Yahay Food Park: Your One-Stop Food Strip in the South!

Gerard Francisco
6 min readMar 23, 2021

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Make your visit to Cebu worthwhile by exploring the Yahay Food Park in the South. Continue reading to learn more.

The Yahay Food Park easily stands out with its beautiful aesthetics.

The aesthetics of a food park are crucial to its success. As a matter of fact, people mostly want to go to such places not only because of the food they get to eat, but also because of the overall ambience they get to experience. One of the most unique ones in Cebu these days is the Yahay Food Park, which is located in the South. With its great open space and exterior design, it brings about an atmosphere that any person would want after having been exposed to the busy city life for quite a while.

“Yahay” comes from the Cebuano word “Hayahay,” which means to be relaxed or comfortable. This Talisay City attraction opened to the public in 2019, and it has ushered in a lot of excitement among all kinds of foodies, making itself a new go-to spot for a fun and memorable food trip in Cebu. The food here is delicious, the area is spacious, and the ambience is relaxing; perfect for a dinner date or feast with your friends.

Having that beach vibe going automatically makes this an ideal place to have a memorable food trip in Cebu.

This is definitely one of the best places to visit in Cebu, especially for those who love filling their stomach to the brim with food. If you are living in places like Minglanilla, Talisay, or anywhere in the South District, then this is a spot you should be looking out for. If you are also looking to experience more food strips like the famous Sugbo Mercado, then this should be a suitable option, though it may be a little different than most food parks in the city.

Some people have expressed that it’s hard to describe what their experience was like in Yahay, or at least it’s hard for them to compare it with another existing food park. Some feel like they are taking a walk along a peaceful seashore, while some say it’s like having a meal at a Bamboo forest. This is mostly because of the palm trees surrounding the entire area, giving it a beach or bamboo forest vibe.

When you get inside, you can witness a beautifully crafted arch that will make you feel like you’re entering one of those exclusive parties at hotels and resorts. You won’t need to be in your best beach attire, though, as this is a food park located right along the highway in Barangay Lawaan, making it very accessible for anyone who is traveling to the South.

You can consider this place as one of the most instagrammable spots in Cebu, going toe-to-toe with some of the island’s best tourist attractions. It brings a lot of island vibes thanks to the wooden tables and chairs, and of course, the beautiful boardwalk. They have an array of lights that make the whole place even more attractive at night, as if you’re celebrating Christmas every day in Talisay.

The Yahay Food Park is not just for food enthusiasts, but also for those who appreciate a good backdrop for a selfie.

The large boardwalk makes the Yahay Food Park unique to other food strips in Cebu.

Some of the best food in Cebu can be found at the Yahay Food Park. They offer everything, from well-known Filipino street food to brand new favorites for you to discover. One stall that stands out is Cafe Racer. You may have seen their famous gas station restaurant in Mandaue City, and like the one there, they also have a Volkswagan food truck at the center of the Yahay Food Park.

It’s not something that you can drive around in as you circle the food park to look for unsuspecting hungry customers, but it is more of a staple, and somewhat a landmark for the entire place. They also offer other options like Korean food, fruit shakes and beverages, grilled pork, Japanese sushi, and so on. You can enjoy eating your favorite dish with a backdrop of bright lights behind you, giving you the ultimate outdoor cabin feel.

Located above is a long boardwalk where you can take photos of your visit to the Yahay Food Park.

One of the most notable parts of the Yahay Food Park is the wooden boardwalk above. Similar to the one in the City of Naga, one can walk at a high surface, perfect for enjoying a cool breeze. This is the part that solidifies the food park’s position as a go-to instagrammable tourist spot. Many customers would prefer to eat on the second floor so they would be closer to the boardwalk. The area is spacious, and the long alleys are perfect for a stroll as the sun goes down. You will most likely learn about this place from photos and videos posted on various social media sites.

The lights illuminate the Yahay Food Park, making it even more aesthetically pleasing at night.

The best time to go to a food park in Cebu is when the sun goes down, as these places are packed with the hungriest Cebuanos you will meet. Gone are the days when you will look for a place in the province to have a good time or to unwind, as the cities in Cebu are starting to improve their businesses. As fancy eateries become more prominent, there are more people going out to taste the most delicious dishes in the market. Cebu nightlife has always revolved around eating out ever since food parks came into existence, with Sugbo Mercado being the catalyst for this exciting new trend.

Now, more and more people are gearing up to bring their own dishes to places like these to help them financially, but also to make Cebu a great place for foodies. Cebu food culture is expanding its reach, and many people, even those outside the country, want in on this trend that is heating up. You can definitely expect it to continue on as more people crave new things to try.

You can sit down and relax on the second floor to appreciate the view at the Yahay Food Park.

If you want to visit this place by yourself, keep in mind that any public utility vehicle going to Minglanilla will pass by Yahay Food Park. It is not very difficult to find since it is on the side of the road, and there is a big sign that shows that this is the place. You can also make use of Google Maps or Waze.

The food park trend is very popular among travelers and food enthusiasts alike, mostly because of the experience it brings to everyone. There are many things that you can do in Cebu, but if your goal is to try out some of the best food, then the Yahay Food Park would be a great option. They offer great food, a relaxing ambience, and an instagrammable spot for the photographer in you. If you are living near Talisay or Minglanilla, you should consider giving this food park a visit.

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