SHAKA - Panglao Bohol — Restaurant in Panglao

Really a pity... I gave this place 3 chances, since I liked their concept - vegan food, fresh, local, no additives. But unfortunately the implementation of this concept was apparently not so successful. The restaurant is open to 2 sides, half of it is completely open like a terrace - unfortunately close to the main road. There is a bench next to one wall where you can sit nicely, the other chairs are quite uncomfortable. A few pictures exist, but the place is far from having some atmosphere. There are a lot of fruit options on the menu - shakes, smoothies, bowls - but all with either yoghurt, coconut, banana...nothing for me then, but ok. Otherwise - intresting main dishes, but maybe a few more "common" options would be nice, like pasta or a "not-so-sophisticated burger" for people who just want a burger with a vegan patty, but don't want to undergo experiments. Anyway, the food they serve looks amazing, really a great job! Regarding the taste - tastes are different, so I don't want to criticize, but I was never happy with my choice. I didn't even eat my last dish there at all - due to some indefinable hard stuff on my burger. But the service didn't even bother to ask, what was wrong with my food, when I stopped after a few bites -they just let me pay the bill... And that is unfortunately a point, that has nothing to do with one's preferences. Although the staff tries to be friendly, it is quite unprofessional, lacking attention and care (I asked for some water without ice and 1 min later got a glass of water with ice cubes) - I saw more then once guests waving or shouting - but the girls just kept talking to each other. Apart from that, cleanliness is a point - tables were -if at all- cleaned superficially and I could always find some crumbs etc. on the chairs...(not that I was looking for it^^)

So - who doesn't care about those things and whose taste differs from mine may be happy there - but I will definitely...

Hidden Gem for Healthy Vegetarian Food in Bohol 🌿

This is truly a hidden gem of a vegetarian restaurant in Bohol, located conveniently by the roadside. It’s usually not crowded — likely because it’s plant-based — but honestly, the food here is amazing and thoughtfully prepared.

We tried the Sloppy Joe’s Burger, which was surprisingly satisfying. It had a creative combination of mashed beans and pineapple as the patty — juicy, flavorful, and very filling. The Veg Lasagna was also excellent — rich layers, plenty of vegetables, and great texture.

I also appreciated how conscious the staff were about dietary preferences. For example, when I ordered a Coconut Latte, they asked if I was okay with vanilla syrup being added. Small details like this show their care for customers’ health choices.

I ended up visiting both for breakfast and dinner because I enjoyed it so much. Their Açaí Bowl is worth trying, though note that it’s made with frozen fruits (understandable due to island supply), so it can be quite cold — something to keep in mind if you’re sensitive to icy foods.

Service was quick and friendly, the background music was relaxing, and the overall atmosphere was calm and cozy. Pricing is reasonable, and the location is very accessible. No need to queue, and food comes out fast. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a healthy and satisfying plant-based meal...

Having previously used this chain in both BGC and Siargao, and been let down twice, we gave these guys the benefit of the doubt and thought "third time lucky?!" - how wrong we were!! Now, bear in mind we were the only 2 people in the entire restaurant from start to finish and consider why we had to wait 20 minutes for drinks and then another hour for food that never actually appeared, all whilst the oblivious teenage staff just lounged about doing nothing and certainly not showing any level of attentiveness or professionalism... after an hour we obviously had had enough, so decided to enquire as to the whereabouts of our food... cue some puzzled looks of ignornace and confusion as the staff scrambled around to investigate, only to realise they hadn't even passed our order in to the kitchen - again, we were the only 2 customers in the restaurant!! Suffice to say, having had an hour of our lives wasted, we made our feelings known and rejected any hollow attempt to comp the food once it was eventually cooked and we left with both empty stomachs, a feeling of absolute disgust and dejection and the guarantee we would never give this useless chain another chance - 3 strikes and you're out Shaka!!

If you actually intend on eating: AVOID!...