Ginabot Across Apple Tree Suites

In Tagalog, it is known as Chicharong Bulaklak but here in Cebu City, it is commonly known as Ginabot. It is when the pig intestines are washed properly and cooked thoroughly in oil, seasoned with salt to taste.

This dish is not unusual for me since I've tasted this back in our province when my Grandfather used to cook this for us but it's not a common dish in the family though since it invites hypertension and that's a fact. Some would say that this kind of food is unhealthy or health-threatening but once you've tried it, you'll crave for more.

I can eat at a formal and expensive restaurant but I wouldn't let this opportunity pass without sharing my thoughts about this crowd-pleasing dish. This is so famous in Cebu City especially if people are running out of moolah and payday is how many days away but do not underestimate this ready-to-eat food. Not only the people from the middle and lower class love to eat it but also the people from the upper class or should I say frankly, the rich ones.

In the Queen City of the South, there are a lot of ginabot places or we call it pungko-pungko (a way of eating wherein customers sit on small, low benches along the roadside with a container or several trays containing a variety of dishes on top of the table). If you are a true blue Cebuano, you know where to find the best ginabot in town. I know some of tha places but what I like the most is the one across the Apple Tree Suites in the Capitol Area. It is located at the back of Hi-Precision Diagnostics or you can also take the shortcut in Sampaguita Suites or KFC-Fuente Osmeña.

Do not expect that the ambiance is like of a fine-dining restaurant or of a fastfood. It is just a small, crowded place with tables and low benches. People will only go there, sit down, eat and leave. Nothing special where you can hang out after your meal and chitchat with your friends for how many hours. In short, everything here is fast-pace.

Diners huddle around a narrow rectangular table with a big plastic container on top that is full of ginabot (deep-fried pork intestines), ngohiong (a fried spring roll stuffed with meat and vegetables), dila (fried pork tongue), bola-bola (fried meat balls), nokos (dried squid or cuttlefish), tongol (pig tripe), buwad (dried fish), and chorizo (pork sausage).

Ginabot - Php12.00 each,  Ngohiong - Php5.00 each,  Chorizo - Php6.00 each

To complete the meal, it must be paired with puso (hanging rice) and it should be dipped on the special sauce made from vinegar with lots and lots of onions, chili and a pinch of salt and don't forget to ask for a bottle of Coke or Mountain Dew which is available as well.

Puso (hanging rice) - Php3.00 each

Vinegar with Onions and Chili

This is Alic sipping his bottle of Mountain Dew.. He is almost done with his meal I guess!

Makoy is enjoying his ginabot and puso a lot. You want more, Koy?

Merose and her colleagues are in the house as well. Obviously, they also love ginabot! 

I'm a satisfied customer!

If you haven't tried it here, it's the best time for you to visit the place and try the best ginabot and other fried goodies in town. Let me hear your thoughts. Enjoy!