Badjao Seafront Restaurant
There were two places to eat that all the locals, without fail, recommended to us. The first was Ka Lui’s and the second was Badjao Seafront Restaurant.
Since we already ate at Ka Lui’s last night, it was time to sample the food at Badjao Seafront Restaurant for our last night in Puerto Princesa.
Table of Contents
Get Transportation
Badjao Seafront Restaurant is located by the sea, right beside a clutch of mangrove trees.
Being away from the city, it cost us PhP 200 back and forth. Other than the distance, the reason it is expensive is that it was in the evening and no tricycles venture that far because people tend to sleep earlier in the provinces.
Unlike Kinabuchs and Ka Lui, which are both on the main road, Badjao Seafront Restaurant is not near any main roads, so public transportation is not easy to come by. It was pretty isolated and was a bit too far to walk.
In order to make sure we had a ride back, we asked the front desk of our resort to contract a tricycle driver for the round trip.
Once at the restaurant, we made sure to get his cell number so we could text him when we were ready to head on back. We also made sure that payment was remitted only once we were back at our hotel, just to make sure…
Arrive Early
Just like Ka Lui, the place gets packed with people. Being bigger and more expensive than Kinabuchs and Ka Lui doesn’t mean it was any less popular. So if you plan on dining at Badjao Seafront Restaurant, going early will ensure you a seat.
Being early also has its benefits as you get to pick a good table. In our case, we chose a side table near the entrance. It had a good view of the mangroves and the sea that calmly flowed under the restaurant.
Good as the view was, the best one went to the table at the corner past us. Not only did that spot have a view from two sides, it also had a nice breeze to help keep the mosquitoes at bay.
The Restaurant
The entrance of Badjao Seafront Restaurant was quite unexpected. Instead of a structure at ground level, everything sat high above the water on stilts.
Before getting to the dining area, you need to walk through a bridge that is also suspended on stilts. Not only is the bridge made completely of wood, it was surprisingly long. The bridge is open on both sides so you have views of Mangrove trees on either side.
At the end of the bridge is a small waiting area and the entrance to the restaurant, also completely made of wood. At this point, you will now have a view of the sea to your right.
After informing the front desk that we were only two, our waiter brought us to our table on the left side of the restaurant. But since we were early, we requested to be moved to a table with a better view.
The Food
The food at Ka Lui was great, especially since it was local cuisine served with a very interesting twist.
By comparison, Badjao Seafront Restaurant serves food that is more on the traditional side. Both were excellent but they were quite different from each other. This was great since it gave us variety because the last thing I wanted to do in Puerto Princesa was to eat the same type of food throughout our entire trip.
Since the city within the forest is known for its seafood, we naturally ordered more of that. Not willing to give the shrimp a break, we ordered a serving of the steamed variety. We also ordered the steamed Lapu-lapu, or grouper. This was accompanied by four scoops of plain rice, Iced Tea, and Mango Juice.
The serving size of the shrimp was just right for two people, but I found the Lapu-lapu to be a bit on the small side, at least for me. I considered ordering another one, but the size would have been too much for me to finish. Most people will probably find it just the right size when taken with additional dishes.
With our bill close to PhP 1,800 for two people, Badjao Seafront Restaurant was the most expensive meal during our entire trip.
And while it may have been much, how many times are we in Puerto Princesa anyway? This is one of the places that locals suggest we don’t miss. And after experiencing the food and view, it was worth indulging ourselves.
The Mosquitoes
The only thing you need to be concerned about when dining here are the mosquitoes. Since we were near Mangroves, there are portions where stagnant water was present. And where there is stagnant water, there will be mosquitoes.
I know that the thought of mosquitoes bring out images of people painfully dying of Malaria, but that should not be a concern in Puerto Princesa. I’m assured that even if there are many mosquitoes, Malaria has never been a problem.
Put it in another way, if Malaria was a problem, all of the inhabitants of Puerto Princesa would be have been wiped out a long time ago.
Nope, the thing more of a concern are the bites, which can end up in wound from too much scratching.
I was unfortunate enough not to have slapped on a good amount of insect repellent before leaving our resort. By the time I was halfway through my Lapu-lapu, the mosquitoes were almost through with my arm.
The mosquitoes aren’t tough to swat as they are as big as small flies, making them slow moving. But they sure can bite!
[So take my advice, use tons of insect repellant before visiting the restaurant!]
Final Thoughts
There you have it, our trip to Puerto Princes in just a few articles.
A friend of mine recently visited the place and and I am glad to hear that he and his family enjoyed themselves as well. If you are looking for a different place for your vacation, give Puerto Princesa a thought, you may enjoy yourself as well.
Till next time, keep your cameras ready, your eyes peeled, and your minds open. You never know where your next adventure will take you!
Must Dos
- Get there early so you can get a table with a good view.
- Work out a way for you to be picked up by tricycle after dinner.
- Use tons of insect repellent.