As of 2026, this Palawan food guide covers 14 restaurants by category — including KaLui Restaurant, Kinabuchs Grill & Bar, Badjao Seafront. See prices, locations and must-try dishes below.
Palawan is Palawan food culture is Filipino heritage + atmospheric island heritage — KaLui Restaurant (iconic Puerto Princesa heritage PHP 400-1,500). Kinabuchs (Palawan classic + tamilok + crocodile sisig PHP 250-1,000). Tamilok (mangrove worm Palawan delicacy raw with vinegar PHP 100-300). Crocodile sisig (Puerto Princesa specialty PHP 250-450). Lobster Coron (iconic Coron lobster PHP 800-2,500). Trattoria Altrove El Nido + Maremegmeg Beach Club (atmospheric El Nido). El Nido Resorts Pangulasian + Lagen + Amanpulo luxury private island. Halo-halo + San Miguel beer Filipino canonical. Iconic Palawan World #1 Island heritage. We've organized 14 restaurants across 4 categories. Each entry includes prices, hours, local tips, and a Google Maps link so you can plan straight from the page.
PalawanFood Map
Click pins to see restaurant info · 14 restaurants
KaLui, Kinabuchs, Badjao Seafront — Puerto Princesa seafood and Palawan delicacies (tamilok, crocodile)
KaLui Restaurant
KaLui · Puerto Princesa
1
#1
MUST TRY
KaLui set dinner (PHP 800-1,200, multi-course Filipino seafood), tropical fruit dessert (included), sashimi platter (PHP 600)
Puerto Princesa's most-recognized restaurant since 1989 — a bamboo and wood interior where guests remove their shoes at the entrance. The set dinner walks through Filipino seafood courses with tropical fruits to close. Booking essential.
Local tip: Reserve 1+ days ahead through the hotel or directly. No shoes inside (Filipino tradition — sandals or flip-flops easiest). Cards and cash. Closed Sundays.
Puerto Princesa's go-to spot for adventurous Palawan eating — tamilok (mangrove worm, eaten raw with vinegar) and crocodile sisig are the main draws. Casual open-air setting, local crowd, the standard place travelers try the Palawan delicacies.
Local tip: Cards and cash. Tamilok is the Palawan dare — most travelers try it once. Crocodile sisig is the more accessible Palawan specialty. Open late.
An over-water Filipino seafood restaurant on Puerto Princesa Bay — bamboo-floored dining deck, sunset views, traditional Filipino seafood. Popular for romantic dinners and group celebrations.
Carinderia is the standard Filipino lunch-counter eatery — pre-cooked dishes in steam trays, choose 2-3 with rice for under $4. Look for 'carinderia' or 'turo-turo' signs. The cheapest authentic Filipino eating in Palawan.
PHP 80-200 ($2-4)
(PHP 80-200)
6:00-21:00 daily
Local tip: Cash only. Point at the dishes you want — no menus. Adobo, sinigang, lechon kawali and ginataang gulay are the standard orders.
The Philippines' national dessert — shaved ice layered with sweet beans, jackfruit, ube ice cream, leche flan, sago pearls and crispy pinipig. 'Halo-halo' means 'mix-mix' in Tagalog — stir before eating. Razon's and Chowking are reliable chain options; Puerto Princesa and El Nido have local specialists.
Tamilok (mangrove worm, PHP 100-200, eaten raw with vinegar), crocodile sisig (PHP 250-450)
Two Palawan delicacies — tamilok is mangrove worm (technically a marine bivalve) eaten raw with vinegar; the texture is oyster-like, the flavor briny. Crocodile sisig is sizzling chopped crocodile meat with onion and chili, served on a hot iron plate. Both available at Kinabuchs in Puerto Princesa.
El Nido town's standard Italian — wood-fired pizza and homemade pasta in a casual open-air setting. Run by an Italian-Filipino family. Queues form most evenings; arrive early.
Beach club on Maremegmeg Beach, 15 minutes from El Nido town — one of the best sunset spots in the area. Bean bags on the sand, beach bar atmosphere, sunset crowd. Filipino tapas and grilled seafood menu.
El Nido town beachfront bar — sunset cocktails with the bay view, Filipino fusion small plates, casual evening scene. Popular with travelers wanting the El Nido town sunset without driving to Maremegmeg.
Lobster Coron, Altrove Pizzeria, Sea Cucumber — Coron Town seafood and lobster
Lobster Coron Restaurant
Lobster Coron · Coron Town
7
#1
MUST TRY
Live lobster (priced by weight, PHP 1,500-2,500), grilled tuna belly (PHP 600), Filipino seafood platter (PHP 1,200)
Coron Town's signature lobster spot — live lobster from the tank, priced by weight, plus the standard Filipino seafood menu. The lobster experience is the draw; sides and other seafood are also solid.
