Intrigera! Tsismosa! Taksil! Magnanakaw!
Tacsiyapo!! Shame on You!!
Aahh, what a way to release your anger… It depends on how angry you are, you can smash a P15 cup or P1,300 working TV (yeah, a big TV). I don’t know who would be crazy enough to drive for 3 hours from Manila just to throw a TV into a wall… But I must admit, this is a great gimik and a good marketing publicity for Isdaan.
A lot of people are intimidated to stop by this place because of its cheesy childish design with stone giants. But here is a tip for you, this is the best place to stop over before driving back to Manila after that Baguio or Pagudpud trip. In the past, Hacienda Luisita was my favorite place for that last dinner stop before NLEX but now it is merely a Starbucks stop.
We love it here.
It is a good place for families with kids who can play around in this floating restaurant and be entertained by the giant structures. The food is as good as Barrio Fiesta food, so it is a good stop for Filipino food if you have Balikbayans with you. The tacsiyapo wall, frankly, is just a wall which you will realize after wasting your P15 for a mug. But if you are really raging mad at that time, this is a sure way to release your anger while shouting “Tacsiyapo” and throwing away the mug or whatever you have chosen to smash onto the wall! Lastly, they have a San Kilo Bridge, where they would give you a free 1 kilo of tilapia, if you are able to successfully cross the bridge back and forth. We tried this successfully and we got 4 pieces of free grilled tilapia 🙂 Best time to go here is in the evening so that it is a little cooler and you’ll be prepared for any eventualities with the San Kilo Bridge.
Let me show you around Isdaan, so that next time you don’t miss the fun happening in this place.
It is a floating restaurant with huts all around. The overall ambiance is exciting, charming, and unique. Once you arrive, they would give you free fish food so that you can feed the coi fishes. You’ll be lucky if you can reserve a single detached huts as seen above.
This is actually a Barrio Fiesta sister company so expect the Filipino food to be great since it is already tried and tested through the years. They serve the sinigang soup in Bamboo containers. You can order refreshing coconuts which is very good after a long drive.
This would be a traditional Filipino feast with dishes served in Banana leaves and rice served in a small kaldero. If you are lucky with the San Kilo challenge, you can have one kilo of fish for free 🙂
Here is the Isdaan Menu:
>> Front Menu
>> Back Menu
>> Tacsiyapo Menu-on-the-wall
Here is a nice picture of the stone giants. I particularly like the dinosaur structure which is a good photo spot for kids.
There are also giant fishes which adds to the overall ambiance of the place. After all, this place is coined because of them.
This is the most disgusting part, seeing these poor sheep drag a chair for kids in a kalesa fashion. You’ll feel sorry for these animals. Also, they are stationed in front of the tacsiyapo wall and they would pee around the area which makes the place unbearable due to the stinking smell. I thought it was not real because i can’t believe that there would be such animal cruelty inside the place but when i saw it moved, I was surprised!
Calling the attention of Isdaan owners, please save the sheep from this cruelty!
This is the best part when you decide to cross the San Kilo bridge while bringing one pail of water. According to the waiters, there are people who literally fell into the shallow fish pond so if i were you, better bring your suits. It is just intimidating at first (but I must admit, I was scared too :)) but if you really are determined to have that one kilo of free fish, why not? I’m pretty sure if you are not a gym buff, your arms would be aching the next day.
Here is the view as you start to cross the bridge. The cement bridge is big enough for you to maintain your balance.
This was the most difficult part. You have to cross five consecutive shell hurdles while the crowd is watching you. It gets shaky when you pass the pail of water from your left hand and right hand. But it is all in the mind, and you just have to focus to complete crossing the bridge like our friends who made it.
>> More Photos of Isdaan @ Gerona, Tarlac.
Directions: You’ll never miss this along the national road in Gerona, Tarlac area.
Have you been here? Let me know what you think and what we have missed trying.
