Hukad Golden Cowrie Restaurant: Celebrating Cebuano's Good Food

Hukad welcomes you in with warmth

“Always a feast!” This is Hukad Restaurant's official tagline. The term Hukad meant two things: to serve up on one's plate and a "ladle" used to scoop up servings. Hukad is owned by the Golden Cowrie group of restaurants which highlights Filipino tradition of eating altogether as a family over good food. Security Blanket recently tried Cebuano and well-loved Filipino dishes at their Trinoma Mall branch.

So what do I love about Hukad? Let me count the ways:

First of all, if you're into rice, you will certainly love this restaurant. They offer unlimited freshly-cooked rice scooped in mounds which you will surely enjoy. A Hukad staff will be approaching your table and will ask if you need more rice, "Hukad some more?"

Hukad ladle ladies giving off unlimited rice

Hukad as well as other Golden Cowrie owned restaurants already had a cult following in both Visayas and Mindanao but they have yet to establish themselves here in Metro Manila. So we were delighted to get a taste of the best of Cebuano dishes without necessarily traveling to the South. We're happy that they are also expanding their reach nationwide, this way, more and more people will be able to delight in Cebuano foods. That alone saves you money sans traveling in an aircraft when you're seriously craving for some Cebuano foods like lechon and Ngohiong, right?

Some of Hukad's specialties

They have tapped in actor Gerald Anderson as their official brand ambassador. Yes, the "Ikaw Lang ang Iibigin" lead actor was said to be happy when Hukad had chosen him to become their endorser. He was part Bisaya and since he's now based in Manila, he would sometimes miss the food back home. Now, he doesn't need to go far, all he needs to do is visit any Hukad restaurants in the metro and he'll definitely satiate his cravings for Cebuano foods.

Hukad has tapped actor Gerald Anderson as their endorser.

The people behind Hukad also recently launched actor Gerald Anderson as its brand ambassador. “We’re very pleased to have Gerald Anderson as our official endorser for Hukad and Golden Cowrie,” sas Kenneth C. Kokseng, General Manager of Hukad and Golden Cowrie. “His passion in life and craft reflect our food and our service. Gerald is also part Bisaya (from Visayas, as the actor hails from General Santos City), so he’s really authentic. He knows and appreciates our culture, tastes, and flavour.”

Gerald Anderson explains it was a joy to be chosen as Hukad's endorser

“When I eat at Hukad, I always remember how my mom took care of me when I was young. I brought my family here and they also loved it! Hukad brings us closer as a family,” shares Gerald.

Gerald Anderson is all smiles here at Hukad

Hukad takes pride on their Crispy Pata and Lechon Belly de Cebu. It was so good that the Crispy Pata won the People’s Choice in The Sun Star Best of Cebu Awards. The Lechon Belly is of course another showstopper with its tender meat and oh-so crispy skin over-roasted daily in savory seasonings and herbs. It’s good for sharing and is available in various sizes—yes, you can even treat your whole barangay!

Hukad's Lechon Belly de Cebu

Other specialties you shouldn't dare miss are their Grilled Tuna Panga, Tuna Belly, Zarsuela de Mariscos, Stuffed Squid or Garlic Chili Shrimps (seafoods), Filipino's well-loved comfort foods like Sinigang, Bulalo and Kare-kare. You may also try other regional specialties like Caldereta de Cabrito, Crispy Dinuguan, Chicken Halang-halang and Oxtail Humba. Oh and don't forget another must-try called Bantayan Baked Scallops--they're absolutely the best! You would taste how fresh they are in every bite. For sure you will enjoy its mouth-watering goodness as it is topped with buttery cheese and garlic.

Hukad's Baked Bantayan Scallops

Here are some of the dishes we have tried:

Cebu lechon at its best can be found at Hukad

Hukad's crispy pata is to-die-for

Hukad's Chicken halang-halang

Another Cebuano favorite: Hukad's Ngohiong

Hukad's Adobo Eggplant

Refreshing Hukad's Pomelo Salad

Hukad's Halayang Ube Crisp Ala Mode

We highly recommend other savory dishes like the Cebuano favourite, Ngohiong (a cross between lumpiang shanghai and Chinese kikiam), Baked Tahong (mussels), and Seafood Pancit Habhab with shrimp and squid. For appetizers, we also enjoyed their Pomelo Salad with gusto.

Hukad also features unique Filipino delicacies such as Bubud Turon and Biko Tsokolate. We were able to try their Ube Halaya Ala Mode—honest-to-goodness sweetened yam paste inside crispy fried lumpia wrapper with cheesy butter flavoured iced cream. It truly was a delightful way to cap off your meal . Wolf it down with their Agua Fresca pitchers in Pineapple Cucumber, Watermelon and Green Mango Cucumber.

Hukad has branches in Metro Manila area in the following areas: SM Mall of Asia, SM Southmall, SM Sucat, SM BF Paranaque, SM Bicutan, SM San Lazaro, SM Bacoor, SM Dasmarinas, Trinoma, S Maison, and Ayala Cloverleaf.

In Visayas and Mindanao areas, they are located in Cebu, Robinson’s Place Dumaguete, Robinson’s Place Tacloban, SM City Bacolod, SM City Iloilo, Uptown Station 2 Boracay, Abreeza Mall Davao, SM Ecoland Annex Davao, Robinson’s Place Butuan, Gaisano Mall of Tagum, Gaisano Mall Digos, Royal Garden Hotel Ozamiz, Pagadian, SM Lanang, Veranza Mall Gensan, KCC Mall de Zamboanga, Mall of Alnor Cotabato, Prime Arcade Tagum, SM CDO Downtown Premier and Iligan.