For most of us in the Philippines, Christmas is not just about any religious holiday. A lot of extravagant meal plans come with it! Wrestle with festive food and you’re set. On Christmas Day, we chowed down with a variety of seafood in Sharmila Ihaw-Ihaw Paluto Restaurant located at Dampa.
Why not? The Seaside Market in Macapagal Boulevard, Pasay City is one of the nicest places in the metro where you can find affordable seafood. It houses a seafood market and many Filipino and Chinese restaurants that cook and serve up dishes according to your preferred style.
My dad and sister stayed at the restaurant, while my grandfather, mom, boyfriend and I went to the market to get food for “paluto.” Several Asian foreigners were roaming for a food trip that night and it was funny when vendors thought we were among them. Take this lady for instance, who was so willing to have her picture taken holding the crab. π She repeatedly said “Picture picture!” till I finally took a shot.
Review of Sharmila Ihaw-Ihaw Paluto Restaurant (Dampa, Pasay City)
Ambiance: β β β ββ
Sharmila Ihaw-Ihaw Paluto Restaurant’s ambiance recalls that of a cafeteria where wide and bare tables are dominated by families who are prepared to eat like a maharani. This place is often visited by large groups who get a bit of every seafood that’s sold in the Seaside Market. The interior design is pretty simple, suitable for both daylight and evening dining, but not one that could serve as excellent inspiration for a relaxed home.
We have dined here about three times in a span of five years. I just wondered why the pertinent acoustic band did not play and was not at all present in our most recent visit. On the positive end, it wasn’t noisy so we could hear ourselves talk and converse while dining. Also, I say hooray for there was also not even one toddler in sight racing around! π
The deal-breaker was that air conditioning was not enough to keep the area cool. To compensate, staff put up and turned on standing fans as they were highly requested as necessary.
Service: β β βββ
Our food came out almost an hour after we arrived. But that’s quite reasonable since the place was busy with customers and cooking these many food which are not from the menu require much cooking and preparation time. What’s not acceptable was that waiters were not attentive and even rice and tempura sauce were only served after we asked for them in like over five times. The trappings of professionalism was quite missing. π
Food: β β β β β
In a city full of mediocre shrimp-and-grits preparations, Sharmila’s version of Buttered Shrimps is the only one I have tasted that I regard as a must-try. Big word, yeah. These shrimps in orange sauce are the best! There’s no polite way to eat and slurp the sauce. It’s either you take the hard way of removing the shrimps’ shells using spoon and fork or go comfortable by using your hands. And no, there should be no shame in scraping the bits off the plate after you demolish the seafood. But first, make sure you’ve cleaned your hands thoroughly. (Feel free to walk into the faucet just outside the restaurant near the entrance.)
The Spicy Crab did have a lot of punch in terms of flavor. The crab’s meat ran silkily paired with the spicy red sauce that practically begged to be eaten with plain white rice. By the end of the meal, our dinner table was like a scene of horrific crustacean wreckage, where discarded shells and hollow crab claws litter. Well, it won’t count as a dignified meal if you leave without sauce under your fingernails. π
Filling enough to knock hunger, the Shrimp Tempura was delightful. This is the dish that deserves an obligatory nod to dining customers who don’t know what to order. The fried tempura was well-executed but was not exciting because they tasted like traditional. The crumbs were crisp with enough substance to make their presence known.
The Steamed Lapu-Lapu (Chinese Style) was equally crave-able. It was seasoned in salt, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, oyster sauce and maybe sugar (because I sensed sweetness in the sauce). It was cooked just right and tasted fresh and gingery without the fishy odor. The leeks enhanced the dish with a complex savory aftertaste in each bite. The sauce was so nice with rice as it sank in and imbued its flavor.
The Baked Oysters arrived last. The picture-perfect oysters’ exterior gave way to a silky inside. It was a lovely dish where the cheese blended with the butter where we needed a moment to appreciate all of it. And we did; every last drop!
Price for Value: β β β β β
Sharmila Ihaw-Ihaw Paluto Restaurant is a likeable restaurant in Dampa area. The smell of their food is incredible as it passes through the dining room. This is the kind of eating you want to associate with the holidays β the kind that makes us feel good for years to come. Cooking fee depends on the weight of the seafood and the cooking style. It usually clocks in under PHp 300 for a viand, a true deal for the quality of food you get.
Operating Hours: 8AM-12MN
Other branches:
Seaside, D. Macapagal Avenue, San Dionisio, Paranaque City | +63 9499036931
Dona Julia Vargas Ave Pasig, Metro Manila | (02) 515-0326
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
Thanks for this review. The food looks yummy; maybe we will give this a try one of these days.
