This place was amazing.. starting from the welcome. You are required to remove your shoes because you step into a beautiful place. The wooden floors and the seating, just makes this place feel like home. Service was excellent. For my family and I, it was the epitome of Filipino culture and hospitality.. starting from removing your shoes before you enter. We ordered the calamari rings, blue marlin, seafood karé-karé and lato salad. Calamari was tender, just right. The blue marlin, was like butter, so yummy. Each plate came with eggplant tempura, atchara and lato. The seafood karé-karé was delicious and really comforting. The lato salad was fresh, it had diced tomatoes, onions and mango. We truly enjoyed our meal and can't wait to come back. read more

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Ambiance was stellar. Everywhere your eye caught, there are plants or artwork to satisfy your curiosity. This is the first restaurant in this island that collects your shoes upon entering the establishment and you're barefoot during your visit until you use their comfort room. They provide house slippers. Their bathroom was quite spacious and clean. This local seafood restaurant features traditional dishes from Philippines with a twist. We tried their local catch which reminds you of the red snapper fish but with a bouncy, chewy, texture and we tried it steamed with black bean sauce. The eel adobo was out of this world! Although it was considered a side dish, the portion was plenty! My favorite was the seafood kare kare! It had the familiar peanut butter sauce but with shrimp and squid instead of the usual beef. read more

Be prepared to take off your shoes when your table is ready. Food was excellent. We had the Kalui Special Set meal which it said good for 2 but really could be for 3. It was a lot of food. Fish Cordon Bleu, Grilled Lapu-Lapu are also recommended The only thing we didn't like is the service. Our seafood kare-kare took so long to arrive that we were already finished eating and had asked them to cancel it read more

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This restaurant was absolutely beautiful. There is a small store inside the restaurant by the tree. There was even a ukulele and a beginner tutorial booklet along with it. The food was absolutely amazing! Mostly shared a bunch of the appetizers and enjoyed some drinks. The service was good and our server was really nice. You do need to take off your shoes once you enter the restaurant. read more

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Location is very accessible. They are known for their seafood dishes which are really delicious as they only use fresh ingredients and fresh produce. Ambiance is very relaxed and family friendly (need to take off your footwear before you enter) so I suggest you wear slippers to lessen the burden of removing and wearing your shoes. Place could be busy most of the time so don't go there when you're really hungry. But it's worth the wait. Making a reservation before you visit is highly recommended. I only gave 4 stars because they don't have a parking space. read more

Not being able to do my planned trip again to the Philippines I am reduced to looking at photos on my old phone and realized I didn't do a review on Kalui after saving them from Goggle Photo trash. How I can I forget the only restaurant I been to that esquires you to remove your shoes and sit close to or on the floor. Not only do they have delirious fresh seafood but the restaurant doubles as an art gallery where you can buy many of the art works by local artist. The island of Palawan is a tremendous source of fresh seafood and the day's catch in only a few hours out of the ocean. A must try at Kalui is the 'Catch of the Day' I had the grilled fish and also shared the Philippine style ceviche and Lapu-lapu with shrimps. My generous meal for 2 was 1600 pesos considered very expensive locally, that is $33 USD. read more

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My first international review! Woohoo! I wanna travel the world and write more. :) Anyways, this restaurant has every bit the kind of feel of an LA restaurant...Why? Because it's themed and fusion. LOL Also, you need a reservation if you want to eat here. Soo...LA! Ok fine...kinda. hahahaha Anyways, actually getting a reservation wasn't really that hard. Our hotel actually got a spot for us early in the afternoon the same day. This place is definitely a fine dining spot because the portions are kinda small. In terms of prices, it's every bit not Beverly Hills. Very affordable in term of US dollars. We did a Prix fixed menu for two people but since I was the 3rd wheel, they just added me at a fee. Then we added an appetizer...some tempura. The one element that I found interesting is that when you get there, you leave your shoes at the door. In reality, you get your own drawer to put it in before you enter. The restaurant is very clean so walking barefoot didn't seem outrageous. Everyone was barefoot...including our servers! LOL I was told by our hotel that the person who owned it (and who is also the chef) was half Filipino and Japanese. I guess that explains the menu. We ate tempura but we also had a Thai curry dish. We also had fish sisig with fresh cracked quail eggs on top. In all honesty, I wasn't stuffed but the menu was a very nice light tasting for the 3 of us. It was nice to see how busy this place and how many foreigners I saw. Does this mean that this place is a tourist trap? Maybe but I felt like it was still a good mix of Filipino culture and other Asian countries that collaborated for a wonderful meal. If I'm ever back on this side of the world, I would love to discover other parts of this menu. It is definitely a seafood place. YUM! read more

