Matutina’s: a seafood lover’s haven in Pangasinan

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In celebration of my dear sister’s confirmation as ambassador, we all went on an excursion to Manaoag, Pangasinan. This is our first family outing since my Mom passed away.

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While having lunch at Serendra, I asked my sister where we will eat when we go to Pangasinan and she immediately answered “Matutina’s!”. She beat me to the punch because that’s what I was about to suggest. Apparently, she’s been there before with her friends and this time she wanted to enjoy it with us.

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Matutina’s has been known to be President Gloria Arroyo’s favorite whenever she travels to Pangasinan. See the pictures and judge for yourself.

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Their Sinigang na Bangus (Philippine Milkfish cooked in sour broth) soup is not spectacular, but what I do love about it is that they use fresh Bonuan bangus (fresh milkfish from the town of Bonuan, Pangasinan) and it’s boneless too!

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Ah the wonderful, delicious bangus fat without the bones! One order costs P195.00 (US$4.10) and is good enough for two people.

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Of course, the best “soda” available is buko juice (fresh coconut water) which you may choose to drink fresh from the husk or sweetened with milk, whichever you prefer.

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Each order containing 12 ounces or so costs P45.00 (US$0.94).

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What is lunch without Lechon Kawali (deep-fried pork chunks)? You may choose to use Bagoong Isda (fermented fish paste), which is the Pangasinense staple sauce or the usual soy sauce and vinegar. They have catsup too!

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Each order is good for two persons and costs P110.00 (US$2.30). A real steal!

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Noreen loves Adobong Pusit (squid sauteed in it’s own ink with soy sauce and vinegar) a lot. Luckily, Matutina’s offers it in their menu and it is really very good. Slightly sweet and just right to the bite, Matutina’s Adobong Pusit is the closest rival of Milky Way’s version. The flavors are so similar, it’s hard to say which one tastes better!

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One order costs P175.00 (US$3.60) and is good for two people.

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You can practically do anything with Bangus (milkfish). You can even make it into sizzling sisig, a Pampanga original method of food preparation which was originally done to pig ears and liver. They take the bangus, de-bone, boil then marinated in lemon sauce and other spices. It is then served on a sizzling hotplate with some butter as seasoning and topping. Absolutely delectable.

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An order costs P120.00 (US$2.50). Served sizzling hot!

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Last to arrive, though kinda late, was the Hipon Crispy (crispy shrimp). What they do here is put some flour and batter on fresh shrimp then put these in boiling oil. The result? Shrimp that is so crispy you can eat the whole thing without worrying about the shell. Perfect sauce for this treat is vinegar with a little chili pepper.

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One order of Hipon Crispy costs P180.00 (US$3.75). They usually go best with a bottle of ice-cold beer on the other hand.

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At the end of the meal, the restaurant gives away Buko Pastillas (candied coconut) to their diners. The Pastillas were a great cap to any meal at Matutina’s.

I highly suggest that you drop by any of their three branches when you’re en route to Baguio City or Manaoag. You get great food are great prices. It’s no wonder why it’s almost always full.

Matutina’s is not difficult to find because they now have three branches.

Bonuan Beachfront
0917 642 1466
075 614 3162
Bonuan Tondaligan, Dagupan City, Pangasinan

Urdaneta City
075 568 8288 or 075 624 2065
Nancayasan Highway, Urdaneta City, Pangasinan.

Baguio City
074 446 9009
19A Legarda Road, Baguio City

Related posts:

  1. Lee Foo Panciteria: Affordable Chinese Food in the North
  2. Milky Way revisited

October 13, 2008 · Arpee · 27 Comments
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  Â· Posted in: restaurants

27 Responses

  1. ajay - October 13, 2008

    Congrats to your sister. Does that mean bibisita kayo sa Switzerland? Yay!

    Sarap naman ng pics na yan!

  2. Arpee - October 13, 2008

    to ajay: thanks! in due time, noreen and i will visit her. either late next year or in 2010.

  3. zee - October 13, 2008

    ang sarap naman nyan!!! good post arpee :-)

  4. Ems - October 13, 2008

    *drool*

    The crispy hipon looks very interesting…
    And prices aren’t bad! :-)

  5. Bong - October 13, 2008

    omg! may annex 3 na sila at different branches! woot! i think it’s time to go back!! :)

  6. alma buenviaje - October 13, 2008

    grabe…nagutom ako sa mga photos dito…galing arpee:)

  7. ayi - October 15, 2008

    wow!!!promis me pupunta tau jan sa vacation namin!!!!

  8. Micamyx - October 17, 2008

    Waaah nagugutom na ako woot!

    I’m here in Dagupan right now. Two years ago pala ako last kumain sa matutina.

    Next time try nyo naman yung Dagupena :)

  9. sampaguita - October 17, 2008

    Masaya akong nakikitang kasama mo ang pamilya mo. Congratulations din sa kapatid mo.

  10. Pinoy Food Cravings - October 17, 2008

    I’ll definitely include that on my list of restaurants to visit… great photos arpee..

  11. jhed - October 18, 2008

    ang sasarap nyan brad ah…minsan ipasyal mo naman ako jan.

