Before I go on with my review, I have to say Filipino food is one of the hardest to critique. For those not familiar with Filipino food, there are so many variations due to the diversity of its 7,000 plus islands. With that said... I used to dine here with my family when the place first opened roughly 10 years ago and loved their halo halo. I haven't been back since I moved out of Lacey but I joined my family to have Easter Brunch at Cebu Restaurant last Sunday. From what my mom told me, Cebu hosts Sunday brunch for Easter, Mother's Day and Father's Day. What I thought was interesting was that Cebu hosts three different time slots for their brunch: 10:30 am, 12:00 pm and 1:30 pm. It cost each of us $15 ($9 for kids under 6 I believe) to enjoy a variety of Filipino and American dishes which was a pretty good deal. My favorite had to be their spin on mechado since they slow cooked the brisket and the fatty parts were so good. I also like their lechon paxil, pork ribs and chilled salmon in cucumber sauce. I'm not a fan of ginatan but my mom said it was good. The only dish I was disappointed in was their pancit. Initially, I was excited since it looked similar to my mom's which uses both bihon and canton noodles. After one bite, I realized it was on the bland side. I barely had room for dessert but managed to eat 2 slices of the leche flan and some fruit, which were good. They also had chocolate cake, biko and some other stuff I forgot but I'll definitely have to make a little more room for that when I come back for Father's Day. Overall, I really like dining here especially since its similar to how my parents (who are from Mindanao) cook. If you're used to your food being more on the saucy/greasier side then the food at Cebu may not be what you're used to. read more

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What a gem. This place is unassuming on the outside but the food is great. It was empty the whole time I was there so there is zero wait. The owner was really friendly and chatted with me for a bit too. Don't miss out! read more

Worked late, wanted lumpia but did not expect under-cook lumpia. Would not recommend. Called the restaurant they blamed door dash for food being stale. Said oil was brand new that's why the color was pale. read more

CEBU Restaurant - Under-cook lumpia - Filipino Near Me - Olympia, Washington

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OMG. Our second visit and we love this place. Where else could you go to have dishes that contain Jackfruit or bitter melon! The Pancit Binhon is so traditional. Great service. Everything fresh. Be sure to order some Lumpia. Thank you. read more

Great food...it just takes forever to get your food. Like I am the only one here, literally. No one has walked in the door slice I got here, 30 minutes ago. However, debating if it's actually with the wait. Should I stay or go. read more

CEBU Restaurant - Filipino Near Me - Olympia, Washington

Great service and food!!! Their halo-halo is delicious! They also pack their to-go food very well so nothing spills. Highly recommend when you're craving authentic Filipino food! read more

Incredibly quaint and family oriented. The owner is kind and playful. You can order family style or individual. At the end of the night....your not rushed to finish so they can close, unlike the Indian restaurant right next door. Tip: If your a slow eater like myself, don't order family style. My table loved the food, which means...I didn't get seconds. My table photo bombed the owners sons birthday pictures.....he didn't even mind. read more

CEBU Restaurant - Empty Plato's is worth a thousand words. Thanks to my dinner mates..... still hungry but so happy with what I had. - Filipino Near Me - Olympia, Washington

My pancit bihon tastes great and it has big servings. We will go back the next Time we are in Olympia

Ordered for the first time with Doordash and I got Dinuguan, and I was disappointed. It doesnt taste fresh, even the meat. It tasted like its been cook the other day. This was $15 and 25 total with door dash, can't believe I paid this much on a food that isn't cooked/fresh. read more

Delicious and hits close to home!!! I highly recommend CEBU restaurant to anybody who enjoys Filipino Cuisine. Call in before you order or else you will have to wait a bit because they make food to order. YUM!!!!! read more

