Paz Eatery: The Davao Carinderia That Doesn’t Care What You Think

You don’t find Paz Eatery by accident.
It sits deep inside Bankerohan Market. Loud, messy, and sweltering. Nothing here tries to impress you.

The air smells like smoke, fish, and diesel. Flies buzz past crates of fruit. Roosters stomp through puddles next to stalls stacked with everything from fresh produce to secondhand shoes.

Some people come here to shop. Others are just trying to sweat out last night’s drinks and cure their headache.

If you’re from Davao, you already know about Paz. If you’re not, nobody’s going to tell you unless they think you’ve earned it.

I came here to eat, sweat, and let the chaos do what it always does: remind me why I still love these carinderias.
Places like this don’t need to beg for attention. They’ve already earned it.

So let’s talk about Paz.

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Table of Contents:

1. What Is Paz Eatery and Where Is It?
2. The Carinderia Davaoeños Don’t Abandon
3. My Experience at Paz Eatery
   • Balbacua at Paz Eatery
   • Mechado
   • Kare Kare with Uyap
   • Dinuguan Davao Style
   • Ginataang Gulay
   • Sinuglaw
   • Davao Style Chorizo
4. What to Know Before Visiting Bankerohan Market
5. FAQ
6. Paz Eatery: Final Verdict

What Is Paz Eatery and Where Is It?

Paz Eatery is a long-running carinderia inside Bankerohan Market in Davao. The signage is there, but you will miss it if you’re not paying attention. there are a few tables, trays of cooked food, and a steady line of people who already know what they want.

It opened in 1980, founded by Paz Ancheta Sanico. Since then, it’s become the most recognizable carinderia in Davao without ever needing to say so. Everyone, especially tourists, flocks to the Roxas night market, but if you’re after real Filipino food in Davao, you come here. I said what I said!

There’s no ordering process to learn. You walk up, take a look at what’s cooking, and start pointing. It’s fast and simple and before you know it plates and bowls are presented to you.

Their famous balbacua sits in a huge metal pot right as you walk in, bubbling like it never stops. You can smell it before you even step inside. Next to it, trays of mechado, kare-kare, sinuglaw and a host of others line the counter. There’s more than enough to choose from, especially if you show up hungry.

It doesn’t need explaining. If you know, you know. And if you don’t, keep reading.

Where to Stay in Davao

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The Carinderia Davaoeños Don’t Abandon

Simply put, Paz eatery is a goddamn institution in Davao. It’s not cute, and there’s no story about the founder’s grandmother escaping war with a secret kare-kare recipe. It’s hot, loud and smells like garlic, oil, and boiled tendon. And the people who frequent have been doing so for years.

They come because the food is built for the working class. Affordable quality food available to all. You’ll see the same guy that’s been eating here for twenty years. Maybe longer. And chances are you will find him at the same table he sat at last week. And sitting across from him you will see the well dressed lawyer who has known this place since his childhood. That’s Paz in a nutshell. It’s not a restaurant, it’s a fixture in Davao. Something that’s always been here and doesn’t plan on going anywhere.

If it did happen to disappear, half the city would lose their goddamn minds. No joke, that’s how much this place means to Davaoeños. During my time in Davao every single local I spoke with recommended Paz and it’s how I ended up there. I was warned over and over again. If you want real Davaoeño Filipino food avoid the overpriced Roxas market tourist trap and head to Paz.

And whether you love him or not, Paz has been very close to former president Duterte and his family for many years. And I can totally embrace his love for this place.

My Experience at Paz Eatery

This wasn’t my first experience with crocodile. I grew up in Florida, so, I’ve eaten alligator more times than I can count, and I like it. I’ve also had barbecued crocodile in Thailand, which was absolutely terrible. So I wasn’t sure what to expect this time around. But honestly? This was a pleasant surprise.

Texture-wise, it lands somewhere between chicken and pork. The bite has a clean, lean feel, but there’s still enough density to give it some weight. The flavor is mild with a hint of seafood in the background. Some people call it gamey but I didn’t taste that at all.

