The 9 Best Cafes & Restaurants in El Nido Palawan: My Favorite Food Spots (2025)

After spending almost three months traveling through the Philippines, hopping from island to island, I’m finally putting together all my travel guides for El Nido.

El Nido is probably the most famous tourist destination in the Philippines and in my opinion, that comes with a mix of highs and lows. But for now, let’s focus on one of my favorite things: food.

In this little guide on the best restaurants in El Nido Palawan, I’ll share the places I actually ate at and liked, nothing fancy, just my personal experience. This is obviously not a Michelin list or anything like that. These are the spots I’d genuinely recommend to other travelers.

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What are the Best Restaurants in El Nido Palawan? Here is Where I Actually Ate

As with all my blog posts, I want to keep things honest, so I’ll say this upfront: El Nido was the last place I visited in the Philippines, and from a foodie point of view, it doesn’t quite compare to somewhere like Siargao. It’s just not on the same level.

Sorry to start off a bit negative, because there were places I really liked. El Nido just doesn’t have that high-end foodie vibe that Siargao does.

That said, I still found some great restaurants in El Nido Palawan that I really enjoyed. I had amazing coffee at Hama Coffee El Nido (which, in my opinion, is the best cafe in El Nido), some fresh ceviche, delicious grilled fish, and even a couple of simple local restaurants that were some of the best I visited in the Philippines.

The only thing is that it took a bit more effort to find those places but they’re definitely there. Ok that’s enough of me being all grumpy about it, let’s get into the best El Nido restaurants and where you can find some great food here.

Just a quick heads up: this isn’t a ranking. All of these spots are great for different reasons, some are just great for pizza, others are perfect for sunset drinks. A few are super cheap, and some really surprised me when I had zero expectations. So yeah, no rankings here, just a mix of places I genuinely liked for different reasons

1. AP Kala Beach Bar // Best Restaurant for Sunset

Opening Hours: 7am-1am
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★★★
Menu & Location

We actually came here twice, which says a lot. AP Kala Beach Bar is right at Town Square, tucked along the water, and to me, it’s one of the nicer restaurants in El Nido. It’s got a slightly more upscale vibe, and the view over the beach and bay is honestly one of the best in town.

What surprised me, though, was the food. I was expecting basic beach bar stuff, nothing special, but the ceviche they have here is super fresh, and packed with flavor. I ended up ordering a second round because it was that good. Like, this place had no business serving some of the best ceviche I ate in the Philippines… but here we are.

They’ve also got great cocktails and a bunch of other appetizers that are worth a try. Perfect for sunset drinks or even a date night if you want something casual but still nice.

2. Hama Coffee El Nido // Best Cafe in El Nido

Opening Hours: 7am-5pm
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★★★
Menu & Location

I honestly struggled a bit in Palawan to find a proper coffee spot. It’s interesting how different the food culture is across the Philippines, even between islands. Some have amazing restaurants and cafés, while others (even the equally touristy ones) really don’t.

So I was pretty relieved when I found Hama Coffee in El Nido. I’d go as far as saying it’s not just the best café in El Nido, it might be the best in all of Palawan. They make an excellent flat white and latte, but they also do a great breakfast and have a little selection of cakes and Danish pastries that are actually really good.

We ended up coming here almost every day, not just for the coffee but also because the view is beautiful. You’re looking out over the ocean with limestone cliffs in the background. Just a heads-up though: it gets really busy. I don’t think we ever managed to get a table right away.

3. Maa’s Grill // Best Seafood in El Nido

Opening Hours: 7am-10pm
Price: $
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

Maa’s Grill is this tiny local seafood spot right on El Nido’s main road, and honestly, it surprised me in the best way. I was craving seafood that night, so I looked up where to get some decent kinilaw and this place popped up.

It’s nothing fancy at all. Super basic setup, a couple of tables, that’s it. But the food is just so good. We ordered a whole grilled fish and a plate of kinilaw, and both were spot on. The fish was cooked perfectly, and the kinilaw was fresh, tangy, and juicy.

This was easily some of the best-value seafood I had anywhere in the Philippines. We paid less than $10 total for everything. For a whole grilled fish and fresh kinilaw? That’s almost ridiculous.

4. Mia’s Bistro // My Favorite Affordable Restaurant in El Nido

Opening Hours: 9am-10pm
Price: $
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

Mia’s Bistro was my go-to spot for a really good budget dinner in El Nido. It’s a little bit outside of town, but it gets busy every night, clearly all the backpackers and budget travellers are onto it.

It’s a small local restaurant, but the menu’s surprisingly varied. They do a chicken pesto pasta that’s actually pretty good, a few decent curries, and even some super delicious mango pancakes.

Look, it’s not the best meal you’ll ever have, but that’s not the point. It’s affordable, tasty, and the portions are generous. If you’re after a cheap dinner that still hits the spot, this is my personal pick. Just try to come around 5 or 6PM, because after that, it can be hard to grab a table.

5. Oppa Kitchen // One of the Top Restaurants in El Nido

Opening Hours: 12pm-10pm
Price: $$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

Oppa Kitchen is this tiny little spot with maybe 10 seats total, but it’s kind of an institution in El Nido. Everyone knows it. I ended up here after seeing all the glowing reviews on Google, and honestly, it really lives up to the hype.