Kalui - Fine dining...Filipino style. - Filipino Near Me - Puerto Princesa, PLW

This is apparently the 'best' restaurant in Puerto Princesa and I have to say, I have no idea how it got this accolade. The shrimp had a really flaky, soft texture which was (kinda) gross and not what I expect shrimp to taste like. My friend got the fish of the day and that was actually really delicious so I would definitely skip the shrimp and stick with fish. The tempura was fine and quite filling but I really didn't care for the side vegetables. The seaweed tasted like I was drinking seawater. They give you a fish soup as an appetizer and the soup was quite sweet. This seemed weird as I've never had a fish soup that was sweet before. The fresh fruit at the end of the meal was a nice touch and the service we received here was definitely great. The beautiful ambiance of the restaurant and the awesome service made up for the lackluster food. read more

Kalui - Shrimp dish with tempura + side veg - Filipino Near Me - Puerto Princesa, PLW

A MUST on place to eat in Puerto Princesa. Great ambiance, great service and superb food. Fresh seafood, best fried Calamares. Highly recommended. read more

This place was highly recommended by a family member who visited a few weeks prior to my visit. The place doesn't look as big from the outside entrance. However, when you walk in, it's huge and absolutely beautiful. It's also a bare feet environment so no shoes involved. They do provide baskets or places for your shoes. The decor inside is also just absolutely beautiful. It doesn't scream high class or expensive, just traditional. The mango shake was delicious, probably the best one I've had during my summer vacation in Asia. We were a group of five so we ordered a group platter with the seafood. AMAZING. My spouse even said that the ambiance in KaLui is so beautiful and breath taking that it could probably convince you that mediocre food could match the ambiance, but luckily the food matches the high expectations set by the ambiance. Just to clarify, the food was fantastic! After dinner, we walked around to the back and were so fascinated by the whole restaurant. So glad we made it here. (Make sure to have a reservation! Even though the restaurant is huge and seem a bit empty, just to be on the safe side, make a reservation.) read more

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It's a very popular restaurant so you'll need to make reservations. And because of this, I was anticipating a fabulous meal. The place is very well decorated. This is a barefoot restaurant. Everyone removes their shoes before coming in. That's a nice touch. There are some low tables surrounded with small cushions such as you find in Japanese restaurants. It makes for good ambience. Just remember, this restaurant is Al Fresco. They have a set menu for 2 persons. It seems to be a very popular order. Almost all the tables I checked ordered it. The serving of this set was just right for our appetites: Fish Roll, Fish Steak, Prawns, Vegetable Tempura, rice, soup and fresh fruits for dessert. All for P700.00. Food presentation was very nice too. But as for flavor, I'd say it's just ok. I'm not sure if I just expected so much more. I ate at Badjao Seafood Restaurant last night and I thought the food quality was better. I'd still take first time visitors to this restaurant but I just can't give this restaurant the racing reviews it's been getting from others. Maybe it was a bad day? read more

