Bantayan Island is one of my favorite pieces of paradise...and that's saying something because I've seen quite a few postcard pretty places. 

The nature in Bantayan Island is jaw-dropping, and the vibe is so chill and laid-back. And, most importantly, the island is home to some of the best food I've ever had in such a long time. Let's put it this way: I've been ditching rice since January. Sadly, Bantayan Island blew that diet into bits. 

I absolutely have no regrets. 

Okay, let this be a warning. You'll be in the direct path of food photos. I am not responsible for any destroyed diet plans. 

Here are some of the food we tried whilst in Bantayan:

If you've been to Bantayan, you've probably seen Chef Panyang and her rapidly growing empire. My gulay, Panyang has them all under her culinary spell. She's got a P150 buffet, All-Day-Breakfast, seafoods and frappes. I'm not a big fan of the buffet, because it's basically just your normal carinderia food and nothing special, but I do love her buy 1 take 1 pizza offerings. 

Normally when in the island, I would go for "island" food like seafood (more on that later) but who can resist 2 pizzas for the price of one (around P275 if my memory is right)? The pizza itself is good, and it's something you and your friends can enjoy on a nice afternoon chill by the beach.

Remembering the fresh and sweet scallops of Bantayan makes me weep. They're the best. And they're so cheap, too. You can often buy them at P100 for three packs, already cooked. All you have to do is dip them in vinegar and pop them in your mouth. They're the perfect meal after a swim. I can eat them for days (and I totally did).

Okay, this is kind of cheating, because we got this from Panyang again. What can we say, her eatery is one of the most affordable in Sta Fe! Anyway, pancakes and other breakfast favorites are common in Bantayan. They serve them all day and in very generous portions. I love the bacon, which is nice and thick. At P125, they come in 3 layers, plus a drink of your choice. If you can't finish them, then at least you can have some snacks on the boat ride home. :)

Bantayan Burrito is the absolute bomb. It's just a little stall somewhere in MJ Square, the local food hub in Sta Fe, but it can easily blow lots of city-based Mexican places out of the water. Their burritos are huge enough to share with another hungry person and are very, very tasty. They even have a TripAdvisor badge to prove it. 

Bestsellers include the Notorious P.I.G, a huge chimichanga deep fried to perfection. It's definitely a must-go when in Bantayan island.

Sadly, I don't have photos of these babies, partly because we consumed them without pausing to take a snap. Shakes are a must-have in the island. It can get terribly hot come noon--- you'll need something to cool down. You can get some fresh mango shakes for as cheap as P60 at Shake Me. If you want to enjoy them at a beachside cafe, you can also head out to Amihan, where they sell for P100.

There's also an eatery that sells pho for only P70. It was so good, but I can't remember the name. It has the word "mango" in it and is located right next to an ate who sells buko. Me and the friends were coming up from a day at the beach when we popped up on the store and had the best and cheapest bowl of pho we've ever had. Ah, I can still smell the lime and taste that broth. So worth it.

Okay, I did warn you. :) I hope your diet regimen is still on track. 

One of the things that sets Bantayan Island apart from other tourist destinations in Cebu is that it has a lot of yummy and cheap food. The choices are diverse: you can eat local seafood one day and enjoy good Mexican fare on another. It is definitely one of my favorite places in the universe. I swear I can live there.

Here's to more good food and pretty places in the island.

Have you been to Bantayan Island? What's your favorite food place there? Let me know in the comments below!

Love, 

K x