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| Food : Larsian |
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by: Darby Dunn
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|  If you have not heard of the word Larsian, then you probably haven't been to Cebu. Larsian is one of Cebu's most prominent eating havens. Located at the uptown area near Fuente Osmeņa and Chong Hua Hospital, it is also the capital area of Sampaguita sellers in Cebu. Sampaguita is the Philippine's national flower.
I have lived a fair life in Cebu but it was only years ago that I started to notice that I didn't know how Larsian, this place that have come to be part of me, derived its name. I asked my mother and she told me the place used to be a restaurant in the 70's and that even though the restaurant wasn't there anymore, the name remains. I passed the information to my friends and they said that wasn't true, because what they knew was that Larsian was a combination of two names. Little did I know that my mother and friends were both right. Larsian was an eatery in the early 70's. It derived its name from the owner's (Col. Alvino Mondarez) mother named Pilar and her twin sister, Siana. Put Pilar and Siana together and you get Larsian.
Today, Larsian is a place lined with a number of barbecue stands. It is a smoky haven. Among the selections of barbecues are: chicken; either wings, thigh, skin, breast, feet or intestine. There's pork barbecue and pork liver, seafood like squid and fish, chorizo, tocino and a whole lot more. You get to select any of those and hand them over to the one in charge to be cooked. You are then asked how many puso (hanging rice) you want. After that all you have to do is choose a table near the barbecue stall you chose and wait for your food to be served. Some tables are set inside, so you'll get to have a roof and maybe a little breeze from the store's electric fan. Some tables are set outside where you can have a look of the entire place. A couple of vehicles would pass by but they usually drive slowly.
Among the things you'll see in Larsian are children selling Sampaguitas and carolers. Some Cebuanos may have not noticed it anymore, but Larsian is really neutral ground. Larsian is loved by the rich and poor alike. By the young and old, the popular and the not so popular, the boisterous and the meek. Different kinds of people eat there. It's cheaper than the popular food chains and is open till dawn. It's an ideal place to go at any time of night. I say night because they don't open until late afternoon. It's an ideal place to go after a satisfying night of party. Yes, that's one thing everyone should know. Cebuanos still love to eat even after a party. I don't know why that is.
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| Comments |
by: Chiliann - Bacolod City
on: Sep 21, 2005 04:56 PMWhenever I visit cebu i never missed going to larsian and eat... the best
taste i've ever tasted and very affordable.
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by: paul - California, USA
on: Sep 23, 2005 12:30 AMman i love larsians! the bar-b-q specially the sauce man i love it! it's
just one of a kind hmmm... cant wait to be back.
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by: jhellai - Houston, TX
on: Oct 08, 2005 01:13 PMThe best bbq in the world! truly cebuano! proud to be one!
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by: roseth - Cebu City
on: Oct 15, 2005 10:55 PMYeahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, larsian is the best, my favorite in Cebu, katong wa pa
ka anhi cebu, you should be then...........:) come here.... in Cebu
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by: pong - Los Angeles, California
on: Oct 16, 2005 09:52 PMthat smokey alley is the best place to be in if ur craving bbq's... c",)
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by: Ava - Vancouver, Canada
on: Oct 29, 2005 01:38 AMI MiSs Larsian
I MISs everything about CEBU! =(
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by: Sanny - Toronto, Canada
on: Nov 01, 2005 08:33 PMI've been there for so many years when I was in Cebu. I miss that
place so much. Soon I'll be back there.
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by: Allan - Italy
on: Nov 26, 2005 09:35 PMmhh..is this food safe?? it doesn't look hygenic.
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by: Bisdak - KSA
on: Dec 13, 2005 10:52 AMIt's been a long time, 8 years havent been home. Miss that place, the
memories of it still in me. I'll see you soon, Larsian... my suki, my chair &
table... see you soon!
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by: ilker - Istanbul
on: Dec 13, 2005 09:38 PMHow did I miss going to Larsian...
