The Foodie's Guide to New Restaurants in Puerto Princesa this May 2019

Location: National Highway, Sitio Sabang, Barangay Cabayugan, Puerto Princesa City

Operating hours: 10 AM to 4 PM daily

Recommended budget for one: PhP 250

Cacaoyan Forest Park Restaurant gives you an opportunity to bask in the lush greenery as you take in refreshing mountain breeze. At the enchanting restaurant, you are lured to feast on buffet lunch (PhP 250 per person, inclusive of entrance fee) loaded with favorite Filipino dishes, while being inspired by artworks by Palawan visual artists displayed all over.

Nestled in the biodiversity-rich Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Cacaoyan not only offers spectacular karst landscape views but also promises an encounter with birds, monkeys, and other wild animals. If you’re looking for something Instagrammable, check out the park’s Bali-inspired installations, such as the tree pods, canopy walk, and swing nests, among others. Also, make sure to snap a selfie with the century-old Dao tree.

How to get there: Ride a public van from San Jose Terminal, and travel for an hour to Sabang. Ask the driver to drop you off at Cacaoyan, which is just two minutes away from the Sabang Wharf, the jump-off for the Puerto Princesa Underground River tour.

Location: Stellar Grounds, Rizal Drive corner Rengel Street, Puerto Princesa City

Operating hours: 11 AM to 10 PM daily

Recommended budget for one: PhP 90 to Php 180

Bersian Restaurant is gradually making a name for itself thanks to its scrumptious food offerings that perfectly blend with its cozy ambience. Located at Stellar Ground in the heart of Puerto Princesa City, this locally-owned restaurant serves Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and lets foodies experience Al fresco dining while listening to relaxing live acoustic music.

When in Bersian, sample its generous shawarma plate with fries, Mediterranean pickles, tahini sauce, and special dip on the side. Other must-tries are its sumptuous chicken kebab, freshly-baked pita and hummus, and protein and fiber-rich falafel. Cap off your Bersian dining experience by trying out its version of Mediterranean famous dessert, Baklava.

How to get there: Coming from any point in the city, charter a tricycle going to Stellar Ground. Alternatively, you can ride a Rizal Avenue-bound public multicab and ask to be dropped off in Junction 1. From there, get a public tricycle to take you to Stellar Ground.

Location: Puerto Princesa North National Highway, Barangay San Pedro, Puerto Princesa City

Operating hours: 6 AM to 11 PM daily

Recommended budget for one: PhP 200 to Php 600

Hue Hotel’s La-ud Restaurant is the place to be if you want to satisfy your cravings for Filipino-Mexican-inspired dishes. At La-ud, you are treated to a wide selection of sumptuous meals, enough to keep you filled from sunup to sundown. Choose from the restaurant’s best-sellers, such as its Baby Back Ribs, Beef Tapa, Seafood Aglio Olio Linguine Pasta, and Seafood Romesco Pasta.

True to its name La-ud, a Cuyunon dialect’s word for “far sea,” the restaurant offers Palawan’s scrumptious seafood in a fine dining setting. As it’s committed in supporting Palawan’s local products, all ingredients in its menu are found locally and are primed to satisfy your palate.

How to get there: Hue Hotels and Resorts Puerto Princesa is just located along the highway and can be reached by public tricycles and multicabs coming from any point in the city.

Location: Empire Suites, Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa City

Operating hours: 11 AM to 10:30 PM daily

Recommended budget for one: PhP 35 to PhP 169

With its tasty crepes and healthy drinks, iHOB (International House of Berries) is fast-becoming a popular café among youngsters and young at hearts. Whether for breakfast, snacks or dessert, iHOB's crepes – branded as the best in the city – don’t disappoint. Among its wide selection of crepes, the must-tries are Buko Pandan Crepe, Seafood Sisig Crepe, Savory Lumpia Garden Crepe, and Savory Black Beans Rice and Chicken Burrito Crepe.

Pair your choice of crepe with any of iHOB's healthy smoothies made of real berries and other fruits. If you’re a milk tea lover, they also have it here. Pick from its winter melon, strawberry, mango, and blueberry milk teas, all flavored with real fruits. The café also serves yummy yoghurt ice cream with fresh blueberries.

How to get there: Coming from any point in the city, hop on a tricycle or multicab and ask to be dropped off in Development Bank of the Philippines at Empire Suites. Walk a little bit to reach iHOB.

Visit Yoorekka for the latest restaurant opening nopt only in Palawna but all over the Philippines!

Location: 2F, SM City Puerto Princesa, Malvar Street corner Lacao Street, Puerto Princesa City

Recommended budget for one: PhP 538 to PhP 638

The Philippines’ largest barbeque and shabu-shabu chain, Tong Yang Plus, is finally here in the city. At Tong Yang, foodies with big appetites can enjoy its grill and hotpot offerings all they can. Adding to the delectable dining experience is Tong Yang’s Balinese and Southeast Asian Market-inspired interior.

For hotpot, channel your inner chef as you make your own shabu-shabu concoction after picking from Tong Yang’s wide array of fresh ingredients in the buffet. Gorge on everything as it cooks in your hotpot with your favorite broth. For grill, choose from its fresh selection of quality meat in a variety of cuts and flavors and have them barbequed on the hotplate grill. Spice them up with the resto’s delightful sauces whether they are basted on the grilled pieces or used as dips.

How to get there: Ride on a Malvar Street-bound public multicab that stops at SM Puerto Princesa where Tong Yang Plus is located.

Indeed, these new additions to Puerto Princesa City’s lively food scene are worth checking out, and what better way to enjoy the food they serve than sharing it with the people you love?