When Puerto Princesa Met Tokyo: My Shrimp Tempura Love Story

Picture this: You're wandering through SM Mall in Puerto Princesa, probably still sandy from your underground river adventure, when suddenly you spot it—a red and white sign that screams "TOKYO TOKYO" like it's trying to teleport you straight to Japan. Plot twist: you're still very much in Palawan, but your taste buds are about to take a first-class flight to flavor town.

Now, I'll be honest. Before this fateful encounter, my relationship with Japanese food was about as shallow as a kiddie pool. Sure, I'd seen sushi in movies and nodded knowingly when people mentioned "authentic Japanese cuisine," but deep down, I was basically a Japanese food virgin. Enter Tokyo Tokyo—my gateway drug to the wonderful world of Rising Sun snacks.

The Great Tempura Awakening

Walking into Tokyo Tokyo felt like stepping into a friendly neighborhood spot that somehow transported familiar Japanese comfort food to the heart of Puerto Princesa. The menu stared back at me with its colorful pictures, and there it was—shrimp tempura—looking absolutely irresistible in all its golden, crispy glory.

"First time trying tempura?" I whispered to myself, channeling my inner food adventurer. Sometimes you just have to dive headfirst into the delicious unknown, right?

When that plate arrived, I swear it was like meeting your soulmate but in food form. Those perfectly battered shrimp sat there looking so photogenic, I almost felt guilty about destroying them. Almost. The golden coating was so light and crispy, it practically whispered sweet nothings to my hungry soul.

The Soy Sauce Symphony

Here's where things got real. That little dish of soy sauce wasn't just a condiment—it was the conductor of this entire flavor orchestra. One dip, one bite, and BOOM—my taste buds threw a parade. The salty, umami-rich sauce paired with that crispy, tender shrimp was like discovering fire all over again, except way more delicious and with zero risk of burning down your cave.

The crunch was everything. You know that satisfying sound when you bite into something perfectly fried? It was like ASMR for food lovers. Each piece delivered that magical contrast—crispy exterior giving way to sweet, succulent shrimp that practically melted in my mouth.

Tourist Life Lesson #847

Sometimes the best travel experiences aren't found on postcards or Instagram-worthy beaches (though Palawan has plenty of those). Sometimes they're hiding in plain sight at your local mall, wrapped in tempura batter and served with a smile.

Tokyo Tokyo didn't just feed my body—it opened my mind to a whole new world of flavors. Who knew that a simple plate of shrimp tempura could turn a regular mall trip into a genuine food revelation?

So here's to Tokyo Tokyo in Puerto Princesa: thank you for being my delicious introduction to Japanese cuisine. My taste buds will never be the same, and honestly, I'm perfectly okay with that addiction.

Next stop: exploring their entire menu. This is just the beginning of my beautiful friendship with Japanese comfort food.

NEAL LLOYD

Street Food Safari: My Delicious Adventure in Puerto Princesa

Picture this: You're wandering through Puerto Princesa's bustling streets when suddenly your nose betrays you. That smoky, sizzling aroma hits like a flavor-scented freight train, and before you know it, you're following your stomach like a hungry bloodhound. Welcome to the wild, wonderful world of Filipino street food – where every corner promises a culinary adventure and every bite tells a story.

The Great Food Cart Olympics

The scene was straight out of a delicious comedy show. Family-run food carts lined the streets like colorful contestants in the world's tastiest competition. Each vendor had their game face on, wielding tongs and ladles like culinary weapons, ready to battle for the hearts (and stomachs) of wandering tourists like myself.

"Try my barbecue!" called one enthusiastic vendor, waving a stick of perfectly charred pork like a meaty magic wand. "Best isaw here!" shouted another, proudly displaying their glistening intestinal masterpieces. Meanwhile, a grandmother was rhythmically dunking quail eggs into golden batter, creating kwek kwek with the precision of a street food surgeon.

Barbecue Pork: Love at First Bite

Let me tell you about that barbecue pork – it was like meeting your soulmate but in food form. The sweet-savory marinade had created this beautiful caramelized crust that crackled between my teeth, releasing waves of smoky goodness that made my taste buds do a happy dance. The meat was so tender it practically fell off the stick, and that lingering sweetness? It hung around my palate like a pleasant song you can't stop humming.