It looks like a Cebuano style of
Balinese Jimbaran....
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by: Philip - Thailand
on: Dec 16, 2005 10:43 AMIts one of the best barbeque place in the world
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by: molmol - California, USA
on: Dec 18, 2005 04:38 AMman!..basta gikan disco unya gutom larsian dayon...
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by: Ray Kenneth - Toronto, Canada
on: Dec 21, 2005 07:17 PMEvery friday night action... LARSIAN gyud dayon ang adto-on.
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by: Marlon - Manila
on: Dec 25, 2005 01:30 AMI miss the place & the food!
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by: Joel - Melbourne, Australia
on: Dec 31, 2005 12:30 AMoh man its great to come back i will back again i enjoy eating
there(larsian) mememorial gyuod kaayo
barbiqueo didto lami ilang tina-i,wings
atay,chorizo og puso 100 balik pa ko
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by: Jeanalin - Mandaue
on: Jan 11, 2006 11:37 AMlarsian! only in d Phils. lami jud ni diri after sa amo-a work or
gimik diritso dayon mag stamby! order dayon ug BBQ with puso with lami kaau nga
sauce nga hang2x! pyts na!
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by: Charles - Toronto
on: Jan 15, 2006 04:45 PMThe best place to dine!!!
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by: Kaye - Cebu
on: Jan 24, 2006 08:28 PMDili jud ko mokaon diri when I'm at work at a hospital nearby kay
mamilit ang baho sa aso, and it's very larsian jud. Now that i'll be leaving
soon, i'm eating here almost everyday cause i'll surely gonna miss this place
and the smell, hmmm..
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by: Cairo - Ireland
on: Jan 25, 2006 04:26 AMI miss cebu, akong yutang natawhan. most of all i miss the barb-q in
LARSIAN
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by: Ricky - Holland
on: Mar 12, 2006 07:58 AMlarsian smells delicious...is the meeting place of all lifestyles...!
i think it should be promoted as a tourist place to visit....it's
cebu's pride..!
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by: Shergonzd - Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
on: Mar 20, 2006 12:26 PMLarsian.... the last place to go for eating BBQ with puso and even
drinking beer after a long night til morning of jamming with friends and
special someone. Tatak nang Cebu........
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by: ian and emily - Hobart, Indiana, USA
on: Apr 11, 2006 11:14 PMhay gimingaw gyud mi ug kaon dinha...it has it's distinctive taste
that you cant compare with other grilled cuisine...
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by: clarissa - Cebu
on: Apr 15, 2006 05:27 AMLARSIAN, as often as i am not wearing a long gown, is my favorite
dining pleasure. Nothing beats grilled pork... a cheaper alternative to fresh
seafoods....
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by: Jotans - New Bedford, Massachusetts
on: May 18, 2006 01:54 PMmingaw na ko diha sa larsian.....
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by: Janit - Georgia
on: May 21, 2006 06:53 PMBitaw oi Lami kaayo ang bbq sa larsian ambot unsa bay secreto diha.
Kada uli nako sa pinas wala gyoy palsa na dili mi kakaon sa larsian
everyweekends. After gimik ,basta oi gimingaw napod ko sa Cebu....
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by: Vicky - New York
on: Jun 26, 2006 12:23 AMi miss Larsian.
the delicious smell of bbq, the
best bbq's ever!!!!
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by: ricochet - new york
on: Jun 30, 2006 11:57 PMi lived in B. Rod for 15 yrs pass by larsian everyday-really miss the
aroma of bbq spclly chorizo ug buwad nokos
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by: Venus - Sydney, Australia
on: Jul 03, 2006 04:41 AMI am so going back to cebu! This month in fact... and will never fail
to stop by larsian. Yum!
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by: Tata - Talisay City, Cebu
on: Jul 14, 2006 11:37 PMi really miss larsian, layo naman kaau gud i adto nya kapoy. mahal
ang plite, mahal ang gasolina... maka adto lang ko og larsian kung naay ma
admit sa chong hua... hahay... gutom.... hahahahahhaha....
