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What Food To Try in Caticlan and Food Prices

How much does lunch and dinner cost

Examples of food prices, cafes, street food and other dining options in Caticlan for 2024.

National currency: Piso, symbol — PhP (international currency code PHP).
General Cafe Price Guide
Average prices in Caticlan cafes and restaurants
$3.4 
Quick Lunch for One
Starting from $1.12
$15.7 
Dinner for Two
to celebrate your trip
Starting from $14.61
$2.7 
Combo Meal
Starting from $1.12

What to Try in Caticlan

Must-try Dishes
Longganisa - Caticlan Sausages (savory links) - These sweet and garlicky sausages are made with minced pork and spices, grilled until they’re crispy on the outside. Locals typically enjoy them at breakfast with rice and eggs, often ordering extra to bring home.

Tinola - Ginger Chicken Soup (light soup) - A comforting broth of chicken, green papaya, and leafy vegetables, delicately flavored with ginger. It's a popular choice for dinner among families, often served with rice and shared from a communal bowl.

Fish Ball - Bola-bola (street food favorite) - Small, fried fish balls served with a variety of dipping sauces like sweet chili or vinegar-based dips. You’ll find vendors near the beach, and a tip: don't forget to ask for the vinegar sauce for extra flavor!

Kinilaw - Caticlan Ceviche (raw fish salad) - Fresh fish marinated in vinegar and lime juice, mixed with onions, tomatoes, and chili peppers. It's a local specialty often served during gatherings, showcasing the day’s catch, and it’s best enjoyed with beer at sunset.

Sinigang - Sour Pork Stew (tangy broth) - A hearty stew made with pork, tamarind, and various vegetables that pack a flavorful punch. It’s commonly served at lunch and is a go-to comfort food, especially on rainy days.

Empanada - Fried Pastry (stuffed dough) - Deep-fried pastries filled with meat or vegetables and often served hot. Locals enjoy these as a quick snack on the go or as an afternoon treat while strolling through town, but be cautious—they're truly addictive!

Adobo - Marinated Meat Dish (savory stew) - Slow-cooked chicken or pork in soy sauce, vinegar, and spices, resulting in a rich and savory flavor. Typically enjoyed at dinner, but it’s widely prepared for family gatherings, and leftovers are often even tastier the next day.

Sago at Gulaman - Tapioca Drink (refreshing beverage) - A mix of tapioca pearls and gelatin in sweet syrup, traditionally enjoyed during summer festivals or as a delightful refreshment on hot days. You’ll often see locals sipping this while relaxing at the beach after a long day of fun.

Desserts & Drinks
Coconut Water - Tubig ni Niyog (fresh coconut drink) - Naturally sweet and refreshing, this drink is straight from the coconut, served chilled in the shell. Locals enjoy it at the beach, especially after a long day in the sun.

Barako Coffee - Kape Barako (strong local coffee) - A bold coffee made from Liberica beans, brewed using traditional methods in a pot to create a rich aroma and flavor. Often served black, it’s a morning ritual for many, best enjoyed at a roadside café.

San Miguel Beer - San Miguel (local lager) - A crisp and light beer that pairs perfectly with the island's warm evenings, served in chilled bottles at beachside bars. It's a common choice during local celebrations and gatherings, and it's as much about the company as the drink.

Ensaimada - Ensaimada de Caticlan (sweet pastry) - This fluffy, brioche-style pastry is topped with butter and cheese, sometimes with a sprinkle of sugar. Locals indulge in it during afternoon merienda (snack), often with coffee or hot chocolate.

Halo-Halo - Halo-Halo (mixed cold dessert) - A colorful medley of shaved ice, sweet beans, fruits, and leche flan, topped with ube ice cream, this treat cools you down on hot days. It’s a favorite festival dessert, commonly enjoyed after meals or during celebrations.

By the way, many first-timers mix it up by ordering "halo-halo" but miss out on the specific toppings—ask for your preferred mix!

Food and Groceries in Caticlan

Vegetables, Fruits and Bread
Bread $0.67
Potatoes $2.02
Apples $4.05
Beverages
Water 1.5L $0.9
0.5L Local Beer $0.67
Imported Beer $1.57
Wine Rating >4.0 $5.62

Various Groceries
Chicken $2.92
Cigarettes $0.67
Rice $0.93

Overview of Cuisine and Specialties

Lunchtime in Caticlan is a lively affair, often spilling into early afternoons, especially on weekends when you’ll find families huddled around shared tables at neighborhood eateries. Most locals sit down for meals around noon, with the vibe almost festive—people linger over rice, grilled fish, and hearty stews. However, it’s important to note that many visitors mistakenly arrive during peak hours, expecting a quiet spot. Instead, they encounter bustling crowds and longer wait times (good luck snagging a table without a reservation!).