Isaw: The Plot Twist Nobody Expected

Now, isaw – grilled chicken or pork intestines – sounds like the kind of dare your college friends would make after too many drinks. But here's the plot twist: it was absolutely incredible! These chewy, smoky rings packed more flavor than they had any right to. Each bite was an explosion of umami that left me questioning everything I thought I knew about "weird" foods. Pro tip: don't overthink it, just eat it.

Kwek Kwek: The Golden Orbs of Joy

And then came the kwek kwek – these glorious deep-fried quail eggs coated in bright orange batter that looked like tiny suns. One bite revealed the perfect contrast: crispy exterior giving way to creamy egg yolk that painted my mouth with rich, satisfying flavor. Dipped in that tangy vinegar sauce? Pure magic.

The Real Flavor: Filipino Hospitality

Beyond the incredible food, what struck me most was witnessing Filipino culture in action. These weren't just vendors; they were storytellers, each family cart representing generations of recipes and traditions. The friendly competition, the genuine pride in their craft, the way they'd light up when you genuinely enjoyed their food – that's the secret ingredient that makes every bite memorable.

Puerto Princesa's street food scene isn't just about eating; it's about experiencing a culture where food brings families together and strangers become friends over shared meals. Those lingering flavors? They're not just in your mouth – they're in your memories forever.

NEAL LLOYD

From Big Macs to Bangus: My Mang Inasal Adventure

Picture this: You've spent your entire life thinking "fast food" meant a sad, soggy Big Mac and fries that taste like cardboard dipped in salt. Your culinary universe revolves around the holy trinity of McDonald's golden arches, KFC's finger-lickin' good lies, and Hungry Jack's... well, whatever Hungry Jack's does.

Then BAM! You land in the Philippines and discover Mang Inasal, and suddenly your Western fast-food bubble doesn't just burst – it explodes into a million delicious, smoky, char-grilled pieces.

Welcome to the Real Fast Food Universe

Walking into Mang Inasal felt like discovering fire after living in a cave of processed chicken nuggets. The aroma hit me first – that intoxicating smell of chicken kissed by flames and married to Filipino spices. This wasn't your typical "special sauce" situation; this was flavor with a PhD in deliciousness.

As someone whose most exotic fast-food experience was choosing between original recipe and extra crispy, I stood there like a deer in headlights, staring at a menu that might as well have been written in ancient hieroglyphics. Bangus sisig? Palabok? Chicken inasal? My McDonald's-trained brain was having a serious malfunction.

The Great Taste Test Adventure

First up: Chicken Inasal. Holy moly, this isn't chicken – it's poetry on a plate! Marinated in a symphony of Filipino spices, grilled to perfection, and served with that addictive rice that somehow tastes better than any rice has a right to taste. Each bite was like a flavor explosion that made every KFC bucket I'd ever eaten taste like cardboard cosplaying as food.

Then came the Bangus Sisig. Now, I'll admit, fish in fast food was as foreign to me as quantum physics. But one forkful of this sizzling, savory masterpiece and I was questioning every life choice that led me to believe fish sticks were acceptable cuisine. This dish had more personality in one bite than an entire Happy Meal.

And the Palabok? Sweet mother of noodles! These weren't your average spaghetti-and-meatballs situation. This was noodle art – thick, sauce-covered strands topped with enough toppings to make an Italian grandmother weep with joy. It was like someone took comfort food and gave it a Filipino makeover that would make Gordon Ramsay quit cooking out of pure intimidation.

The Fast Food Revolution

Here's the kicker: This was FAST food. Not fine dining, not a fancy restaurant where you need to pronounce things correctly – legitimate, quick, affordable fast food that happened to have more soul than anything I'd encountered in decades of drive-through adventures.

Mang Inasal didn't just serve me a meal; it served me a reality check. Turns out, fast food doesn't have to be a race to the bottom of flavor town. It can be quick, convenient, AND actually taste like someone who cares about food made it.

So farewell, sad Western fast food. I've seen the light, and it's shaped like perfectly grilled chicken inasal. Asia's definition of fast food just ruined me for everything else – and I couldn't be happier about it.

NEAL LLOYD

Street Food Madness in Puerto Princesa: How I Became a Fish Ball Addict (And You Will Too!)

Fair warning: Reading this will make you dangerously hungry and possibly book a flight to the Philippines.

So there I was, strutting through Puerto Princesa like your typical tourist with my oversized camera and sunhat, ready to conquer all the Instagram-worthy spots. Underground river? Check. Beach hopping itinerary? Double check. What I absolutely DID NOT expect? To become completely, utterly, hopelessly obsessed with street food to the point where I forgot why I came here in the first place.

