Simply not in the same league as any of the other places. The ONLY restaurant that could be considered fine dining I’ve encountered so far.
Staff: attentive, fast, friendly
Food: exceptional considering the price (it is a little more expensive than other places, but totally worth it). We had 3 starters, 2 Cocktails, 2 glasses of wine, 2 mains and a desert for… 4000Pesos (65€)
Squid was amazing, fish Panglao was the best Philippine curry I ever tasted, lime Basil fish and crab crisp appetizers also highly recommended.
We needed a reservation because they don’t overcrowd the restaurant. It also has AC.
We stayed 5 nights in El Nido and came here twice. And so should you ;-)
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
₱1,800–2,000
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
A slice of Manhattan cool in El Nido. This is very different from the other places in town; a loft space serving Michelin level food. Mussel and clam escabeche was mind blowing as was fat crab pasta. Lovely service too. More expensive than many places here but it’s worth it.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
₱1,800–2,000
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Well thought menu full of delicious surprise. Flavors exploding in every bite which elevates the usual “grilled” seafood culture. This is another level of putting the roots of Philippines culinary into each plate they serve. I think it’s another way to discover Philippines through the influences of spices and food preparation habits. Many are familiar for me since they serve some food from childhood. Congratulations to the chef and team for the great menu and consistency for making it happen in el nido island.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Seafood cravings definitely satisfied! Superb dining experience in Barakuda. A bit pricy but worth it for the whole island experience. Will definitely go back here when I’m in El Nido. Great service and staff too. Highly recommend!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
We had a wonderful dining experience in Barakuda Seafood Restaurant! We we're 3 pax.
For appetizers we got:
Tuna Tartare Rice Cups- It is my first time to try rice cups and what a pleasant surprise! The cups were crunchy, not oily and the tuna tartare is fresh with balanced flavors.
Palawan Pechay Salad- Who would've thought that you can make a salad with pechay? Plus the salted egg + chorizo? Amazing presentation of local flavors!
Crab bisque- the bisque served to us was hot and the bread as well which was great and the flavors were exemplary. The bisque has bold flavors and I can taste a bit of roasted flavors which I love. Also a great start of the meal.
For the mains:
The Barakuda- this is my first time trying barracuda and I didn't know it was this good?? It was grilled to perfection and the sauce was amazing.
Crab Fat Ravioli- a dish that represents the crab well, they made use of the crab meat and aligue (crab fat) really well, perfectly balanced, acidity, saltiness etc. Can't imagine the work that the team does to prepare this dish!! The bread was soft and well toasted.
Deconstructed lamb- I love love lamb and sinigang separately! And this dish did a great job satisfying my cravings on lamb ✨️ with the tarty glaze which is the "sinigang", love it.
Desserts:
Ube canele- a surprising take on a French classic pastry, loved filipino ingredients (ube & don papa rum). I specially loved the textures inside & outside + the surprise crunch of desiccated coconut, and paired well with coconut ice cream and palawan honeycomb that gives this dessert a surprise sweet ending.
The frozen banana- this was recommended by the chef, noting this is her take on filipino iced drink (sweet drink) which is the saba con hielo, I especially loved that this is not too sweet and I especially liked the layers of flavor that comes with it, you can enjoy each component by itself but the perfect bite is to always eat all of them all together.
Dining in barakuda was a great experience, the interiors was very cozy, the service staff was very attentive, hospitable and exemplary! Really love the ambiance of the space. Will definitely come back to try more!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
₱600–800
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Found this hidden gem —the real pearl of El Nido on our second night and ate here three nights in a row (and I ordered their fried crab every night). Hands down, best restaurant in El Nido and one of the best restaurants I’ve been to of all time.
Chef Cheska is so talented and intentional with her cooking, creatively bringing traditional Filipino flavours and techniques to her take on modern dishes 🤌🏼
In my opinion, it’s a definite contender for a Michelin star! Another reason for me to go back to Palawan!
- Palawan Pechay Salad -
Fresh Pechay with Crumbled Chorizo
& Salted Egg topped with Feta Cheese and Palawan Cashews, served with Seasonal Fruit Vinaigrette
- Pineapple Express -
Thinly sliced raw snapper ceviche style in a fresh pineapple - turmeric dressing topped with fried shallots & red radish
- Basil Lime Snapper -
Thinly sliced raw snapper in a basil-lime bath, ceviche style
- Tosazu Oysters -
Fresh Palawan poached oysters with pickled soy sauce jelly topped with fermented chili
- Mussel & Clams Escabeche -
Clams and Mussels poached in white wine & house spices served with house-made bread
- Grilled Cabbage with Miso -
Grilled sous vide cabbage with miso topped off with cashews and house ferment chili aioli
- Fish Maranao -
Steam-grilled white fish wrapped in banana leaf, coated in southern filipino curry served with “kuning rice
- Pulpo Adobo -
Sous vide octopus tentacle with squid-ink adobo sauce, garnished with Tomato-Garlic confit served with emulsified potatoes
- Fried Crabs -
Deep fried crabs with 3 sauces:
Lemon herb butter, Nouc Cham and Crab Fat sauce
Meal type
Dinner
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Our visit to Barakuda was truly exceptional. It stands out as the finest dining experience we encountered in El Nido. Every dish we enjoyed, from the distinctive pechay salad, tuna tartare, pineapple express to the delectable ravioli, lobster and steak, lamb and prawns, and adobo, showcased a unique and delightful taste. The ube dessert, a delightful conclusion to our meal, is a definite must-try after savoring the remarkable starters and mains mentioned earlier. Although we contemplated a return the next night, we opted to explore a new restaurant. While the new place wasn't bad, it couldn't quite match the outstanding experience we had at Barakuda. I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant to all my friends and anyone planning their first visit to El Nido.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
₱1,000–1,200
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Great service.
You can see the kitchen and is perfectly clean and organized.
The crab bisque is excellent.
Grilled squid spectacular.
Dark chocolat dessert is amazing, the textures, the flavor, everything was perfect with this dessert.
10000% recomended.
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
₱1,200–1,400
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
If you're traveling on a boat and want to enjoy a slightly unusual atmosphere after a few days, the Barracuda has it all. The staff and atmosphere were charming. All cocktails were perfectly mixed. Food had the idea and passion to push the limits. We also had a lobster special and it was nice. I warmly recommend! It's an island restaurant that should have a Michelin star
Service
Take out
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
₱1,800–2,000
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
One of the best new additions to the budding El Nido food scene. Really great atmosphere fit for a seafood restaurant. Food was amazing specially the pulpo adobo which was the highlight of the experience, banana heart salad was also very good. This seafood restaurant is definitely a must visit when in the town of el nido.
This place also is very conveniently found in the center of el nido town. Will definitely visit again!
Service
Dine in
Meal type
Dinner
Price per person
₱800–1,000
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