Really nice people. Good halo halo featuring fresh fruit and blended ice rather than shaved. That's an unusual texture and I was prepared to hate it but to my surprise enjoyed it quite a bit, though it was less refreshing and sweeter than the traditional dish. "Made to order" is code for really damn slow. This is not a place you want to go for lunch or anytime when you're especially hungry or have someplace to be. Still, the food is lovingly prepared and served. I'd have gone four stars but the disconnect between the rather high prices and the location in a gas station parking lot swung me back towards middle of the road, value considered. May be worth your time to check out, just prepare to pay and wait more than you may be used to at most Filipino places. read more

I used to like this place and would pick something up whenever I'm in Olympia. I ordered my usual Filipino favorites today. Everything was so tasteless and watery from the adobo to the kare kare. For a total bill of $80+ for 4 dishes, it was shockingly disappointing especially since any Filipino would know those dishes would never be prepared that way. read more

Mechadong mantika (lard) anyone? Or perhaps a taste of their so called "inihaw" (barbecue pork I hope)! Coming from the bay area, I've eaten pretty much any type of food: fancy, street, comfort and exotic....oh but this one really sets itself apart and is in another level...The lowest! I don't mind paying up in an expensive restaurants but boy the price did not offset EVEN A BIT to the quality and taste. Food is Utterly disgusting! This is a complete disgrace to my kababayang cebuanos! This is by far is the WORST filipino restaurant I've ever been!!! read more

CEBU Restaurant - Filipino Near Me - Olympia, Washington

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If you are ever near Lacey, WA, check out this cute Filipino restaurant! The only one in Thurston county. Got some lumpia, filipino bbq and dinuguan. Best part was the surprise Filipino style face mask. read more

CEBU Restaurant - Got some lumpia, filipino bbq and dinuguan. Best part was the surprise Filipino style face mask. - Filipino Near Me - Olympia, Washington

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This place is family owned and ran. I've gone here twice and both experiences have been okay. I've truly enjoyed the interaction with the host since they're so friendly but as a restaurant there hasn't been any wow factors to it. The restaurant looks like it's under renovation. The food was good and decently sized. It's a la cart so we were able to share. If you're unfamiliar with the dishes, the host is open to talking about it. read more

CEBU Restaurant - Halo Halo - Filipino Near Me - Olympia, Washington

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Food was really tasty. Pacific ribs is bomb! One of the better Filipino restaurants in this area. A must try. read more

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We had plans to eat at Curry Corner, but when we got there they were jam packed. So we said, what the heck and decided to eat here instead. I have to say, I thought this was a credit union at first (based on the name) and it didn't even occur to me this was a restaurant. We were the only diners in there for most of the meal (7 of us in total). The server explained the entire menu to us (which is also nice when you're afraid of butchering the dish names). The food was delivered fairly quickly. We were informed all food is made to order and nothing is made before hand. When our food arrived, all conversation ceased for a good 5-10 minutes, which you know is a good sign! We all enjoyed our food. Dessert is not listed on their menu, but they do have it. Normally they only have 1-2 on hand, but luckily for us they had all 4 of them! We all had one of each and it was AMAZING. The halo halo (shaved ice sundae) is definitely a must try. Honestly you could come JUST for the halo halo - yum! Their flan is also on point. It's the right amount of firm and not too slimy. read more

I enjoy the food here a lot and I frequent this place since there are decent selections to choose from for a person following a ketogenic diet (kawali and dinuguan are my go-to keto friendly dishes). Staff is extremely friendly and welcoming. I ordered a tray of turon (cheat day) and there were over 35 turons in there (which I finished all to myself in one day). Their turon is way better than seafood city's and crunch town in tukwila. For people talking trash about lack of authenticity, keep in mind that this is visayan (particularly cebuano) versions of Filipino food, not luzon or manila versions, so obviously it'll be different (DUHH). Highly recommended. Only thing that prevents me from giving cebu 5 stars is that service takes a life time. In all fairness, food is cooked super fresh. Talagang sariwa! read more

Hubby craved for halo halo on the way to Seattle, fortunately this place 1.4 miles away on yelp just in time for the exit! Very nice staff, huge portions too! It's cook to order meaning it's fresh! :)))- it was a wait read more

