Bohol Travelogue: Why Panglao Island Should Be Your Next Food Trip Destination

Stricken by the one-two punch of the COVID-19 pandemic and typhoon Odette, many bars and restaurants remained closed, including a handful that came highly recommended. In search of eats to fill our itinerary, we turned to the locals for suggestions—lesson learned, always ask the locals.

Thai restaurant Wonderland was fascinating in every sense of the word, featuring a mosaic of Che Guevarra, portraits of The Beatles, a humble collection of Korean books, and a dreamy portrait of a woman, who happens to be the restaurant’s owner. We peered into the kitchen to see the muse in action—a giddy Korean immigrant named Bora, now leading the operations while the chef is back in Thailand. She lives behind the restaurant with her seven dogs and boyfriend, the man responsible for the restaurant’s many artworks. Intrigue was at an all-time high, but we were apprehensive about the food. Each and every bite proved us wrong: the pad Thai in a luscious tamarind sauce, flavourful and spicy stir-fried pork with basil, and a beautifully balanced tom yum kung we happily devoured in the humidity of noon.

See also: Where To Order Thai Food In Metro Manila

In dire need of a digestif, we left for Common Crew: a family-owned café that doubles as a co-working space, with an in-house roastery to boot. They even brew their own kombucha—the plum and triple berry is especially noteworthy, made with a plum jam from their aunt’s tree in Germany. However, if there is one item you must try and is worth the inconvenience of a carry-on, it is their brownies: decadent, rich, and impossibly fudgy, the chocolate treat is a treasured family heirloom.

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The heart of the nearby Neapolitan pizzeria Totò e Peppino is undoubtedly the wood-fired brick oven from Naples. A loud voice startled me as I approached it. “Go inside!,” instructed Italian chef-owner Massimo Montisano, so I hopped behind the counter, working the empty oven with the peel as they photographed the obvious tourist. As comical as he is, Montisano is serious about his pizza—his hand-made dough produces that crispy yet pillowy crust, with a slightly salty profile and a gorgeous leopard char characteristic of Neapolitan pies. 

See also: Where To Order The Best Pizzas In Metro Manila

The Buzzz Café became our go-to for dessert—specifically, the ice cream from Bohol Bee Farm. The scoops included unique flavours like guyabano, malunggay, and durian, as well as staples ube, buko, and avocado, best enjoyed with their halo-halo. Though the frozen treats are not transit-friendly, peanut kisses, herbal teas, and the café’s cassava chips are all on display for easy gifting.

See also: Where To Buy Ice Cream: 15 Of The Best Creameries In Metro Manila

After an adequate walk through a questionable alleyway, we found Ken’s Place—a local pub that sees few tourists. As we chatted with the bartender over a cider, the man himself emerged: Kenneth Walbom, an automotive engineer from Sweden. Equipped with a love for craft beer and fine spirits, he now runs perhaps the best-appointed bar on the island. While cocktails are not their forte, the breadth of boozy sips doesn’t leave much to be desired, rivalled only by the potent cinnamon sangria from the Spanish restaurant Bougainvillea. 

See also: 14 Philippine Craft Beers And Where To Buy Them

Our final meal at Yoo’s Panga was an apt representation of our gourmandising experiences thus far. The outlet was both Korean and Taiwanese, with all-you-can-eat barbecue and shabu-shabu to choose from—we opted for both. The Korean set came complete with slices of beef, pork, and the works, and the shabu-shabu set was just as ample, including vegetables, beef, a variety of dumplings, and even crab. Indeed, alternating bites of grilled meats and slurps of spicy broth to the tune of Usher is an essential Panglao experience.

Boarding the physics-defying vessel once more, with four trays of brownies, bags of coffee beans, cassava chips, and added bodyweight, I couldn't help but giggle. My four-day excursion was not at all what I expected. Originally on the hunt for bites native to Bohol, Panglao revealed a vibrant community of charismatic folk from all around the world—and as the itch to travel becomes irrepressible, the excitement on the island grows ever-palpable, ready to astonish unsuspecting tourists with unforgettable experiences.

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