Sandok, here in our hometown, is more than just a large spoon used for cooking. Sure, it's a ladle, or even a verb meaning "to scoop a ladle-full" of something. But at Tunghaan Heights (or Gullas Heights, as I sometimes call it), it's also the name of a little food haven nestled on a small hill.
It’s a quiet spot that locals know well, where the meals are hearty and the garden charms feel close to home.
Sandok doesn't have a stellar menu to begin with. They do serve tasty food, but nothing out of the ordinary. They don't have a "signature dish" that makes them stand out. For me, they worked more on building an identity as a dining experience than tastes and flavors.
It's our go-to place when we want a dinner roughly the same cost as eating at home but with the cooler air and breathtaking scenery.
At Sandok Minglanilla, you've got a choice: bamboo huts or wooden tables. On a quiet day, it doesn't really matter which you pick.
The bamboo huts are free when it's not peak hours or weekends. Usually around 8pm, on a Friday or Saturday, those huts are for rent. Groups or barkadas can settle in for the night, sharing drinks and stories while enjoying the cool hilltop breeze. It's the perfect spot for unwinding, whether you're alone or with friends.
It's usually just the three of us on our little trips to the highlands. We stop by Sandok for a snack and iced tea, though more often than not, we end up staying for dinner. Their fried chicken with gravy and iced tea combo is a favorite. It's the biggest serving of chicken I've seen around town, and at only PHP 120, it's hard to beat! :)
One thing worth mentioning is that Sandok is a garden restaurant with a native ambiance. They don't exclusively serve native food, but if you have an appetite for overlooking sights, native botany and the rustic feel of a well-tended garden, then Sandok is the place.
Sandok is just as charming at night as it is during the day.
Sandok gives us the best of both worlds.
On one side, the green countryside mountains stretch out, quiet and almost untouched. On the other, the city sprawls from SRP to Mactan Island, its lights twinkling like stars as night falls.
Up here, the noise feels distant, and the air is cool. It's the kind of place where you sit back, eat some fried chicken, and watch the world go by. Perhaps one of the reasons why I love Minglanilla. It's just the right amount of countryside and city feel. Simple, peaceful, with just enough of the city to remind you it's still there.
