A floating restaurant with an oriental theme, Isdaan is a popular Filipino restaurant in Gerona, Tarlac. Over the weekend, my cousin and his friend, my sisters, and My Man had a very late lunch at Isdaan, stopping over on our way home after we wore our pilgrim hats and made a little trip to Our Lady of the Manaoag Shrine in Pangasinan. I have always wanted to try the food of Isdaan after passing by it tons of times on the road to Pangasinan.
The Look: The design of Isdaan is very earthy, with a mix of Filipino and Thai inspirations. Outside in the parking lot, tall gorillas holding a big catch will greet you. There are Buddhas around as well as statues of Ninoy, Cory, Erap, goats, and cocks. You eat inside bamboo huts, floating in man-made ponds filled with very hungry carps (I think). Don’t eat here if you have motion sickness or the rocking of the huts will get to you.
The Food: Isdaan has a huge selection of food but it is mainly Filipino. We had sinigang na baboy (sour pork stew), calamari, grilled pork and tilapia, sisig, and mango juice. That is my plate above. 😀
Everything tasted okay but there is nothing spectacular about it. Similarly, I think it is a bit overpriced because if you compare it to Ikabud, which does the same kind of food on a better price tag, well Isdaan would totally be at a disadvantage.
The Edge: Ultimately, what draws people to Isdaan is the experience: you drive far to get there; you eat atop a pond in a hut aboard a raft; you get to feed the maniacally hungry fish; you can get angry at the taksyapo wall. For those looking for something new over the weekend, then Isdaan is not a bad choice after all.
Prinsesa's Anatomy 
Do they accept credit cards there?
hi, idk. 🙂
how much?? someone told me there is an entrance fee. how much? thanks..
there’s no entrance fee when we visited. if this is a new policy then i wouldn’t know really.
Now that is just cool. I want to eat there! So interesting hearing about restaurants with cool designs. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!
i have to admit i felt a bit dizzy each time someone would walk along the raft! but it is an interesting experience. feeding the carps is such a thrill! they are so ravenous!
here’s an admission, tiga jan ako, born and raised 🙂 that’s my hometown.
but my family & i left for the US before this came about. i hear people say that the food is just OKAY, i guess as you say the experience is what draws people in. plus there’s too many things to photograph and pose with (given this facebook/twitter generation).
hey, nice to know! i agree on your insights about posing for photos, so true 😆 but for the record, i only had one of mine taken, in front of the restaurant.
Nakakagutom naman… at first glance, akala ko sa ibang bansa 🙂
it’s because of the monkeys right? 😀
haha pwede rin ba magbasag ng ref dyan? or tv at plato lang?
i loooooove tilapiaaaaaaaa! i want! i want! lol 😉
oo pwede 2500 yata pag binili mo yung tv na babasagin mo parang ganun. fresh yung tilapia. grilled lang talaga walang kahit ano. 🙂
natakam na naman ako sa pictures ng pagkain. argh!
madalas ding pumunta ang family ko sa manoag… family tradition na dating back from my lola. 😀
kain ka na lang diyan ng noodles apollo. 😀 i like manaoag. nakabalik ka na ba ulit recently? madami ng bago dun.
last na punta ko is last year.. may construction sa likod ng simbahan. malamang tapos na yun ngayon. 😀
recently lang pala eh. diba nasa abroad ka? ah siguro every time na uuwe ka dito, pumupunta ka doon. 🙂
nope pumunta kami dun bago ako pumunta dito sa us. 🙂
ah okay pag uwi mo balik ulit!
.. masarap yung fried tawilis nila dyan! 🙂
are they dried? i did not see them on the menu because it’s soooo long! i have yet to go to monasteryo de tarlac rob. ack, i can’t wait to go already.
.. yep, dried (actually, fried) with green chillies! i noticed that too with their menu, it took me time to pick which one i can eat for lunch!
.. please go to the monastery, pm. you’ll like it there.
it’s too long no? i will go, just looking for the perfect opportunity. do they hold mass there? do you know the time?
.. usually there is mass at 10am. get some of those scented blessed rosaries too to bring back home.