Halo Halomazing (P125).
Order the halo halo for the perfect ending to a good Filipino feast made with red & green kaong, white beans kernel, corn, macapuno, ube halaya, candied langka and banana.
Golden Cowrie Filipino Kitchen is the best choice for a Filipino Feast in S Maison, SM Mall of Asia. Reserve a table during special occasions and pre-order the Lechon Belly.
Make sure to order the Baked Bantayan Scallops, Pomelo Salad, Aqua Fresca, Crispy Pata, and their signature Lechon Belly. Budget about P500/head.
Note: They also have a good vegetarian menu for those who prefer healthier choices.
GOLDEN COWRIE FILIPINO KITCHEN
2/F S Maison at Conrad Manila, Seaside Blvd. cor. Coral Way, Mall of Asia Complex
Telephone: +632 805-7649
Facebook: @HukadGoldenCowrie
Website: http://www.alwaysafeast.ph
Operating Hours: 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
Website: http://www.alwaysafeast.ph/
HUKAD
Hukad is Golden Cowrie Filipino Kitchen’s more affordable, mall-based restaurant, which carries most of their bestselling items.
Hukad means “serving of food” if used as a noun or “to serve food on one’s plate” if used as a verb.
Hukad Menu: Simply, Souperb! Fresh Starters | Meat Dishes Galore | Veggie Entree | Sweet Somethings, Cool Wash Downs
Hukad’s menu is relatively cheaper than Golden Cowrie’s, with a more fast-casual service.
Baked Bantayan Scallops (P224)
You can enjoy the baked Bantayan scallops here more because they’re relatively cheaper. The presentation is decent but the yumminess is the same.
Dinuguan (P125)
We also tried the crispy dinuguan, which is a bit soupier that normal dinuguan, with crispy bits of pork fat and skin.
Tuna Belly (P295)
Order the grilled tuna belly as a healthier choice. Don’t forget to squeeze some calamansi on top and eat it with the pickled vegetables on the side.
Squid Grilled (P265)
You can also enjoy a stuffed grilled squid for less than P300. Perfect for your Balikbayan or tourist guests who you want to share the flavors of Cebu with.
Crispy Pata (Small – P485)
The best value for money–crispy pork meat and skin, chopped and served with soy sauce salsa dip. Really good!
Cebu Lechon Belly (1/4 Kilo – P310)
The main reason you’ll go here–authentic Cebu Lechon Belly that doesn’t need any sauce.
Budbud Turon (P99)
For something unique, order the budbud which is suman made of millet wrapped like a turon, fried and served with sweet sauce.
Hukad is perfect if you’re craving for good Cebuano food, especially authentic Cebu Lechon Belly. It’s a great place an awesome Filipino meal with your family with kids or even tourist/balikbayan guests.
It’s more affordable than Golden Cowrie Filipino Kitchen and will most likely be available in an SM Mall near you soon.
Order the Baked Bantayan Scallops, Grilled Tuna Belly or Stuffed Squid, Crispy Pata, and the Lechon Belly. Budget about P400/head.
HUKAD MOA
2nd Level, Entertainment Mall, Mall of Asia, Pasay City
Mobile: +63 917 108-3518
Telephone: +632 810-1745
Operating Hours: 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
Facebook: @HukadGoldenCowrie
Website: http://www.alwaysafeast.ph/
Other Branches:
HUKAD – TRINOMA
Level 1, TriNoma, Quezon City
Telephone: +632 621-5334
Mobile: +63 917 809-4324
Store Hours: 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
HUKAD – SUCAT
Ground Floor, SM Sucat, Paranaque City, Metro Manila
Store Hours: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
Opening in a Mall near you this 2017:
SM Southmall in Las Pinas
SM Bicutan in Paranaque
SM BF Paranaque
SM San Lazaro in Sta Cruz, Manila
Ayala Cloverleaf in Q.C., Manila
Ayala Feliz in Marcos Highway, Pasig
Live an Awesome Life,
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Disclosure: We paid for our meal at Hukad. Our meal at Golden Cowrie was courtesy of Golden Cowrie. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights.
P.S. When dining at Golden Cowrie, make sure to check if they still have the free parking promo at S Maison.
Hi Anton,
Those scallops look delicious. The meat itself is fine but the garlic-cheese topping? I am sold. All in. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Ryan
very nice and taste food listed, thanks
Iisa lang po ba ang Golden Cowrie and Hukad? I had to write a resto review and my group just dined in at Hukad yesterday. We asked for the brief history or something about Hukad but the banch manager never mentioned Golden Cowrie. My bad we didn’t conduct a primary research about Hukad :(( Anyway, Hukad is worth feasting for, haha. Recommended.