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by: Haydz - Singapore
on: Jul 20, 2006 01:39 AMmay unta karong sinulog puhon makahapit ko sa larsian.... together w/
may tagalog eh friends..
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by: JIMMY - anaheim
on: Aug 26, 2006 10:28 PMpagkalami sa Larsian uy...kahuman ug abang..hehehe..pakals dayun...
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by: jason - California
on: Sep 20, 2006 07:13 PMWay SAMA !!!!!!
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by: Gino - Rio Rancho, NM
on: Oct 24, 2006 03:05 PMlamia tanawn sa bbq oi!! grrr!!! gutom!!
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by: Lani - Washington
on: Oct 25, 2006 10:18 PMA very well-written article about Larsian. I like the way you said it that
" a neutral ground." Very informative too. I'm a Cebuana (from the
countryside) but never knew the origin of Larsian. You promoted Larsian fairly (
I mean, at all angles) and well.
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by: Cathie - Boston
on: Oct 27, 2006 10:04 PMoh boy! i miss larsian. my sister and i used to always go there. i miss
the smell of bbq in the air. so inviting...
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by: noel soliano - Auckland, New Zealand
on: Oct 31, 2006 07:32 AMlami kaayo ang manok sa larsian,kaon ko diha enig abot nako dec 15 2oo6
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by: Errol
on: Nov 05, 2006 08:55 AMI miss Larsian so much. It was 10 years ago the last time I was there.
After our clerkship in Chong-Hua Hospital in 1996, I have never returned to the
place. The place used to be our food haven. Puso and barbecue.. hmmn....i miss
the pair.
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by: cookiemonzter - California
on: Jan 23, 2007 02:10 AMWhenever I'm in Cebu I always go there. I'm careful now, since I heard
a news about their food not being fresh.
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by: Aireen Q. - Cebu
on: Jan 23, 2007 05:51 AMSad to say, wa na ang traditional Larsian kay girenovate sila para sa
Asean Summit .. So lets all welcome the New Larsian... Ngaon ta na! :)
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by: Nimfa and Chad - Minnesota
on: Feb 02, 2007 03:54 AMYes lami kaayo ang bbq sa larian!
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by: ahtchie - banawa rePublic
on: Feb 17, 2007 11:03 AMfolks! sad to say...larsian is no more! they're demolished, a few weeks
ago...but fear not. a new larsian was born just a few steps away from the
original site. only too commercialized...being sponsored by coca.cola...much more
cleaner, neatly arranged and safer.
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by: laarne - arizona
on: Feb 23, 2007 03:52 PMnothing beats larsian. no. 1 gyud and original when it comes to bar-b-q.
loveeeee it!..............
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by: Andy - Winnipeg, Canada
on: Feb 25, 2007 01:23 AMI hope dili ma-usab ang Larsian by the time maka-uli mi!!
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by: Kate - Dubai
on: Mar 09, 2007 07:14 PMAh lami-a gyud sa larsians ui!!!mingaw na kaayo..diha gyud mi sa una pirmi
mangaon inig lunch break namo sa work sa Xlibris sa akong migo inig 1am..ahhh...i
miss the smell sa smoke sa bbq...it's been 2 yrs. now that i haven't been
back...haaay...
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by: robt - Auckland, New Zealand
on: Apr 19, 2007 01:23 AMestep, unang kaon nako dire, gi kalibanga ko,SERET- SERET gud, pero
pagbalik nako gikan ko nilangyaw, sus lami-a gyud sa sauce ni manang linda
oe,yummmy
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by: julz cabreros - chicago , il.
on: May 14, 2007 11:53 AMsos mao ni akoang dagsa-an if mahubog mis akoang mga barkada .. kalami-a
gyud ani labi nag e tuslob sa halang nga sili suka pyter kaayo ... gotom na
hinoon ko dri naka imagine lang ko sa LARSIAN !!!!
