Klook.com 

Halloween Dining at Marrow House SM City Cebu: Our Family's Steak and Bone Marrow Experience

Halloween in Cebu isn't just about costumes, candies, and trick-or-treating. Sometimes, it's also the perfect opportunity to discover something new to eat with the family! This Halloween, our family enjoyed a casual dining experience at Marrow House at the SM City Cebu Food Court, a food spot known for its steak and bone marrow specialties.

What started as an ordinary family errand turned into a little Halloween food adventure. We weren't planning an elaborate celebration, but with the mall full of costumed children, excited families, and Halloween activities, we decided to make the most of our day. And since it was Halloween, what could be more fitting than eating something involving bones? Yes, actual bone marrow!

From Our Dental Appointment in Mandaue to Halloween at SM City Cebu

Our day started with our son's and daughter's monthly braces adjustment at our family dental clinic, Ezperanza Dentisthree in Mandaue City. For families with children undergoing orthodontic treatment, monthly braces adjustments eventually become part of the routine. It's one of those appointments we regularly schedule to keep their dental treatment progressing. After their appointment, we decided to head over to SM City Cebu for something to eat. We didn't have a particular restaurant in mind. We simply wanted to enjoy a family meal before heading home. But the moment we arrived at the mall, we realized that Halloween celebrations were in full swing!

Halloween at SM City Cebu: Costumes, Treats, and Busy Mall Corners

SM City Cebu was especially lively that day. Every corner seemed busy, with families walking around, shoppers exploring stores, and children excitedly participating in Halloween activities. What caught my attention the most were the many children dressed in their adorable, colorful, and sometimes spooky Halloween costumes. Some were wearing costumes inspired by their favorite characters, while others were dressed for the occasion in their own creative ways. The little trick-or-treaters were particularly entertaining to watch. They kept hopping from one store to another, eagerly asking for treats. It was lovely seeing how excited they were, carrying their treats while their parents accompanied them around the mall. The entire place felt festive and energetic.

Even though we weren't participating in the trick-or-treat activities ourselves, watching the children enjoy Halloween added something special to our ordinary family outing. It reminded me that sometimes you don't need a carefully planned celebration to enjoy a holiday. Simply being somewhere filled with happy families and festive activities can already make the day memorable. And, of course, all that walking and watching people eventually made us think about food!

Discovering Marrow House at SM City Cebu Food Court

While deciding where to eat, we came across Marrow House, a food establishment specializing in steak and bone marrow dishes. The name itself caught our attention. Since it was Halloween, we thought it would be fun to try a meal featuring actual bones. It seemed perfectly suited to the occasion! I was particularly curious about the bone marrow. I've heard about bone marrow being served as a delicacy, but I wanted to experience its taste and texture for myself. Unlike ordinary meat dishes, bone marrow is served inside a cut bone, making its presentation quite interesting. We decided to give Marrow House a try and ordered different meals based on what each family member wanted.

What We Ordered at Marrow House

Since there were four of us, we chose a combination of seafood, steak, pork sisig, and bone marrow. Here's what we ordered:

• Two Large Tuna Meals with One Bone Marrow — For Me and My Husband

My husband and I ordered two large tuna meals with one bone marrow. I wanted something familiar, like tuna, while also trying the bone marrow specialty that had caught my curiosity. It was a nice combination for someone who wanted to explore a new food experience without ordering an entirely unfamiliar meal. The bone marrow was definitely the part I was most excited to taste.

• Japanese Wagyu Steak — For Our Daughter

Our daughter chose the Japanese Wagyu Steak. Since Marrow House specializes in steak and bone marrow, it made sense for someone in the family to try one of its steak offerings. Wagyu is widely known for its marbling and rich flavor, making it an interesting choice for steak lovers. Of course, the actual eating experience depends on the cut, preparation, and cooking method, but it was a fitting choice for our family dining adventure.

• Pork Sizzling Sisig with Egg and Bone Marrow — For Our Son

Our son ordered the Pork Sizzling Sisig with Egg and Bone Marrow. Sisig is already a familiar Filipino favorite, and adding bone marrow makes it an interesting variation of the traditional dish. The combination of pork sisig, egg, and bone marrow sounded particularly rich and indulgent. It was also another way for us to see how Marrow House incorporates its signature ingredient into different meals. With our orders placed, all we had to do was wait.

Waiting Time and Complimentary Sinigang Soup

Our meals took approximately 10 to 20 minutes to prepare and serve. Considering that it was Halloween and the mall was busy with shoppers and families, we didn't mind the waiting time. We also decided not to order any beverages. The available drink choices offered to us were soda, and we generally prefer drinking water instead of soft drinks, especially when eating a full meal. Just as our meals were about to be served, we received something unexpected: complimentary sour sinigang soup! That was a pleasant little addition to our dining experience.

Sinigang is one of those familiar Filipino dishes known for its distinct sour flavor. Having a small serving of sour soup before eating a rich meal was a welcome touch. The contrast between the sour soup and the heavier dishes we ordered made the meal more interesting. Sometimes, it's these small complimentary additions that make a casual food court experience more memorable.

Trying Bone Marrow for the First Time: What Does It Taste Like?

Now, let's talk about the most interesting part of our Halloween meal. The bone marrow!