Tried some dishes my co-worker picked up for lunch. He bought three items. Chicken Adobo, Shrimp Pancit, and some Lumpias. This place is pricey for the amount of food you get (I should of taken some pictures). Most importantly, the food wasn't that good either. The chicken adobo only had like 6-7 little pieces of chicken in it. The pancit was pretty bad. I never had it with thick glass noodles. I've had pancit before from other restaurants and directly from a Filipino family. Never seen it in that form and it was really bland. Lumpia was good though so I gave an extra star for that. Co-worker told me that when he walked in, he was the only person in there but it took him like 30 minutes to get his food. Someone told me this was a good place but maybe he tried it under a different cook/management? Either way, I would never go back and both my co-workers said the same lol... Oh wells... read more

Fabulous food! Put your cell phones down and enjoy the company. I dare you to try it. I heard the remix reviews on here and I went anyway and they make everything from scratch. The lumpia and chicken adobo was to die for. The owner was very sweet and engage us conversation.it's tucked away from it all. This vacation so if you have to then a little more time here then your wham bam, thank you, ma'am establishment this is the spot for you. read more

CEBU Restaurant - Lumpia , adobo,idk - Filipino Near Me - Olympia, Washington

This is the best I have had that compares to my neighbor Linda's dishes! Love the food, the service, the smiles, the home feeling at CEBU's! My favorites are the lumpia and pansit, pork/beef/shrimp, love them all!! read more

Another great meal at Cebu Restaurant today. Had Kare Kare and Shrimp Ginataang served "boodle style" on banana leaves. Boodle style was developed by the Phillipine Military Academy for communal dining. We've been going here for years. The food is exquisite! read more

CEBU Restaurant - Kare Kare and Shrimp Ginataang served "boodle style" on banana leaves. Ask the owner, Angel, about how Boodle style came about. - Filipino Near Me - Olympia, Washington

Their ginataang langka (curry with jackfruit) is sooooo good! The jackfruit is the perfect texture, an even better meat substitute than tempeh or tofu imo. Wait time was not bad at all, and the seating area is really cute. There are so few Filipino restaurants near olympia. Tbh maybe this is the only one? Give it a try! read more

What a sweet surprise dinner turned out to be tonight at Cebu! Ordered pork kabobs, Kare kare, inihaw isda, pancit cantón, ginataang langka. Exquisite and balanced seasoning of every. single. dish. Also great textures with the veggies. Prepared as the dishes are ordered. You could tell they cared about each one. Flavors complemented each other perfectly. Loved the rice they served with it. And their family was so great connecting with our family. So special to get to break into my mother tongue too! Thank you for an unexpected delight tonight Angel & family! We'll be back for sure. read more

The food tastes like it was actually made with love, and the service is polite and very friendly. You will always feel like you're welcome here. I just wish it wasn't so far away from my house so I could go to this place more often! read more

Absolutely love Cebu! This family owned restaurant has delicious, authentic Filipino food! Our favorites are the lumpia shanghai, halo halo, chicken skewers and pancit. The hubby also loves the dinuguan. We rented out the restaurant for our sons 3rd birthday party and they catered so many delicious food items! They let us decorate and set up the place. It was a huge success and everyone loved the food!! This is my go to place when I'm craving Filipino food! read more