The Food Stall Invasion (And I Surrendered Immediately)

Holy guacamole, you guys – Puerto Princesa doesn't just HAVE street food stalls. It's like the entire city got together and said, "Let's put a delicious food cart on literally every corner and watch tourists lose their minds." Mission accomplished, Puerto Princesa. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

These aren't your sad, questionable hot dog carts. Oh no. These are full-blown culinary operations run by street food ninjas who somehow pack more flavor into a $1 snack than most fancy restaurants manage in a $30 entrée.

Fish Balls: The Gateway Drug to Street Food Addiction

Let me paint you a picture. Golden, crispy spheres bobbing in bubbling oil like tiny edible disco balls. "Fish balls," the vendor says with this knowing grin. My brain goes, "Uh, that sounds... fishy?" (Get it? I'm hilarious.)

One bite. ONE BITE. And suddenly I'm standing there making involuntary "mmmmm" sounds like I'm in a food commercial. These little flavor bombs are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and taste like the ocean had a party with garlic and spices. I immediately ordered six more. Don't judge me.

Kikiam: The Mystery Meat That Stole My Heart

Next victim: kikiam. Honestly had no clue what this sausage-looking thing was, but the way locals were demolishing it told me everything I needed to know. Sometimes you just gotta trust the process, people.

BEST. DECISION. EVER.

This beautiful mystery meat had more layers than my dating life – sweet, savory, perfectly chewy, with this sauce that made me want to drink it straight from the bottle. I'm pretty sure I made sounds that weren't entirely appropriate for public consumption. Zero regrets.

Pig Ears: The Ultimate "Trust Me, Bro" Moment

And then... pig ears. EARS, people. The things that wiggle when pigs are happy.

My squeamish side was screaming, but my adventurous foodie alter ego was like, "We've come this far, Karen. Don't chicken out now." (Yes, I argue with myself. It's called character development.)

Friends, let me tell you something about pig ears – they're basically the universe's way of saying, "Surprise! Everything you thought you knew about food is wrong!" Crispy, crunchy, packed with flavor, and absolutely NOTHING like the chewy nightmare I was imagining. It's like bacon went to CrossFit and came back as the ultimate snack.

The Great Street Food Revelation

Here's what nobody tells you about Philippine street food: it's not just food. It's edible archaeology. These vendors are basically flavor scientists who've discovered combinations that would make Gordon Ramsay weep tears of joy.

Every stall is a mini laboratory of deliciousness. Every bite is like unwrapping a present where the surprise is always "HOLY COW, THIS IS AMAZING!" Your taste buds will literally not know what hit them.

How I Accidentally Became a Street Food Detective

Three days in, I had completely abandoned my fancy hotel dining plan. Why eat predictable resort food when you can have a flavor adventure for the price of a Starbucks coffee? My daily schedule became: tourist thing, street food investigation, another tourist thing, more "research," repeat until I needed a nap.

The locals started recognizing me. I'm pretty sure they had bets going on what weird combination I'd try next. I was basically the entertainment at every food stall.

The Addiction is REAL

I'm not even embarrassed to admit it – I planned my entire sightseeing schedule around meal times. Underground river tour? Cool, but what street food is nearby? Beach day? Awesome, but let's map out the food stalls first.

My camera roll became 90% food photos, 10% actual tourist attractions. Priorities, people. I HAD THEM.

Why You Need This in Your Life (Like, Yesterday)

Puerto Princesa's street food scene isn't just about eating – it's about discovering flavors you didn't know existed, connecting with locals who are proud of their culinary heritage, and having your mind completely blown by ingredients you can't even pronounce.

These aren't just snacks; they're edible adventures. They're conversation starters. They're the reason I'm already planning my return trip (and researching stomach capacity expansion techniques).

The Bottom Line

Forget the fancy restaurants. Skip the hotel buffet. The real magic of Puerto Princesa is happening at street level, where vendors are serving up pure joy for pocket change. Your taste buds will never forgive you if you miss this.

Pack stretchy pants, bring an empty stomach, and prepare to have your entire food world turned upside down. Fair warning: you WILL become obsessed, and you WILL start planning your next Philippines trip before you even leave.

Currently learning Tagalog so I can properly compliment the vendors on my inevitable return. This is serious business, people.

NEAL LLOYD