Pangasinan

Where to stay, Where to Eat, 

& Special Treats

LINGAYEN

WHERE TO STAY

LINGAYEN GULF RESORT (075) 542-5871 Rooms run from P780-2,650 for aircon and P150 per person in the dorm style fan cooled rooms. Rooms are basic and clean. The very few staff manage to keep the place clean and are friendly (probably undermanned as business is low--understatement?). They sporadically get foreign guests, mostly budget travelers. There is a pool but it was empty when we were there-they fill it during peak (summer months) and charge locals for day use. There is also a restaurant but it is currently not operating--they probably have it operational for group bookings (apparently they get some company conferences).

HOTEL CONSUELO (075) 542-8932, 542-8933, fax: 542-8933. All rooms are aircon and go from P750-2,700 There is a pool (no water when we were there--they said that they are cleaning it at the moment…). Staff are very friendly and helpful, especially the guard. The restaurant serves a variety of cuisine.

EL TONEE'S. 24 Maramba Blvd, tel. (075) 542-5904. Aircon rooms are P650 and fan rooms are P450 (unfortunately the windows don't open). P130 per extra person. There is a restaurant/convenient store that serves Filipino food and sandwiches.

WHERE TO EAT

UNCLE SAM in the plaza across the church and the market is very popular with the locals. Open from 7am-11pm, they serve simple tasty cafeteria type meals--ask what was most recently cooked and order that. Currently owned and operated by Feliza Bellasantos, who inherited it from her great-great grandfather. Since 1945 the restaurant has been called Uncle Sam as during this time there were many Americans in the area (it used to be near the protestant church and moved to its current location in 1988). We had mungo (lentil like dish made with mung beans), some pork dish, and sinigang (tamarind based soup/stew)--everything was tasty.

HOTEL CONSUELO. The restaurant serves a variety of cuisine; specialties are Chinese-Filipino dishes. The outside barbeque place is 24hrs, the inside restaurant closes at 10 (though we went there shortly after 9pm on a Saturday and it was closed). Prices are very reasonable. You can get a small sandwich for P25 or a large main dish (main dishes come in S, M, L) for P350 (and the Large dish is good for 4 people, Small good for 1-2).

There is also a Jollibee and a Chow King.

LINGAYEN TREATS

Bukayo (coconut pastille), Maniboc (the local bagoong--fish paste--considered to be the best), Kaling (long dried fish that comes in 3 sizes they say the best is the small one that is also the most expensive, or the thin one).

PANGASINAN REGENCY HOTEL De Venecia Hwy, Calasiao, tel (075) 517-6210, fax 527-0797, email prhotel@yahoo.com. Probably the newest hotel, it opened early 2002. Rooms are spacious and very tastefully decorated using mostly native furnishing of bamboo and rattan. Some floors are nonsmoking. All rooms have bathtubs. Most rooms have 2 twin beds, 18 rooms have matrimonial (double) beds. Rooms are P950 or P1,200. One of the part owners of this hotel owns Pangsinan Village and Dagupan Village Hotels.

WHERE TO EAT
SIAPNOS. Bonuan, Dagupan. People say this is still the best of the seafood places (esp. for the hipon (prawns) either inihaw or sinigang); it is also the most expensive which is one of the reasons the locals come here only for special occasions.

MATUTINA ANNEX I. Bonuan, Dagupan.  Wonderful bathrooms (put in before GMA's last trip). The specialties here are the crispy shrimp and the adobong pusit (squid cooked in a vinegar, soy, and garlic sauce). Inihaw is served in all 3 Matutinas. Matutina annex III is airconditioned (others are only fan cooled and can get hot) and is said to have good tender barbeque (better daw than I and original). Service in I is good; staff is pleasant, patient, helpful in recommending. Food was ok--they say the prices are now comparable with Siapno's since becoming known as "the place that GMA goes". Our meal for 5 was P1,700.

SILVERIO'S. is known for its hito-catfish-dishes.

GAO DONG AI. Dagpan City. Known as the best Chinese restaurant (co-owned by its Hong Kongese chef).

PEDRITO'S. Dagupan City. Offers Mexican, Filipino, and Western fare. Specialty pastries are the yemma and ube balls (and they are very good, not overly sweet as yemma tends to be!). Bathrooms are clean.

LES CAFÉ DU MARC BISTRO. Dagupan City. To me this place sounds French but it is more Italian leaning and specialties are the pasta and pizza. Hours are 7am-2am Mon-Sat and 3pm-12am Sun. There menu is extensive so if you are with picky eaters, you are bound to find something here.

For fast food: Mc Donald's, Jollibee, A&W, Chow King, Greenwich, KFC.

DAGUPAN TREATS

Bonuan Bangus, and Calasiao Puto. The bangus (milkfish) is purportedly the best in the Philippines. I really can't be a judge on that, but it is pretty good. Calasiao, the neighboring barangay has very good puto (rice cake) that is sold in the markets all over Pangasinan and is put daily on the bus to Manila and sold there. They are not exaggerating about the puto! moist and not overly sweet-perfect! Go to the Calasiao Puto Producers--a row of stalls across from the Plaza and diagonally across from the church.

