---
title: Banana cue and Lakatan bananas
url: https://karigurashijourney.com/en/notes/banana-cue-and-lakatan-bananas/
lang: en
journey: https://karigurashijourney.com/en/episodes/mactan/
---

# Banana cue and Lakatan bananas

A little of each town’s story　/　Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu

Banana cue is a Filipino street snack of saba bananas deep-fried in a coat of caramelized brown sugar and served on a bamboo skewer. The name blends banana and barbecue, though the bananas are not cooked on the skewer. Lakatan, which I saw at the market, is one of the most common banana cultivars in the Philippines, turning a characteristic yellow-orange when ripe.

## This moment in the journey: Fried bananas and picture-perfect streets

I'm on Mactan Island. At a roadside stall, bananas were frying in a big wok, and a glass case held skewers of bananas fried golden in a coat of sugar. This is banana cue, a familiar sight at Philippine street stalls.

I took one skewer. Motorbikes passed along the shady road, and tricycles rolled by in front of brightly painted houses. Nostalgic streets that look like a picture wherever you turn. I strolled to the far end of a long, straight street.

At another bakery, boxes of bread were stacked above the counter, next to a very tropical poster for ice candy.

![Sugar-coated fried banana skewers in a glass case](https://karigurashijourney.com/img/mactan/s25-1200.jpg)
- Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana_cue
- Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakatan_banana

Read this scene in the full journey: https://karigurashijourney.com/en/episodes/mactan/