Funnside Ningnangan Seafood Paluto in Marilao, Bulacan
After the recent wrapping up of Ranch Food Park in Marilao, Bulacan, I couldn’t help but feel like the “food scene” is drying up once again. Thankfully, just recently Funnside Ningnangan opened its along the hi-way. Foodies in Marilao now have a convenient option to enjoy affordable Seafood Paluto.
Traditional barrio-like ambiance
The vibe here in Ningnangan reminds you of a fiesta happening in a barrio, and this really adds up to the experience. The simplicity captures the carefree and festive air we are very much acquainted to. The seating capacity is also huge, which makes it not too difficult to be seated. Since you’ll be dining al fresco here in Ningnangan, I suggest that you visit on an evening for a cooler breeze.
How does it work?
The way it works here is that you’ll be personally selecting the ingredients you want and put them on a tray. There are several seafood options to choose from. Some are seasoned and some are “as is”. There are also a handful of non-seafood options available such as pork barbecue, chicken inasal and bulalo among others.
For the night, we were in a mood for squid, kilawin, shrimps and tuna. My mom and sister carefully picked the ingredients. I felt the excitement as they moved around. It was a refreshing scene to witness here in Marilao.
My mom saw some pork BBQ while queuing up for the payment, so she also grabbed some. Thankfully she did because the BBQ were the winner for the night.
After eyeing out for the ingredients, you’ll need to bring the tray to the cashier, and pay for them. Items are either sold on a per kilo basis or per piece/set. Lastly, they’ll take note as to how you want them cooked. If you feel lost, you may ask them as to what’s the popular choice.
The waiting time is probably between 20-30 minutes, and orders usually come in installments.
In our case, the Grilled Okra (P25) came first, and after 5 minutes the next two dishes arrived.
This serving of Shrimp in Garlic and Butter costed us P416. Despite using margarine instead of butter (evidenced by the taste and texture), this dish turned out great, and all of us loved it. It had a creamy sweetness with a garlicky finish.Also, more than 80% of the shrimps had their shells falling off easily, which signified freshness.
The Kinilaw na Tanigue (P136) fell just within expectation. It lacked the tenderness, and it was halfway tough. Taste-wise it was good — sweet, sour with a hint of kick.
The Grilled Squid (P230) was slightly below expectation, as it lacked a more pronounced smokiness. It was tender, but may have lacked flavor to further perk it up. A little sweetness, and smokiness will do the trick. I’ll try again next time.
The Pork Barbecue (P32 per piece) was a classic and an instant star for the night. We were captivated by the sweet savory goodness that deeply seeped into the pork. Those with sweet tooth will adore this traditional Filipino pork barbecue.
The Grilled Tuna (P129) was rightly seasoned that put emphasis on the natural subtle saltiness of tuna. We would have appreciated the dish more if it was just lightly seared instead of being well-done (or slightly burnt). It resulted to loss of moisture, which could have made it excellent. Still, I’d go for this one and just ask them to ease up on the grilling.
This basically summed up the night. We didn’t go for any desserts because we were already too full. Still, when my family and I “debriefed”, we all agreed to come back here again. Given the relative affordability, Ningnangan is a great place ti dine.
Ningnangan - Overall Ratings and Summary
Note: Unshaded stars are equivalents of half-stars. The ratings reflect my personal experiences on the times I dine here.
Place ★★★★
Taste ★★★☆
Service ★★★★
Value for Money ★★★★
Budget: at least P300 each for a heavy sharing-type of dining experience for a group of at least 4
No. of visits for this particular restaurant/branch - 1 || Date of last visit - October 10, 2018
Ningnangan is a newest addition to the developing food scene in Marilao, Bulacan. It was like a CPR following the death of the Ranch Food Park. The restaurant offers al fresco dining, and operates in a “paluto” style. Prices are mostly within budget, and the quality generally measures up with the value. In short, Ningnangan is a great choice for your next food trip here in the province.
Top recommended dishes: Pork Barbecue, Grilled Tuna (but asked to be just lightly seared), Buttered Shrimps
Ningnangan
Location: McArthur Hi-way, Marilao, Bulacan (see attached map below)
Service Charge: NONE
