As you’ve probably noticed, at Travel Around the Philippines we’re in love with Bohol. We’ve been traveling to this Philippine island since 2010, when we saw the tiny tarsiers for the first time. A lot has happened since then and we’ve had the chance to explore many of its corners on many occasions. On our latest visit we decided to stay for 3 weeks checking out its waterfalls, mountains, beaches and underwater world; and, of course, we also took the opportunity to research options for where to eat in Bohol.
We won’t lie to you—we love our food—but we’ve sacrificed ourselves for you to put together this guide to restaurants in Bohol. Here we’re going to tell you about our favorite spots for breakfast, lunch and dinner, or for a drink when the sun goes down. And, since Bohol is huge, we’ll also talk about places where to eat in Panglao, Loboc and Anda, the main tourist hubs in this area.
Grab the tinidor and the kutsara and enjoy these places to eat in Bohol!
Where to eat in Panglao: best restaurants and bars
As we tell you in What to do in Panglao, most businesses on the island are located around Alona Beach. Yes, it’s a touristy area, but that has translated into a food scene you’ll hardly find in the Philippines outside Manila or Cebu. Therefore, if you want great places where to eat in Bohol, stay somewhere nearby and get ready to enjoy.
In Alona you’ll find everything from carenderias (the typical Filipino “pots-on-display” eateries) where you can eat in Bohol for €2 to Chinese, Spanish, French or Italian restaurants with imported products and, therefore, higher prices. You’ll also find several places where to eat vegetarian or vegan in Panglao. Whatever you’re craving, you’ll find it!
Here are some of our recommendations on where to eat in Panglao:
Andrea’s Kawayan Eatery: high-level carinderia in Panglao
Some dive instructors tipped us off that the food here was tasty and healthy, so we didn’t hesitate for a second to try it. It quickly became one of our favorites for eating in Bohol. It’s a slightly superior carenderia compared to Naty & Henry in terms of quality. The dishes look less oily and they also cook some items to order. That said, prices are a bit higher.
If you’re vegetarian, you’ll be glad to know they usually have tofu. Even so, you’d better arrive around 13:00 (not after 13:30) because it flies!
By the way, they also serve breakfasts at an unbeatable price. Note: they don’t open on Sundays or for dinner.
Bamboo Place: music and food in Bohol
If you’re looking for a bit of atmosphere while you have dinner, this place isn’t bad at all for eating in Panglao. The food has an international vibe (burgers, Asian dishes like curries or nasi goreng, pasta, salads…), but it’s also a spot geared more toward cocktails and even dancing later into the night. In fact, it’s quite common to find live music or DJs (even Spanish ones).
We feel comfortable every time we go; prices seem fair to us (between 350 and 450 pesos per dish, about average for Panglao) and, if you’re vegetarian/vegan, both the burger and the curry are pretty good. Approved!
Shaka: smothie bowls and tasty vegan burgers
As we mentioned in Where to eat in Siargao, Shaka is now a small Filipino restaurant chain known for its smothie bowls—those pretty bowls of fresh fruit smoothie topped with fruit slices, granola and superfoods like goji berries or spirulina. They’re as good as they are Instagrammable. In Panglao they have their own branch and we’ve gone quite a few times.
It’s a great place for breakfast in Panglao, since you can have a huge bowl and pair it with coffee (they have soy milk), getting a little “combo” discount. Even so, we recommend giving their burgers a chance one day. Although on our last visit we found them a tiny bit worse (maybe too much sauce), the fact that they have craft beers from Cebruary, from Cebu, wins us over. Our favorite is “Las Islas Filipinas”.
By the way, you’ll find more Shaka branches in Siargao, Manila, Siquijor, Moalboal and El Nido (for now!).
The Buzzz Café: breakfast in Panglao
While the food doesn’t strike us as spectacular, it’s a perfect place to have breakfast in Panglao or simply grab a coffee. The views of Alona Beach are the best, next to the Henann resort, and all their products are organic, coming from their Bee Farm crops (we’ll tell you more about this place to eat in Bohol below).
Naty & Henry: where to eat in Bohol on the cheap
We sometimes hear that eating on Alona Beach is a bit expensive and, while that’s partly true, it’s not the whole story. Along the main road you can find reasonably priced restaurants where you can enjoy Filipino food. That’s the case with Naty & Henry, a Filipino carenderia without many pretensions but with a fairly large number of dishes. If you’re vegetarian, there will be 3 or 4 pots that won’t let you down; and if you eat meat or fish, you’ll have even more variety. At night they set up a grill and they have cold beer—no excuse not to eat cheaply!
Plus, the staff are really friendly. You’re sure to have a few laughs with them.
