Local Food & Market
Carenderias/Canterias, Local Food
Santa Fe is full of small Filipino Canterias/small street side eateries featuring basic local food (fish & pork soups, ground pork dishes, afritada, noodles, all with rice) at cheap prices for those on a tight budget or just to taste something different and local.
These meals are usually around P20+ and the cheapest dishes I've had there are the 'egg omelet' at YAG‘S (small piece - egg with veggies) at P10, and a delicious bowl of spicy noodle soup at P5 at an un-named place run by a gracious old woman, due west across the intersection from Khel‘s BBQ
At these prices, 'ambiance' is bamboo or coco lumber with plastic tables & chairs on a dirt floor - and the food is home-cooked good, with dishes that change daily.
* pictured below at YAG‘S in Santa Fe: fresh ground pork mixed with some diced veggies, rice & soft drink: under $1; less than P50
BBQ in Santa Fe:
The only place to get BBQ chicken (other than a very small number of roadside bbq’s) pork & other BBQ unmentionables is also the best place: KEL'S BBQ, in the center of Santa Fe, at the main intersection in town.
*ask for the tender breast chicken on a stick at P25, as the other native chicken is very tough and chews like bubble gum.
*hanging rice is P3 (sticky rice wrapped in woven palm leaves)
Say hello to Amy at Khel's BBQ - she's one of the hardest working people in Santa Fe.
Other then Santa Fe, you have to go into Bantayan Town at the Pier (about 20 minutes ride time on a motorbike) past the Main Plaza, to the BBQ stalls to get good BBQ - there were 12 stalls there which have since been taken down in May 2007, and they might be replaced in the future with newer, more modern ones, so for the time being the current BBQ stalls in Bantayan Town have been moved to a lot on the south side of the Pier. (BBQ is also available on various small street side stands all over the small Barangays on the Island; featuring the native chicken)
Local Fruit, Pork & Fish Market: Santa Fe
Right in the center of Santa Fe is the local Public Mercado, where you can get fresh Pork & Fish when you'd like to cook - as well as a good assortment of fresh seasonal fruits & veggies, (fresh mango, Fuji Apples, banana, watermelon, small oranges, delicious star apples, sweet pineapple, jackfruit and more) spices and condiments like fresh ginger, spicy vinegar and chilies are also available at the Market.
There’s also a few canteria local food restaurants there in the market that serve tasty & cheap meals, so check them out for a taste of some local flavors.
Previous page: Everything You Need To Know About Bantayan
Next page: Bantayan Island Weather