There are fatty sections, but don’t expect anything rich or buttery like pork fat. It’s denser, almost neutral in flavor, and doesn’t infuse the meat. You taste the protein, not the fat that’s along for the ride. Compared to other times I’ve had crocodile, lechon buwaya was easily the best version I’ve tried.

Balbacua at Paz Eatery

Balbacua is one of the dishes people line up for at Paz. It’s considered hangover food in Davao, but it’s built different here. They use carabao knuckles and skin, with tendon thrown in for good measure. It’s rich, gelatinous, and absolutely worth the wait. If you’re only ordering one dish, this is the one people will tell you not to miss.

Mechado

It’s made with pork and loaded with liver. I’ve never been big on pork or beef liver, but mechado is one of the few dishes that might be converting me. The tomato-based sauce cuts through that metallic flavor and gives it just enough balance to make me want more.

Kare Kare with Uyap

This one’s rich, thick, and exactly what you expect from kare kare. The sauce clings to everything: meat, vegetables, rice, whatever hits the plate. It comes with a side of uyap, which is what you’d call bagoong if you’re from Luzon. Same funky shrimp paste. Different name. And the combo works no matter where you are in the country. Paz Eatery has maybe one of the best I have had.

Dinuguan Davao Style

This version leans heavy on vinegar, which I personally don’t mind. It’s thick like some versions I’ve had, but the flavor still holds up. Rich, sour, and salty in all the right ways. If you like dinuguan, you’ll be fine here. If you don’t, this one probably won’t change your mind and we will never be hanging out together.

Ginataang Gulay

This was one of the more underrated dishes on the table. It’s just vegetables in coconut milk, but the flavors are solid. Nothing flashy, just done right. And it broke up the meat-heavy lineup.

Sinuglaw

If you’re new to Filipino food, sinuglaw is probably one of the last things you’d think to order. Raw fish, grilled pork, citrus, and vinegar. It sounds like four different meals mashed together. But when it’s done right, it makes sense.

Davao Style Chorizo

This one’s sweet, greasy, and built for rice. It’s packed with flavor but doesn’t go overboard. And in Mindanao, they don’t do the overly sweet chorizos you find in Cebu.

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What to Know Before Visiting Bankerohan Market

It’s easy to find. Don’t overthink it.
Some people act like this place is some hidden secret. It’s not. If you know where Bankerohan Market is, you’ll find Paz. You’re not wandering through alleys or asking half the street for directions. It’s right there in the open.

It’s busy, loud, and a little chaotic.
Vendors are working, people are moving, and no one is slowing down for you. There’s a rhythm to the place, but it’s not built for tourists. If you’re not used to markets like this, it can be overwhelming. But that’s also what makes it work. Just try to remember, this is where the city shops and eats. You’re just passing through.

Bring cash. Don’t expect menus.
There are no signs, no prices, and no printed options to browse through. If you’ve never been to a carinderia before, just take a second and watch what everyone else is doing. It moves fast, but it’s not rocket science.

Move (and eat) with purpose. Don’t be in the way.
This is a working market, not a place to hang around pretending you belong there. Wear something light, grab your food, and keep it moving. Nobody’s here to entertain you.

There’s more to eat than just Paz.
The stretch around Paz has a handful of other carinderias and small stalls serving hot meals. There’s also produce, secondhand clothes, and random dry goods if you feel like wandering. If you’ve made it this far into the market, you might as well take a look around before heading out.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Paz Eatery: Final Verdict

I didn’t walk out of Paz Eatery with some life-changing revelation. I walked out sweating, satisfied, and carrying the same quiet respect everyone else already had for the place. That’s what stuck. Not the food, not the photos, just the fact that this carinderia feeds Davao without ever needing to explain itself. And somehow, that explains everything.

If you’ve been to Paz Eatery, drop a comment and let me what you think or what I should try next time.

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