Kainan sa Balsa Bacoor Cavite Review

Dining at Kainan sa Balsa Bacoor, Cavite: Review & Experience

Kainan sa Balsa in Bacoor, Cavite has always been a fixture in the local food scene of my hometown. If you live in Bacoor, or pass by the Mabolo area, chances are you’ve probably heard of Kainan sa Balsa. 

I know that I’ve dined at Kainan sa Balsa in my youth together with my family, but I simply couldn’t remember my experience of dining there. And so I thought of revisiting it when I was getting tired of the usual restaurant options at a nearby mall. It was Valentine’s Day after all, and we needed a place where we could celebrate the occasion. 

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The Restaurant

As its name suggests, Kainan sa Balsa is a food destination where you get to experience dining on floating bamboo rafts. The restaurant had a number of huts, each varying in headcount capacity, built on rafts floating over a man-made fish pond. The goal of the restaurant is to provide visitors a small paradise where guests can enjoy each other’s company as if they were relaxing by a lakeside. 

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Over the last three decades, Bacoor has fast become a bustling city, and literally there are plenty of people everywhere you go. Places like Kainan sa Balsa, indeed, offer that quick escape from the busyness of every day. As its website says, Kainan sa Balsa provides guests an “escape out of the ordinary into the extraordinary” in a matter of minutes. 

According to Kainan sa Balsa’s website, you can also go fishing there. They also offer the property for rent for wedding ceremonies or receptions. 

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Humble Beginnings 

Kainan sa Balsa was established by Engr. and Mrs. Guinto over a property owned by their clan. They regularly held gatherings there for their family and friends. This gave them an idea to turn the small hut in the middle of a fish pond where they held special occasions into a restaurant. The restaurant officially opened on September 9, 1995 with only six bamboo rafts or balsa

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The Food: What to Expect

Kainan sa Balsa serves native Filipino cuisine in big servings. Their best sellers are the grilled seafood dishes, such as grilled squid, tuna and tilapia. Other specialties include the usual Filipino food fare like bulalo (Beef Shank Soup), sinigang na hipon (Shrimp in Sour Soup) and Bicol express (Spicy Pork in Creamy Coconut Milk).  

I don’t know what’s in their marinade but the grilled squid that we tried was so flavorful. The grilled squid was stuffed with bits of tomatoes, onions and cabbage, which added to the flavor profile of the dish. 

Kainan sa Balsa Bacoor Inihaw na Pusit and Ensaladang Talong

The grilled pork barbeque was also seasoned to my liking. It was a comforting dish that satisfied my cravings for Filipino street food that day. We also ordered lechon kawali, which was crispy and delicious. The photo I took didn’t do it justice.  

Kainan sa Balsa Bacoor Lechon Kawali Garlic Fried Rice

All the dishes we ordered paired well with the ensaladang talong (Filipino Roasted Eggplant Salad), which came with diced mangoes, tomatoes and onions. 

My husband also ordered another specialty, the Balsa Lomi, a hearty egg noodle soup topped with hard boiled egg, shrimp, chicharon bits, and some veggies for garnish. The soup was rich and the toppings definitely added more character to the dish. It was good for three people so we took home the leftovers. 

Kainan sa Balsa Bacoor Pork Barbeque and Balsa Lomi

Overall, we spent around P1500 for everything we ordered, including drinks. For those interested about Kainan sa Balsa’s food price list, you can view the menu on Kainan sa Balsa’s website, or here on Booky

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Kainan sa Balsa bagged first place as one of the top 3 food destinations in the 2021 Cavite Tourism Summit Awards. I can personally attest that they deserve to win, given the top-notch quality of their food and service. We will definitely go back together with my entire family. 

Have you been to Kainan sa Balsa? What dishes have you tried there? Comment down below! 

Website: http://www.kainansabalsa.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefirstandtheonlyfloatingrestaurantinCavite 

Address: 143 Evangelista Street, Barangay Banalo, Bacoor, Cavite (View on Google Maps)

Reservations: (046) 434 6498 / kainansabalsa@yahoo.com

Sandy Miguel

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