From Paluto To Turo-Turo! Where To Take Your OFW Loved Ones For A Fun Pinoy Food Trip

Complete your balikbayan bucket list by enjoying a unique dining experience. Here are recommended budget-friendly paluto, boodle and buffet restaurants you can take your family. There are a couple that are big on entertainment, too. After all, you need to fill your stay with good food and good memories.

Paluto

Dampa Seaside at Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City

You know how this goes. Pick any of the day's fresh sea catch from the wet market and choose any nearby restaurants (open-air or indoor) to have your order done for you any way you want. Grill, fried, or stewed, have the fun and freedom of eating your food with bare hands. Like in any public market, "tawad" is acceptable.

Isla Sugbu Seafood City at Venice Grand Canal Mall

Here is where paluto and malling go together. If you end up feeling hungry after your gondola ride at the mall's Venetian Canal, head on to Seafood City and catch their Paluto-All-You-Can promo at P888.

Buffet

Cabalen

Famous for being affordable, Cabalen can satisfy your palate and your wallet with Filipino and Asian cuisines from the restaurant's Kapampangan roots. Cabalen serves merienda buffet as well so you can indulge on bibingka, palitaw, biko, halo-halo at iba pa.

Islas Pinas by Margarita Fores

A newly opened all-day buffet restaurant at the Double Dragon Plaza near SM Mall of Asia, Islas Pinas is a place worth checking out for its "kanayunan" themed interior and truly Filipino designed showcases worth taking pictures with. Time your visit with any of their scheduled events to see their show, exhibit, program and kiddie events.

Food and entertainment

La Fiesta Filipino Cuisine

Get in touch with your roots as you enjoy comfort food with live home-grown entertainment, from live music to cultural shows. La Fiesta, which is popular with tourists, balikbayans and locals alike, is a Filipino themed buffet restaurant situated by the bay at SM Mall of Asia. Walk-ins are welcome, but better to make a reservation if you're a large group.

Music 21 Plaza

You are not a Filipino if you can't do karaoke, and Music 21 Plaza is a great place to have food, family fun, and karaoke. They serve Filipino group entrees like Crispy Ulo, Kinulob na Chicken, Grilled Tuna Belly and Lechon Belly Slab all at a reasonable price. Let the kids choose their slushes or get a tower drink for everyone.

Boodle

Binalot

Binalot offers affordable boodle sets from a group of three to 10 people, all with ensaladang salted egg and tomato. A meal of Daing na Bangus, two Pork Liempos, Pinakbet with Rice and Iced tea can happily satisfy three to four people for only P595. Their handaan package, which includes a big boodle set and bilaos of ulam and pancit, can feed up to 30 people. You can also choose your food combination. With numerous branches in Metro Manila, Luzon and Visayas, it’s easy to find a branch near you. Quick eats and solo sets also available at Binalot Express outlets in mall food courts.

Gerry's Jeepney

This is jeepney themed restaurant with boodle sets named after Metro Manila routes like Quiapo (a set good for two to four people) and Alabang (a set for six to eight people). With branches at Maginhawa St. in UP Village, Quezon City, and Kapitolyo, Pasig, you can have your boodle party in your own private jeep and play dama and sungka while waiting for your order.

Blackbeard's Seafood Island

This restaurant's boodle set is big and beautifully arranged. Each set themed after local places famous for its gastronomical attributes. Blackbeard's Seafood Island's Tali Beach arrangement will surely wow the kids. With about 30 branches nationwide, there's no excuse to miss this experience. Yes, they serve San Miguel beer. Bet you missed that too.