ubeco — Restaurant in Panglao

Earlier this year, I visited Bohol as a tourist, not looking for anything extravagant, just a bit of indulgence to make the trip memorable. A good friend insisted I try Ubeco Panglao, and I’m glad I listened.

First impressions? It felt like I had just landed in Korea. The place was packed with Korean diners, and honestly, the only reminder I was still in the Philippines was the trademark Bohol hospitality who made us feel like welcomed guests.

Pro tip: Make a reservation. The place fills up fast during lunch and dinner. No walk-ins, no matter how charming you are.

Now let’s talk about the drinks: Beach Blossom and Kalamansi Soju. Both were absolute stars: refreshing, well-balanced, and just hit the right spot without being overwhelming.

The food? A total delight. Every dish we ordered was plated beautifully and tasted just as good. I even found myself admiring other tables’ orders just because everything looked so thoughtfully prepared and presented.

If you’re in Panglao and looking for a restaurant that delivers both in flavor and experience, Ubeco is definitely worth the visit. Just make sure to plan ahead. It’s a popular spot...

I didn't last 5 minutes in here. The accoustics are terrible!

The shop is a big empty square with bare walls where all the sounds and noises from inside reverberate and ricochet, creating an unsettling cacophony of mixed noises.

For some reason, the bar is located inside the main dining area, so you hear the blenders, martini shakers and workers talking over all these noises.

I was sitting at a table in the middle and on the other side there was a party of 6 women who were talking loudly and were very busy taking selfies. Their loud talking bounced off the walls so perfectly, it felt like I was sitting at the table with them.

Definitely not a peaceful or relaxing coffee shop. If you like high energy and loud noises, then go for it!

I had brought some work but I didn't bring my headphones, so working here was out of the question. I am a writer and I need to be able to hear my thoughts...not possible here.

Too bad. The silver lining- I found a much more Zen coffee shop down the road (Endless Summer) where the atmosphere was much more to my liking and more conducive to thinking...

Really glad i found Ubeco in Panglao island. It’s about 10 minutes on a motorbike from Alona beach but worth it. Healthy Korean inspired cuisine with really good gourmet coffee. Open from 11 am 6 days a week. The decor is super clean and minimal ( very clean toilets !) . Loving the outdoor seating with tropical garden setting. The food was healthy light and beautifully presented . We had the bulgogi bowl. Again beautiful presentation and delicious ( small improvement would be to go lighter on the lettuce filler ). The coconut iced coffee “smoothie” was a decadent joy. Appreciated the efforts to be conscious using reusable bamboo straws . Prices reasonable, on the higher side for the area, especially coffee. Another minor improvement would be to treat the mosquitos in the garden as there are a lot , even during the day, to make Sitting outside even more pleasant . Staff is friendly. Would go back again to try the...