The culinary scene in Davao continues to get better and better. Every month, new food concepts emerge and become the next big trend. From experimental food fusion to the revival of regional cuisines, Davao is steadily becoming a culinary destination in the Philippines.
One of the newest additions to the city’s food scene is Siempre Taqueria and Bar at Azuela Cove in Lanang. It’s a cultural crossover between Filipino and Mexican food. The name itself promises consistency in flavor and atmosphere because Siempre in Spanish, means “Always”.
The restaurant officially opened on April 18, 2026, giving diners in the northern part of Davao City a chance to experience Mexican flavors closer to home and discover a new go-to spot for Mexican food and a place to hang out. Not only do they offer Mexican flavors, but they also offer cocktails and a selection of liquid courage for those looking to liven up their weekends.
Siempre Taqueria and Bar perfectly showcases its Filipino-Mexican fusion concept through collaborations such as the Cacao de Davao × Siempre partnership launched during the Cinco de Mayo celebration on May 5. The collaboration featured three special dish creations: the Beef Tulasog with Tablea Taco, Churros with Cacao Dip, and Horchata de Cacao (plus a bonus cocktail called Para Los Dioses which translates to ‘for the gods’).
Menu
Food Review
Living on the North side of Davao, I find that the food selection is very limited compared to those living in the South and central parts of the city. You have to fight off traffic just to get a good option if you’re craving Mexican dishes. So, when Siempre Taqueria and Bar opened, I couldn’t wait to try what they could offer.
Note: This rating is averaged between three diners.
Taco Flights – Beef Tulasog, Camarones, Baja Mahi-Mahi (For Baja Mahi-Mahi only – 5.5/10)
Rating: 5.5 – for Baja Mahi Mahi only
We opted for the Taco Flights because they cost P400 for three tacos, which saved us P50. The general consensus of their tacos is that the serving size of their tacos was not as big as those of other Mexican restaurants that offer taco dishes here in Davao City. It’s small and can be considered a finger food rather than a proper meal. The taco shell is different, too. It’s not store-bought and is handcrafted in their kitchen, but it has an odd taste and texture that leaves a mixed reaction from the table. It has a distinct corn taste similar to when you mush corn grits, dry it, and fry it out. The meat filling is also not enough.
For the Baja mahi-mahi, I can’t really taste anything other than the fried mahi-mahi. The flavors are bland, and I can’t even taste the “Baja” essence. Baja cuisine should have some zest, smoky, or spicy undertones. The mahi-mahi, one of my favorite fish to eat, was outshone by its thick breading.
Overall, I do appreciate the culinary choice in trying to create their own taco shells, which garnered some points for its originality, despite the texture and flavors having polarizing views.
Mucho Loco Wings – 8.7/10
Rating: 10, 8, 8
Their Mucho Loco Wing is a flavor that is truly new to my palate. It’s a sweet type of chicken wing flavor that has a different sweetener other than brown sugar. There is a distinct sweetness that reminds me more of molasses.
The wings carried a subtle smoky undertone and were dusted with a blend of Mexican spices, adding depth and complexity to every bite. It’s a sticky-sweet, addictive wing paired with their delicious crack sauce. The sauce offers a zesty contrast, with notes of lime, red pepper, and a hint of garlic that help balance the richness of the wings.
There are six pieces, which are a combination of wings and drumettes, that are sufficient for three diners to share as an appetizer. I do appreciate that the wings are glazed rather than overly sauced, as it is my preference. I also like the restrained breading, as you taste more of how the spices blend with the flavor of the chicken skin and meat, rather than filling up on just the breading.
The dish will not work well without the crack sauce. The crack sauce is a big highlight of this dish, as it provides a stark contrast to the sweetness, adding zest and flavor complexity.
BBQ Pork Ribs – 8.5/10
Rating: 10, 8.5, 7
The BBQ Pork Ribs were an additional order because we thought that ordering a flight of tacos, wings, and some sides was sufficient. Good thing the barbeque pork ribs did not disappoint. It provided a generous serving size and had a really good fat-to-meat ratio. At an estimate, it was 70% meat and 30% fat. It was full of flavors. The sauce reminds me of sweet pork asado sauce because of the subtle scent of the star anise, but with a much smokier flavor profile. I really enjoyed how tender the meat is as it is falling off the bone.
I also loved the candied pineapple on top. It added acidity and sweetness to the dish, and grilling a pineapple definitely is a game-changer both in flavor and texture.
The only reason I can’t rate this dish higher is its pronounced saltiness. The salt level becomes increasingly noticeable with each bite. It reaches a point where it starts to overwhelm the palate, especially when eaten on its own without rice or another starch to balance it.
Horchata – 10/10
Rating: 10, 10, 10
I love their Horchata version. It has a really strong and distinct flavor, unlike other versions that taste like water with cinnamon and sugar. Their Horchata also has the right temperature – cold and refreshing. It’s so good that I would have ordered another glass if it were not for the budget constraint. It has a perfect blend of sweetness and cinnamon. It’s milky and not tempered down with water.
Elote – 8.3/10
Rating: 10, 8, 7
The Elote was okay. It’s what you can expect for an Elote. Is it the best Elote we’ve had? I can’t say, but this is a good reference. It’s just grilled corn cobs powdered with some spices and cheese. It’s nice to eat as a complementary side and nice to have with BBQ Pork Ribs. Fun to eat while you chat with friends. It’s not soft, though, so it is a task to eat.