Dear Anton:
These pictures are extremely intriguing. I hope you can provide some sort of explanation to what exactly is going on. I have driven by this very bizarre middle-of-nowhere restaurant along the highway going to Baguio. It looks like it is worth eating in.
Please explain!!
Rog
so… was it worth the trip?
I’ve been here and the food was worth the trip. But then, the place is way too hot as I came at lunchtime. I don’t know how it is at night, probably cooler but doesn’t the heat stay until evening? I wish they could plant trees surrounding the area to make it cooler. The heat from the road permeates up to the eating areas. I thought I would faint because of the afternoon heat. I didn’t faint but I got a bum stomach not because of the food but because of the heat.
This looks like watching Takeshi’s castle.
Hi Anton!
I hope you remember me. My name is Don Bautista and I am with Bacon/Campaigns & Grey. We met months back for a project Grey Malaysia was doing for P&G. I chanced upon your blog site by following the link on this other site I’ve been visiting for its reviews on food and restaurants. But it was only a few minutes ago when I realized that you are the Anton Diaz I know (I’m now looking at the calling card you gave me when we met at P&G). To think I’ve been religiously reading your blog entries for weeks now without me making the connection at all (I must admit the photos helped, but it took me a while to figure things out). Can I just say I enjoy reading your blog immensely and have been ravenously devouring your entries that are so deliciously written. I have bookmarked your blog site and have been foraging your archives every chance I get (I’m currently reading your June 2005 entries). I’m also planning to taste for myself if the Caltex chocolate cake you’ve so gloriously written about in one of your past entries is really worth all the calories.
Yes, Anton, “Our Awesome Planet” is awesomely addicting! Keep on blogging and best regards to you and your family.
hi! Yah I agree with you, Isdaan in Tarlac is such a cool place. I also took some pictures when we stop there from La Union.
I also enjoy this Bloomfield band. I watched them performed at Bellevue Hotel in Alabang I think last June.
There is still one more thing – I hope you can help me create my own blog. I also like to share my travel experiences and tips like you do. It’s really a big help for people who loves to travel like me. Pls help…
My email add is: trisha_tagle@yahoo.com
Thanks, Trisha
I, too, was disturbed by the sight of the two sheep turned into beasts of burden. Sheep weren’t intended to do that. Wonder what PAWS would say about this photo? =(
This is an interesting restaurant. But the sight of the sheep was disturbing. Can we do something about it? Like contact the owners? Any animal groups out there to help them? I might not get a good night’s sleep thinking of their plight : (
yeah you are right. I thought I was the only one who feel pity for
those sheep. I’ll make a separate posts nga on this and maybe we can
get the attention of the owners.
anton
So instead of sheep, what do you suggest they replace them with? Kalabaw?
well don’t use any. It is not really needed. why exploit the sheep in the first place.
What about Kambings? They too have horns.
Don’t forget to bring tips for the singers (P20 per set). Our favorite is the Elvis Presley impersonator.
You can even have a massage while eating if you like. The guy giving the massage was a little too pushy however. It got a bit annoying when our came and I could eat because he was massaging my arms.
Great blog Anton!
am a geronian and won’t miss this place when i come home.
hi, kindly send me the restaurant’s number or email ad. thanks
hi! just read your entries. i’m from tarlac and have been there a few times. it never crossed my mind to do an entry about this place! so, thanks for doing an entry about the place. glad you enjoyed your stay there. 🙂
we went there a week ago…i dont think its the best time to go there…grabe..the heat almost melted us literally!! the food wasnt so bad but it wasnt too good either….i guess ..the ambiance was great ,a photographer’s delight..pero…ay naku….the feeling was icky right after we got seated at the far back pa…..they should have those huge hydro fans to cool off the huts..the water underneath just wasnt good enough.
btw..i suggest you guys visit at night 🙂
do u have the contact no. of isdaan restaurant? do they have an office here in manila? i would gladly appreciate ur reply.thnx
want to ask how to go there? and should we call for reservation or it’s ok to walk in?
