If you’re a foodie in Davao, you might have heard of Hunter’s Kitchen. It’s a Filipino-Chinese restaurant tucked in the neighborhood of DBP Village in MAA. For years, it has been putting its own unique spin on Filipino and Chinese cuisine. For many, they are the benchmark for judging what a good Fil-Chi restaurant should be, especially when it comes to modern dining.
In 2025, just when you think this restaurant could not get any better, they reopened in their new location at CT Drive Compound along Tulip Drive. Expanding beyond its cozy family dining, their redefined restaurant introduces a new concept tailored for the new market consumers – offering a reprieve to weary souls who just want comfort and a great nighttime fun with a relaxing vibe and good food.
Their new restaurant and location offer a quintessential experience of Davao’s culinary scene: a duality that brings the warmth of a family gathering by day, then transforms to celebrate the youthful energy of Davao’s nightlife.
With their new restaurant, they also offer a new selection on their menu, adding more dishes to try and add to your favorite list. They also now offer a wide selection of cocktails and drinks, and have even added a secret menu providing options to Thai dishes.
Menu
This will direct you to their Facebook post indicating their menu: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DBtRKHUSo/
Food Review
It’s been a long time since I’ve tried Hunter’s Kitchen. To be honest, it has been years since I went back. They were still in MAA by then. Since they have reopened in a new and much accessible location, I didn’t miss the chance to try and pen my personal review on the dishes we tried.
Wasabi Mayo Shrimp – 7.5
One of the standout qualities of this dish is that their shrimp is big, plump, and very succulent to bite into. Its portion size did not heavily rely on the excessive coating, unlike other restaurants. The coating in itself is unique as it has this corndog-like consistency that sets it apart from the common tempura-style crust batter. They had their own delicious version.
That said, the shrimp we were served leaned on the oilier side and would have benefited from a bit more draining or blotting to reduce excess grease. The wasabi mayo sauce didn’t quite complement the quality of the shrimp. The mayo leaned on the sweeter side, and there was a lack of the wasabi notes to call it wasabi mayo.
Hot Honey Chicken – 7.5
It’s an enjoyable dish that can be tolerated by people who are not into spicy food. It’s sweet but retains a good amount of warmth that gives another level of experience to the dish. It’s glazed and quite sticky from the honey, yet it’s not overly sweet. The chicken is very soft and tender. It has a nice soy sauce after flavor, though, which is nice. It was quite different from what was expected, as I was expecting more of a sweet and super spicy, but it delivers because it was named “hot” anyway, instead of “spicy”. Rating is just of personal preference, and nothing needs to be improved in the dish as it is good in its own.
Ultimate Siomai – 8
Their ultimate siomai is one of the huge siomai servings I’ve had in Davao. It was perfectly steamed, had good flavor, and was not gamey at all. No bad gamey aftertaste and seasoned perfectly. It’s generally a good siomai that I would not mind having another plate of it, but nothing too special or unique. I did notice it may have some shredded mushrooms in it.
Mango Sticky Rice – 9
This dessert is only found on their secret menu. You have to scan the QR code to access their secret menu, providing additional options for their Thai dishes.
What sets this mango sticky rice apart from other versions I’ve tried is the distinct and rich coconut flavor in its sauce. Unlike other renditions that rely heavily on condensed milk or sugar for sweetness, this one draws its depth of flavor primarily from the coconut milk, giving it a more authentic and balanced taste.
Their mango sticky rice also had a good texture and flavor, unlike other versions that add ginger or spices that make it taste more like biko than a Traditional Thai mango sticky rice. For people who like their mango sticky rice on the sweeter and sugary side, this might not be for you. Theirs have a subtle and light sweetness, which I enjoyed.
If there’s one area for improvement, it would be the sauce-to-rice ratio. Given its mild sweetness, a more generous amount of sauce would allow the sticky rice to absorb more flavor. With less sauce, the dish runs the risk of tasting a bit too plain.
Restaurant Rating
Food:
Overall, the food was good and was curated almost perfectly. It just comes down to personal preferences. I love that they have a wide variety of fish, pork, beef, noodles, down to their drinks and dessert.
Value for money:
It’s on the pricier side, but the quality of their food is good, and they offer a generous portion size.
Location:
Their new location is accessible and has easier landmarks than their previous location. Their new location in the CT Drive Compound is also huge and can cater big groups. One of the best improvements with their new location is that it is more aesthetically pleasing, and they banked heavily on the visual experience for the diners. They heavily invested in the lights and the vibes since they have already established their name for offering good food.
Service:
They not only invested in their location and aesthetics. They invested in their people, which is a big plus! You will feel heard, attended to, and important. Their customer service is superb. It’s the little details that I love. From ensuring that tables are well-lit and table lamps are adjusted to their client’s preference, to the attentive refilling of water, providing tissues, and providing free peanuts or munchables while waiting for food to be served. Their waitstaff is well-mannered and provides a really great dining experience.
Variety:
Adding more dishes from their already amazing list of curated menu is a nice touch that keeps people continuing to talk about their restaurant. Providing a new secret menu is also a nice way to attract new gen diners and foodies. Covers areas for all kinds of diners wanting Filipino, Chinese, and Thai dishes.
Recommendations
Wasabi Mayo Shrimp, Ultimate Siomai, Mango Sticky Rice
Information
- Payment Method: Cash, Gcash, Debit/Credit Card
- Budget: P700-P1000 for 2 pax
- Type: Asian, Filipino, Chinese, Thai
- Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/hunterskitchenph
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