Where to Eat in Roxas City: Coco Veranda Seafood Restaurant

Ask any local in Roxas City where you can get delicious seafood, and he will probably point you to the direction of Coco Veranda, an open-air, casual dining restaurant situated along Baybay Beach. Offering an extensive menu of Filipino dishes, this famous seafood place is a top dining destination in Capiz.

As I have mentioned in a previous blog post, my friend and I came to Roxas with no itinerary at all, so we relied almost entirely upon the recommendations of locals. Here’s the thing: I’m not sure if Coco Veranda is a restaurant that locals would frequently go to; it felt as if it was kind of “touristy”. However, the place was packed with students (obviously from the city) and families having lunch when we dined there, so even if it may not be an everyday place, it is very likely a favorite venue for special celebrations or occasional treats.


But whatever the case may be, there is no doubt that Coco Veranda serves amazing food—thus earning a great reputation in the city. I love how it’s built right there along the beach, offering diners a calming view of the Sibuyan Sea. We went there past the usual lunchtime and stayed until sunset.

The interiors are dominated by wooden elements, exuding a relaxing, native feel—something almost every traveler seeks whenever he sets out to a new destination. Their fresh catches are displayed in water tanks, instantly enticing entering guests. And while the main dining hall was spacious and inviting, we chose to sit in the alfresco area so we can admire the sea as we dine.

We started with some of the Coco’s Seafood Soup (PhP210), a hearty bowl of shrimps, clams, crab meat, and fish fillet in a rich tomato-based broth. It’s the perfect way to start your Roxas feast as it truly whets the appetite. One serving of this can be shared by 3 to 4 people, especially if you’re ordering a smorgasbord of other dishes.

The Coco Loco Prawns (PhP370) is a must-try—undeniably a restaurant specialty and crowd favorite. Plump, stir-fried prawns are cooked in creamy coconut milk, flavored by lemon grass and chilies. It actually tasted like a Thai dish, and if you love spicy food, this dish will surely not disappoint. That coconut milk broth, OMG.

If you love shellfish, order the mouthwatering Baked Oysters (PhP155)—huge, freshly-caught oysters topped with gooey cheese and tomatoes. I loved how the tomatoes gave the otherwise typical dish a new dimension, introducing a subtle mix of sweetness and sourness with each bite.

Walk over to their live fish displays and choose from a wide variety of newly-caught shrimps, crabs, shellfish and fish—and have them cooked as you prefer. Whether you like them grilled, fried, dried, smoked, or baked, all you have to do is ask the staff. We tried their recommendation, the Inasal na Talakitok (trevally, PhP60/100 grams), and didn’t regret our decision! It was one of the most delicious fish dishes I’ve eaten, I thought I would finish the whole thing!

We like variety, and we happily enjoyed their Crispy Pork Binagoongan (PhP460) as well. It was a platter of crispy bagnet topped with bagoong (fermented fish paste), and a medley of vegetables, finished with a light sauce. Coco Veranda’s version was actually close to a pinakbet, except that the veggies didn’t seem like they were cooked together with the pork.

The Bagoong Rice (PhP175) was pretty good, with salted egg and chopped tomatoes as toppings, balancing out the flavors. However, if you’re ordering a lot of seafood dishes already, I would suggest getting just plain rice (PhP60/platter, PhP25/cup).

Make sure you order from their refreshing drink selections, like the delicious Cucumber Lemon Shake (PhP70) and Fresh Buko Juice (PhP47), to complete the beachside dining vibe. For desserts, we tried their Mango Float and Blueberry Cheesecake but my favorite was the Leche Flan (PhP45).

If you came to Roxas for the seafood, head over to Baybay Beach and check out Coco Veranda, where the most delicious sea bounties await. Some dishes might seem expensive, but their generous portions make up for the prices. Make sure you order a variety and bring your whole family or barkada so you can sample as many dishes as you can!


~*~
Coco Veranda
Capiz Lawis Baybay, Roxas City
+6336.621.6185



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