A Foodie's Itinerary To Palawan Island, Philippines

1. Join a boodle fight in El Nido

Don’t worry. You won’t get hurt in this kind of fight - except for your tummy from overeating. Boodle fights are known to be made up with long tables of rice and different kinds of dishes from grilled seafood to vegetables served on banana leaves. The long table requirement often happens during feasts or any other kind of celebration where food is one of the main highlights. You don’t need to wait for a special occasion to experience a boodle fight. You can just head over to El Nido’s Boodle Fight Restaurant and Bar with your friends and be surprised with the amount of food you can enjoy together with some bottles of local beer.

Boodle Fight Resto & Bar

Address: Corong-Corong, El Nido, Palawan Island 5313, Philippines

Facebook: Boodle Fight Resto & Bar

2. Buzz your heads up with good coffee in Coffee Kong, Coron

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

It can be difficult to find decent coffee, especially if you’re staying by the beach hours away from Puerto Princesa. But if you’re dying to have a sip of good coffee and have a hearty breakfast, visit Coffee Kong while you’re in Coron. Coffee Kong serves freshly brewed coffee and even tea, best paired up with their various selection of pastries such as brownies and muffins. You can also try their American breakfast or their cocktails. This coffee shop is best for those who want to find free WiFi and just lounge.

Coffee Kong

Address: Coron-Busuanga Rd., Coron, Palawan

3. Have a free tour and a taste of Ayahay craft beers in Palaweno Brewery

Don’t you know that Palawan has one of the few craft beer breweries in the Philippines? Palaweno Brewery is the only craft beer brewery in Palawan and they’re proud to offer you their finest Ayahay craft beers. Visit the brewery and catch their tours where you can learn more about their brewery and the process of craft beer making. Of course, you won’t miss the beer tasting - or chugging - sessions at the end of the tour.

Palaweno Brewery

Address: 82 Manalo Street, Puerto Princesa, Palawan Island 5300, Philippines

Website: Palaweno Brewery

4. Get your vegan and vegetarian fix at Ima's Vegetarian Restaurant

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Vegetarian and vegan meals aren’t always easy to find, especially in parts that have seafood as one of the main parts of their diet. But luckily, you have Ima’s Vegetarian Restaurant to have good veggie-ful meals. Ima’s serve vegan cheese pizzas, tofu or bean burgers, tempeh fries, pasta, dairy-free and sugar-free smoothies, and more.

Ima's Vegetarian Restaurant

Address: 46 Fernandez St., Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, 5300, Philippines

Facebook: Ima’s Vegetarian Restaurant

5. Buy the freshest fish and produce in Puerto Princesa's Public Market

Palawan is rich not only in natural attractions but also in seafood freshly caught from the sea. If you’re curious to see or bring home some local goods, visit Puerto Princesa’s Public Market. The market has also become a site for tourists and you won’t get enough, seeing different kinds of fish, seafood, and vegetables together with their dried versions such as dried anchovies and dried squid.

Puerto Princesa Public Market

Address: Burgos St., Puerto Princesa, Palawan

6. Trace Palawan's Vietnamese roots with a bowl of Filipino pho

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Puerto Princesa has been one of the nearby hosts for Vietnamese refugees after the Vietnam War in 1970. It’s no wonder that you’ll notice some Vietnamese noodle houses around the area locally known as “chaolongan” where a bowl of what they call chaolong (which is actually pho) is served. One of the best chaolong restaurants you can find here is Bona’s Chaolong Restaurant, which also serves other Vietnamese food like banh mi and spring rolls at affordable prices.

Bona's Chaolong Restaurant

Address: Manalo Extension, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines

7. Have a beachfront lunch on Exotic Island, Port Barton

Going to Port Barton won’t be complete without doing their island hopping tours. Besides going to the different snorkeling spots, one of the things you should look forward to is stopping by the beautiful Exotic Island to have lunch. For lunch, your boatmen/tour guides will serve local favorites such as grilled fish, grilled chicken, and salad. Enjoy lunch with your tour mates while watching the turquoise-tinted waters and the beautifully odd rock formations of the island.

Port Barton

Address: Port Barton, San Vicente, Palawan, Philippines

8. Dare yourself to try crocodile meat in Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center

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Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center is a place where you get to see crocodiles and their hatchery up close. Surprisingly, you can also have a taste of crocodile meat, available at the center’s cafe. One of the crocodile dishes you should try is crocodile sisig, best matched with rice and beer.

Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center

Address: Crocodile Farming Institute, Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines

9. Upgrade the exotic food challenge by eating the slippery tamilok worm

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

“Tamilok” in English is called shipworm. No, it’s not a worm, but a mollusk just like squids and clams. But, that doesn’t save you from the fact that you’ll have to eat something long, soft, and slippery when you try this. This wood-boring creature is a known delicacy in Palawan. It is often served like ceviche: raw and marinated in vinegar or lime juice together with peppers and onions. You can try eating tamilok at Kinabuchs, Puerto Princesa where they also serve a fried version.

Kinabuchs Grill and Bar

Address: 369, Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa, Palawan

10. Combine great food and El Nido's stunning sunset at Outpost Beach Bar and Restaurant

If you’re looking for great food and the perfect ambiance in El Nido, you can easily find both in Outpost Beach Bar and Restaurant. Some of the must-tries in here are their burgers (crocodile burger included) and sandwiches. The best part in this place? The views where you can stop for a moment, cool off with a beer and watch the sunset. They also have a hostel too if you’re looking for a nice place to stay while in El Nido.

Outpost Beach Bar and Restaurant

Address: Sitio Lugadia, National Highway, Corong-Corong, El Nido, Palawan

Travel, eat, sleep, and repeat

Palawan is the destination for those who want to be close to nature and just jump in the stunningly clear seas. If you want to add more into the usual sightseeing itinerary, why not go for an adventure to hunt down the best dishes and restaurants that this island has to offer? Whether it’s a local dish or an international specialty dish, don’t forget to try out something new and let this list be your guide to your future foodie discoveries.