Marina Seafoods is among Iloilo's most popular restaurant and among the pioneer nightspots along the stretch of Diversion Road in Iloilo City. It's already an icon in this part of the country even before most people associated the name as Claudine Baretto's role (as a mermaid named Marina) in a TV series of the same title. Incidentally, Claudine herself is an Ilongga.Today, this restaurant is among Iloilo City's "exports" as Marina brings Ilonggo cuisine within reach to Ilonggos and non-Ilonggos alike in other parts of the country especially in Metro Manila. Slowly but surely, it expanded as a full scale restaurant in some of the hippest locations in the Metro like in Glorietta in Makati and SkyGarden at SM North EDSA to name a few.But mostly, one gets the more authentic feel and taste of authentic cuisine when it is served in a no nonsense manner. Like this one at the food court of Market, Market at The Fort. It is in such manner that one appreciates more how the dish tastes rather than be overwhelmed by the fancy presentation.
Just take your pick from two Ilonggo favorites - KBL (kadyos-baboy-langka) above or laswa. The former, above, is a classic dish made from three main ingredients; kadyos, baboy and langka in a broth soured by another Ilonggo ingredient- batwan. Laswa on the other hand, is a simple vegetable stew consisting of a variety of vegetables (talong, okra, sitaw, malunggay, saluyot, etc).
And ofcourse, the seafood! Kinilaw na tuna - with all the works in one plate and grilled blue marlin or tangigue - from the looks of it, it's already a winner. Ofcourse these are just a mere "patikim" of what Marina can offer to its diners.
And here's what Marina offers for breakfast in its branch in Glorietta. A heavy breakfast consisting of various "si-log" combos in just one plate. I see a tapsilog, a tosilog, longsilog and dangsilog in just one plate.