Paeng’s Fried Chicken: cheap fried chicken
Another spot to eat cheaply in Panglao is this small fried chicken joint on the main road near Alona. Don’t expect anything fancy, but at night they set up small tables. There’s another branch on the same road a bit further north. They’re outlets of a chain.
Yoos Panga: try the shabu-shabu
Do you know what shabu-shabu is? It’s basically a Chinese/Korean soup into which you add different ingredients: vegetables, meat, seafood, fish, noodles… The fun part is that you choose the pack and cook it right at the table, so you eat in stages and, as time goes by, it gets tastier. If you’re traveling with friends in the Philippines, this place is great because it’s good value and the ingredients are quality. You can also order “cooked” dishes, but what’s really worth it is the shabu-shabu.
Sushihan: delicious sushi!
A recent addition to Bohol’s restaurants is this somewhat hidden sushi place on the main road. We went shortly after it opened and have returned several times since to see how they’re gradually expanding the menu with more types of sushi (including vegan ones) and other dishes like sashimi, salads and rice bowls.
As for the sushi, it’s actually quite well done. If you’re not a purist, you’ll enjoy it a lot, as they’re quite “innovative”. The value for money is good, with 6-piece plates priced around 300–370 pesos. Obviously, since it’s sushi, you may need to order more because it’s not as filling; but considering what something similar usually costs elsewhere in the world, we think it’s worth it.
The place is pleasant, with an air-conditioned area and an outdoor one. Service is also fast and friendly.
WOnDER LAND_sayaw thai food
This is one of our favorite restaurants in Bohol and we go back every time we visit—though we’re usually so eager we forget to even take photos. The venue is super pleasant, with an air-conditioned ground floor and a spacious open-air upper floor. Service is also quick.
Having spent quite some time in Thailand, the food is actually pretty spot on and the prices, for the quality, aren’t bad at all. They nail the pad thai, as well as the curries. Plus, they can make many dishes in vegetarian or vegan versions. Prices are around 400 pesos. As a curiosity, the owner is Korean.
Panglao DBR Grill: eat cheaply right on Panglao’s best beach
Although Dumaluan Beach (one of the best beaches in Panglao) isn’t private, you’ll be required to pay an entrance fee (unless you come walking from Libaong, which takes about 15 minutes). Well, the best place to enter is via this restaurant, where you’ll pay 30 pesos, unlike the 200+ they charge next door. Since you’re there, if it’s lunchtime, you can grab something grilled with spectacular views. It’s also a good place for a shake (batido) or a cold beer, since the prices aren’t bad at all for being right on the beachfront.
⭐ Avoid visiting on weekends, which is when it tends to be most crowded.
Trudi’s Place: eating right on Alona Beach
You won’t fall in love with their culinary prowess, but if you’re looking for a place to dine in Panglao listening to the waves without breaking the bank, Trudi’s Place has been unbeatable for many years. The menu is very long and includes both Filipino and European dishes (a lot of German influence). If you want something simple, the aglio e olio spaghetti aren’t bad at all, and they also have a barbecue at night. Plus, the beer is cold! It’s a cool spot to sit down for a drink or watch the sunset in Alona.
Isis Thai Restaurant: Thai and Filipino food
Also located on the waterfront at Alona Beach, this is the restaurant belonging to Isis Bungalows, one of the first hotels on this popular Filipino beach. The Thai dishes, although a bit pricey, are well executed. Even the pad thai is made in true Thai style, with tofu. Plus, at night they set up a grill and the atmosphere is good, so it had to be on this list of restaurants where to eat in Bohol.
Giuseppe Pizzeria: the best pizza to eat in Bohol
Although it’s not comparable to the pizzas at Dolce Amore in Siquijor (read more about them in Where to eat in Siquijor) and, although they’re expensive (between 500 and 700 pesos, almost European prices), we have to admit that the pizzas here are the best we tried in Bohol. The service was a little slow, but we found it a very pleasant place for dinner.
Lekker Garden
If you’re looking for a pretty place for dinner around Alona Beach and with a good variety of dishes, we highly recommend Lekker Garden. With South African owners (which you’ll easily spot from the flags), they specialize in braai (barbecue), but they also have a good selection of Asian preparations like nasi goreng or pad thai, as well as Mediterranean ones such as hummus or baba ganoush served with pita bread. On top of that, add cocktails and craft beers and plenty of vegan and vegetarian alternatives.
It’s not cheap (prices between 300 and 400 pesos), but not outrageous either. The service, on the other hand, is quite attentive.
Bohol Bee Farm: almost a tourist attraction
Most tours around Panglao don’t hesitate to make a stop at this peculiar place, which we discovered thanks to a reader’s recommendation. It’s a kind of farm/garden/artisanal workshop where, besides rooms, they have a huge restaurant with sea views. It really is a pleasure to eat dishes made with organic ingredients and we found the place very beautiful, although a bit pricey. The eggplant kinilaw (the Filipino version of ceviche) is one of the tastiest we’ve tried.