We’ve been here on New Year’s Day. Ang sarap ng hangin. Probinsyang probinsya at ang ganda talaga. Pero di ko gaanong nagustuhan yung pagkain. Mas masarap pa yung luto ng nanay ko. Ordinaryo lang yung lasa tapos ang mahal pa. Parang yung lugar lang talaga binabayaran mo.
I am from Hawaii and visited your place once but I am hoping to come back there again.ISDAAN is a HOTSPOT!!! I was very fascinated with the talented singers… I love the nice venue and delicious foods.
We’ve been here last January 17,2008 ng hapon kasi nabasa ko sa dito sa coloum na ito na mainit daw pag tanghali so my family decided to go ng hapon, we arrived here at 5:00pm and it was really wonderful, kahit na medyo may kamahalan ang food masarap naman at yong place ay talagang maganda,,and also with the talented kusinero singers… i said wowwww!!!!!!! gusto pa naming ulitin maybe this coming february (mom’s birthday)
The place is brilliant but the food is not impressive at all. We were very disappointed with the quality of food (e.g. adobo, which did not taste or look like one; the pork was very fatty). I hope the Manager would do something about this or perhaps consider to recruit a better chef. Check on the quality of food at Matutina in Pangasinan… the food is fresh and delicious! Isdaan will be rated Excellent on food when it gets to this stage … an assurance to attract more customers. I wish you the best, Isdaan. I still would like to visit your place … with a better food and good value for money.
The food is totally not good. Don’t go to this place.
hi..just want to know how to get there…exact adress pls? 🙂
ahaha..may bago po jan dba?!ung buddha na kasalukuyang palang ginagawa noon,tas ung mga body guard,cory aquino,tas madami pa!….ahahaha..ang mahal ng mga pagkain,ung place lang tlgah binayaran,ang nagustuhan ko lang ung sweet corn na tinitinda nila un lang…ahaha…mahal pati ung buko P40+ ahaha….samantralang pede na ang 15 pesos jan ehh….
peo masaya din!!!
can I ask the no.for this restaurant.thanks
Our company made a stopover for dinner there last week. The place is marvelous – and so are their c’mons. The food is not what you call great pero pwede na for the price. My Japanese boss liked the place though.
i’ve been there and i really like the place… but just like others, i feel pity for those sheeps…
Hi Anton,
My friends and I were here last year, as a reward after passing our board exam. I must tell, if you are looking for an adventure and food, this is the place you wouldn’t want to miss. It was really fun, and I’m sure, you’ll come back here again!
**Feed the fish. =]
Hi Anton,
My friends and I were here last year, as a reward after passing our board exam. I must tell, if you are looking for an adventure and food, this is the place you wouldn’t want to miss. It was really fun, and I’m sure, you’ll come back here again!
**Feed the fish. =]
Hi Anton!
I’ve been hearing various stories bout this resto & have been wanting to go for quite sometime. Would you know how to get there via public transpo? Or can I just have the restos contact details so as to ask for directions? Thanks so much!
hi..could you send the address and contact number for isdaan? thanks!
hi..can you kindly send me the exact
location or the address of isdaan..tnx
Hi Anton! We recently visited Isdaan after a Baguio trip. Like other comments here, it was really fun taking pictures but yeah, the heat was really a turn off, plus it took them like an hour to bring our orders. Well, given that it was lunch time and a lot of people were there, I think they should know by now how busy their place gets during these peak hours. When we were leaving we heard a lot of complaints from customers who were on wait list (the place was packed!). They said they waited for almost an hour to get some seats and then had to wait for another hour for their food. I think the restaurant should have given the customers the menu when they were waiting and have them pick their orders already to cut down on waiting time.
