Talisay's Best Lechon...

Simbahan sa Talisay

Talisay City is a 3rd class city in the province of Cebu, Philippines. It is bounded on the north by the municipality of Minglanilla, on the west by the city of Toledo and on the east by Cebu Strait.

Map of Talisay

Location

Talisay City is adjacent to Cebu City about 12 km. to the south. It is bounded on the north by the municipality of Minglanilla, on the west by the city of Toledo and on the east by Cebu Strait.

How to Get There

Talisay can be reached by taxi or jeepney from Cebu City. Travel time is more or less about 30 minutes.

Tourism Talisay is known for its “Inasal Baboy” (Roasted Pig). Its name is taken from the ‘Mantalisay’ tree which is abundant in the city. It is primarily a residential and trading center. Talisay City is part of a metropolitan area known as Metro Cebu.

Talisay City's Lechon Festival

“Best pig ever,” Time Magazine in their May 2009 issue of the Best of Asia 2009, Best for the Body quoted Anthony Bourdain, food guru, as he savored Cebu lechon. No contest. The best lechon (roasted suckling pig) in the country can only be found in this province and the best in the province can only be found in Talisay City. Very delectable morsel, red crispy skin, juicy meat and flavorful taste.

Manileños only know CnT as their source of Cebu lechon but if it’s a weekend and you have time to spare, head south to the place formerly known as “Yaro” in Talisay City, just around 12 kilometers and near the Catholic Church and the beach. Especially on a Sunday, still hot lechon on bamboo poles line the road ready to be chopped for waiting buyers.

One caveat though, while the price is per kilo, actual portions may be less as no weighing scales are used but are estimated only. In local parlance, mata-mata (direct translation: eye-eye) lang. During weekdays, the only way to get whole lechon is to directly source it from the roaster.

Other than lechon, buyers at the former “Yaro” can also try other items like Cebu’s dugo-dugo (blood stew), a must try and, I should say, better than those found in Manila; ginabot, deep fried intestines popularly known as chicharon bulaklak; grilled fish, squid and other seafoods. One other place in the province that claims that their roast pig is the best is in Carcar.

Note: If your only option is to buy lechon at CnT, skip their branch at the grocery section of SM City Cebu. It is overpriced by as much as 75 pesos per kilo compared to their other branch just across the mall. Their reason: mall space rent.