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Arguably one of the best restaurant experiences in Puerto Princesa THE ROSES: Lovely setting and ambiance. You feel like you're dining alfresco. Dining space is subdivided into several smaller areas so you feel like you're in a very intimate setting. Very nice art collection on the walls. Service is attentive and very courteous. The food is very good, and is mainly 'high-concept' re-interpretations of classic Filipino dishes. One thing I particularly like is that this restaurant doesn't over-cook the fish. Filipino chefs tend to hammer their seafood for some reason (fear of parasites?). Considering the level of dining experience, the prices are very reasonable. THE THORNS: None really, but I do consider the 'no shoes' policy to be a bit precious and gimmicky. THE VERDICT: Kalui is a very classy restaurant that serves well-above-average cuisine. I say definitely check this place out. read more

KaLui is one of the most well-known restaurants in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. It's only a 5-minute drive from the airport and all the tricycle drivers know how to get here. The meals we had here were the best ones in Palawan! The place has a romantic and mellow vibe. It is built of bamboo and you have to remove your footwear before entering the restaurant. You have a choice whether to eat seated on the floor or on a table. We were able to reserve a table at KaLui's and it was a good thing because it was a Friday night, packed with guests! The menu is very simple because the dishes they will serve depends on the catch of the day. It is best that you order the KaLui Special of the Day Set. For Php395 (USD8.50), you get Fish Steak, Prawns, Veggies of the Day, Chili Crabs, and rice good for 2. To the adventurous, try the Sinigang ni Kaka (Php200/USD4.30), which is their version of Sinigang cooked with coconut strips and coconut water. For dessert, they give you a fruit platter (banana, watermelon, papaya and pineapple topped with muscovado sugar) served inside a half slice of coconut. If you're planning to visit Puerto Princesa, eat at KaLui's, you have to eat at this restaurant to complete your vacation. :) read more

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Incredible food and service for very low prices. What hit us first is how beautiful the restaurant was with open to the air laquer wood floors and walls. Next looking at the menu all items are between $1-$5USD. We noticed that each dish had a beautiful presentation accented with local fruits to the point that dishes looked like art. We went during low season during lunch and the restaurant was still packed, at any other time it is imperative to call ahead for a reservation. In our experience in Puerto Princessa Kalui was unrivaled as a restaurant in food quality and decor. While we only went the one time because we wanted to explore other restaurants when we come back we might just go here daily. read more

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All seafood based dishes but it's really really good. Especially the tuna steak they served. It actually tasted like steak

I'm still confused about the "hype" and trying to figure this place out... I came here because I read a review from someone that said this was their favorite restaurant ever and they come to Palawan just for it. I have no idea what kind of food they eat but their palate is VERY different than mine. I will say I'm not a huge seafood person but I eat fish and shrimp and I enjoy making myself a very fresh and well prepared salmon. I ordered their shrimp and a shake. The shake was good and tasted very fresh. But the main meal was very average. There was little flavor and the sauces weren't that good. The breading on the veggies was tasteless and I ordered sweet potatoes but got rice in a separate bowl with no sauce or anything. No part of my meal was soupy or wet so I just ate dry rice and bland shrimp and veggies... They give you soup which was good and fresh coconut at the end with fruit which was good. But he rest was quite average if that. Someone also said the service was excellent and it's really not. It's average at best and there's so many workers yet they're not attentive. The girl next to me even said "they never refilled my water after I asked" and I never got water! Lol. Take the hype with a grain of salt. It's average and I don't see the big deal about this place. There's amazing food here in Palawan and this isn't the best. read more

I suggest making a reservation especially for a large group. Love the place. Have to take shoes off before entering restaurant. Food was delicious except for the seafood sisig which was a little too salty for my taste. We were served soup and complimentary fresh fruit desert. Check this place out for a one of a kind dining experience. Service was excellent! read more

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I first visited Kalui in 2012 and I was really charmed....The second time, last night, not so much. Their formula of delicious, affordable food in a zen-like polished bamboo house with original art, intimate lighting and water features has made this place extremely popular...Perhaps too much. It is completely booked every night of the week...Reservations are a must. It has really become a tourist trap, albeit a very nice one, but I just felt that the emphasis was more about turning over the tables as much as possible, and less about great service. I suppose that every visitor to Puerto Princesa should still check it out...But there are certainly lots of other places to try also. read more

