Balai Seafood Restaurant
+639925413886+ Add websiteImprove this listing
Hours
Sun
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Mon
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Tue
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Wed
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Thu
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Fri
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sat
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
5.0
Travelers' Choice 2024
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Food and ambience
Local cuisine, Bar, Seafood, Grill, Diner, Dining bars
Special occasions, Business meetings
Details
About
Balai Seafood Restaurant is a go-to spot for every seafood lover who visits Boracay. Serves a wide variety of Filipino cuisines but is known for the traditional, savory, and authentic seafood we serve. Perfect for family dine in that welcomes you with a warm home iconic ambiance.
PRICE RANGE
₱2,903.00 – ₱174,196.00
CUISINES
Filipino, Bar, Seafood, Asian, Grill, Diner, Healthy, Dining bars
Special Diets
Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Drinks
FEATURES
Takeout, Reservations, Seating, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Digital Payments, Cash Only, Table Service, Dog Friendly, Family style
Contribute
5.0
472 reviews
Excellent
432
Very good
17
Average
7
Poor
10
Terrible
6
These reviews are machine translated from their original language. Show machine translations?
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coachsauro
Fossano5 contributions
Aug 2024 • friends
Hidden place in a recess of the various souvenir shops between station 3 and station 2. Ask to find it but once found it will not disappoint you!
Don't be fooled by the belonging (wooden benches and tables that could use a fix) because here you eat excellent fish cooked in an exquisite way.
Select the fish (availability of lobsters, shrimps, crabs, freshly caught squid), they take you to see it before cooking and you pay it per kg.
Do not miss the scallops made with a local garlic sauce: amazing!!
Amazing value for money: with 20€ make an epic meal that in Italy you would spend 80€).
Automatically translated
Written August 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark F.
1 contribution
Jun 2024 • couples
Seafood is bought with a vendor up front and that cost is separate from the restaurant itself which charges cooking fees based on the number of dishes plus a 10% service charge. Please be aware. Keep in mind, yes, you can negotiate prices with the seafood vendors. Half my total was just these two. Nonetheless, the food was delicious and cooked well. Workers were nice and accommodating. -MAF
Written June 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rillan G
1 contribution
Jul 2024 • family
we're in seach for a place to celebrate my Mom's birthday, saw this at google, went there for dinner. loved the very filipino vibe interior, al fresco dining, also friendly & attentive staffs and best of all food were served incredibly delicious and value for money. my mom and everyone of us were fulfilled. highly recommended. till our next visit 😋
Written July 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linka
London88 contributions
Jan 2025 • couples
What a scam... I was so disappointed. I've ordered 1 lapo lapo that looks fresh and nice, 1kg oysters, 4 big prawns, 1 small salad and the guys said the price is 2,500 peso which was OK. When we sat he asked us if we want drinks and we said yes 2 sprites. He came with the bill and said we need to pay 10% service charge which we said it's OK and then he said we have to pay another 900 peso for cooking which was really odd. Why you're charging tourist for cooking? That's not fair at all. It's not only about the money, but the atmosphere there. No water, oysters without ice and it was very hot day, dirty toilets, no music. Overall huge disappointment. BTW the fish wasn't tasty after cooking, I could feel bitter taste. Won't be back.
Written January 3, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dmrbay
Ankara398 contributions
Jan 2025 • family
First of all prices comparing to the ones on the main road are good.
A) On the other hand etiquette prices shown to you and the bargained prices you get before you enter the restaurant are approximately same price in other places like this.
B) they will not tell you that you have to pay 1/3 of the price you pay for the seafood for cooking. You will see it when they bring a slip showing your order after you sit down and waiting for your food.
For example my bargained price was 1250 PHP and at the end, I paid 450 PHP for cooking and service etc and ended up paying 1950 PHP.
A day before I paid less in a restaurant for the same items but not as much. Because they were set prices for a portion not sold by kilograms.
Service is normal as seen in any Filipino restaurant.
Written January 25, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kristina N
Ulm58 contributions
Nov 2024 • couples
Food is good although overpriced for Boracay. However, they trick you in without telling you there is a 400 pesos hidden charge for preparing the food plus 10% service charge included in your invoice which you pay each time you order, so make sure you order everything at once. For the money we paid we could have eaten good meals 3 times here, we are really dissatisfied
Written November 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Monty_zr
Manchester8 contributions
Nov 2024 • couples
A sales or promoter agent led us to this restaurant and showed us the menu. We were interested in the garlic butter crab dish which was already expensive but she offered a 50% discount on both crabs. However, we weren’t impressed with the food at all after it arrived. There was plenty of crab meat but there was no taste at all. Even worse when we received the bill, they included an additional cooking fee of 500 pesos. We did report back to the waitress about our feedback on the lack of taste and all she did was apologise. I don’t think we’ll be coming back any time soon regardless of the reviews shared on here by other customers.
Written November 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Craig B
Sydney10 contributions
Mar 2024 • friends
This place is a complete rip off. Steer clear of it at all costs to save your wallets life.
We ordered 8 tiger prawns sweet chilli style, 6 tiger prawns tempura style, one grilled squid, about 15 small steamed clams, about 10 baked clams with grilled cheese mornay style and a small fried rice.
