There are times when the best culinary discoveries are the ones you didn’t see coming. Tucked away in the quiet, tree-lined neighborhood of Juna Subdivision in Matina, 1953 Kusina Leticia feels less like a standard commercial restaurant and more like a welcoming, elegant home. The space strikes a beautiful balance—bright, modern, and open, yet deeply rooted in classic Filipino hospitality.
It is the kind of place where the ambiance invites you to slow down, but the food immediately demands your full attention. What makes the experience here uniquely clever is its seamless integration with its sister restaurant, Tsuru. If you are dining with a group where half the table is craving traditional, comforting Filipino ulam and the other half wants Japanese specialties, you can seamlessly cross-order. But on this visit, our eyes were locked entirely on their curated Filipino menu.
Deciphering the Menu: A Feast of Familiar Flavors Done Right
It’s a beautifully balanced spread that covers all the essential bases of a fantastic group meal:
1 Pako Salad – ₱370.00
1 1953 Pomelo Salad – ₱350.00
1 Baby Squid Salpicao – ₱480.00
1 Baked Scallops – ₱330.00
1 Bulalo Steak – ₱795.00
1 Lechon Kawali Kare-Kare – ₱550.00
1 Kalkag Rice – ₱280.00
1 Tablea Truffle Cake – ₱280.00
1 Citrus Herbs Juice – ₱450.00
To start, the Pako (Fern) Salad and the signature 1953 Pomelo Salad offer a bright, crisp contrast to the richer mains. The pomelo salad, in particular, delivers that quintessential Davao sweetness with a perfect tangy pop.
For the starters and seafood, the Baby Squid Salpicao arrives bold and intensely garlicky, featuring perfectly tender squid that avoids the usual rubbery trap. Paired alongside the rich, melt-in-your-mouth Baked Scallops, the meal kicks off on a high note.
The heavy hitters of the afternoon are undeniably the mains. The Sizzling Bulalo Steak is an absolute showstopper—rich, deeply savory, and swimming in a luscious gravy that begs to be poured over rice.
Then comes the Lechon Kawali Kare-Kare, a brilliant execution of textures featuring exceptionally crunchy pork belly nestled in a thick, velvety peanut sauce.
Instead of plain white rice, the kitchen pairs these heavy dishes with Kalkag Rice, an aromatic fried rice tossed with small, sun-dried shrimp that adds a subtle, smoky umami layer to every bite. To wash it all down, a refreshing pitcher of Citrus Herbs Juice cuts right through the richness of the meats.
The Sweet Finale
No meal at Kusina Leticia is truly complete without a nod to their dessert display. The Tablea Truffle Cake is a decadent, bittersweet love letter to local cacao. It’s rich, dense, and serves as the perfect punctuation mark to a heavy Filipino lunch.
1953 Kusina Leticia doesn’t need to shout to get your attention; the food speaks entirely for itself. It manages to honor traditional heirloom flavors while presenting them with a sharp, modern sensibility. Whether you are staging a family gathering or fueling up before heading to the airport, this Matina gem is well worth a spot on your Davao food itinerary.
KUSINA LETICIA Address: #10 Juna Avenue, Juna Subdivision, Matina, Davao City Operating Hours: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
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