A Big Bite of Northern Mindanao: What to Eat When in Cagayan de Oro

(SPOT.ph) It can be overwhelming trying to grasp the food scene of a city in one go, especially when it's your first time in the place. But those visiting Cagayan de Oro this time of the year can count on Big Bite—one of the most anticipated and biggest food festivals in CDO, which annually brings together a variety of curated Kagay-anon-approved small food businesses in one space. The food festival recently ended its 11th run—yes, it’s been over a decade—at Ayala Malls Centrio from March 28 to April 6, 2025.

We've listed our favorites from this year's Big Bite that can serve as your guide to must-try eats in Cagayan de Oro. Aside from the likes of sinuglaw, humba, and binaki (don't miss the one at Cucina Higala, FYI), these are what Kagay-anons can bring to the (dining) table.

Also read: Try Traditional Tausug Kakanin + Pastries at This QC Dining Spot

A Tasting Guide of Cagayan de Oro through Big Bite: Northern Mindanao Food Festival

Manual Crew Slowbar: Sea Salt Latte

For those who cannot function without caffeine in their system, you'll be pleased to know that Cagayan de Oro's coffee scene is buzzing with life. There are several proudly Kagay-anon coffee shops in the city, but during Big Bite, Manual Crew, a neighboring coffee shop from General Santos City, made its way to Ayala Malls Centrio in Cagayan de Oro. If the stars have aligned for you and you visit CDO when there's a Manual Crew Slowbar pop-up, you should make the extra effort to drop by and try their Sea Salt Latte: a well-balanced drink of coffee, milk, and a blue-tinted salty cream.

For more information, check out Manual Crew Slowbar's Facebook page.

Kala Vegan Desserts: Double Chocolate Chip and Chocolate Cake

We wouldn't blame you if you don't have the highest expectations when it comes to vegan pastries—finding great vegan desserts is rarer than how we like our steak, and Kala’s Vegan Pastries delivers. They have a variety of cookies that are crumbly and crunchy in the best way possible, and our favorite is the Double Chocolate Chip, plus the uber-moist Chocolate Cake—both of which use  Auro Chocolate (made with cacao from Davao).

For more information, check out Kala’s Facebook page.

MiMo Cafe: Espresso Canelé

MiMo Cafe, named after owners Miles and Mot, who only put up the business during the pandemic, is known for their Ferrero Croissants—which we understand because who wouldn't love a flaky and buttery croissant coated in chocolate and crushed nuts? But if you love coffee, you need to try the Big Bite-special Espresso Canelé: a coffee-lover’s dessert that was originally launched for the festival.

This French pastry has a crispy crust with a deep caramel and roasted coffee flavor, while the insides have a custard-like consistency and sweetness. These were such a hit during the food festival that there was a two-piece limit for each customer, and the limited batch they make would quickly sell out within three hours after opening. Luckily, the Espresso Canelé will be made available in their physical store.

MiMo Cafe is at 259 Osmena, Cagayan de Oro. For more information, check out Mimo's Facebook page.

Cucina Italiana: The Sicilian

Cucina Italiana is a proudly Kagay-anon dining establishment that mainly does party trays and catering of its Italian specialties. So when a rare opportunity to get their dishes in smaller portions is made available at Big Bite, it would be wisest to make it part of the Big Bite game plan. 

For their second year participating in Big Bite, they launched The Sicilian, which is best explained as an Italian counterpart to a Japanese onigiri—which are both considered snacks in their respective time zones. Cucina Italiana's The Sicilian has perfectly cooked risotto, shreds of beef ragu, and melted cheese inside a teardrop-(or Mt. Etna-) shaped dough, all within a crunchy outer layer with a secret coating. There's a meatless version with Classico, a deep-fried rice ball filled with cheese and spinach, served with marinara sauce.

For more information, check out Cucina Italian's Facebook page.

Chips Loaded Fries & More: Pattymelt + Jalapeño Jam

Chips—not to be confused with a store selling bags of crisp snacks—has nothing but heft on the menu with all their sandwiches, burgers, and fries. During Big Bite, they launched the Pattymelt: a smased patty with its lacey edges, cheese slices (yes, plural), tomatoes, fresh greens, burger sauce, and the optional but highly recommended additional Jalapeño Jam, all sandwiched in between pan-grilled buns. This is the main thing you need to order from Chips, but you might as well complete the experience and order it with fries.

