There are meals you plan for weeks. And then there are meals that just happen — slipped into the last few hours of a trip almost by accident — that end up being the ones you talk about long after you’ve landed back home.

1953 Kusina Leticia was that meal for us.

We had a flight back to Manila to catch. We needed somewhere close to the airport, somewhere decent enough for a proper sit-down lunch, and somewhere we wouldn’t have to think too hard about.

A friend suggested 1953 Kusina Leticia. It was nearby, it had good reviews, and the timing worked.

What we didn’t expect was to walk out of there genuinely impressed — and already thinking about when we could come back to Davao just to eat here again.

First Impressions: Bright, Elegant, and Built for Gathering

The moment you step inside, you understand why 1953 Kusina Leticia has built such a loyal following in Davao.

The space is bright and well-designed — not pretentious, but clearly thought through. There’s a warmth to the interiors that makes it feel welcoming whether you’re coming in for a casual lunch or celebrating something. The air-conditioning is on point (a blessing on a warm Davao afternoon), and the staff were attentive from the moment we sat down — present without being overbearing, which is exactly the kind of service that makes a meal feel easy.

The restaurant is clearly designed for groups. Families and barkadas filled most of the tables around us, which makes sense — the menu is extensive enough to satisfy a big, opinionated group. There’s also a second floor, though it looked like it was mostly reserved for private functions and events.

One thing worth knowing: 1953 Kusina Leticia is connected to Tsuru, a Japanese restaurant. So if your group is split between craving Filipino food and Japanese dishes, you can technically order from both. That’s a quietly brilliant setup.

What We Ordered — And What You Absolutely Should Not Skip

The menu leans into classic Filipino comfort food with a modern, refined touch — familiar flavors executed with care, and priced reasonably for the quality you’re getting. Here’s everything we had:

Starters & Salads

Pako Salad (₱370) A classic. Pako (fern) salad done right — fresh, lightly dressed, and a great way to open the meal.

1953 Pomelo Salad (₱350) This one genuinely surprised me. The combination was fresh and bright, with that characteristic sweet-tangy pop that pomelo brings. If you’re a salad person, don’t skip this — it’s one of those dishes that earns a permanent spot on your order list.

Mains

Baby Squid Salpicao — ₱480 Bold, garlicky, and satisfying. The squid was cooked well — tender enough without losing its texture. A solid choice if you like your ulam with a little punch.

Baked Scallops — ₱330 Hands down one of the highlights of the meal. I kept going back to this between bites of everything else. If you order nothing else from this list, order the baked scallops.

Lechon Kawali Kare-Kare — ₱550 The Bulalo Steak (₱759) looked stunning on the table — and I won’t pretend I didn’t consider it seriously — but I went with the Lechon Kawali Kare-Kare, and I have zero regrets. Crispy lechon kawali swimming in rich, peanut-based kare-kare sauce. It’s the kind of Filipino dish that reminds you why this cuisine deserves more global recognition.

Kalkag Rice — ₱280 For those unfamiliar, kalkag is an Ilonggo-style fried rice made with tiny, lightly salted dried shrimps. It’s subtly flavored and really good — though I’ll admit, when I’m eating something with sabaw (soup) or a saucy main, plain rice is always my personal preference. That’s just how I’m built. But the Kalkag Rice is worth trying at least once.

Dessert

Tablea Truffle Cake — ₱280 This was a genuinely lovely way to end the meal. Tablea — roasted, ground, and molded cacao — is one of the Philippines’ most treasured ingredients, and 1953 Kusina Leticia uses it well here. The cake is rich, earthy, slightly bitter in that complex way that good dark chocolate always is, and layered with the smoothness of a chocolate truffle. Filipino flavors, elevated just enough.

To Drink

Citrus Herbs Juice — ₱450 Refreshing, aromatic, and exactly what you want after working through a table full of bold Filipino flavors. A nice finishing touch.

Why It Works — And Why You Should Go

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Here’s the honest assessment: 1953 Kusina Leticia is the kind of restaurant that doesn’t need to shout about itself. The food does the talking. The service backs it up. And the setting makes you want to linger longer than your schedule allows.

For us, it was a pre-flight lunch squeezed into the final hours of a Davao trip. But it didn’t feel like a compromise — it felt like a discovery. The kind you bookmark, tell your friends about, and quietly hope is still just as good the next time you’re in the city.

If you’re ever in Davao — whether you’re just passing through or spending a few days — make room for this one. It’s worth every peso.

KUSINA LETICIA📍 Address: #10 Juna Avenue, Juna Subdivision, Matina, Davao City 🕐 Hours: Monday – Sunday, 11AM – 9PM 📞 (082) 225-3716 | +63 997 910 8919 📘 Facebook: 1953 Kusina Leticia