When one thinks of Davao, these are the top things that comes to my mind. President Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Mt. Apo, Philippine Eagle, Pearl Farm, outdoor massage in Davao City Hall, and of course, Luz Kinilaw.
Every time I get to visit Davao, dining in Luz Kinilaw is a must. Located in the Salmonan Area, Quezon Boulevard, Davao City, this seaside restaurant serves authentic Davao cuisine serving its customers the best inihaw na panga (roast jaw of yellow fin tuna), kinilaw na tuna (local version of the Japanese sashimi – bite-size chunks of raw fish marinated in vinegar with local vegetables), grilled squid, grilled chicken, grilled tuna belly, grilled bihod and many more.
Famous for its Ihaw-Ihaw seafoods, Luz Kinilaw Place is the most popular seafood restaurant in Davao City. Forget ambiance and lose yourself in the simplicity of Luz Kinilaw’s tasty offerings. Everybody in Davao knows this restaurant. Luz Kinilaw Place is more of a Turo-Turo or Carenderia type of restaurant but the grilled food is great at affordable price. This seaside restaurant is serving great food to ts customer for more than 30 years. Luz Kinilaw Place is rustic at best.
The sweet and approachable owner Luz can also be seen manning this iconic restaurant. During the times that I visited her restaurant, I have been asking her for some selfies which she oblige nonchalant.
Luz Kinilaw is Luz Bargamento Polache. Her family migrated to Davao City in 1952. His father worked in a copra warehouse in front of Magsaysay Park. Luz recalls that she worked as helper in a Tinap-anan, a stall which sells slightly grilled or smoked fish. It was in 1968 she remembers that someone told her a barong-barong (makeshift hut) is being sold for one-hundred forty pesos. The ramshackle barong-barong had four posts supporting a thatch roof sheltering two tables, it stands in the present location of the present restaurant.
Wanting to start her own business she initially borrowed P200, She paid P140 for the Tinap-anan and the P60 as a capital for the fledgling business where she bought softdrinks, beer and fish to be sold in the store.
The signature dishes which is the kinilaw (ceviche) and the tuna panga (grilled tuna jaw) became a hit among Dabawenyos. And the place became a must visited place for tourists.
Aside from grilled panga, they also have other grilled seafood specialties like tuna bihod (eggs of the female fish), bagaybay (fish gonads), tuna belly and grilled squid.
From a ramshackle seaside hut, the present Luz Kinilaw is now a two-storey concrete building. It’s really an enjoyable place to eat in with a group without breaking the bank. Luz Kinilaw checks all of my restaurant must-haves: Good food, good flavors, good vibes, and of course, the good value.
DIG IN! Enjoy the classic Filipino street food Kwek-kwek here in Davao
Luz Kinilaw Place is located at Quezon Blvd., Davao City with telephone numbers 226-4612 / 221-8377.
With additional reports: www.sunstart.com.ph
Photos: Air Urquiola, davaotoday.com