Wood-fired margherita pizza (PHP 450), pasta carbonara (PHP 500), Italian beer (PHP 150)
The Coron sister of Trattoria Altrove El Nido — wood-fired pizza and Italian pasta, casual open-air setting. A reliable break from the Filipino seafood dominant elsewhere in Coron.
Sea cucumber stir-fry (PHP 600), grilled fish of the day (PHP 500-800), Coron specialty platter (PHP 1,200)
A small Coron Town restaurant featuring the namesake sea cucumber — prepared Filipino-Chinese style with garlic and oyster sauce. Standard Filipino seafood menu rounds out the offering.
El Nido Resorts (Pangulasian, Lagen, Miniloc), Two Seasons Coron, Amanpulo — private-island luxury dining
El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Island
Pangulasian Resort · El Nido (private island)
9
#1
MUST TRY
Filipino tasting menu ($85), seafood degustation ($120), Sunday brunch ($60)
The flagship El Nido Resorts property — Premier-tier private-island stay with degustation Filipino dining. Open to non-guests by boat reservation; the dining-only visit covers a 2-hour stay including welcome drink and lunch or dinner.
$40-150 per person
(PHP 2,000-7,500)
19:00-22:00
Local tip: Reserve through El Nido Resorts website 1-2 weeks ahead. Smart casual / no shorts at dinner. Cards and cash. Boat transfer included with the dining reservation.
Filipino tasting menu ($75), seafood grill ($85), Sunday brunch ($55)
The second flagship El Nido Resorts property — set in a private lagoon with the limestone karst backdrop. The dining experience pairs the resort setting with the resort's standard Filipino-international degustation menu.
$40-120 per person
(PHP 2,000-6,000)
19:00-22:00
Local tip: Reserve through El Nido Resorts website 1-2 weeks ahead. Smart casual. Cards and cash. Boat transfer with the dining reservation.
El Nido Resorts Pangulasian + Lagen + Banwa Private Island + Amanpulo + private guide. Honeymoon pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about food and restaurants in Palawan.
What's Palawan's signature dish?
Tamilok — mangrove worm eaten raw with vinegar (PHP 100-300, Kinabuchs in Puerto Princesa). Crocodile sisig — Puerto Princesa specialty (PHP 250-450). Kinilaw — Filipino ceviche (PHP 200-400). Inihaw — grilled fish or chicken (PHP 200-500). Halo-halo — Filipino shaved ice dessert (PHP 100-250). Lobster Coron is the Coron-area signature; live lobster priced by weight (PHP 1,500-2,500).
Where to eat at Puerto Princesa?
KaLui Restaurant — the reference Puerto Princesa seafood spot since 1989, set Filipino dinner, no shoes inside (PHP 400-1,500). Kinabuchs Grill & Bar — Palawan classics including tamilok and crocodile sisig (PHP 250-1,000). Badjao Seafront — over-water seafood with sunset views (PHP 400-1,500).
Where to eat at El Nido?
Trattoria Altrove — the standard El Nido Italian (PHP 350-1,200). Maremegmeg Beach Club — sunset cocktails and casual Filipino dishes (PHP 400-1,200). Republica Sunset Bar — El Nido town sunset spot (PHP 400-1,200). El Nido Resorts (Pangulasian, Lagen) for luxury dinners at $40-150.
Where to eat at Coron?
Lobster Coron Restaurant — fresh live lobster (PHP 800-2,500). Altrove Pizzeria Coron — wood-fired pizza (PHP 350-1,000). Sea Cucumber Coron Restaurant — Filipino seafood with Coron specialties (PHP 400-1,500). Coron Town has 20+ small restaurants walking distance.
Where to eat luxury Palawan?
El Nido Resorts Pangulasian and Lagen for the Premier private-island dining ($40-150 per person). Two Seasons Coron Island Resort. Amanpulo and Banwa for ultra-luxury private-island stays ($100-500 per person dining). All require reservations 1-2 weeks ahead.
Where to eat cheap Filipino?
Carinderia (Filipino lunch counter) — PHP 80-200 per meal ($2-4). Look for 'carinderia' or 'turo-turo' signs. Choose 2-3 pre-cooked dishes with rice. Adobo, sinigang, lechon kawali are the standard orders. The cheapest authentic Palawan eating.
What's the food cost?
Carinderia: PHP 80-200 per meal ($2-4). Mid-range: PHP 400-1,000 per meal ($8-20). Luxury: PHP 1,500-3,000+ ($30-60). El Nido Resorts fine dining: $40-150 per person. San Miguel beer PHP 60-120. Tamilok and crocodile are the Palawan dare orders at Kinabuchs.
Vegetarian options?
Limited but growing — most Filipino classics are meat- or seafood-based. Adobo and sinigang have vegetarian variations on request. El Nido and Coron have a few vegetarian-friendly cafés. Pre-notify resort kitchens of strict dietary needs.
More on Palawan
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Jimmy Kong
TripPick founder · Travel content creator
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.
8+ years analyzing travel data
30+ countries visited
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Philippines