Guacamole – 10/10
Rating: 10, 10, 10
It’s definitely a good guacamole. The texture is nice. It’s the kind of mush that’s great for dipping and adding zest to the main dishes. The flavors aren’t competing with the main dish, but rather complementing it. It’s zesty with lime and full of flavors from the fresh tomatoes and chopped onions.
Restaurant Rating – 3.7/5
Food:
Overall, there are dishes in their selection that my friends and I would gladly go back to, like their Mucho Loco Wings and their Horchata. The flavors are different but good. It may not be genuinely Mexican flavors, but it adapts perfectly to the Filipino palate. They have an open kitchen so you can see all the spices they use, and a lot of them are spices and ingredients that you do not usually see in Filipino households.
I do appreciate the creativity and culinary choice in making their taco shells in-house, as it tastes really different from the usual taco shells from other restaurants, but it does take some getting used to.
Overall, their tacos aren’t a standout despite positioning themselves as a taqueria. The portion size is small, and the flavors are bland and forgettable.
If the restaurant is open to suggestions, here are a few that might help:
- One area that could use some refinement is the taco shell. Although it does an excellent job of holding the fillings without falling apart, the texture feels somewhat unusual. Rather than delivering a satisfying crunch, it comes across as dense and slightly reminiscent of compressed corn grits. A crisper texture could help elevate the overall eating experience.
- Review the flavoring of the taco fillings, as the batch we had was bland and dry.
- If possible, increase the portion size, as I don’t think it compensates for the price.
- The BBQ ribs were really delicious, but the good flavors were contradicted by their saltiness.
Value for money:
The consensus is that their serving size is small, especially for their tacos. The quality of their food is good, and you can see and taste that they do try to handle their food with care. The food curation is beautiful, but nothing really stands out when it comes to dish aesthetics. It’s a nice food joint that serves Fil-Mex food, but not really the first thing that comes to mind if you’re looking for good tacos. Generally satisfied with the food you are spending on.
Location:
The ambience is one of the restaurant’s strongest points. The space is decorated with Mexican-inspired memorabilia and painted in vibrant shades of red. They did choose decor from the ‘Day of the Dead’ celebration, so expect a lot of skulls throughout the venue. It is also filled with vibrant hanging decorations that screams Mexican hospitality and colors. The place is cosy and transports you to a place, giving you glimpses of what feels like a Mexican dive bar. The feel honestly reminds me of that hangout bar from Abbott Elementary.
It’s spacious and can seat large groups. Their booths and their long tables could generally fit more than 6 pax, so it’s a good chill-out space. You can intimately talk with your friends without the music or other tables being too distracting. To up the vibes, they also play Hispanic music in the background.
The lighting is too dim for my taste, though, but I’m glad that each booth has its dedicated light, so it isn’t too dark when you’re devouring their food. The front area is dim, though, and relies on table lamps.
The parking is shared with other establishments in Azuela Cove and requires a short walk from the restaurant. It’s generally safe as it is within the Azuela Cove strip. Their space is clean, but I do worry about the choice of tabletops they have.
Their tables are made of stone tiles with grout. While visually appealing, this type of material will require diligent maintenance, since grout can easily accumulate dirt and bacteria over time. Simple surface wiping is not sufficient and will require thorough and regular sanitisation.
Service:
Their servers and staff were not as friendly and warm. They look tired and unaccommodating, except for a few.
We dined at an off-peak time and day (Monday night). The service time was OK, and we really didn’t have any problems with it. Their wait staff, however, isn’t as attentive. I had to come to the bar to request additional drinks and water for a refill.
The person taking our order isn’t as helpful, and we can’t hear them much when asked. They seem to be uninterested in helping or are still not confident with their menu.
We did ask another staff member about the Cacao De Davao x Siempre special offering, and we were given info, but not clarification on whether they were serving it already or if it was a one-time thing. It was not on the menu, nor did they assist us in determining which part of the menu it was.
Variety:
They have limited dishes to choose from.
Their selections are appetisers, tacos, ceviche, burritos, group platters, sandwiches, and sides, with fewer than 10 options for each. They don’t indicate any dietary allergens on their menu nor ask their customers about any dietary allergies when taking orders. They do have a good selection of signature cocktails and a wide selection of liquor by the bottle. They only have one option for desserts, which is their churros. As for dining, the only seasonal or special offerings I know of are their Cacao De Davao x Siempre collaboration, but I am not even sure if it was a one-time thing or a regular selection on their menu.
Overall, I think Siempre is a good hangout spot after dinner for drinks, but not the best place if you’re hungry or looking for the best in getting your Mexican taco fix.
Recommendations
Horchata, one of the good Horchata drinks in Davao (in my opinion). If you’re not up to drink alcoholic drinks
Mucho Loco Wings if you want to try a different flavor of wings and you like sweet and savory dishes
BBQ Pork Ribs, despite getting a salty batch, these pork ribs are really good-flavored and have one of the most tender ribs I’ve had for a long time.
Information
- Payment Method: Cash, Mobile wallet/E-wallet, Credit Card
- Budget: P800-P1,000 for 2 pax
- Type: Mexican, Filipino
- Facebook Page: Siempre Taqueria and Bar
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