5 Places To Get Your Ngohiong Fix in Cebu

written on June 7th, 2018 by Zarah Majam

You have not been to Cebu if you haven’t tried Ngohiong. For anyone who doesn’t know what ngohiong (ngo-yong) is, it’s a distant relative of the infamous spring roll. Covered in a battered rice paper wrap, ngohiong is known for its distinctive crunch and its unique taste stemming from a mix of ubod (bamboo shoots), singkamas (jicama), garlic, onions, and the main star of the show, Chinese five-spice powder. This powder is a mixture of cinnamon, cloves, fennel, star anise, and szechuan powder. Ngohiong is ideally paired with a sweet-sour-spicy sauce that has also been infused with Chinese five-spice powder, giving it a zesty punch to your taste buds!

Ideally, ngohiong is enjoyed as an affordable lunch. Students and workers gravitate towards it as an afternoon snack. This is best paired with puso (hanging rice) and the soft drink of your choice.

Because we want to shed light on this Cebuano snack, we thought of the 5 best places you can enjoy a hot serving of ngohiong in Cebu. The best time to enjoy ngohiong would be at lunch time since that’s usually when the fresh batches come out. You don’t want to miss out on freshly cooked ngohiong, trust me!

1.Chinese Ngohiong

Location: 345 Junquera St, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu (Near USC Main)

Probably one of the most iconic ngohiong places in Cebu, Chinese ngohiong is a favorite amongst students and workers alike. Most people who recommend ngohiong spots often gravitate towards Chinese Ngohiong. It may be because their battered rice-paper wrapping contains a chokehold of flavor, or it may be because of their signature sauce. Either way, this is a spot you shouldn’t overlook. The lunchtime crowd is a true testament of how good their ngohiong is!

2.Ed’s Ngohiong

Location: Gov. M. Cuenco Ave, Cebu City, 600 (Across Rosedale Suites)

A strong contender against Chinese Ngohiong, Ed’s ngohiong can be it’s counterpart. Similar in size and texture, Ed’s signature crunch is a local favorite as well. The sauce is much more tangy than sweet, giving it a whole different experience! The tanginess sets it apart from the usual sawsawan (dipping sauce) that ngohiong is paired with. Definitely a must try!

3.TJRB’s Ngohiong

Location: Gen. Maxilom Ave., Cebu City. (Across the old Sacred Heart for Boys campus)

Another iconic ngohiong place in Cebu is TJRB’s Ngohiong! TJRB’s has a cult following of loyal customers who know it as “ngohiongan atbang Sacred Heart” (ngohiong place across Sacred Heart). Known to have the least amount of grease out of the aforementioned ngohiong places, TJRB’s has been developing a large following of fans due to their unique taste. Probably one of the few ngohiongs that taste good with or without sauce.

4.Golden Cowry

Location: A.S. Fortuna St., Cebu City

Out of all of the ngohiong places mentioned in this list, Golden Cowry has the most sophisticated dining ambiance, given that it is a proper casual dining restaurant. For anyone who wants to try ngohiong in a comfortable dining environment, Golden Cowry is the place to be. It’s probably the only restaurant that comes close to mimicking the true essence of local Cebu ngohiong without it being pretentious. No added frills and thrills, Golden Cowry serves ngohiong as authentic as it can get in a restaurant setting.

5.Doming’s Ngohiong

Location: #25 Fairlane Village Road, Guadalupe, Cebu City

Doming’s ngohiong sells out like hotcakes! You can tell a ngohiong place is good based on their lunch crowd, and Doming’s has a pretty big lunch crowd. Because of their huge following, people advice to arrive before the lunch-hour rush. Their ngohiong is a strong contender against TJRB’s ngohiong, given that it tastes good with or without the sauce (a strong feat in the ngohiong industry, might I add). Also, Doming’s ngohiong is probably one of the more popular ngohiong places in Cebu. Definitely worth stopping by for!