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WHERE TO STAY AND EAT IN LUCAP
100 ISLANDS VIEW, (075) 551-2465, (0917) 434-9969. Owned by Teddy Ferrer, personable and helpful fellow, this is an apartment with 2 bedrooms (each has a double bed) two bathrooms, a living room with CaTV, Kitchen, outdoor porch commanding a view of the hundred islands. List price is $100, But he will discount it to P3,000; if you are a large group, the P3,000 is worth it as 10 can fit comfortably. The apartment is clean, Living room furniture is rattan, both bedrooms and the living room-kitchen are aircon. There is no restaurant, you can cook your own food in the kitchen or eat next door at BARNEY'S.

BARNEY'S, (075) 551-6148, (0919) 430-6589 chris@digitalone.com or marifebaniqued@hotmail.com. This charming place is owned and operated by the Barnett's-Christopher is British (Barney is his nickname) and Marife, who studied Hotel and Restaurant in college, is from Pangasinan. Rooms are clean, aircon, have two double beds, a well-stocked refrigerator, CaTV, and are tastefully furnished with bamboo and rattan. There is a ceiling fan for those who prefer to use the fan and open the windows for fresh air. Rooms are P1,500. This has got to be the best place to eat in Lucap and in Alaminos (and possibly Pangasinan). Food is FANTASTIC and we saw their excellent, very modern and clean kitchen that is up to "European Standards." Must have been the best calamares (squid rings) I have tried in the Philippines-flavorful and tender; and one of the best kilawin (fish cooked by marinating it in a vinegar based marinade-theirs incorporates fresh chili that gives it just the right amount of kick. The place is quiet, even though there is a bar with videoke (it is turned off at 10pm). Chris will also take people diving, as of now you must bring your own gear, tanks can be filled in Alaminos-the air is CLEAN. Another plus are Chris and Marife, both are friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable about the area.

VISTA DEL MAR (075) 551-4455; Dagupan: 552-0464, fax 552-6193; Manila: 413-8037, fax 413-8025. Email vistadmar@hotmail.com This is the largest resort in the area, with deluxe rooms (P1,500, w ac, bathroom w hot h2o; set up is either two twin beds or one double bed) and standard rooms (P800, w ac but no hot h2o). Rooms are simple and clean. There is a coffee shop, restaurant, and banquet hall (used mainly for seminars and weddings). Staff are friendly.

SEASIDE HAVEN (LS MARINA 100), "end of the boulevard" (075) 551-2711. This place reminded me of Sanafe in Banaue--white building with green roof. At the entrance are 3 nice old-looking benches with cartela/kalesa (carriage) wheels on the sides. Rooms and cottages are clean. Rates run from P1,000 (no hot h2o) to P1,500 (w hot h20), all are aircon and have bathrooms.

For fastfood, Mc Donald's in Alaminos.

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DASOL TREATS

Tupig  (sticky rice cake of ground sweet rice, mixed with coconut milk and sugar, slowly cooked--about 4hrs--then wrapped in banana leaves and roasted over a fire), and camote cuchinta (sticky sweet made with camote--sweet potato) available fresh at the town market. See description above.

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BOLINAO

WHERE TO STAY 
COCO BEACH RESORT, Ilog Malino. Prices range from P600-P2,000 per room/cottage. The more expensive ones have a small bathroom with toilet and shower, no hot water. Owned by the Tombaga family and run by Sidney Tombaga (call her for reservations at 0917-486-1902). Sidney and her father are helpful and friendly.

LIW LIWA SUMMER BEACH CAMP. Patar. (075) 554-2062. This place has adorable dogs, and a friendly owner. Cottages run from P1,500-3,000. Each cottage has 2 rooms and kitchens. You can fit 8-10 people.

BING'S BEACH RESORT Patar. 0912-856-1585 and 0917-691-0082. Probably the largest resort in the area. The property is split, part is beach side the other is the other side of the road. Rates are P800-6,000 and rooms are clean.

WHITE BEACH RESORT DUTCH BEACH. Patar. (075) 554-2292. dutch.beach.nl@wxs.nl P1,000-P2,200. Rooms are aircon, interestingly designed, clean, and the staff is friendly.

TREASURES OF BOLINAO near the road to the light house. This place has cement cottages facing the beach, each has 2 single beds, porch, and no bathroom (the bathroom is in a separate building). In a peach cement building at the back of the property there are aircon rooms, that have 2 double beds, nice bamboo furniture, and bathrooms. For inquiries and reservations contact (075) 375-8884 or 413-4914 and 0916-372-1979, 0916-372-5365, 0916-669-2390.

 

GARDEN PARADISE RESORT. (075) 093603722. Clean aircon or fan cooled rooms in a green cement building.

 

WHERE TO EAT
SHORT TIME, near the church, is aircon and has simple meals and snacks.

 

BOLINAO TREAT
binongey--malagkit (sticky rice) mixed with coconut milk, cooked in bamboo then roasted. It is available near the church.