Davao’s food scene is sprouting with underrated and hidden spots that can go head-to-head against established and known restaurants. Despite not hitting the mainstream, these unexpected gems just hide under our noses and are found in the most unexpected corners of Davao. Such is the case with Ana and Anna Diner.
You wouldn’t expect to find a hidden diner that is tucked away in an alleyway at Casa de Habana Compound in Jose Rizal Street in the Poblacion District. Despite its small space, this diner is steadily making waves on social media even without the help of big influencers because it lets its food do the talking. I discovered this restaurant because people in my social circle always vouch for how good this restaurant is. Apart from its good food, the price is accessible, which helps gain a more loyal following.
Ana and Anna Diner offer only a limited selection on their menu. In fact, its menu just fits on one page. When asked what their bestsellers were, their waiter confidently said all the listed items were bestsellers. This reminded me of a documentary I saw about the Hawker Center in Singapore, where stalls offer an intentionally limited menu of one to two dishes that they have crafted and perfected over the years. I think that same idea is followed by Ana and Anna because it clearly shows with their food. Handpicked to perfection.
So let me dive in and tell you our experience with Ana and Anna Diner.
Menu
Food Review
House Salad – 9.8/10 (9.6,10)
We started the meal with their House Salad. What I love about their salad is that it’s not the usual dressing. Some restaurants have dressings that are too mayo or cream-forward, but their dressing is made from mango and sesame oil dressing. Their dressing has the right balance of flavors. The sesame oil isn’t heavy, and the sweetness of the mango still shines. It’s a very bright flavor that reminds you of summer days.
The lettuce, though, had some bruising and was not the crunchy type that I usually like, but that it can be overlooked. The best thing about this dish is the addition of the enoki mushrooms. Who knew that with just one simple addition, a dish could be taken to a different level! It gave a slight musky and earthy flavor that definitely provided an explosion of flavor for each bite. Without the enoki, it’s already good, but adding it to a bite gives you a different but better experience. Of course, it does come with a preference because some people don’t enjoy mushrooms.
Out of all the salads I’ve tried in the past years, this salad is a welcome surprise and would be on my top list of great salads in Davao.
Penne Mushroom Alfredo 8.8/10 (8.5,9)
This dish has a simple component to it, but the flavor is fire! Trying to dissect its anatomy, this dish is made from penne pasta, butter, parmesan cheese, and enoki mushrooms. Despite it being a butter-based dish, it isn’t so oily or greasy. It’s a light pasta dish. It’s uncomplicated yet delivers a good bite. No meat, though, and it does lack some texture and gets boring over time. It needs to be eaten with something to pair with, like chicken or any choice of protein and munchies.
Steak and Mashed Potatoes 9.5/10 (9,10)
On their menu, their steak and mashed potatoes is the most expensive at P680. It’s a good-sized steak for one person considering the price and a big lump of mashed potatoes mixed with water spinach. Their mashed potatoes were very delightful. It was lumpy but had a very buttery texture once it hit your palate. The steak is great as it is not overwhelmingly greasy but is packed with flavor. It was perfectly cooked to the desired doneness (medium-well). Not a big fan of their chimichurri, though. Their gravy is okay, nothing to be desired, but you can just eat the steak as it is and enjoy the dish.
Let me tell you, though, put some dab of hot sauce on it, and it becomes an even better experience. They choose their hot sauce using a local brand called Don Juan Hot Sauce, and it is way better than any store-brand Tabasco I’ve tasted. It delivers a diabolically hot kick to your throat with even just a little dab, but if you are a fan of hot sauce, this pairs well with their steak.
Honey Oat matcha 9.5/10 (10,9)
Okay, matcha and Earl Grey in one concoction? Sign me up! As a fan of Earl Grey and matcha, I’m automatically sold on this drink. This drink is made out of Earl Grey, oat milk, matcha, and their homemade matcha ice cream. Though their matcha ice cream is icy on its own, but make it melt into the drink, and it becomes a different story.
With the first sip, you would immediately taste the light Earl Grey flavor. It has a strong floral and bright taste, which is heightened by the strong umami taste of the matcha. It has a strong grassy flavor from the matcha which reminds me of a garden with beautiful flowers blooming. Like a drink you would sip, looking over at your beautiful garden in the afternoon.
Off-the-menu Cocktail: Ichigo-Matcha 8/10 (8,8)
Have you had a matcha-flavored cocktail before? This is my first time, and it does give a standard to my next matcha cocktail drinks. It is gin-based but has a strong strawberry flavor rather than the matcha. Matcha is the opening note you taste, then it slowly transitions to a strawberry flavor. It’s nice because the gin isn’t offensive, and you don’t realise you’re drinking more alcohol than you can tolerate (I have a low tolerance for alcohol).
Restaurant Rating
Food:
Despite its limited selection, most of their food is delectable. You wouldn’t leave without tasting a dish you would love to come back to. It’s an underrated place that has casual but good food at an accessible price with people behind it who are passionate about what they make. Though a small team, it’s amazing how great the food is. Some are simple and casual but great. Not overcomplicated but amazing.
Value for money:
Something that is a place that isn’t expensive but offers really good food. It’s also enough and not excessive. It can be shared for tasting between two people, but it is enough to be eaten alone. The most expensive dish they offer is their steak, but despite that, it doesn’t even reach P1,000, yet it is enough to satisfy the red-meat lovers. It’s a great casual place to dine when craving good food.
Location:
If you’re not too familiar with the streets, the location can be confusing and tucked a little too inconspicuously in the alleyway of the compound. It is clean and well-ventilated, but the location is a little too cramped. It can cater to a few customers at a time. The area is a little too dark for my preference as well, but it is the vibe they go for. The parking might prove difficult as well. Overall, the lower score isn’t for the aesthetics or the cleanliness of the place but due to its limited space and parking.
Service:
They have their own toilet inside the premises, which was nice, but it’s small. They do have fast service. Their servers were very helpful when asking for options. Clean utensils and plates. No bad experience, and just provide the standard of good dining.
Variety:
They have a limited option. No fish options. No group platter options. This diner only provides a select option, but all options are great. Since the rating indicates how wide the variety is, I’ll put it at 3 in the middle. Great food and selections, but very limited. Something unique and not too generic.
Recommendations
House Salad—with enoki for each bite
Steak and mashed potatoes – with some Don Juan hot sauce (if you are a fan of spicy food), can do without the gravy or chimichurri
Honey Oat Matcha – only if you are a fan of Earl Grey or matcha
Information
- Payment Method: Cash, Mobile wallet/E-wallet
- Budget: P500-P700 for 2 pax
- Type: Mixed Cuisine, American, Casual
- Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/anaandannadinerdvo/
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