The Best Isaw is in Surigao


And yes. I found it! The best isaw in the country. Thank goodness we were left by our boat on the first day of our trip. We needed to stay in Surigao City for the night with the hopes of finally reaching Siargao the next day. 


From the pier, we walked up to the public market and asked around on where to find a decent place to stay for the night. After scouting the whole area, we finally settled at Garcia's Hotel. A newly-renovated hotel at the heart of San Nicolas street (right across the Unicity department store). We got a standard, overnight, aircon room for 650 pesos. They have cheaper rooms for single and/or fan rooms.The room is basic and the toilet is clean. The only problem was that we could hear the noise from the nearby room. There were kids and they were like playing the whole time. But then we took a quick nap while the neighbors were having a children's party.

Garcia's Hotel
for 650 pesos it was expensive for me - do your research next time Carla. argh
We woke up after a few hours and decided to go out and check out what's happening in Surigao city. We checked out the city hall and the famous landmark of the city - the flag pole that commemorates the first flag raising event in the Mindanao area. Butuan and Cagayan de Oro are also claimants of the said "title". 

Moving on, we went into the park and as expected, the locals were flocking there doing their own stuff (it was a Saturday). There was an area where middle-aged men were playing chess. And it wasn't as if they're doing it for leisure, they were so competitive that they even have this timer thing. Cool eh? On the other end, there were women who were having their nails done by the "orange ladies". It was so cute to see that people go to parks (and not salons) for manicure and pedicure.


with timers on the side. pressure eh?
mani and pedi on the park by the "orange ladies" - galing!
Butuan and Cagayan de Oro are also claimants
We walked further to where the pier is. We heard that the grilled stuff there are great and shouldn't be missed. And what we saw was, again, people who were lounging on the benches overlooking the bay and some kids playing kite. It made us sit for a while and chill like the locals. It was so relaxing just to breathe fresh air and to see people who took time to be with their family in the bay area.






Just a few meters from the bay area, numerous food stalls were already starting to grill some barbecues. We found this restaurant named "Pierview" that serves affordable grilled items. What was remarkable was the Isaw (6 pesos) which was so clean and yummy. It was the best isaw I've tasted so far. The grilled liver (13 pesos) and chorizo (20 pesos) were also great according to J - tender and tasty.

ready to hit the grill
the best isaw to date
After an hour, we met up with Nath. She then treated us at Ocean Bounties seafood restaurant. We had some Grilled Squid (which we handpicked), Pansit Bam-e, rice (of course) and a Sizzling Saang (very famous shellfish in Surigao). All that for less than 500 pesos. After that, we went to Tavern Hotel's bar for a couple of beers. Different groups/bands played that night. A mix of almost every genre in music were played. We had so much time drinking and chatting that we ended up going home at around 1:00 a.m. It's not as if we just met a few hours ago eh?

Grilled Squid
Sizzling Saang
Pansit Bam-e
thanks Nath!
Yes we missed the last ferry boat to Siargao that day. But thank goodness 'coz we were able to experience how it is to be a Surigaonon by chilling at the park and the bay area. And also, we got to taste the best isaw ever. To top it all, we met Nath and the 6 hours of non-stop chitchatting seemed so bitin that I promised to bring her to the cheapest areas in Divisoria when she's in Manila. 



24 comments :

  1. Wow never been to Surigao or even the lands of Mindanao.. on my bucket list na makatapak dyan..sarap ng kainan, mura lang ba? Hehe

    [thekidwanderer.blogspot.com]

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    1. this trip was my 2nd time in mindanao. it's never too late arnie :)

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  2. Napaisip ako kasi masarap ang isaw dito sa may Anonas.

    At mam, bakasyon mode ka na! :)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. oo nga. feeling ko 2 months na akong naka-bakasyon ayun pala 3 weeks pa lang. haha

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  3. i also promised nath a divisoria tour! haha

    edi ako na nainggit sa isaw na yan! best ever, told you so!

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    1. o eh di triple date na yan! hehe. at tama ka nga chyng, yun na talaga the best isaw, makagawa nga ng top 5 list. hehe

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  4. Amazing photos! Love the one with the kids and their kites, and the men playing chess (may timer pa talaga...serious business!)

    And the isaw....gusto ko bigla ng isaw! Where to find it at this late hour, hehe. :)

    Great post! :)

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    1. ang saya lang talaga ng mga trip ng tao sa probinsiya. ang lakas maka old school at petiks mode daene :)

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  5. wow isaw! mas masarap kesa sa UP isaw? hehe i would love to go there

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    1. im sorry sa mang larry's pero bongga talaga ang isaw ng surigao :)

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  6. Carla, that sizzling saang looks intriguing. How was it? =)

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    1. hi ethel! shellfish siya eh. and it tasted... hmmm... very seafood. parang lasang fresh na huli na shellfish, basta ganun - told you, ang hirap ko mag-explain pag pagkain :(

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  7. Ang fun! And isaw...

    P.S.
    Surigao and Siargao.. natatanga ko :))

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    1. hi arlet. haha. natawa ako sa surigao at siargao :)

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  8. lovely photos! triple date sa divi, bet ko yan! ;)
    thank you guys for visiting Surigao, I hope you had a fun! :)

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    1. thanks di nath! nag-enjoy kami ng bongga. buti na lang naiwan kami ng RORO. hehe. lesgow sa divi! :)

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  9. Oooh... I'm an isaw lover, so kelangan ma-try ko yan pag nakatapak na rin ako ng Surigao! And will see kung mas winner sya kesa kay suki sa Las Pinas. LOL.

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  10. I agree! The best isaw is in Surigao City :-)

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