Before transferring to General Trias, Cavite, I stayed for four months in Tipolo, Mandaue City, after the two-year contract in the apartment at Tisa. My heart was heavy knowing I'll be away to the place where the most delectable but affordable siomai is sold.
Since we were new to the place, we decided to explore and walked while we looked for a restaurant or a cafe. It was almost 8 PM at that time, and there was still a curfew, so we agreed to buy food in the nearest 7/11. Luckily, just beside the 7/11 convenience store is a cafe - Tēology Café. That's the brief background story on when and how I started loving this café.
So when I decided to fly back to Cebu City to fetch my things (mostly books) in my previous unit, I had already set my eyes on the cafe. I planned my food itinerary, and Tēology Café was in the first spot. Unfortunately, a series of unfortunate events happened: 1) I missed my flight! and 2) I booked another one on the same day, and the flight was super delayed.
Even though I was in Cebu City, I still had to work and submit all my deliverables. After the duty hours, I immediately prepared and fixed myself. It was all written on my face how excited I was to eat my long-time cravings.
Tēology Café is situated along the highway of Tipolo, Mandaue City, Cebu. It has a small but maximized space, providing enough seats for dine-in customers. The interior design is simple but still gives off a cozy ambiance. The artificial tree wrapped with lights and their chic and aesthetic bulb lights plays a role in this.
The tree is placed centered on the right side of the cafe. Beside it are led lights formed in words: Heavenly Brew, Heavenly Taste and Favorably Blessed. There's also huge signage on top of an artificial grass displayed beside the cashier.
They serve a variety of food, from appetizers to rice meals. They also serve pasta, salad, burgers, and sandwiches. Different flavors of milk tea, fruit tea, and coffee are served, as well. One thing that caught my attention is their version of small and large - Mikro and Megalo.
When we arrived, the waitress (the only waitress and the cashier at the same time) immediately gave us three menus. After a few minutes, she went back to our table and asked for our orders. I ordered Chicken Poppers (185 PHP) and paired it with Mango Bravo Cheesecake Megalo (155 PHP). The two ordered Herbed Porkchop (259 PHP), Oreo Milktea Mikro (105 PHP), and Chicken Poppers, too. Both the rice meals we ordered are of the best sellers. And after 20 minutes, our dinner was served.
The food was served generously. One rice meal is enough to fill my stomach. My two friends already had a few spoonfuls of bites, but I was still busy taking pictures here and there despite being hungry. It was my first and last meal of the day. The chicken, as usual, was crunchy outside but soft on the inside. There was eight boneless chicken with steamed vegetables and a sunny-side-up egg on top of the rice. It was tasty and best paired with their thick gravy.
Argine is not a fan of their steamed vegetables, and I gladly ate her share. It was well-cooked and perfectly seasoned. Coming from a girl who doesn't like to eat vegetables much, I can say their steamed vegetables are really delectable. Because of this cafe, I started loving steamed vegetables. Air fryer and microwave are already on my to-buy list.
I also tried the herbed pork chop. It was thick and chewy, paired with creamy garlic parmesan sauce. Unlike the plain white rice served in the chicken poppers, the herbed pork chop is served with Java rice. How I wish they served Java rice to all their rice meals.
So far, I have only tasted their Nachos, Aglio Olio, Breaded Porkchop, Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings, and also the Blueberry, Taro, and Matcha milk tea. I love all of them, except for Aglio Olio. It is not my cup of tea, but my two friends loved it. Their breaded pork chop was big and thick. I jokingly said to my friend who ordered it that if she will slap me with the breaded pork chop, I might faint because it was huge. Huge enough to occupy the plate.
Also, my friend mentioned their Carbonara was heavenly. She knows I love Carbonara, but I was on a tight budget because of missing my flight and rebooking another flight on the very same day. But I am planning to go back to Cebu City with Antoni maybe this September and dine here again.
Tēology Café Mandaue opens daily from 9:00 AM and closes at 11:00 PM. Peak hours start from 4:00 PM. I happened to know this when I asked the owner if it is okay to work or study in their cafe, and he said yes. He also added it was best to go and stay in the morning until before the peak hours.
Moreover, I highly recommend dining here in Tēology Café - good ambiance, friendly staff, affordable and tasty food served generously.
K N E E L Y R A C
• Instagram • Twitter • Goodreads •