I never thought I’d be writing about mangoes, but here I am. Mango is nothing new to me 'cause I grew up eating it all the time. But on my recent trip to Cebu, I tried something that completely surprised me.
Personally, when I think of Cebu, the first things that usually come to mind are lechon, dried fish, and beaches. But on my recent trip, I stumbled upon something so simple yet unforgettable where a plate of green mango paired with bagoong alamang.
I’ve eaten mangoes all my life. Back in my hometown, mango trees are everywhere. It’s not unusual for me to grab one, slice it, and dip it in salt or chili powder. But this experience in Cebu? It completely changed the way I look at mango with bagoong.
We were just strolling around the mall near my hotel (Red Planet Cebu) when I noticed a small food stall tucked at the side of the restaurants. The sign said Bagoong City. At first, I thought, “Okay, it’s just mango with bagoong, I’ve had this before.” But something inside me wanted to give it a try.
And oh, it did.
Here’s the fun part: my companions, who are actually from Cebu, had never tried it before. They were a little hesitant at first, but after a bite, they couldn’t stop either! We all ended up laughing because it took a non-local like me to make them try something so good from their own backyard.
The moment I took my first bite, I was honestly shocked. My eyes literally widened. The mango was perfectly sour, and the bagoong was this mix of sweet, salty, and spicy.
I thought I wouldn’t like the sweet bagoong, but when it blended with the mango, gurl! it was heaven. The taste just melted in my mouth, and I couldn’t stop eating.
What caught my attention was how they prepared it. They’ll put the sliced mangoes in a clear container, then ask you to choose what kind of bagoong or dip you want—sweet, spicy, salted chili, or their special bagoong alamang.
They pour it in, close the container, and give it a good shake so everything mixes evenly. Watching it being shaken actually made me more excited, and it after a bite, I feel like there's fireworks in my mouth. hahaha
The stall offers different choices too, not just mango with bagoong. They also have mango with salted chili, singkamas (jicama) with salted chili, mango with bagoong, and even singkamas with bagoong. To make things better, they also sell their signature bagoong in jars—sweet or sweet & spicy—so you can take the experience home.
I ordered the large serving for just $1.75, while the regular size was around $1.20. Honestly, for that price, it was such a steal. The serving was generous, and the experience was priceless.
Because sometimes, the best flavors are found not in what’s new, but in rediscovering what you thought you already knew.
So if you ever find yourself in Cebu, especially near Red Planet Hotel, try to look for Bagoong City. Whether you go for mango or singkamas, salted chili or bagoong, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Who knows, maybe you’ll also end up like me—eyes wide open after the first bite, completely in love with the sweet, salty, sour, and spicy combo.
It is simple, affordable, and unforgettable. That’s how I’d describe my first mango with bagoong in Cebu City.
