Understanding the Dampa Experience
The dampa (paluto) system is a uniquely Filipino dining concept where you select live or freshly caught seafood from market stalls and a restaurant cooks it according to your specifications. You choose the seafood by weight, then communicate your preferred cooking method: grilled, steamed, fried, or prepared in Filipino styles like pinakbet or pangat. The restaurant charges a nominal fee for cooking (typically ₱50-100 depending on complexity), making dampa incredibly affordable compared to traditional fine dining. Prices vary by seafood freshness and market rates: crabs run ₱300-500 per kilo, shrimp ₱250-400, fish ₱150-300 depending on species. The key to good dampa is selecting obviously fresh seafood (bright eyes, strong smell, firm flesh) and choosing a reputable restaurant known for proper food handling. Peak dampa hours are late afternoon (3-6 PM) when catch comes in fresh, though availability varies. This dining style remains popular among locals because it offers transparency--you see exactly what you're eating before it's prepared.
Choosing and Evaluating Fresh Seafood
Fresh seafood quality is paramount when dining at dampa or upscale seafood restaurants. Look for bright, clear eyes (not cloudy or sunken), firm flesh that springs back when pressed, and a clean ocean smell rather than fishy odor. For live crabs and shrimp, watch for active movement and responsive behavior--lethargic shellfish indicates age or poor handling. Gills should be bright red or pink, never brown or gray. At dampa markets, ask the vendor when the catch arrived and which boats brought it in; morning and late afternoon catches are freshest. Don't hesitate to inspect multiple options before selecting--good vendors expect this. At upscale restaurants, ask your server about the day's catch origin and how long items have been in the tank. Premium restaurants rotate stock frequently (daily catches preferred). Price is also an indicator: suspiciously cheap seafood may be older stock. The best dampa and seafood restaurants stand behind their freshness with clear sourcing and happy to answer questions about their inventory.
Seaside Dampa
Seaside Dampa along Macapagal Boulevard represents Manila's most famous dampa experience--the uniquely Filipino paluto system where diners select fresh seafood from wet market stalls, then bring their purchases to one of dozens of restaurants for cooking. The dampa (meaning "camp" in Filipino) concept originated as temporary seaside restaurants where fishermen sold their fresh catches. Today, Seaside Dampa has evolved into a permanent seafood destination with multiple restaurants competing for customers. Popular choices among the many establishments include Hong Kong Master Cook (known for salted egg crab), Huey Ying (praised for tempura), Aling Tonyang's (famous for chili butter preparations), Royal Kitchen, and Super Wok (specialty crab sotanghon). The experience involves browsing market stalls displaying live crabs, fresh prawns, fish, shellfish, and seasonal catches, negotiating prices, then selecting a restaurant to cook your seafood however you prefer--grilled, steamed, fried, in soup, or with signature sauces. Restaurants charge paluto (cooking) fees per dish plus rice, keeping costs reasonable. The open-air, bayfront setting provides Manila Bay breezes and sunset views. Weekends get crowded; weekday visits or early arrivals recommended. Contact: +63 2 556 1779.
Seafood Island
Seafood Island (also operating as Blackbeard's Seafood Island) pioneered the boodle fight dining experience in Metro Manila, transforming a military-style communal eating tradition into a festive restaurant concept. The restaurant's signature boodle feasts feature generous portions of grilled seafood, Filipino favorites, rice varieties, and fresh vegetables arranged on banana leaves for sharing. With over 12 unique boodle feast options, each serves 3-6 people and encourages hands-on, communal eating. Popular items include the Tali Beach boodle (featuring crab, mussels, tilapia, and grilled meats), along with individual dishes like Grilled Tuna Jaw, Butter Chili Garlic Shrimp, and Seafood Sisig. The restaurant also offers fresh paluto options including lobster, crabs, and oysters. The SM Mall of Asia location provides bayfront views and family-friendly atmosphere. The pirate-themed decor and communal dining style make it popular for celebrations and group gatherings. Open 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM (Sunday-Thursday) and 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM (Friday-Saturday). Contact: +63 2 804 0130.
Blackbeard's Seafood Island
Blackbeard's Seafood Island in BGC's Market! Market! brings the popular boodle fight concept to Bonifacio Global City, offering the same festive communal dining experience in a convenient location for BGC workers and residents. The restaurant specializes in boodle feasts--large sharing platters of grilled seafood, meats, rice, and vegetables served on banana leaves that encourage eating by hand in the Filipino kamayan style. Each boodle feast serves 3-6 people and features regional themes with combinations of fresh seafood (crabs, prawns, fish, squid), grilled favorites (pork barbecue, chicken inasal), and Filipino sides. Beyond boodles, the menu includes individual seafood dishes, live and fresh seafood options, and Filipino grilled specialties. The pirate-themed restaurant provides a lively, casual atmosphere perfect for families, barkadas (friend groups), and team celebrations. The Market! Market! location makes it accessible via LRT and offers convenient parking. Open 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM (Sunday-Thursday) and 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM (Friday-Saturday).
Causeway Seafood Restaurant
Causeway Seafood Restaurant has been a Banawe Street institution for Chinese-style seafood and dim sum, serving the Filipino-Chinese community and dim sum enthusiasts for years. The restaurant specializes in Cantonese-style dim sum prepared fresh throughout the day--steamed hakaw (shrimp dumplings) and siomai made with real shrimp, chicken feet, spring rolls, sesame shrimp rolls, rice rolls, radish cake, and kutsay dumplings. The dim sum menu showcases authentic Cantonese techniques and quality ingredients. Beyond dim sum, Causeway serves fresh seafood prepared Chinese-style, congee varieties (fish congee is a specialty), noodle dishes, and Cantonese favorites like roasted duck. The restaurant operates from 10:00 AM to midnight daily, making it accessible for dim sum breakfast, lunch, or late dinner. With multiple locations across Metro Manila (Timog, Banawe, Benavidez, Congressional Avenue), Causeway maintains consistent quality. The Banawe location remains the original and most popular, often crowded with families enjoying weekend dim sum. Pricing is reasonable (₱200-499 per person), and the restaurant accepts reservations. Contact: +63 2 3 410 8690.
There's something magical about selecting your own seafood from the dampa market at sunset, watching the fishermen unload their fresh catch, then having a skilled chef grill it perfectly while the Manila Bay breeze carries the ocean spray. That experience--the transparency, the quality, the community--that's what keeps people coming back to Philippine seafood restaurants.
Uno Seafood Wharf Palace
Uno Seafood Wharf Palace brings Hong Kong-style Cantonese seafood dining to historic Escolta Street in Binondo, Manila's Chinatown. Led by a Hong Kong chef who came to Manila to share authentic Chinese cuisine, the restaurant features tanks of live fish and traditional Chinese royal color schemes (gold and red) in its table settings. The specialty is Cantonese dim sum and fresh seafood prepared in authentic Hong Kong style. Popular dim sum items include crystal steamed dumplings, hakaw, siu mai, and chicken feet, with the steamed suahe earning particular praise for value. The restaurant's best-seller is their Chicken Pie, while other favorites include Wintermelon Soup with Bamboo Fungus, Shrimp with Cashew Nuts, and various fresh seafood preparations. The seafood quality and authenticity have made Uno popular among Filipino-Chinese families seeking genuine Hong Kong flavors. The historic Escolta location adds character, though Binondo's narrow streets mean limited parking--public transport or ride-sharing recommended. Contact: +63 2 232 1054 / 1059 / 1060.