Before any food has been served the manageress comes to our table and outlines to us what we have ordered, the cost of the purchase of the seafood and the additional cost to cook the food. I dont mean one set price to cook the food, I mean a charge to cook each individual dish of about $10AUD.
When I queried why so much to steam clams for 4 mins for them to open up she says simply that the price.
The total bill came to over 8000PHP and then she wanted me to literally sign the quote like I was back in Australia signing up to have my pool renovated....and really the quoted price was much the same.
I pointed out to her that I regularly dine at the five star Fairmont in Makati and had never spent that much for a meal for two there.
She responded by saying well thats the price but we do offer a discount if customers ask for it. I asked her why she didnt just reduce the price to the discounted amount initially to save all of the customer angst and she said well most people dont ask for a discount......in other words we get away with ripping them off.
She offered us a discount of 1500PHP which we took. We knew we were still being dudded but were starving and were sick of the whole process just to be fed.
The food was good quality with the exception of the cheese clams which tasted like they had been topped with fake supermarket cheese spread from a squeeze bottle but generally the food was no better than many other seafood restaurants Id eaten at in Boracay and knowing you are being fleeced just left a taste in my mouth that no amount of sweet chilli could negate.
Written March 13, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Balai Seafood Restaurant Boracay
First of all in behalf of the family of "BALAI SEAFOOD RESTAURANT BORACAY" would like to express gratitude on dining with us and providing DETAILED experience with us.
STEER CLEAR? Appreciated on how you call us. Thank you for mentioning that our "Manageress" did a great job implementing our procedure on providing clear information to you. Which you are not in the position to question our Policy and Procedure in our business. You Signed the ORDER SLIP which indicates the above seafood vendor section 5,200php in total of seafood and at the bottom part is the cooking charge cost 1,800 that includes, Dine Service, Cooking service, employee salary, utility bills, ingredients, gas, etc.. I guess I've said too much and makes you more confuse and cant understand this business
Again, the order slip you signed clearly disclosed that the vendor is not affiliated with Balai Seafood Restaurant.
You didn't Read it? Hunger is not an excuse.
You should be thankful to our staff who deal and negotiate with the vendor to provide you 1500php discount on the seafood.
Overall, we learn from this and surely avoid disrespectful customer like you
Written March 14, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
reginnaivel
2 contributions
Apr 2024 • family
Balai Seafood Restaurant is a hidden gem in the island. I recently dined here with my family for lunch and we were so thankful to our e-trike driver for suggesting this place to us. They offer an incredible selection of seafood dishes with very reasonable prices. Our food was served fresh and hot and the service is top-tier as staffs were attentive and accommodating. The place has this cozy ambience and a good ventilation. Not to mention, it is very pet-friendly since we were allowed to take our dog with us inside. We are excited to come back here on our next visit in the island and will highly recommend Balai Seafood Reataurant to family and friends. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Written April 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mariachiara
Rome16 contributions
Feb 2024 • family
eating at this restaurant was in all respects an experience of a lifetime. The owner took care to tell us about the fishing method of the local fishermen, he welcomed us very kindly, making us feel at home from the first time we had dinner there. It was all delicious and the price is more than fair, we tasted various things including the tiger lobster which left us amazed. The staff was very kind, we hope to return soon.
Corso family
Written February 3, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julie Adams
Keighley60 contributions
Dec 2023 • couples
We visited Balai and had the best seafood I’ve ever had! Everything is absolutely fresh, you pick your seafood in the fish market right outside and they’ll cook it however you want, I had the giant Prawns, baked scallops and crab cooked in sweet chilli - my mouth is watering just writing this 😄
Prices are very reasonable in comparison to other restaurants in the area and the staff are friendly and attentive, if you’re visiting Boracay and love seafood then look no further, I promise that you won’t be disappointed. I can’t wait to go back!!
Written December 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
venice_AlessandraP
Venice23 contributions
Feb 2024 • friends
best place in Boracay to eat fresh fish at a very good price, you choose the fish and they cook it the way you like, very nice and friendly people and owner, very cool place! It is our third dinner here and we will come back! Highly recommended!
Written February 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chiara g
8 contributions
Jan 2025 • couples
The fresh and good fish is definitely not worth the expense.
The prices on the menu are not written and the fish is paid per kilo so be very careful what you order.
For four tempera prawns, four Gambas prawns and a stuffed squid, a beer and a zero coke we spent 80 euros in two.
Compared to other places in Boracay too expensive and also a bit deceptive.
Automatically translated
Written January 26, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul H
North Redington Beach9 contributions
Jul 2023 • family
You pick your seafood first, and pay for it, along with specifying how you want it prepared. Then you go in, order drinks and any other sides (such as rice) with the cooking, sides and drinks being paid separately. The food and preparation were very good. Just know what the going rate is for fresh seafood before you go, as the price for the seafood is negotiable.
Written July 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lukas C
Bacoor3 contributions
Sep 2024 • family
This place is great. after a tiring travel from manila to caticlan, we decided eat first. so we went here for their p349 buffet it was superb yet affordable. we saw that they also offer cooking service for fresh seafood bought from the seafood market. baked scallops is a must try yummy! Highly recommended no wonder they are awarded as Travelers choice!
Written September 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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