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I was a regular at Cebu for a long time. So much so that I would recommend friends and bring lots of family with me to eat there. The food is good, and for a while, the service was impeccable. However, last week, we returned with my partner and mother. The gentleman who cooks and often seats people was nowhere to be seen, but an older woman said "Sit anywhere." And disappeared. We were the only people there. 15 minutes later, the same woman returned to take our drink orders. The gentleman came out, already knew what we wanted (as we order the same thing, usually) and took our appetizer orders. At this point, two other patrons entered and sat down. Immediately, the older woman went over and made conversation (clearly they were family friends.) They sat there for 20 minutes annoying playing with their walkie talkies while my party were trying to have a conversation. 25 Minutes after they had arrived they received their main courses. We hadn't even received our appetizers - and we were there beforehand. Over a half hour later, the grandmother came out with the first part of our appetizers (lumpia) that were thrown onto a plate and she said "Sorry it's late." And disappeared before we could ask for a refill on our drinks. 15 minutes later she returned with our second appetizer, the empanadas, which were absolutely disgusting. We were there a total of two hours, while our neighbors were out within 45 minutes. They were clearly treated better and the grandmother working the front did nothing to right the fact that we were treated like steerage. Will never go back. Cebu - you better treat your loyal patrons better. Word spreads. read more

Made an unintentional stop here one day when Curry Corner was too full during the lunch hour. While I'm glad to have tried it, I see little reason to go here in any other circumstance. Walking in the place smells absolutely divine and the inside layout is a little curious - notably featuring a cabana that covers about 1/4 of the space. A fresh lumpia appetizer was delicious, but tiny. It would have been small for one person, splitting it between three made it so that each person got about one large bite. Upon the server's recommendation I ordered the Chicken Ginataan. The sauce had some good spice, but the dish left a lot to be desired. What came was some slightly tough chicken, onions, chili peppers, and a scoop of rice swimming in the spicy coconut sauce. Some more veggies would have been nice... anything else really. All in all, a cooky little place with good service and food that made me long for Curry Corner. read more

The one- star rating is not food-related. It's for their poor service. I'd rate the food but we couldn't order.... Note the address posted on yelp, the map will take you somewhere in the boonies. Click on website for accurate address. Speaking of their website- I specifically came for the lunch special (turo-turo). To my dismay, they no longer do that. Server explained their site hadn't been updated, told us the lunch special for the day and walked away. I was going to order but I guess she didn't want our business. Went to curry house down the street instead where a meal cost $7 as opposed to $12. read more

Wow, I mean seriously!! I just got back from Cebu and food was so good that I couldn't wait to let other yelpers know! I am really not sure how I found this place on the web but am sure glad I stumbled on it. I am no way an expert in Filipino food but have a few friends who are so I've been introduced to their food. But enough about me lets get back to Cebu. I was on my way from PDX to SEA and wanted to check it out. Since there isn't a good filipino restaurant in SEA or even in PDX I got excited and ordered quite a lot of food. I tried their Lumpias both fresh and shangai, Pancit Bihon and Chicken Adobo. Needless to say I was blown away with everything. This is probably the first the time I had chicken adobo all with boneless white meat chicken and it was really moist I don't know how they did it! You are probably wondering if I really finished everything..yes.. no (u kidding) I did not but lets say I got my lunches taken care of for the next two days. How can I leave without trying their desserts. So after debating between Leche Flan and Halo Halo I did settle for the Flan, which was good. Owner is very friendly and will gladly help you with the menu. I was expecting this place to look like chinese take out places in a strip mall but I was nicely surprised to see a well maintained and very inviting sit down filipino restaurant. I can tell they take great pride in their food, it is presented very well, I thought the presentation of the flan looked like something you would see in a foodie magazine. This place is for anyone who likes filipino food and anyone who wants to try filipino food in a true restaurant and believe me it is much much better than the one you would get at a fair or in a food court. This is my I-5 treasure#3!! read more

We went for dinner and my first impression of this place is that it looks like a very authentic spot (which is a great thing), but it surely was hard to spot when is located behind a gas station! As soon as me and my nephew went in to meet with family I notice that is a very simple decor and they even had toys for children while they wait for the food (brownie points for that!). As far as the food, I didn't even finish all of it. The sweet and sour pork I ordered looked great until you actually sink your teeth in it! The sauce (by itself) was not bad, but the pork had no taste whatsoever; the rice had no taste either...I ate some of it and because I've had nothing else all day (practically) and I was starving by the time I got there - I had to put something in my stomach! My nephews' soup was so tasteless that we even had to put salt & pepper (which he actually hates) and that didn't even made the trick (it was that bad!!!). Worse part came when the bill rolled around...for being a place that charges quite a bit for the food (and they don't give you a bad amount - not too much, but not too small of a portion), the food is tasteless. Honestly, I wouldn't go back to this place not even if I was offered food for free! read more

