Puerto Princesa, the province's capital, will be the least favourite among the places in Palawan. Most vacations opt for the rustic, country destinations especially hard working professionals who can only get a couple of weeks to unwind. Undoubtedly though, Puerto Princesa offers a diverse selection of good food that you would not find in the corners of El Nido or Sabang especially if you are craving for quality variety at a lower cost. As the most common drop off point for tourists because of the Puerto Princes Domestic Airport, Puerto Princesa also enjoys visits of tourists only on a shorter period. But there are those who stayed and opened up restaurants and bars for both local and foreign customers. So whether you are craving for an Italian, Filipino or exotic dish, Puerto Princes surely have it.
Dining in the Capital
Moana Hotel and Restaurant
Owned and operated by a true blooded Italiano, Moana Hotel and Restaurant offers genuine Italian cuisine under the strict supervision of Eduardo (insert surname) and his wife (insert wife's name).
Our hunger for a good cup of coffee or a shot of espresso (which is quiet hard to find in the city) led our feet to Moana on our first night in Puerto Princesa. And good espresso was what we had for a surprisingly low price of P30 and served by one of its owners Jorge. After a shot, we decided to study the menu and we just cant stop ourselves from ordering. Some favourites are Risotto Alla Pescatora, Lasagne and Al Pesto. Their prices ranges from P120-P300 per dish but you are assured of really delicious, to say the least, Italian fare. When we went back to the place for our last day, the good owner treated us to a plate of Ai Frutti di Mare but with more variety than what's in the menu. We had the best serving of Artichoke, sun dried tomatoes, bacon strips with herbs straight from the Italian mountains, montadella, salami from duck, Gorgonzola, Valser, and other different cheeses and meat strips which I tasted for the first time. According to Eduardo, they have to import some of their ingredients from Italy to give their customer a real Italian dining experience. Even their wines are imported from Ihis country and other parts of the globe, so when you decide to have either a red or a white to pair with your dessert, you will not be disappointed. And the pool view of the restaurant makes dining at Moana a great gastronomic treat.
Located just some few meters from the airport along Rizal Avenue, Moana's garden setting and native atmosphere makes staying there more than a stop-over to go to the nearest tourist spot, but a relaxing experience with the best of the Italian staples. They offer native rooms complete with all the amenities (air-condition, private bath with hot and cold shower, cable tv) and made of cool wood and native materials accented with Italian styled chandeliers. They also offer diving, snorkelling, water sports and other activities for the adrenaline junkie in you.
Balinsasayaw Restaurant
You wouldn't miss this native restaurant in the heart of Rizal Avenue because of its big sign and inviting little huts, small garden and pond with koi fishes and turtles. They serve local delicacies and even exotic dishes. Our favourite (and also one of the cheapest) is the grilled tanigue. Its smoky, succulent meat always hot from the grill (so you have to wait longer than necessary) served with atchara (pickled papaya) with your choice of freshly blended fruit or buko juice, is a tempting alternative to the Continental, American or Filipino breakfast that is commonly offered in other restaurants. And to top it all, their prices are very much affordable especially for those who are tight with their budget. With P60 you can already have a full meal in a relaxing garden and in your own nipa hut. They are also open during the night but only offers beer.
They also offer Nido Soup, the famous Palawan fare which was actually the nest of Balinsasayaw birds that can only be found in the rocky cliffs of El Nido and other parts of the province. The nest of the birds are woven from their saliva. Although we didn't try it because of its heavenly price (P300+) we heard that Nido Soup is so delicious and healthy and is often taken by conceiving women. The difficulty of harvesting the nests explains the high price because it is often located at the end of hanging cliffs. These days, the harvesting of the nests is already regulated because of the rapid diminishing of the Balinsasayaw birds.
Kinabuch Restaurant
People flock to Kinabuch because of its famous crispy pata, live bands, pool tables and soccer games. Also along Rizal Avenue, a few meters away from Moana, Kinabuch is an al fresco restaurant that offers the best of Filipino food. We visited the place twice during our stay and we couldn't be more satisfied with their service. They have four pool tables near the bar where you and your friends can be for who is going to pay the next day's food and a complete bar list for a nightcap before you hop on the bus to Sabang the next day.
