Kaonan Sa Karayman, Calbayog

Kaonan means eatery. Carayman is a barangay in Calbayog City. Kaonan Sa Karayman is OMG superb.

It's a homely (native touches) restaurant that specializes in mostly Filipino foods like you see above.

It is cozy and tidy everywhere, but you will see that undeniable mark of a frequented place. Its tables are abundantly scratched and faded on the sides, obviously because of constant frequent use. Then I said to my self 'this place must be popular'. They are! On some days, they cause barangay traffic jams!

This is more of a lunch and dinner place for families or groups. Well, I saw twosomes in the past.

What started as an eatery of 4 or 5 square tables has now grown into a restaurant with all rectangular tables for 6 or 8 - many are almost permanently joined together for the 'usual' big groups or families.

Everybody loves their chili crabs and so do I. Awrrrr! But everything in the menu is delectable. It is on the pricey side of course - if you only compare prices with other restaurants, turo-turo or jollibee. But the quality of their food easily outshines that of a nearby popular hotel. It is a "must try" in Calbayog!

Oh their name is now Kaonan (Kamayan) Sa Karayman with that added Kamayan in parentheses! They probably saw it practical to add "Kamayan" as they progressed. That way, from the name alone, diners are prompted to come ready with their bare hands (fingers actually), to enjoy their many bestsellers.

Kamayan though, is Tagalog. I would have used "Kinamot"! Pero okay na yan, walang basagan ng trip!

Tips:
Politicians and high government officials frequent this place either as themselves, with their families or their guests from everywhere. That said, arrive earlier than the Pinoy normal lunch or dinner time.

It's in a residential neighborhood with narrow streets, if you can, avoid arriving in convoys, especially if you don't have drivers who will bear the headache of trying to find parking spaces which usually is only available out on the wider Maharlika Highway, about 80 meters (two blocks) from the restaurant.

Proof: if you arrive at the place in a normal van (L300 or Urvan), it will be dangerous (many consider it impossible) for other 4-wheeled vehicles to pass thru. The street is too narrow as this area is more on the rural side of Calbayog, about 4kms before the city center (coming from the south like Catbalogan).

You might see some men and women attending to traffic flow. They are not restaurant employees nor are they from the city government. They're usually barangay officials who want to avoid chaos in their barangay, thus, voluntarily assisting vehicle flows. Be respectful, and if you must tip, don't just toss a coin. They're not your usual "sekyu", parking attendant or metro manila barker, but barangay officials.

Better to just sincerely say Thank You.

Especially in the evenings, be used to 2 or 3 separate groups in long tables, singing happy birthday to one of their companions! Some may have balloons, cakes and whole lechon. And you, alone with your driver, are silently having dinner a few inches from all of them. Don't feel pathetic, join in the singing!

Iyawat dulhan ka hin ice cream - like what happened to me once!

There is a free roaming "kalaw" (yes the bird, a Philippine Hornbill) and it probably thinks she is a dog or a cat. Don't be alarmed, it won't test its giant hard beak on you (sana) hehehe. I guess don't feed it!

It's wise to call them ahead, to reserve a table or the food that you want. Ay, there was a time I visited at 10AM (opening time), and I earlier called to have tinapa, labtinaw and scrambled eggs for brunch. I knew they do not have that as a menu offering, but they whipped it up for me anyway - plus Coke. Da!

Mind you, they don't know me and I don't know them. I'm just a regular diner when in Calbayog!

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