This is by far the best restaurant & food that we've eaten since we arrived in the Philippines. The owner of Cleon Villas (the place that we are staying) suggested this wonderful, delicious restaurant. We had a reservation for 8:30pm, suggestion reservation was for either 6:30 or 8:30. Totally agree that you need reservations, the place was packed with tourist from all over the world. The tricycle ride from our Villa was great even though it was raining. When you get to the restaurant, you are ask to remove your shoes (barefooted style), they have a basket or a cubby with a number so you know which box is yours. There are different style of seating arrangements. We opted for the table but you can choose to seat on the floor with pillows. We ordered 2 of the Kalui special, shrimp with garlic & butter, veggie tempura, sinigang, crab , Fish & chips, pina colada, mango & mango/strawberry shake!!! You can say we were all hungry . The place at first does not look Big inside but once you walk inside the Nara wood floors, it will take you to many rooms that can accommodate big groups. Now, the ladies restroom is a must see, it's weird to say that but wow they did a good job inside the waiting area. Their washbowl is made out of some kind of wood too. I have nothing bad to say about this place. The waitstaff & chef deserves this 5 star from the 9 of us last night. We are very happy & satisfied. All tummies were read more

The food was good. We had the fish steak, fish roll with coconut milk, shrimp, and fresh fruits for dessert. I like the decor and the art works all over the restaurant. FYI, Guess have to take off their shoes to enter in the restaurant. read more

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First stop after arriving in PPS. This place blew me away. It's a no shoes type of restaurant. You leave your shoes at the front.. And walk in and around the restaurant w/ bare feet. It is super clean. There are some tables with chairs.. And there are tables where you sit on pillows. It's shaded and cooling. They got beautiful art work and wood crafts hanging. The bathrooms are super clean. Great food, great service. Cash only. read more

Amazing food and service. We are here multiple days while we visited puerto princessa. The calamasi tea is here very refreshing. Definitely worth the hype! read more

We also ABSOLUTELY love the food! After being in Coron and El Nido, we headed to Puerto Princesa to catch our flight back to Manila. We had a day at PP, so we headed to one of the best restaurants, Kalui! The restaurant itself is an experience - very beautiful wood, decor and ambiance. I loved just BEING in this restaurant. My fiance and I had to order the buko shake of course - young coconut meat, blended in light milk and ice. Served with a wedge of watermelon. SO DELICIOUS! We then had the seafood sisig, diced meaty squid and fish, sizzling on a hot plate, drizzled with kalamansi and pepper. i love that the chunks of fish and squid were so big and chewable and not mushy at all. The flavor was outstanding, and not too spicy. We also ordered the grilled swordfish - which i thought was actually chicken. The fish was ever so perfectly grilled and flavored, SO UNIQUE and the texture is so dense, i thought I was eating a grilled tender chicken breast. Last - we had the curry seafood. This was a fish, wrapped in banana leaves in a very creamy curry sauce. THIS WAS MY FAVORITE!!!! The creamy curry was very coconut-y, the spice was just right and the fish was so tender. I had to eat a bowl of rice with it, and it was heaven. Overall, our experience was phenomenal, the service was great and the restaurant itself was an experience, make sure you go to Kalui when in PP, i sure will be back here for sure! read more

Literally bought everything on the menu in doubles. Everything was excellent in quality, taste, and price. I couldn't believe how inexpensive this gem was. The ambiance is the cherry on top. You come in with your shoes off, seated on the floor, with cultural art surrounding you. This place is a must if you happen to visit Palawan. read more

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Hands down the best place in Puerto Princesa to have a cute and memorable dinner! My sister and I came here for our last night in town and we were just enchanted by how vibrant the restaurant was! We just wanted to take pictures but it's actually pretty dim inside so it's hard to catch in on camera with flash or a high Q cam. The food was good, no doubt, but I think we were more interested in taking pictures (haha, typical). I would most definitely recommend this place to friends and family if they were to ever travel here. Love it and would definitely come back! read more