This time of the year can be really fun for indulging, so you may want to dine in here before the break comes (hello, January 1st!). Welcome and enjoy! π
Been to Dampa, a couple of times but not dine in this place. seems very deli ang mga foods nila specially the buttered shrimps.
Mom can also cook buttered shrimps but Sharmila’s version still tops as best. π
Oh my! This is the place where we celebrated an officemate’s birthday/team building years back. I can’t believe it has been awhile i haven’t back in Dampa, Pasay. You should have tried the inihaw na pusit. It’s one of their best! π
Oh yes, we were planning to order that but since my grandfather cannot really chew chewy food like pusit, we didn’t. We’ll have that some other time I guess. Thanks for suggesting! π
The dishes look interesting but I’m unfortunately allergic to seafood. Hope you had a great time though! π
Yup, we did. π I am not allergic to seafood but recently some spots (like acne) are beginning to form on my face. Not sure if it’s eating seafood is the reason. Oh my…better not!
Paluto services is best enjoyed by the whole family. I would like to try their buttered chicken because of your recommendation.
Buttered chicken is another classic dish on the menu. Both kids and adult love it.
omg! the crab and the oyster looks very yummy! i would love to eat in places like this and magkamay lng so i can feel the yumminess of seafoods!
When you go to Dampa, you will be asked by a lot of “callers” to eat at their restaurant. We have not tried others other than Josefina, Sharmila and Mom and Sis before but I think they are all good.
They have superb food and good ambiance when it comes to dining experience. Really, I liked this place.
They also have a karaoke station that can be used for free on the second floor so if you feel like singing the night away with friends and/or family, make sure to be seated upstairs. π
Even though it’s just Buttered Shrimps and Baked Oyster, I would munch till the last piece! (If I could do it though!) That Baked Oyster seriously looks delicious! π
December has likely provided you with ample opportunities to gorge into these kinds of food. Meaty, creamy, buttery… you name it. They are all guilty pleasures we submit to, unconsciously. π
Great Review! I love Dampa and we always go to Josephine’s I believe is the name and we love it there! π Mouthwatering post you have here.
Thanks, Rochelle. π I think you’re referring to “Josefina’s Garden Grill and Paluto.” I have reviewed that restaurant twice! Here are the links: Paluto and Buffet.
I prefer to have steamed Lapu-lapu and baked ousters for the rest of the foods are not for me. They are rich in uric acide. Am I correct?
Hmmm not quite sure. I just know that if you’re suffering from gout arthritis, you should limit meat, poultry and fish. Animal proteins are high in purine. They may not be “bawal,” but it’s good to limit your intake to 4 to 6 ounces (113 to 170 grams) daily.
Oh dear, do they also serve non-seafood dishes? If not, then I can’t eat here as I am allergic to seafoods :(( sana meron non -seafood
Yup, they also do. It depends on the food you bought from the market and how you want it to be cooked and served.
Ohhh my you made me crave. I’ve been there once almost 2 years ago at Lola Ina’s naman. I agree with the time to cook but the food <333 Bawing bawi!
Tagal na ah 2 years ago. π So lesson learned here is to never be alone when dining in Dampa restaurants because then you’ll be bored while waiting unless you bring gadgets, games or a book to pass time and entertain yourself.
Always love reading your food/restaurant adventures dear!!. Your site are one of my on the go websites to look for the awesome restaurants around the metro. π
Thanks, Michael. π
Aling Tonya was the only restaurant at Dampa we have visited so far. I hope we could also dine at Sharmila soon.
I haven’t seen Aling Tonya before. There are lots of restaurants in the area and it may take a long time before getting through each one.
i am into shrimps and tempura too. will definitely visit this one!
It’s always a pleasure to eat at seafood paluto restaurants such as Sharmila. The food is plenty affordable, and it tastes, well, fine. However, in terms of ambiance and service, this restaurant should make room for improvement and it may need time to fully blossom.
we tried Dampa in Libis almost 2 years ago, i love choosing the seafoods to be cooked in their market, though I am not satisfied with how some of the dishes were cooked and service is not satisfying as well.
That is why there are a lot of restaurants to choose from. Some are expert in cooking Dish A, while others are best in cooking Dish B. It depends on what dish and the style of cooking you want. π
I am a nurse and a business enterpreneur by profession. I am going back home to the philippines for the first time since i left the country 1993. This is new to me. I wanted to know if u can email me please for further details of my reservations. thanks