Vedge Bohol
If you’re vegetarian or vegan, we recommend making a small effort to come to this Bohol restaurant because it’s truly worth it. It’s the restaurant at Panglao Chocolate Hills Resort (which isn’t all that great) and it doesn’t have many tables, but we were amazed by the variety of dishes, ranging from nachos and ravioli to veganized versions of Filipino classics like adobo or kare-kare. As one of the owners is Korean, you’ll also find some of his homeland’s delights like japchae or kimchi.
The prices are also excellent, with dishes around 250–300 pesos in quite generous portions. They also serve hearty breakfasts and protein shakes. Seriously, we loved it!
Bohol Beach Club restaurant: TOPPPPP!
And now you’re probably thinking: why are these two recommending a resort restaurant? Honestly, it’s no joke—it’s awesome! The Bohol Beach Club is one of the best resorts in Bohol not only because it’s on one of the island’s most beautiful beaches, but because the facilities are TOP. We treated ourselves to staying a couple of nights there on one of our visits and ended up having all our meals at the restaurant, being more than pleasantly surprised by the variety, the service and, above all, the price. You might think that in such a great hotel with direct sea views they’d charge you a fortune, but that’s not the case.
Well, and now you’re asking: if I’m not staying overnight, can I go? YES! That’s why we’ve included it on this list of places to eat in Bohol. On our latest visit to the island, we called to book and they told us we could enter through the resort’s main gate by giving our name—no problem. The good part? You also save yourself the hassle of going to Dumaluan another way and paying the corresponding fee. Here it’s “free”.
By the way, if you’re vegetarian/vegan, you’ll be happy to know they have a special menu and that the “regular” one also includes some tofu dishes.
The Vegan Shack
Another option for vegan eating in Bohol is this small yet charming restaurant located on Panglao’s main road. Since it’s not in the most touristy area, prices are very good (250–300 pesos per dish) and they even have a loyalty card you can request on your first visit, which gives you discounts and some free dishes.
They do versions of Filipino cuisine, including leche flan, and inside (where there’s air conditioning) they serve specialty coffee.
OVERGROWN Café & Bar, a good place to have breakfast in Bohol
Shaka is fine for breakfast, but we prefer Overgrown, a relatively central café in Alona—very pleasant, with air conditioning and lots of beautiful plants. Here, in addition to good coffee and good Wi‑Fi (you can work for a few hours), they serve tasty toast, cheese sandwiches and smothie bowls that will give you energy for the whole day. It’s not extremely cheap, but we think the value for money is good.
Interesting bars for a beer on Alona Beach: Aluna Lounge Bar and Bamboo Place
If you want to have a beer or a Tanduay (Filipino rum) with Coke at night, you’ll find some bars with a bit of atmosphere on Alona Beach almost any time of year. Although this isn’t Boracay or El Nido, there are usually people at Aluna Lounge Bar and Bamboo Place—the first right on the beachfront.
More places to eat in Panglao
Here are a few extra options for eating in Panglao:
- Napoleat Panglao: it occupies the premises of another Italian restaurant, but this one opened recently and they make fantastic pizzas and bruschettas.
- Sisa Bistro: it’s not in Alona, but it’s worth the trip. A place with top-quality products and very good service.
- Izakaya Umiraku: a recently opened Japanese spot that’s extremely well executed.
Where to eat in Loboc: recommended restaurants
Most travelers visit Loboc on a day trip from Alona Beach or other parts of Bohol, so this town in the heart of the island is by no means very touristy. When the sun goes down, few places remain open, so options narrow to your hotel’s restaurant or a couple more. In our opinion, the best places to eat in Loboc are:
Venia’s Kitchen, the restaurant at Loboc River Resort
The last time we stayed to sleep in Loboc was at the Loboc River Resort and, besides enjoying the hotel—which is our favorite in the area for its rooms right on the river—we were pleasantly surprised by its restaurant, which you can also access even if you’re not staying there.
Seriously, it has a very long menu that includes lots of Filipino dishes and others more Western—and at great prices (250–350 pesos). Everything is served with great care, right by the Loboc River, and lots of people work there, so they’ll always be attentive if you need anything. To top it off, a full page of the menu is vegan and vegetarian dishes, which is hard to find in such tiny destinations.
Tres Hermanas: cheap eats in Loboc
We first ate at this carinderia 10 years ago when we were en route to the Chocolate Hills, and we already liked it for the price. We went back and still think the same: local food, varied and good value. No frills.
