5 Great Seafood Restaurants in El Nido
Seafood is abundant in El Nido as its neighboring town, Taytay, is home to the largest fishing industry in the whole Palawan. Not only can you find a variety of fresh seafood in paradise. You can also enjoy these by the beach, where there’s refreshing breeze and an awesome view of the bay. Get ready to lick your fingers! Here are five great places to eat seafood in El Nido:
Angel Wish
Serena St., Brgy. Buena Suerte, El Nido (see map)
Open daily, 7 am – 10 pm. Budget is around P150 ($3).
Here’s a simple diner that serves affordable dampa-style seafood by the beach. The raw seafood are laid out before the restaurant for you to choose and order. These can be cooked in various ways. Fresh, tasty, and cheap fish, shrimps, crabs, mussels, oysters, etc.–what more can you ask for? Angel Wish also has some cheap alcoholic drinks for sunset hours!
Photo from Angel Wish’s Tripadvisor page.
BoodleFight Restaurant & Bar
Taytay-El Nido Highway, Brgy. Corong-Corong, El Nido (see map)
Open Mon – Sat, 7:30 am – 11 pm; Sun, 2 pm – 11 pm. Budget is around P200 ($4).
If you want to experience Filipino culture through food, this restaurant is pretty extraordinary. Though it’s not anything fancy, it features Filipinos’ way of celebrating family ties or togetherness—by sharing a large banana leaf full of tasty local food and eating with your bare hands! Try the BoodleFight way of eating, which is good for four people. Otherwise, some of the yummiest dishes to try include chicken adobo (marinated chicken) and sinigang na baboy (pork in sour soup).
Photo from BoodleFight’s Tripadvisor page.
Makulay Bar & Restaurant
Calaan Beach, Brgy. Masagana, El Nido (see map)
Open daily, 4 pm – 11 pm. Budget is around P500 ($10).
Here’s a seaside restaurant that can get pretty romantic by sunset time. Located along Calaan Beach facing Cadlao Island, Makulay Restaurant serves Filipino seafood dishes. Some of the best to try are the mussels, sashimi, and tuna. If you want to get away from El Nido’s crowd, the ambiance of this place is something to remember and maybe come back for!
Photo from Malukay’s Facebook page.
Last Frontier Beach Restaurant
Corong-Corong Beach, Brgy. Corong-Corong, El Nido (see map)
Open daily, 7 am – 10 pm. Budget is around P500 ($10).
This restaurant is part of a resort but is open to just about anyone. It has a bit more privacy than Outpost, with spacious outdoor setting, and a beautiful view of the sea. The food here is well-prepared and can be unforgettable. You can try the fish fillet with mashed potato, the raw mackerel with purple onions, or the seafood spaghetti. Nights here can feel cozy and special too!
Photo from Last Beach Frontier’s Facebook page.
Cadlao Resort & Restaurant
Calaan Beach, Brgy. Masagana, El Nido (see map)
Open daily, 7 am – 11 pm. Budget is around P500 ($10).
This seaside restaurant is where you can enjoy tranquility, great sea views, and the sunset. Cadlao Restaurant serves traditional Filipino dishes, seafood, and local drinks like lambanog or coconut vodka. Traditional dishes to try include adobong pusit (squid in garlic soy sauce), vegetables in spicy coconut milk, and kinilaw (fresh tanigue fish cooked in vinegar and spices).
Photo from Cadlao Restaurant’s Tripadvisor page.