When the food arrived, my attention immediately went to the cut bone containing the cooked marrow. There was a small spoon-like utensil placed over the bone, apparently intended for scooping out the soft marrow inside. I found the presentation fascinating. Unlike meat that you slice or chew, the marrow sits inside the hollow part of the bone, and you scoop it out using the small utensil. It was certainly different from the meals we usually order when dining out.

My First Impression of the Taste

After tasting the bone marrow, my immediate reaction was that it tasted somewhat like fat. It had a rich, fatty character, but to me, it was almost tasteless. I didn't notice a strong, distinct flavor on its own. The experience was more about its texture and richness than an intense taste. I can understand why some people enjoy bone marrow, especially when paired with steak, rice, or other savory dishes. Its richness can complement stronger flavors.

For me, however, the most interesting part was discovering what cooked bone marrow actually tastes like. It wasn't something I would describe as strongly flavorful, but it was definitely worth trying out of curiosity. And since it was Halloween, eating marrow straight from a cut bone somehow made the experience even more amusing!

Is Bone Marrow Really Rich in Collagen?

One of the reasons bone marrow interested me was its association with collagen. Collagen is a structural protein found in connective tissues, including skin, tendons, and cartilage. It is often discussed in relation to skin elasticity, joints, and healthy aging.

However, there's an important distinction worth mentioning. Bone marrow itself is primarily rich in fat, while collagen is more concentrated in connective tissues surrounding bones and joints. Bone marrow dishes may contain some collagen-associated tissues, but eating marrow shouldn't automatically be considered a high-collagen meal.

I initially thought of bone marrow as being full of collagen, but learning more about its composition helped me understand why it tasted so fatty. It's also worth remembering that eating collagen-containing foods doesn't mean the collagen goes directly into our skin or joints. Our digestive system breaks dietary proteins down before the body uses their components. So while bone marrow can be enjoyed as an occasional delicacy, I wouldn't consider it a miracle food for youthful skin or joint health. For me, it was more about trying a different food and satisfying my curiosity.

Was Marrow House Worth Trying?

For our family, the experience was worthwhile because we got to try something different during a festive day out. Marrow House's specialty dishes made our Halloween meal more interesting than an ordinary food court stop. I particularly appreciated that we had several choices to suit our preferences: tuna for my husband and me, Japanese Wagyu steak for our daughter, and sizzling pork sisig with egg and bone marrow for our son.

The waiting time of approximately 10 to 20 minutes was reasonable for our visit, and the complimentary sinigang soup was a nice surprise. As for the bone marrow, I would recommend trying it at least once if you're curious about its texture and flavor. Just don't expect it to taste like ordinary meat. Its fatty, mild character is quite different. Whether you'll love it probably depends on your personal preference for rich foods.

A Simple Halloween Family Memory

Looking back, what made our Halloween outing memorable wasn't just the food. It was the combination of little things: taking our children to their regular dental appointment, heading to SM City Cebu afterward, seeing excited trick-or-treaters in colorful costumes, and discovering a food spot we hadn't originally planned to visit.

As our children grow older, I find myself appreciating these simple family outings even more. Not every family memory needs an expensive vacation, a big celebration, or a carefully organized itinerary.

Sometimes, a casual meal after an appointment becomes a story worth remembering. And this time, that story involved Halloween costumes, complimentary sinigang soup, and scooping cooked bone marrow out of a bone!

Capturing Our Halloween Food Adventure with My iPhone 18 Pro Max

Aside from enjoying our family meal at Marrow House, I also love documenting our little adventures through photos and videos.

For my family outings and food photography, I use my iPhone 18 Pro Max 256GB and a portable phone tripod. Having a good smartphone camera makes it convenient to capture everything from the colorful Halloween atmosphere at SM City Cebu to close-up shots of the meals we discover.

A portable phone tripod is also a handy accessory for keeping shots steady, especially when recording food videos or taking family photos without constantly holding the phone.

For anyone who enjoys food photography, family travel, or creating lifestyle content, these are two pieces of equipment worth considering.

My Photography Essentials:

* iPhone 18 Pro Max 256GB – My smartphone for everyday photography, videos, and documenting family memories.

* Portable Phone Tripod – A practical accessory for steadier photos, food videos, and family content.

Shop Here: 1. iPhone 18 Pro Max 256GB , 2. Smartifact F05 Selfie Sticks Auto Open Balanced And Stable Shooting Detachable Phone Clip Tripod (Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. My experiences and opinions remain my own.)

Our Halloween Dining Experience at Marrow House SM City Cebu

If you're visiting SM City Cebu and looking for something different from the usual food court meals, Marrow House is one place you might want to consider, especially if you're curious about steak and bone marrow dishes. Our visit gave us the opportunity to explore an unusual specialty while enjoying a casual family meal.

Would I eat bone marrow again? Possibly, especially if I wanted to try it prepared differently or paired with another dish. But the best part of the day was simply spending time together as a family. After all, Halloween isn't only about spooky costumes and sweet treats. For us, it was also about enjoying a little food adventure together.

Have you ever tried cooked bone marrow? Did you find it flavorful, or did it taste mostly fatty like it did to me? I'd love to hear about your experience!

Klook.com

.