We celebrated Keona's first birthday at Harana Restaurant along F. Torres St., Davao City. There are lots of reasons why we love Harana restaurant. Aside from the delicious food they serve, the waiters and waitresses are very courteous and attentive to the needs of their customers. And the ambiance is really cozy. If you have kids, it's the right place for you because it has a playground with swings and slides.
Harana Mongolian Restaurant
Playground
The birthday girl and Pappa
Me and my gurl
Lechon kawali, one of our favorites
Chicken barbecue
We locally call this grilled bagaybay
Deep fried catfish, locally known as heto
Sinuglaw - short for sinugba and kinilaw - raw tuna fish mixed with grilled pork mixed with vinegar, cucumber and radish
Kare-kareThe Harana Story (I got this in their menu book)
Harana started in the little garden at the back of Atty. and Mrs. Fermin Abella's residence at Juna Subdivision, Matina Davo City in 1966. A small affair made up of few open nipa huts sheltering bamboo tables and rattan chairs. And under the branch of a young mango tree stood the small barbecue pit. In the evenings, the place was lit with little gas lamps. It's specialty then, and now were fried rice and spare ribs, the original recipe of Mrs. Rosario Abella Lizada. It's original staff consisted of six (6) personnel, most of whom are still with Harana today.
In 1970, the Abella's need a little garden and Harana had to move out. Its new home was thew site of Harana 1 along McArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City. The place was spacious and the owners thought of a new approach in the restaurant business, thus, the playground concept - complete with swings, slides, bars- was implemented.
on June 29, 1970, feast day of St. Peter, patron Saint of Davao, the new Harana opened with the colorful playground equipment and flowers in the garden. On its opening night, the restaurant was filled to capacity with the children's laughter ringing as they played. From then on, the Harana was loved by the families and the community as a whole.
On June 29, 2009, a second Harana was opened along Florentino Torres Street to serve the growing demand of the fast developing city. At that time, F. Torres was dark and avoided by motorists at night. There was not a single bulding alongside Harana. There was only "kangkong" fields, wild reeds and clusters of unkept banana shrubs. When harana at Torres opened, F. Torres was no longer the same. Instead of darkness, the place was festooned with bright lights and the sound of music and the children's laughter echoed. Now, F. Torres has become the number one food street in Davao City.
