Gastronomic Delight: Palawan's Chaolong
Chaolong is another gastronomic delight in Palawan. This is a Vietnamese noodle dish that’s best served with French bread. The soup is perfect for cold rainy days or whenever you feel hungry and don’t have a lot of money to spare as this will just cost around 50-100 pesos.
My first thought when I heard of Chaolong was: “How did Chaolong become popular in Palawan?” So I asked the ever dependable Mr. Google and I learned that during the 1970s when Vietnam was in the midst of a communist war, some Vietnamese sought refuge in neighboring countries like the Philippines who, unlike the other countries, welcomed them with loving arms. That’s the reason why there is a Vietnamese Village in Puerto Princesa and there are numerous pho (noodle) houses scattered all over the provincial capital.
We sampled Chaolong at Bona’s right after the Underground River tour. It was already past 4 in the afternoon when we got there and the place was packed with locals and tourists alike. Bona’s Chaolong is a pho place for the masses since they serve the hot comforting soup at an affordable price. I love noodle dishes and I definitely enjoyed my steaming bowl of Chaolong - just the right amount of salt, spice, and everything nice.
Bona’s Chaolong
Manalo St, Puerto Princesa, Palawan
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