Pungko Pungko - Cebuano Foodie Must-try

You cannot say you are a Cebuano foodie until you partake and enjoy the offerings of your local Pungko-Pungko stall. Pungko means squat in the Cebuano language.  The Pungko-Pungko name was attached to vendors who walk to sell food and when they find interested eaters they usually look for a clean corner and squat or "pungko" to eat.  Now, most Pungko-Pungko suki do not need to look for their favorite vendor because there are now in many places in the city that are known for this type of "cuisine".  The popular hotspots for pungko-pungko are the stalls in the Fuente area at the back of Sampaguita Suites, Redemptorist Church Area near Foodarama, and Cebu Doctor's University area beside McDonald's.  

The Pungko Punko Offerings

The typical pungko-pungkol will offer chicharon bulaklak (ginabot), lumpia (long and short), fried brains, fried fat, fried spleen, longanisa (local sausage), buwad nokos (dried squid), and shrimp cake (okoy). They are all best eaten with the vinegar filled with chili and onions, and puso (hanging rice).

The star of every pungko pungko stall is the ginabot or Crispy Pork Intestines. It would be good as pulutan but it is also good as a cheap lunch thrill. At only 15 pesos each, you can have a filling lunch for less than 50 pesos. A lot of young professionals and students would practically eat pungko pungko at least once a week.

It might not be the healthiest among recommended Cebuano dishes but every wannabe food blogger should need to make an article about his/her pungko pungko experience.