A Golden Legacy of Filipino Cuisine

Everything has its humble beginnings. For popular native Filipino restaurant Golden Cowrie, it started with a simple idea to serve native dishes to foreign guests.

Having migrated to Cebu to run a furniture export business, Mrs. Tina Ebrada opened the first Golden Cowrie in August 1982 along Salinas Road in Lahug. It was a charming, breezy eatery made of bamboos and sawali or woven split bamboo mats. "Back then, our part of the city was the countryside in Cebu," shared Mrs. Ebrada.

The small countryside eatery then turned into one of the country's well-loved restaurants, with families and friends gathering around to enjoy Filipino dishes in a homey atmosphere. "It was a very fulfilling experience to be able to share my kitchen with everyone," Mrs. Eborda added. Eventually, she had to let go of the promising restaurant to focus on their furniture export business. In 2000 the Kokseng family acquired and reopened Golden Cowrie under the management of Kenneth and Kristine Kokseng.

The Kokseng family, even before taking over the management of Golden Cowrie, has been known to be pioneers and trailblazers in the local industry, having established and managed other well-loved restaurants that have also become Cebu institutions. Still serving the original Golden Cowrie favorites in a cozy ambiance, the restaurant has since expanded with the opening of several branches nationwide and the addition of new items in the menu.

Today, Golden Cowrie is considered as an institution for Filipino cuisines in Cebu, and a go-to restaurant for every occasion and family gathering. Giving diners more reasons to feast, the restaurant continues to add more offerings, fresh flavors and enhancements to its interiors, to add to the overall dining experience.

With the recent renovation of Golden Cowrie's main Lahug branch, the restaurant offers a new and exciting dining experience to its patrons. Revamped by Cebu's celebrated interior designer, Hannah Lim, the total transformation features wider aisles, bigger function rooms, brighter lighting and modern interiors that pay tribute to Cebuano creativity.

The function halls are all named after famous local shells and are designated to cater to personal or business event. The Budyong Hall and the Sigay Hall can accommodate up to 40 persons while Saang Hall and Makan Hall can cater up to 16 persons.