Kalui - Cute island feel here! - Filipino Near Me - Puerto Princesa, PLW

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Great food, place is so unique. Pictures and paintings on the wall are beautiful! I have never been to a restaurant like this before. Will come back for sure! read more

Kalui - I even found a painting of my fav guitar player in the restroom. Wow! - Filipino Near Me - Puerto Princesa, PLW

This is my second visit from 2008. I remember the place being smaller compared to the expansions they obviously did with the place. But they managed to maintain the ambience for your dining experience. Its very clean and the service is really fast. read more

Kalui - Filipino Near Me - Puerto Princesa, PLW

This place has rave reviews from different recommendations, but this place is definitely definitely overated. When you walk in, the place looks really cool, full of art and different displays. The host will ask you to take off your shoes (no shoes are allowed in the restaurant), and the place is usually packed with guests too. But too bad the food is small portions and just OK flavoring (maybe bc I'm from USA and used to larger entrees). Nothing special about the food. For a seafood restaurant, they didn't have much choices. Their menu is only one front page, and the pricing is the price on American food. Definitely not worth it. And what really annoyed me was if you wanted to use the bathroom, you're still barefoot. Sorry, I'm not walking barefoot in a public bathroom. That's too gross even for me. You're better off eating at the mall. read more

I'd have to say, this is probably the best restaurant in Puerto Princesa. The ambiance was great. I like where there was no footwear allowed. The food was delish. I will definitely come back here again. read more

If you're a tourist here in palawan, you might want to try out the food here in kalui. But of course, as it is a popular restaurant, you will need to make reservations ahead of time. No shoes environment, you would have to take of your shoes and leave it outside, of course they have baskets provided for your shoes. It also has an island like feel to it because of the restaurants appearance. but the best part would be their food. You'd be full in stomach before you know. read more

Great food, specially the fish roll and seafood sisig....Great atmosphere, just wish they have air conditioner, but then, that would spoil the true Filipino native theme... read more

Leave your shoes at the door and enjoy a relaxing afternoon in a locally themed restaurant. The food is good and reasonably priced. But the real reason for going to this restaurant is for the casual island atmosphere. There are a lot of local shops nearby, so this is a part of town where you can easily spend a few hours dining and shopping for locally produced arts and crafts. read more

A very artistic place,just like eating at a gallery,menu is not so much choices and no meat,but taste good,better have a advance reservation,especially at dinner time read more

Hands down one of the most memorable meals you will have in Puerto Princesa. I'll be bold and say that if you are cautious of the street food like I was then you MUST come to Kalui because it is a great restaurant on its own. It has that tropical tiki bar kind of feel but definitely on the good end of the spectrum--feels more romantic and authentic than tacky. read more

Love, love, love. Visited this spot while on vacation. The atmosphere is very nice; open air, smooth bamboo flooring, and beautiful open garden area in the middle. Pictures are difficult to take as the lighting is very dim. But sometimes you just need to enjoy the experience. You take off your shoes as you enter and there are options for regular tables/seats or you can sit on the ground. The food here is firstly, CHEAP. And secondly, DELICIOUS. The dishes all had lovely presentation. They were light and not too filling, but that just means you are able to try more! The mango smoothie was delicious and refreshing. We ordered more dishes than I can remember, but everything was fresh and perfectly cooked. I would definitely recommend a visit to this restaurant. But, then again, it is already a known destination spot. Quick tip: make sure to make a reservation or have your hotel make a reservation as this place is known to be chronically booked out. read more

This restaurant was incredible. It's a new experience for any tourists who love seafood. In this restaurant, you take your shoes off to traverse the place and find your seat. The staff are extremely friendly and we're always there when we asked for anything. The food was delicious and cheap: we ordered about 15 dishes for less that 100 American dollars; roughly 3500 pesos. read more

An unusual all-seafood resto here, but the food's good and the ambiance is what you'll go here for