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by: toto - ireland
on: May 17, 2007 02:09 PMit's been five years now.i bloody miss the place and the bbqs. there's
nothing like it in the world.bantay lang ka inig uli nako dira nako matulog.
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by: aar - quezon city
on: Jul 09, 2007 11:37 PMam interested to produce in mass puso and introduce the delectable pair of
puso and anything grilled in Metro Mla. Just don't know how to market. Any
suggestion?
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by: maria - singapore
on: Jul 25, 2007 10:02 PMpila na ka buwan since wa ko ka kaon sa larsian and gimingaw na kaayo ko
sa kalami sa ilang barbecue ug puso!!! waaahhhH!!!! i miss larsian, i miss
ginabot sa redem ug mango square, i miss siomai sa tisa, i miss lechon sa
talisay, i miss chicharon sa carcar, ngohiong sa cheavers, manok sa tagala's, ug
daghan pa!!!!!! waaaah i miss Cebu so much!!!! :(
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by: Olivia - new jersey
on: Nov 15, 2007 01:06 AMI miss the taste of chorizo from cebu! The best...Is there anybody can
give me the recipe plzzzzzzzz....
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by: Trent Omand - Vancouver, Canada
on: Dec 20, 2007 11:06 PMOne of my best memories of the Philippines and Cebu in general is larsians.
The food and the atmosphere here are incredable....given a choice i'd eat at
larsians over almost any other place in Cebu....the BBQ is fantastic!! The choices
of venders to try and the people are great. My only regret is that I only managed to
visit here once during my stay in Cebu...being "Super white" as my girlfriend
calls me she thought i might not enjoy myself here as I can be picky sometimes with
what i eat. I can't wait to come back to Cebu in August this time we are staying
and Larsians will be a place you'll often be able to find me...for sure
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by: abai - cebu
on: Jan 08, 2008 04:07 AMhehehe.. i was there last night. i ate chicken skin and puso. tonight ill
be back, and strike on the chorizo and pork barbque.. droooool people
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by: jmyka
on: Feb 08, 2008 12:42 AMwow...all i can say is wow-place where you and your family, barka or
friend would be happy by the food..so yummy-
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by: nelson - texas
on: Feb 14, 2008 10:50 AMmouli mi karon summer moadto gyud ko may favorite ang liver gyud ay ug wings
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by: Virgenia Tuuri - FINLAND
on: Mar 15, 2008 11:12 AMI DELIVER CHARCOAL TO LARSIAN BBQ BEFORE AND ITS MY FAVORITE BBQ PLACE IN
TOWN... HIGHLY RECOMMENDED...
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by: Justine Aranas - Labangon, Cebu City
on: Mar 17, 2008 07:07 AMPamahaw,Paniudto,Panihapon. And if mahubog,dira mukaon. Salamat Larcians!
Hahaha!
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by: Ej - Chicago, IL
on: Mar 26, 2008 03:45 PMWAAAA I miss Cebu!!! I want to go to larsian, IT Park, Waterfront, Tops,
and of course the ultimate tambayan AYALA!!
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by: Ej - Chicago, IL
on: Mar 26, 2008 03:52 PMI'LL BE BACK CEBU! I PROMISE! Mubalik ko for sure kay naghuwat pa nako
akong mga amigo ug barkada! Maginom pa mi sa Mango, Paseo, Pipeline, Voo Doo, ug
Pump! Nya magkape pa mi sa IT park ug Ayala while nagsmoke! Then hang out in
Timezone and play DRUMMANIA DDR AND GUITARFREAKS! YEAH!
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by: Ron Karalus - Sydney - Australia
on: Apr 17, 2008 11:06 AMI will be in Cebu on 27th April 08 for my 5th trip. I have missed the place before and now it is on my "to do" list this trip.
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by: Maglasang - greenfield banilad , mandaue city
on: Apr 28, 2008 11:29 PMlami ka jud ang grills sa bakilid mandaue. I miss the taste & wanted to stay longer.
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