  12. Paul - November 18, 2008

    I wonder: malamig na ba ang airconditioning nila? The last time na kumain kami dito sobrang init sa loob!

    The food was good nonetheless.

  13. kayen - January 1, 2009

    hi there,, i wud just lyk to share my experience…it was last jan 18, 08..i cudn’t 4get d date bcoz it was my civil wedding and we decided to treat r guests in matutina… The food was great but has a poor service,,,we already had r reservations and yet the table wer not ready,,and tama ba na iserve muna ang malaga before the drinks? and that was the first thing that we asked (drinks)..the worst part e kami pa nag inform sa waitres 2 get na r drinks..and super sungit nung waitress,,,i wanted to report her kaya lang i dont want to ruin my day..i just felt bad that we chose matutina over others tpos we’re just goin to get a bad service… we still eat sa matutina because we love the food..bgla ko lang naaalala ung bad exprience ko evry tym i see the not well mannerd waitres (forgt her name)… we’re goin to eat there soon..im hoping not to see her…

  14. Karlo,Christian - March 23, 2009

    Every time we go home kids like to dine in matutina everyday they love it they said thats the only sea food ever in the world that you must not misssssss…..Fresh ,Clean , Good service, Best sea food. We love matutina.

  15. Oliver,Karina - March 23, 2009

    Every time we come home from overseas(AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND) ang takbo ng isip kung saan kakain .Always in our mind Matutina Here we come……Love to dine everyday, clean , fresh , good service.

  16. Billigflug - April 1, 2009

    Some dishes look really interesting, but I don’t know if I would really eat it… But the prices seem to be great and worth a visit.

  17. ycon - May 18, 2009

    haven’t tried dining in Matutina’s yet. the food seems good. am looking forward to experience with my family & friends the good food, good service in Matutina restaurant when we will visit Philippines soon!

  18. blissful eating | Hungrynez - June 11, 2009

    [...] to have our dinner out with Colby and try the newly opened Tapsi Tummy Resto or try calamares at Matutina’s Restaurant which my youngest sister was bragging how delicious it was. So we jump into the car. While Royce is [...]

  19. Edwin C. Yambao - July 7, 2009

    Dear Sir/Mam: Are you looking for a good location for a possible Branch here in Tarlac City. My location is at San Roque, Tarlac City w/c is where SM Tarlac is also being constructed. My Project is a Comm’l Bldg. and I have the Prospective and Location Plan of the Project. In case you find interest to this, kindly contact me. Thank You Very Much!!!

  20. HONEY AVELINO - October 2, 2009

    Hello to all the employees at Matutina’s Restaurant,
    Your food is fabuluos… Bonga kayo. It was the best food
    I tasted when I was in the Philippines. I went to the best
    places in Makati and Quezon City but yours is by far the best.
    I told all my friend here in the States who are going to the
    Philippines to make sure to eat at your restaurant.
    Thanks for the great service and the fab food.

  21. HONEY AVELINO - October 2, 2009

    Sorry – I meant friends

  22. LLOYD JOHN M. LAGUIT - November 1, 2009

    The food is really good at Matutina’s Restaurant. No wonder my brother JOEL likes this restaurant so much. I’m asking all my friends here in Vancouver who are going home to the Philippines to try this place.

  23. amay - January 24, 2010

    masarap ang pagkain . taga saan ba kayo?

  24. Edd Magalone - March 2, 2010

    To Matutina!s Restaurant. l was there 2 years ago. Took dinner with my friends. The food was good, for excellent. The mo9st l missed there is paksiw na malaga. lm coming this March 18. lm looking forward to be there again, with my friends. So, well see you soon. Edd

  25. Edd Magalone - March 5, 2010

    lm from New York, New York. lm coming home this March 18,2010. Me and my friends will be there in your p0lace. Last two years ago we were there and the food was delicious and excellenct . and we loved it. We order, crispy-pata, paksin na malaga, pinakbet, kilawen na bangos, inihaw na hito, and fried shrimps.Me and my friends are looking to be there again.

  26. Fran - April 27, 2010

    My parents went there earlier today. they drove 5 hours from Manila. They were disappointed with the food at Matutina’s. My mom told me their plates and drinking glasses smelled “malansa”. The sizzling bangus was not good at all. But their sinigang was OK.

  27. John Marvin Jongco - May 1, 2010

    This is John Marvin Jongco of University of Luzon.. To the Matutina’s Restaurant, to their staffs and to specially to their supervisor Ms. Heart Onofre thank you for allowing us to have the interview.. Last time na pumunta po kami dyan sa inyong restaurant sa bonuan ay nag order po kami ng letchon kawali and sisig.. at sarap po nung sauce ng letchon kawali.. and ung sabaw po talaga ang pinaka nagustuhan namin.. after the interview babalik balik po talaga kami jan.. next time po mag order po kami ng specially nyo po jan.. ung crab po ata un. ipapatikim po namin sa aming instructor.. thank you very much to maam heart.. ang bait2x nyu po sobra. thanks Matutina’s Restaurant.. Try nyo po dun masarap talaga.. and napaka peaceful sa restaurant nila.. ang sarap kumain with your family and friends..

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