Hello everyone!
If you’re in Cebu and planning to visit Lunhaw Vegan Cafe, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but the cafe has permanently closed. Despite my procrastination causing me to miss the opportunity to write a review before its closure, I still feel compelled to share my experience as part of Kim’s Taste. While this post may no longer serve an informative purpose, I hope it can still provide some entertainment value.
For what it’s worth, there was once a vegan cafe in Cebu that made me realize I’m not really into veganism. I still love the texture and taste of meat. Veganism is a lifestyle of choice and often only available to those who can afford it. While it is a choice, and you have the freedom to choose what to eat, it’s not right to force your choices on others. That’s what bothers me about those who are overly zealous about their lifestyle. And don’t get me started on the ethical and moral issues surrounding that lifestyle. If you feel strongly about veganism, do some research on the so-called "superfoods" and how they’re mass-produced.
This is not about morals and ethics; it’s a review of a vegan cafe here in Cebu. Living in the Philippines can sometimes force you to be vegan as meat is expensive. You can easily find vegetable dishes at local carinderias (small food stalls in markets or along roads), but finding a proper vegan restaurant is difficult because it’s not a lifestyle that most Filipinos follow. Only those who can afford to be strictly vegan can do so; the rest may not have the means even if they wanted to.
It feels like I have been rambling about nonsense, so you can go to 
's post about Lunhaw Vegan Cafe. We went there together with our coordinator during our DOST research specialist days.
's post about Lunhaw Vegan Cafe. We went there together with our coordinator during our DOST research specialist days.
As with all my restaurant reviews, I must say that I’m not a food critic or professional reviewer. I may not be the best metric for setting your expectations for a restaurant. But don’t worry, the cafe is now closed anyway. Now, let’s talk about Lunhaw Vegan Cafe.
LUNHAW VEGAN CAFE
Lunhaw, which means green in Bisaya and is often associated with plants, aptly conveys the cafe’s brand through its name. As mentioned in GB’s post, our coordinator was on a no-meat diet and wanted to have lunch outside. Finding a vegan cafe was difficult because many of the popular ones had closed during the pandemic. Lunhaw Vegan Cafe had many good reviews online and was not far from USC, so the choice was easy.
The Place
The cafe was quite small and could only accommodate about 15-20 people. This is understandable considering that veganism is a specialty here and only those committed to the lifestyle might frequent the cafe. It was my first time in a vegan cafe and I had high expectations. As expected, we were the only customers during our visit.
The interior of the cafe was cozy and decorated with words supporting the vegan lifestyle. It looked like it could host a private event. I felt that if I were to meet a few friends from Hive, I would bring them to a place like this. It had a very intimate atmosphere.
The Food
Here goes the deal-breaker:
Everything on the menu was, of course, vegan. We ordered the vegan black burger because there was a sign on the wall claiming that they had the best burger in the country. I was apprehensive but curious to try something new. When it was served with air-fried fries, everything looked bland and dry.
The patty is the heart and soul of a burger. When I tried it, it was one of the blandest and driest foods I had ever tasted. The texture was also terrible. It made me realize how much I love the texture of meat. I don’t know how they acquired the certificate on their wall claiming to have the best burger in the country. That burger sucked the life and moisture out of me. It was an experience, though - one that I take to heart. It made me realize that vegans who claim to have the best food on the planet are either lying or simply ignorant. Fight me.
Here's one I didn't try:
GB ordered a vegan bibimbap. I didn’t dare to taste it because, judging from the vegan egg alone, it looked like a miserable dish. But GB said he liked it.
Here comes the saving grace:
The pomelo salad with pesto dressing was the only dish I liked at the cafe. Even their drinks were bland and tasted like medicine. They said they used stevia as a sweetener, but there was nothing sweet about those drinks. However, that salad was to die for! It was the saving grace of the cafe. If it were still open, I would go back just for that salad.
I was initially apprehensive about the salad but suggested ordering it out of curiosity. It turned out to be a treat. I couldn’t get over how good it was. I had never thought of having pomelo in a salad before. The mango added sweetness while the pecans and cashews provided a nutty flavor. The greens added freshness, and the pesto dressing was a revelation!
I guess that's all for this post. See you at the next one!
Kim Ybañez
Welcome to Kim's small corner in Hive. He is a chemical engineer by profession, but a blogger by passion. He is a wanderlust and an adventure seeker. Join his quests as he visits remote destinations, climbs mountains, tries new and exotic dishes, and explores his country (The Philippines). He's also a trying-hard photographer so stay tuned as he shares his photos and his thought process while creating them.
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