We ate there for lunch and i ordered the pacific ribs. Idk if its cuz it was lunch but the serving size was pretty small. A scoop of rice and 3 pieces of ribs w/ a side salad. I should have been $3 Instead of $7 for that amount. That was the only downfall. Food was ok but I think I could cook something like that and make it taste better. Hubby ordered kare kare and it was alright too. The food took really long to come out. Friendly service was the only thing I could give my thumbs up to. So sad that it wasn't what I was expecting since its the only Filipino restaurant here. Oh well..guess I'll have to just buy a Filipino cookbook now. read more

This place is far from perfect but for what my gf and I were looking for, it was awesome. It is located behind a gas station in what seems to be the middle of nowhere but once you get inside it is much more charming. Small with no more than 8-10 tables, it has a definite personality. Ad speaking of personality, it appears to be entirely family run as children are serving the food. The potential owner is very chatty but very sweet and was open to explaining the menu and phillipino culture in general. But on to what's important, the food. Our appetizer was siopao. Very delicious and fresh but didn't have enough meat in the middle for me, although my gf tells me that's how she likes it. Comes with a sauce that's nothing special, seems leftover from the Chinese delivery you get. Then we had halaga halaga and kare kare. Both of these entrees were phenomenal. The meat and veggies are so tender they literally melt in your mouth. The flavors were on point and richer than I expected too! It is not cheap but the portion sizes are pretty big so no complaints on that end. The food here is the focus (as it should be at any Asian restaurant) and for that we appreciated every minute. We're not from the area but if we ever make it back, this will be our first stop! read more

This review is long overdue. 12 years to be exact. Oops! At any rate, I have to say Cebu Restaurant is more than just a place to dine. It's place where you can easily make a new friend or three, you'll always be welcomed with a sincere smile and like the culture, you'll be shown hospitality and given delicious dishes that represent the best of the Philippines. For those of you who have been exposed to the Filipino culture, you'll know that our love language is food. Ensuring you are well fed is a priority in any Filipino household. At Cebu, you will experience this same hospitality. Now, the beautify of the Philippines is that it is varied in language, culture and there are nuances in food preparation throughout the country. Have a bit of an open mind and heart when you visit Cebu Restaurant and give several dishes a try. Hopefully, you will find a dish that is just right. My parents are friends of the owners and have supported their business over the years. They also happen to be from the Visayas, the same region my parents are from. So their preparation of certain dishes is familiar to me. I'm truly grateful that we have a place that represents my culture in Lacey, WA. If you are reading this review because you are unsure to visit, go on a limb and give it a try. I can't guarantee you'll be amazed, but the welcome you'll receive will make you will feel at home. Good luck! read more

A painfully-small menu and the food is often a little watery or generally under-seasoned. The atmosphere is very nice, but the food isn't like any Filipino food I've had elsewhere. It bears more resemblance to the bland, waterlogged food of Little Saigon in West Olympia than the Filipino plate lunch shops in Honolulu, for example. The vegetarian selections on the menu are especially uninspired, with a tendency to be overcooked and falling-apart. I expect strong, simple food, but maybe the food of Cebu province is different in that regard. It's a nice place to go and the owner is friendly and outgoing but the food isn't really worth going out of your way for. It's a good place to take a date, other than the food. read more