The food as ok but not that good. It was so-so but not worth the price. Servings were also on the lean side. Another thing we noticed though was that they were not accepting credit card payments. For a restaurant who’s proud to display the name of Barrio Fiesta,and the steep price of the food, we expected to be able to pay by credit card but alas they do not accept any. Of course if you just came from let’s say a trip from Baguio and already bought lots of stuff for pasalubong, wouldn’t you say you’d be short on cash too? hehehe. I just hope they’d accept CC’s soon.
I’d visit the place again though but probably around night time so it will be a bit cooler and yeah huge fans would be great!
ingat guys.. was here kanina… may nagbubukas ng kotse sa parking and walang pakialam ang management.. lenten season ngayon kaya madami tao.. and madaming bantay pero 3 big lugguages ang nailabas sa kotse namin and.. nung sinabi namin sa management ay sabi lang nila.. may signs kami na… hindi namin sagutin sasakyan niyo(kaya pala ang lalaki ng signs.. dahil lugar talaga ng mananakawan).. nasa dulo sa loob pa naman kami naka parking.. and.. madaming dadaanan guard employees nila.. tinatarget nila mga sasakyang… nagbybyahe.. papuntang norte madaming dalang gamit..
ingat nalang guys.. pero ako.. di nako kakain dito.. daming pakulo.. puros goodmorning sir.. pero ninanakawan kana sa labas..
and yes.. hindi nga masarap pagkain dito.. parang di nalinis mabuti.. kinain kong clams… may mga bato bato pa and shells na matigas sa loob..
Beware of Isdaan Restaurant in Tarlac!!! (parking area)
This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1107×778.
Beware of Isdaan Restaurant in Tarlac. Bukas kotse people are within the area.
I would like to warn all those who visit the said place about their parking security. Most of those who visit here are passersby going to the north(baguio/ilocos) and have lots of valuables/lugguages with them. Like what happened to my family eating here may ruin your vacation.
This incident happened to us April 9, 2009 Holy Thursday. We were supposed to go on a trip until Sunday to Dagupan/Alaminos/Vigan. Our vacation was ruined by isdaan. Do not let this happen to you.
Upon entering i remember being greeted by 3 parking attendants leading us to the parking space which eased my mind
The washroom is located near an entrance so when i went to the washroom. I even saw the parking attendant using a van as a shade parked just adjacent to our vehicle.
Our Vehicle is a modern SUV with manufacturer’s alarm installed but they had a way to break the third row window to take 3 big heavy bags full of stuff without any of the attendants noticing. btw i parked the car facing the wall meaning the rear door is facing the alley.
This maybe the reason why their disclaimer of no responsibility of loss in the parking area is taller than an average sedan.
The manager was Arnold Violi. He was full of po and opo but was very sarcastic to us. He told us that meron kaming disclaimer sa parking. He told us that we should have brought all valuables with us in the restaurant which then i asked him, we are travellers, what about our lugguages? He told us if it is important we should bring it in also with us. I told him i will be posting this on the internet. he immediately said post what ever you like including my face. take a picture. He did not want to give us his phone number or any information which may help. He just kept on telling us they are the most honest restaurant in the planet which ofcourse i certainly do not believe.
Beware of Isdaan Restaurant in Tarlac!!! (parking area)
This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1107×778.
Beware of Isdaan Restaurant in Tarlac. Bukas kotse people are within the area.
I would like to warn all those who visit the said place about their parking security. Most of those who visit here are passersby going to the north(baguio/ilocos) and have lots of valuables/lugguages with them. Like what happened to my family eating here may ruin your vacation.
This incident happened to us April 9, 2009 Holy Thursday. We were supposed to go on a trip until Sunday to Dagupan/Alaminos/Vigan. Our vacation was ruined by isdaan. Do not let this happen to you.
Upon entering i remember being greeted by 3 parking attendants leading us to the parking space which eased my mind
The washroom is located near an entrance so when i went to the washroom. I even saw the parking attendant using a van as a shade parked just adjacent to our vehicle.