In terms of pricing, you can expect to pay anywhere from 150 to 500 PHP per meal depending on the dine-in district. A typical lunch might run around 200 PHP at a local spot, while high-end restaurants often charge upwards of 500 PHP for a similar dish. I’ve seen travelers fork over 600 PHP for a meal, just to be disappointed by overly touristy offerings. A smarter choice might be grabbing a plate at the local market where meals are fresher and significantly cheaper.

Payment customs can vary greatly. Cash is still king here, but some establishments have begun accepting cards—though you’ll need to check beforehand. Many street vendors don’t take plastic, which can frustrate those not prepared with cash. It's also worth mentioning tipping isn't customary, but rounding up the bill or leaving small change is appreciated for good service.

As for dining habits, a common practice is sharing meals. It’s culturally accepted (and often encouraged) for friends or family to order a variety of dishes and enjoy them communally. This way, everyone gets to taste different flavors—an experience that enhances both the meal and the social aspect of dining, and it’s one reason locals often crowd around tables.

Another pitfall for tourists is assuming all restaurants serve food quickly. While some prioritize swift service, many local joints operate at a more leisurely pace. If you're particularly hungry, it’s wise to choose your timing carefully, either arriving early to avoid long waits or scheduling meals outside of the lunch rush.

As seasons change, so too does the dining experience. During the rainy months, folks often opt for heartier dishes, favoring warm soups and casseroles, which are readily available. Conversely, summer months see an uptick in fresh seafood as the weather invites more outdoor dining.

In summary, navigating the food scene in Caticlan requires some local insight, particularly regarding meal times and payment methods. The charm lies in embracing the local rhythm, being patient with the pace, and opting for communal dishes that reflect the heart of Filipino dining culture.




Tourist Reviews

All photos and texts belong to their authors
@yuzhakovanatasha
« The fruits in the photos are so beautiful. I love mangoes! When traveling, I eat them constantly, back home it’s hard to find good ones, occasionally there are some green ones. For me, the best is the vegetable salad with mango 😄 Mangoes in the Philippines are tastier than Thai ones. Sweet with a bit of sourness and they sort of made a dressing for it. It's around 5 dollars per kilo (for us, it's 4 dollars 😋). In spring, it will get cheaper. »
@bibonya_beauty
« I want to share my experience regarding restaurant prices on 🥘. On average, a dish will cost between $6.50 to $9.00. This means roughly around $40 to $60, which is quite reasonable, don’t you think? Of course, there are more expensive dishes; for example, a grilled fish 🐟 with fresh salad 🥗 (by the way, rice 🍚 usually comes as a complimentary side) costs about $13.00, and one of my favorites, a lobster dish, can range around $15 to $18 or higher, depending on the freshness and type of seafood.

Honestly, I was surprised to find so many cafes and restaurants on such a small island, and they are all so charming. I'm not even mentioning the places where they serve delicious barbecues at every corner. Overall, prices are incredibly friendly for both food and experiences! »
@svetlana.kem
« Is there anyone else who gets that silly smile on their face when they’re happy about something? 😄

Every time I'm at Boracay, I can't help but feel glad that D'mall is right there, offering amazing street food 😋, where snacks cost anywhere from $0.08 to $0.45! 😲 Honestly, can you find fresh and tasty street food for just $0.08 anywhere else? You can here! 😆🤤 I absolutely love these treats!

For tourists, there are definitely dishes for every budget, but if you're planning a vacation here, just know that eating on the island can actually be quite affordable. 😉👌 »
@polinadovnar73
« Save us!!! Here, a cocktail costs $1.50!
But don't listen to me, folks. You are the ones drinking. 😊 »
@anastasiyapolovaya
« I'm never hungry or dissatisfied with food! Every country has its options! And here, there are a million choices... I love to wander a little further from the beach in search of not just food. Today, I ventured a bit away and stumbled upon a Saturday market... My selection: water, an omelet made with fresh crab and eggs, and grilled tofu. The price was 230 pesos.

P.S.: The portion of crab was so big that I could only finish half of it... 😊 »
@malinarimari
« Seafood is something that never gets boring )))) But in Boracay, it’s not a cheap pleasure ((( for example, 1 kg of shrimp (like tiger shrimp, palm-sized) ranges from 1000 to 2000 pesos, lobsters cost about 4,000 to 5,000 pesos, and various fish start at around 200 pesos per kg, while squid goes for at least 300 pesos. You can bargain, but it can be a hassle to knock off a couple of hundred pesos!! Overall, for anyone flying to Boracay hoping for a wide variety of seafood, just calm down, as fishing is prohibited here, which affects the prices. »
@katrin_bonechka
« Fried potatoes made my day! Half of the residents in my dorm have a photo of it)) and it’s worth it!! It costs more than $1 for 4 potatoes. It feels like the potatoes traveled here just like I did, with two transfers, ferries, and I even took a stroll in Beijing on the way)) »
@motobarber
« In the Philippines, kids are running around everywhere asking for money. Many of them sleep during the day along fences and roads on cardboard boxes, and some get up to ask for coins. A few little ones are willing to walk a kilometer behind you, and you start thinking that maybe giving them some change would make them stop. You hand over a coin, and they run off!