Big DISAPPOINTMENT! ok I'm Filipino and was pretty excited...it kinda puts Filipino food to shame. We looked at the menu I was thinking those prices on their menu would reflect on the portions. I thought my Kare Kare would come in a full bowl but I ended up with like 2 pieces of hard and chewy oxtail and 2 pieces of pork. Horrible service! We did not get checked on by either worker after giving our order and we were in need of water. It took about 30-40 minutes to get our food. It's sad that we pay 14 for a Kare Kare plate and it looks like it's a kids menu portion. Restaurant is messy with magazines and toys in the middle of the restaurant. When you go to the restroom there's pots laying all over the place. Never again! I would give it no stars if I could ď read more

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Nice place, but in the middle of nowhere (sorry Lacey). Was pleasantly surprised to find that it not only existed, but that it was quite good! Started with some tasty lumpia, and had a chicken thing (hlang-hlang? something like that) that was spicy and delicious and full of chunks of onion, garlic and ginger. Went as a group - there were some birthdays involved, and the owner brought out ice-cream/sorbets for them, mango and purple potato. I got a smidge of the purple potato, and it was pretty darn good. I was really impressed by the amazingly friendly and attentive waiter/owner guy... he really made a big effort to please everyone in the group - even making a special totally-non-spicy dish for a picky group member. Super nice. read more

After seeing this restaurant next to Curry Corner and because my mom and grandma lived in the Philippines, we decided to give this place a try for lunch. YUM! It was a great decision. The service was just exceptional; I haven't had a nicer server. He explained each of the dishes and made recommendations, was attentive and kind, and created a really welcoming environment. The atmosphere was cozy and calming with quiet, Filipino music, local art work, and little Filipino doodads. Before I go into what we had, I want to say that this is essentially home-cooked Filipino food. It's not smack-you-in-the-face wild flavors, but it's fresh, light, and very very good. A little on the expensive side, but the proportions are big. The food: I had the Pancit Bihon (thin rice noodles) with tofu, broccoli, carrots, red peppers, and celery. Even though I HATE celery, the rest was really good. It was not heavily seasoned, but a dash of soy sauce made it a lot better. There was a distinctive taste that I initially wasn't sure about but which ended up being really good. I could have done with it being cooked a bit longer (the tofu wasn't cooked quite enough). The vegetables were all fresh, bright, flavorful, and clearly hand cut. Yum yum yum. (Lunch special with pork was $7, though I opted for tofu which was $10) My mom had the Halang Halang (Spicy Spicy) which was chicken breast pieces, onions, peppers, garlic, ginger, a dark smokey red sauce, and white rice. It was delicious, earthy, and SPICY. ($10) My grandma had the Sinigang, a salmon soup with eggplant, long beans, white radish, okra and tamarind. Four nice chunks of salmon, lots of big pieces of fresh veggies (the white radish was particularly good). The broth could have been more heavily seasoned, but it was good. ($14) For an app we had the veggie Lumpia, a fried egg-roll type dish. We received 4 well-sized pieces and sweet chili sauce. Very, very delicious. A MUST! ($5) We found it quite easy to find. You just go up Martin Way (away from Olympia/Lacey) until you pass the 8000 block. On your right will be a Chevron, and on your left will be a Texaco. Turn left at the light at the intersection, and Cebu will be in a small strip mall next to Curry Corner on the right. It is a bit out of town, but it's worth it :) There's also a little desk with Filipino crafts and jewelry. Nice! BTW: Cebu received 100% on their latest health inspection ;) read more

First, let me say that I don't normally like going to Filipino restaurants because I grew up eating Filipino food and I have been taught how to cook it by my amazing mom and aunts and so I'm the toughest critic when it comes to eating it either than at home or family gatherings. So when I say this place is AMAZING, try not to take it lightly. The service is friendly and the presentation is beautiful and the taste.... Omg the taste hits the spot! Go check this place out if you want some good home cooked Filipino meals! Trust me, you won't regret it. read more

CEBU Restaurant - Pancit bihon, Kare-Kare, Garlic Shrimp, calamari, lumpia Shanghai! - Filipino Near Me - Olympia, Washington