Chips Loaded Fries & More has a branch at The Uptown Strop, Atlantic Street, Cagayan de Oro. For more information, check out Chips Loaded Fries & More's Facebook page.

KhanaSutra: Chicken Tikka Masala

Metro Manila’s Indian food options always come at a hefty price, but not at KhanaSutra. Imagine a tikka masala for P199—and it’s not because they were stingy on the curry, meat, or biryani. Metro Manila could never, but Khana Sutra owner Natish Singh can. 

Out of all the dishes we've tried at Khana Sutra, it's the Chicken Tikka Masala that we wiped out, down to the last grain of biryani. This rice bowl is heavy on the protein, carbs, and even the spice-packed sauce. Should you want it spicier, just let them know, and they can adjust the heat!

KhanaSutra is at Door Number 1, King's Food and Music Expo Uptown, Block 17, Lot 04, Pueblo Business Park, Beacon Avenue, Cagayan de Oro. For more information, check out KhanaSutra: Indian Cuisine's Facebook page.

Patty's: Pater

If you’re new to CDO’s food, locals will always recommend: pater: rice cooked with turmeric powder, topped with meat (it can vary from chicken or beef), a runny sunny side up egg with crisp edges, and palapa (think chimichurri). While, yes, pater is available as a street side food or in carinderias, Patty’s sets itself apart with their own palapa. We chanced upon a fresh batch, which makes all the difference—thankfully, you can purchase a bottle for pasalubong. 

Patty's is at Fernandez Velez, Cagayan de Oro City. For more information, check out Patty’s Corner & Grill's Facebook page.

Jack's Halo Halo: Taro-Ube Overload

Jack's Halo Halo, which bagged Big Bite's Best Food Discovery: Sweet Category award this year, had one of the longest lines during the food festival. Sure, it made sense because it was summer and you needed something cold, but this stall's "halo-halo on steroids" is good enough to make the skeptics question their stance. Their Taro-Ube Overload is a bestseller for obvious reasons: This comes in a tall cup filled with jelly, nata de coco, sweetened banana, kaong, jackfruit, coconut, corn, and beans, topped with ube ice cream, cornflakes, leche flan, and grated cheese.

Jack's Halo-Halo is at Tago Cafe, Purok 6, Tablon, Cagayan de Oro. For more information, check out JACKS HALO HALO's Facebook page.

Chloe Bakery & Cafe: Parisian Flan

What if you marry the mouthwatering visuals of a Burnt Basque cheesecake and the silkiness of a custard flan? The lovechild is Chloe Bakery & Cafe’s Parisian Flan. This has a rich, melt-on-your-tongue vanilla custard that oozes on its sides, just enough to remind you of a Burnt Basque cheesecake’s ooey-gooey drama, plus a slightly touched crown that gives it a deep caramel note in every bite.

For more information, check out Chloe Bakery & Cafe's Facebook page.

Sharmaine's Cakes & Pastries: Hey, Pistachio! Cake

Sharmaine's Cakes & Pastries won Big Bite's Golden Spoon award (highest sales), and it's all thanks to their Big Bite exclusive, the Hey, Pistachio! Cake. Because, yes, even CDO is no exception to the resurgence of the pistachio-knafeh trend.

Their cake version of the trend comes in the form of a naked cake, with layers of a Choco Caramel Cake for its base, followed by Pistachio Kunafa Filling and Creamy Custard Filling, and then finished with a Chocolate Ganache disc on top. This is served with a pistachio sauce you can spread on top of the cake, which adds flavor and drama.

Sharmaine's Cakes & Pastries has decided to make this cake available for the whole month of April. Hopefully, it can be a mainstay on the menu; if not, it can be a seasonal item only available in succeeding runs of Big Bite.

Sharmaine's Cakes & Pastries has branches at Gen A. Luna Street, Cagayan de Oro; Uptown, Citta Verde, Primavera City, P.N. Roa Sr. Avenue, Upper Carmen, Cagayan de Oro; Appolo Home Building Bulua, National Highway, Cagayan de Oro; and G/F Robinsons Iligan, Macapagal Avenue, Iligan City. For more information, check out Sharmaine's Cakes & Pastries' Facebook page.

Also read: 10 Hidden Gems in Mindanao You Should Visit At Least Once

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