The food is a bit of a mix of Korean, Japanese, maybe even a touch of Hawaiian thrown in. They’ve got tuna poke, poke bowls, tuna tacos, soups, sandwiches… it’s a super interesting combo, but somehow it works.

I actually only went once, on my last night in El Nido, and I really wish I’d gone sooner. I had the tuna tacos, which were super tasty, and a Philly cheesesteak sandwich that was way better than I expected. It’s more of a counter-with-some-bar-stools kind of setup, so not exactly a date-night place, but the food is awesome. Big thumbs up from me.

6. Bella Vita El Nido

Opening Hours: 12pm-9:30pm
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★
Menu & Location

One of the best Italian restaurants in El Nido, in my opinion, is Bella Vita. I wouldn’t say they have the best pizza in town, that title goes to someone else on this list, but they’re a strong second, especially because their location is just perfect.

Bella Vita is right on Corong-Corong Beach, so not in El Nido town itself, but the beachfront setting makes it worth the short ride. The restaurant is super cute, and the sunsets here are incredible, so yes, pizza, wine, and sunset absolutely works.

I really liked the food here. The pizza was great, especially the burrata one, which was definitely my favorite.

7. Big Bad Thai Restaurant El Nido

Opening Hours: 8am-12am
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

From what I’ve seen, Big Bad Thai is one of the most popular restaurants in El Nido. At least when we went, it was packed, and by the time we left, there was already a line of people waiting to get in. But honestly, the food is really delicious, so it makes sense.

Big Bad Thai is your classic Thai spot. They serve satay, different Thai curries, pad Thai, mango sticky rice, all the staples.

I kinda made the mistake of ordering the yellow curry, which had three chilis marked next to it on the menu. That thing absolutely blew my face off. I think it might’ve been the spiciest Thai dish I’ve ever had. But to be fair, the menu did warn me, so that one’s on me. Flavor-wise though, it was actually really good.

Definitely a big recommendation from me, just be warned: if they say something’s spicy, they mean it.

8. Osaka Castle El Nido

Opening Hours: 8am-11pm
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★★
Menu & Location

I was honestly pretty surprised to find a decent Japanese restaurant in El Nido, but Osaka Castle is actually great. They’ve got loads of Japanese dishes, from different types of ramen to gyozas (basically fried dumplings), as well as Japanese katsu curry, sushi, and other noodle dishes.

I was really keen to try the ramen because it looked amazing, but our table was outside and it was about 36°C (98°F), and there was just no way I could do hot noodle soup in that kind of heat. So I went for some sushi and gyozas instead and both were fantastic. Still kinda sad I didn’t try the ramen though.

9. Tutto Passa // Best Pizza Restaurant in El Nido

Opening Hours: 12pm-11pm
Price: $$$
My Rating: ★★★★★
Menu & Location

Tutto Passa easily had the best pizza I tried in El Nido. Their crust is fluffy with a nice crispy bottom, and the burrata pizza I had was just so so delicious. We came here on a little date night, ordered bruschetta, a salad, wine, the whole thing and everything was great.

On top of that, the restaurant itself is small and cozy, with a really cute design. It’s perfect for a proper sit-down Italian dinner with some wine. Definitely my number one recommendation for pizza in El Nido.

Now, I don’t usually like to talk badly about places, but I feel like I should mention this. There’s a super popular spot right in the center of town called Gorgonzola Pizza, and I honestly don’t get the hype. I went there, and the pizza was just incredibly average. With so many better options around, including right here at Tutto Passa, it’s not a place I’d recommend, even if it shows up with loads of reviews.

FAQs About The Best Restaurants in El Nido Palawan

Is El Nido Palawan worth visiting?

Yes, for sure. El Nido town itself isn’t really my favorite, it’s super touristy, but it’s definitely worth visiting for the stunning nature that surrounds it.

Where to eat in El Nido?

I think my personal favorite might actually be Maa’s Grill. They served some of the best grilled fish and kinilaw I had anywhere in Palawan.

What to do in El Nido?

El Nido is famous for its island-hopping boat tours, known as Tour A, B, C, and D. They take you to different beaches and limestone formations around Bacuit Bay, and it’s absolutely gorgeous.

How to get to El Nido?

You can fly directly into El Nido (which surprisingly not many people realize), or take a van or bus from Puerto Princesa, which takes around 5–6 hours.

Final Thoughts on the Best El Nido Restaurants

Like I mentioned at the start, El Nido doesn’t have the best food scene in the Philippines, but it’s not the worst either. Because it’s so touristy (probably the most touristy place I’ve seen in the country), there’s a lot of pretty average food.

Compared to somewhere like General Luna in Siargao, where nearly every cafe and restaurant is great, El Nido feels a bit hit or miss.

That said, El Nido is still a must on most people’s Philippines itinerary, and there are some gems, you just have to sift through a sea of mediocre options. Hopefully, this little guide to the best restaurants in El Nido Palawan helps you find a few solid spots to eat while you’re there.