Food & Fables: a good shot of vitamins
This is the restaurant at the hotel Fox & The Firefly, which we talk about in great depth in this article. It’s a great option whether you’re staying there or not because they have tasty Filipino and Western dishes made with quality ingredients. In fact, many of the fruits and vegetables they use come from their own garden or organic gardens nearby. There are plenty of vegan and vegetarian options, and we especially liked the patacones and the smothie bowls.
Other recommendations on where to eat in Loboc: the stalls and the river boat
Also, although they’re not restaurants as such, at sunset, right in front of the town church and by the river, several grilled skewer stalls usually pop up. And, as we tell you in Things to do in Loboc, if you pass through town at midday, it’s a good opportunity to take a river cruise on one of the boats that go up to the waterfalls. They serve a Filipino food buffet there that isn’t bad at all—it’s a bit touristy, but the scenery is worth it.
Where to eat in Anda: restaurants and bars
You already know we have a soft spot for Anda… We went for the first time when there wasn’t much information online yet and we fell for its charms. And although it’s starting to feature more on travelers’ Philippines travel itineraries, the truth is that it’s still a small town where there aren’t many restaurants or hotels yet—which is part of its charm. Even so, don’t worry: you won’t lack places to eat in Anda, Bohol. Here are our favorites:
Coco Loco: delicious coconut burger!
Did you know there are coconut burgers? Don’t miss the chance to try one at this small bar in the center of Anda—you’ll love it. They also have other wholesome dishes like hummus or bruschetta that are very tasty. They also have hearty breakfasts.
Quinale Beach Bar: eating in Bohol with your feet in the sand
In our early years traveling around the Philippines, when coastal regulations were a bit looser, it was super common to be able to dine right on the beach with your feet in the sand. However, little by little, to regulate the impact of tourism, this practice has been phased out. Even so, in Anda it’s still possible! This government-regulated bar has great prices and, while it’s not Michelin‑star food, they have pancit, sandwiches, French fries, shakes and cold beers.
During the day you can use the umbrellas/cabanas for free—they belong to the bar!
Food center at the Anda market: variety for eating in Anda
In Filipino markets, no matter how far‑flung, there are usually at least a couple of carinderias where you can get something to eat. Well, Anda’s market is one of the best we’ve seen on our travels. There are 5 or 6 carinderias with a huge variety of dishes and, surprisingly, a couple of them (the ones further to the right) usually offer loads of vegetarian dishes. We remember some lumpia (Filipino spring rolls) and some eggplant kinilaw that were SPEC‑TA‑CU‑LAR. And needless to say, the prices are great.
Jepoy’s Pizza: pizzas in Anda to tide you over
Don’t expect anything comparable to the pizzas we told you about in Panglao, but if you’re craving pizza in Anda, well, this place may interest you. You’ll find all kinds of flavors… We’ve even seen pizzas with chocolate. We haven’t dared try them, though.
Anda Food Park
In 2022 the so‑called Anda Food Park opened in Anda. Here you’ll find a wide variety of food stalls selling dishes like seafood, typical Filipino dishes, pasta, pizza, smoothies, BBQ, “snacks” like French fries with extra toppings—basically, a very varied list. There are often live performances and a great atmosphere with locals and tourists who come here for a drink at night.
Where to eat in Tagbilaran
Not many travelers stay in Tagbilaran because, to be honest, it isn’t a very pretty city. However, due to life circumstances (including a hospital stay), we’ve spent a lot of time here and know a couple of places you might like if you’re passing through.
The Front Food Park: a nice food court
Possibly the most pleasant place to have lunch or dinner in Tagbilaran. It’s a set of little stalls (very cute ones) close to the sea. You’ve got all kinds of food (Filipino, BBQ, pizza…) and also a drinks stall (lemonade/tea).
Right behind it there’s a place called BECCA, which is great for watching the sunset, as it looks straight out over the “channel” that separates Bohol from Panglao.
CHIDO Café, possibly one of the best places to eat in Bohol
Whether you’re staying in Tagbi or on the road around Bohol and it’s on your way, don’t hesitate—STOP HERE. For us, it’s one of the best restaurants in Bohol, not only for the food, which is great, but for the amazing views the place has and how beautifully it’s decorated.
Their shakes are sublime (they fill you up a lot, though) and, even though the name sounds Mexican, they actually have a very interesting selection of both Filipino and international dishes at pretty good prices for the quality and quantity. Every time we’ve gone, we’ve left delighted and, what’s more, you can pay by card!
If you’re looking for vegetarian or vegan options in Bohol, take note because they have plenty—and well made.
Map of recommended restaurants where to eat in Bohol
If you want to see all these great places to eat in Bohol in a more visual way, take a look at this map:
Bohol guides
Did you know we have tons of information about Bohol? Take a look:
Do you have any suggestions for where to eat in Bohol? We’d love to read them in the comments!
