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Exploring the Carcar City Public Market to Find Cebu Lechon and More
Find lechon, local delicacies, and more at the Carcar City Public Market.
By: Peter Parcon | January 16, 2019
Due to changing quarantine measures, the activities, destination/s, store/s, establishment/s featured in this article might be temporarily prohibited or closed under the latest government policies. LGUs might also implement health protocols and travel requirements. Please get in touch with the establishment/s before visiting. Stay safe!
The City of Carcar is located around 40 km. south of Cebu City. Established as a municipality in 1599, Carcar is considered as one of the oldest municipalities in the island of Cebu. Preserved ancestral houses like the Balay na Tisa, Mercado Mansion, Ang Dakong Balay, and Silva House have earned Carcar the title of “The Heritage Town of Cebu.”
While these cultural treasures are the main attractions of the city, there are more places that stands out. This is the Carcar City Public Market, a favorite spot of both locals, visitors, and tourists passing through the city.
Carcar City Public Market
Fresh produce from the farms of Carcar
The Carcar City Public Market is located right in front of the Carcar Rotunda. It is a typical public market that one finds in small Philippine cities. The public market is divided into wet and dry sections. The dry section is located on the outer perimeter while the wet section is in the middle part of the market. The public market is the main source of goods for many of the stores in the city.
Carcar Lechon
Carcar lechon on display at the public market
Besides fresh produce and affordable merchandise, the Carcar City Public Market is also known for one famous local product: Carcar lechon (roasted pig).
Travelers passing through Carcar typically make a stop at the market to buy a kilo or two of lechon. Normally sold at PhP300 per kilo, the price can go as low as PhP270 per kilo when bought in bulk. This is cheaper than those sold in restaurants in Cebu City.
Vendors selling puso or hanging rice at PhP3 to Php5 are right beside the lechon stalls. Puso is essentially rice wrapped in a triangle-shaped casing made from woven coconut leaves. It is an icon of Cebuano street food and is typically eaten with grilled meat as well as lechon.
Where to eat lechon
You can eat your freshly bought lechon at a carinderia or local eatery.
Since many people visit Carcar just to eat lechon, there are several small eateries located just behind the stalls where you can enjoy what you bought. You just need to buy some rice and viand from the eatery. You can also ask the vendors to buy puso for you at a minimal charge. Vendors at these eateries also provide a small plate for the lechon you bought nearby.
Other Carcar delicacies
A variety of local delicacies at the Carcar City Public Market
Aside from lechon, other Carcar delicacies are also sold at the public market. Vendors selling chicharon, ampao, banana chips, and bucarillo display their products in stalls near the entrance, right in front of the tricycle terminal. These include chicharon or pork crackling, which can be eaten as a snack or viand. There’s also ampao, a puffed rice snack reminiscent of rice krispies from the USA. You can also buy bucarillo or colorful sweets made from sugar-coated young coconut strips. These delicacies are normally sold at PhP20 per pack and make for great take-home gifts or pasalubong from Cebu.
Getting to the Carcar City Public Market
You can catch a bus that goes straight to Carcar at the Cebu South Bus Terminal.
To reach Carcar, you can hop on a south-bound bus at the Cebu South Bus Terminal. Buses depart at 20-minute intervals, with the first trip leaving at 6:00 AM and the last trip at 8:00 PM. Air-conditioned buses headed for Argao also pass through the city. The first trip leaves at 7:00 AM while the last trip leaves at midnight. The trip from the terminal to Carcar takes around 1.5 to 2 hours depending on traffic.
Tips for first-time visitors
Vendors wait for customers at the Carcar City Public Market.
- It is advisable to leave Cebu City early in the morning to avoid traffic in Talisay City and Minglanilla.
- It is advisable to wear clothing appropriate for the place. Visitors should avoid wearing expensive jewelry.
- The best time to buy lechon is mid-morning since this is when most stalls start displaying their wares.
- If traveling by bus, expect vendors to board the vehicle and sell delicacies to passengers. It is advisable to wait until you reach the Carcar City Public Market for better deals.
Make sure to visit Yoorekka to learn and find out more about the best places to buy lechon in Cebu.
When one mentions Carcar, images of lechon, chicharon, and other delicacies come to mind. While these are available in stores and restaurants in Cebu City, buying them directly at the Carcar City Public Market is a different experience altogether.
* Prices may change without prior notice.
About Peter Parcon
After leaving spending 16 years of his professional life in the academe, Peter decided to try his luck in the world of online freelancing. For the past eight years, he has been creating content for clients all around the world. He can work on just about any topic - from tattoos to technology and food to finance. He dreams of visiting every island in the archipelago some day.
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