Kamaya Restaurant & Café — Restaurant in Panglao

A Must-Try Spot for Food Lovers!

My Husband and I just recently dined at this amazing restaurant called KAMAYA and were completely blown away by the flavors, portions, and overall vibe! To start, we had the empanadas stuffed with osso buco, served with a creamy garlic aioli dip. The crust was perfectly golden and flaky, and the filling was rich and tender — absolutely delicious. Alongside that, we tried the beef lumpia (spring rolls). These weren’t your usual spring rolls — they were huge! Easily enough for 2 to 3 people to share. The sweet vinegar dip and chili sauce added just the right kick and tang to every bite. For the main course, we ordered the osso buco caldereta, which felt like the perfect blend of American and Filipino comfort food. The beef was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the sauce had so much depth and flavor. We also had the grilled chicken adobo, which was juicy, flavorful, and served with garlic rice, pickled papaya, and a boiled egg on the side. Every element on the plate complemented each other so well. To top it all off, we were served by ShingShing, who made our dining experience even better with her cheerful personality and great service. She was super attentive and helpful the whole time. Overall, the food was outstanding, the servings were generous, and the service was top-notch. Highly recommend checking this place out if you're craving something hearty, flavorful,...

So, there’s a newly opened restaurant in one of the most remote areas of Panglao, and I decided to try it after seeing a post by Miss Emma Gomez. All I can say is this place is a gem and a treasure for me because:

1.) Ambience – It has Bali vibes, very relaxing, and the place is incredibly peaceful. You won’t feel anything negative, and all the staff exude positive energy.

2.) Service – The service is, in one word, top-tier. I was assisted by Merly, who has such positive vibes, always smiling and accommodating. (Honestly, I had a bad day yesterday because I was disappointed with another restaurant where I had breakfast—the food was so bland. But when I spoke with Merly, who greeted me with a smile, her energy was contagious.) As I’ve said, the staff here are very accommodating, and the place is just filled with positive energy.

3.) Food – Oh my god!!!!! The pork chop is incredibly delicious! No bias here!!! I’ve tasted a lot of pork chops during my travels, but Kamaya’s pork chop is easily one of the best I’ve ever had. And the chef? I know him well because I’ve always seen him in competitions in Cebu, where I’ve been part of the panel of judges. He’s an awardee, so I can vouch for how talented he is.

Overall: 11/10. No bias here, I’m not paid to say this, but if you want to believe me, go ahead and dine in at Kamaya. I highly recommend this place. 😉😉😉

LAMI...

I was looking for a place to have brunch and came across this spot with great ratings and lots of positive reviews. Although it wasn’t located nearby, the trip felt worth it since the ambiance was peaceful and quiet. The place was very aesthetic and had a wide variety of food and drinks on the menu.

I ordered the beef tapa since I hadn’t had breakfast and was craving something with rice. I also tried their Coco Mango drink, and to my surprise, it exceeded my expectations—absolutely mind-blowing! It was super refreshing, especially after a long trip from Cebu.

As for the Filipino breakfast, the beef tapa was tender but a bit on the salty side. However, the sauce they provided (though I wasn’t sure what it was exactly) balanced the flavors nicely and made the dish more enjoyable. The portion size was huge and really filling. My only issue was how oily everything was, but I suppose that’s typical for this kind of dish.

Overall, I really loved the place and would’ve liked to try more from their menu. The only downside is the extra cost to get there—taking a tuk-tuk to Panglao center costs ₱100 per way, which feels overpriced considering it’s not actually that far. The staff were accommodating, though I do wish they...