It’s funny how vendors instantly raise their prices when they see a foreigner. I wanted to buy bananas from an old lady. She sold a big bunch to a local girl for 20 pesos, but I got just two bananas for 13!

Seafood prices at the market in Boracay are outrageous! They mark things up by at least 3-4 times. Even if you manage to negotiate down to half, you still end up paying a crazy markup.

When you approach local eateries, the prices aren’t displayed, and Filipinos just make them up on the spot. Now I understand why foreigners prefer to eat at more civilized places like McDonald’s; there, you don’t feel like you’re being scammed. Plus, they sometimes have Wi-Fi.

In Cebu, food prices are about half, sometimes even a third, of those in Boracay. For example, ice cream at McDonald’s in Boracay costs 50 pesos, while the same in Cebu is just 20 pesos.

Water in Boracay is 120 pesos, but in Cebu, it’s 50. Milk is 220 pesos in Boracay and 160 in Cebu. They say local rum here goes for 140-180 pesos per liter, but I haven't tried it yet; I hear it goes well with Cola! »
@pinch_vl
« Good morning! Today let's talk about food! The choice of food on Boracay is diverse, from German pork knuckle to chicken adobo. You can find roasted pork at every corner. A hearty breakfast with fresh juice will cost you about $10. Dinner will be around $15, not including alcohol. The local rum is delicious. There are three types of rum: white, dark, and rum with cappuccino. In stores, rum costs about $2. You can find cocktails made with rum and mango on every corner. So tasty! The local beer is also very good. A 333ml can is $1. I highly recommend getting fruits. The mango is magical—tastier than Thai. We bought a kilogram for almost $3, and not at the market! »
@pinch_vl
« Everything is beautiful so far! We went into a cafe, ordered three dishes, coffee, and three shots of rum. Two fresh juices - mango and lime. It cost about 20 dollars. The mango is very tasty! 😊 »
@natalia_r_67
« I tried oysters and realized that I can't be a connoisseur, so to speak, it's definitely for someone with very specific tastes... By the way, they cost $1.00 per kg here.))) »
@maxzykov
« Bananas grow right in the yards of Filipinos. They are sold everywhere, and the price per kilogram is about $1.20 to $1.80. »
@mishamayak
« Bargaining at the seafood market is so much fun! Initially, they’ll try to sell to you at prices three or four times higher than what you should actually pay. 😄 There’s a huge selection of fresh, large shrimp, lobsters, and crabs available at affordable prices, but you definitely need to negotiate well! 🦞🦀 »
@hachmark
« The Philippines pleasantly surprises with an abundance of various seafood at prices that are a steal by our standards. And the taste? I can't even begin to describe it. Absolutely outstanding!!! »
@serdukova_elena
« Today, we walked into the Italian restaurant "Don Vito." I had heard about this place for a while, but I was hesitant to go in, afraid of steep prices. Today, we checked the menu at the entrance and were surprised: meat dishes and poultry dishes range from $4 to $6 on average! So we decided to go in. The service was quick, and the dishes were brought out sequentially, almost as if they could guess when we were ready for the next one. Highly recommended! 😊 »
@irina_dietolog
« Urban dwellers, hit that vitamin D deficiency with oysters! By the way, oysters not only provide vitamin D (which is lacking in about 90% of the urban population) but also contain several peptides that soothe the nervous system. I can really feel the calmness washing over me. And for about $5.50, you can get 3-4 lbs! :) »
@dinamuldasheva
« It's so delicious!!! By the way, here in Boracay, a kilogram of oysters costs only 50 pesos ($1). »
@mim371
« There isn't a wide variety of fruits on the island. The prices are also not cheap. »
@mim371
« Found a cozy little café away from the beach. The selection isn't huge, but it's tasty! They offer fish, beef, veggies, and a few other things))) all served with rice)) and a variety of juices and drinks. The price for a full meal is around $0.75! Drinks are about $0.10 to $0.15 more expensive than in local shops. Overall, the markup isn't significant. »
@serdukova_elena
« This is a serving of spicy chicken with rice and a drink (soda) for 86 pesos (about $4.80). »