Get Your Seafood on at Ka Lui Restaurant in Palawan

Get Your Seafood on at Ka Lui Restaurant in Palawan

Two succulent grilled shrimps basted in a tangy orange sauce atop seasoned vegetables is only one of the many famous items on Ka Lui’s seafood menu. Other items include blue marlin, shrimp halabos, eel and stingray in coco cream, fresh vegetables, and tropical fruits with a variety of presentations that will not bore a restless toddler. 10 minutes from Puerto Princesa airport, Palawan, Ka Lui Restaurant is located at 369 Rizal Avenue. Considered the most popular seafood restaurant in Palawan if not the entire Philippines, the menu boasts only seafood, fruits and vegetable items. In fact, Ka Lui attracts international visitors from around the globe. It is a regular spot for Palawan based artists, journalists as well as VIP guests.​

Situated on a busy street in Puerto Princesa, Ka Lui’s wooden sign and bamboo entrance doors is the gateway to a serene dining experience. Its bahay-kubo exterior features tropical bamboo and wood designs demonstrating its Hawaiian/filipino motif. Past the doors is a cozy outdoor garden and waiting area with wooden benches that seemed to belong in a garden magazine. Sculpted tropical plant displays, capiz lamps, a small fountain and palm trees all integrate together to form a welcoming and intimate ambience in this courtyard. This nipa hut restaurant is a spacious open concept structure allowing the breeze to naturally flow throughout.

Rare orchids, hanging seashells, wooden mask decors and wind chimes decorate the interior as well as native weave baskets, oil paintings and filipino jars adorning top shelves. Bananas, cantelopes, watermelons, papayas and plantains are presented on wooden shelves in various corners. The furniture is a bucolic laid back theme with some seats made of abaca sand sacks. Visitors can choose to sit on regular wooden tables or sit on oversize floor cushions to experience Japanese style dining on short tables. Guests are also required to take off and leave footwear in cubicles before being guided to their table. This is understandable as it represents respect in asian countries, not to mention protection for the glistening bamboo flooring throughout the entire restaurant.​

There are a few well kept mini garden areas laid throughout the restaurant. A small art gallery boasting oil paintings on the wall is at the back of the restaurant along with polished wooden benches. Various eclectic artwork by local artists are also laid on the ground for visitors to purchase. To further emphasize the artsy environment, there is entertainment during certain nights with local artists playing native Palawan instruments such as the bamboo flute and bamboo harp.

Ka Lui’s menu displaying only seafood, fresh vegetables and fruits make it an attractive option for healthy eaters...with the bonus of great prices! But healthy does not necessarily mean bland. Visitors can choose tasty seafood entrees such as tuna, fish cordon bleu, shrimps or blue marlin for 180 PHP ($3.75 US) average. Side orders include exotic items such as eel or stingray in coco cream for 150 PHP ($3.15 US). The sizzling seafood sisig (170 PHP) is a must-have with squid served on a hot sizzling pan topped with red peppers and melted cheese. The KaLui Special of the Day for two serves fish steak, prawns, veggies, fried fish with pineapple sauce, rice and starters...all for 395 PHP! For 50 PHP, fruit shakes are also a priority drink as diners get a choice between mango, pineapple, papaya, watermelon, jackfruit and buko (coconut). To top off the native dining experience, complimentary dessert is served with sliced fruits topped with brown sugar presented in half of a coconut shell.​

With delicious quality exotic dishes at an economical price along with the unique native ambience, it is normal for Ka Lui to have a waiting line on a weekend night. It is best to make reservations (048) 433- 2580 to avoid a long wait. They are open for lunch 11 am to 2pm and 6-11 pm for dinner. The restaurant is closed on Sundays. Lunch is a great time to go for those that want to experience a more casual outing. It is best to go in the evening to experience its intimate, incandescent lighting.