Our Vehicle is a modern SUV with manufacturer’s alarm installed but they had a way to break the third row window to take 3 big heavy bags full of stuff without any of the attendants noticing. btw i parked the car facing the wall meaning the rear door is facing the alley.
This maybe the reason why their disclaimer of no responsibility of loss in the parking area is taller than an average sedan.
The manager was Arnold Violi. He was full of po and opo but was very sarcastic to us. He told us that meron kaming disclaimer sa parking. He told us that we should have brought all valuables with us in the restaurant which then i asked him, we are travellers, what about our lugguages? He told us if it is important we should bring it in also with us. I told him i will be posting this on the internet. he immediately said post what ever you like including my face. take a picture. He did not want to give us his phone number or any information which may help. He just kept on telling us they are the most honest restaurant in the planet which ofcourse i certainly do not believe.
Beware of Isdaan Restaurant in Tarlac!!! (parking area)
This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1107×778.
Beware of Isdaan Restaurant in Tarlac. Bukas kotse people are within the area.
I would like to warn all those who visit the said place about their parking security. Most of those who visit here are passersby going to the north(baguio/ilocos) and have lots of valuables/lugguages with them. Like what happened to my family eating here may ruin your vacation.
This incident happened to us April 9, 2009 Holy Thursday. We were supposed to go on a trip until Sunday to Dagupan/Alaminos/Vigan. Our vacation was ruined by isdaan. Do not let this happen to you.
Upon entering i remember being greeted by 3 parking attendants leading us to the parking space which eased my mind
The washroom is located near an entrance so when i went to the washroom. I even saw the parking attendant using a van as a shade parked just adjacent to our vehicle.
Our Vehicle is a modern SUV with manufacturer’s alarm installed but they had a way to break the third row window to take 3 big heavy bags full of stuff without any of the attendants noticing. btw i parked the car facing the wall meaning the rear door is facing the alley.
This maybe the reason why their disclaimer of no responsibility of loss in the parking area is taller than an average sedan.
The manager was Arnold Violi. He was full of po and opo but was very sarcastic to us. He told us that meron kaming disclaimer sa parking. He told us that we should have brought all valuables with us in the restaurant which then i asked him, we are travellers, what about our lugguages? He told us if it is important we should bring it in also with us. I told him i will be posting this on the internet. he immediately said post what ever you like including my face. take a picture. He did not want to give us his phone number or any information which may help. He just kept on telling us they are the most honest restaurant in the planet which ofcourse i certainly do not believe.
Perfect place to dine in the province of Tarlac!
You may visit http://clubtourists.blogspot.com for other infor 🙂
Perfect place to dine in the province of Tarlac!
You may visit http://clubtourists.blogspot.com for other infor 🙂
Perfect place to dine in the province of Tarlac!
You may visit http://clubtourists.blogspot.com for other infor 🙂
Perfect place to dine in the province of Tarlac!
You may visit http://clubtourists.blogspot.com for other infor 🙂
Checked out the place and it was awesome. Took pictures din to boot ;)) http://bum-spot.blogspot.com/2011/09/travelogue-isdaan-floating-restaurant.html
May bayad ba ung entrance sa Isdaan? Kase balak kong isama friends ko dyan just to take pictures. Di naman kami magtatagal. Pero baka kumain din kami.
I’d really appreciate if you reply. Thanks! 🙂
My family and I ate here late last night and it was disappointing. We were just enticed because there were lots of cars parked when we first passed by during lunch and the place was still full until evening. When we sat down to give our order, the waiter told us that most of the items in the menu were no longer available. After three long hours of travel, we had no choice but to make do with whatever is available. We ordered hototay, pinakbet and Japanese sizzling seafood platter. Of all these three, they only got pinakbet right. Hotatay were just veggies put in a soup which didn’t even have dumplings. The worst part is the seafood platter. We ordered because the waiter promised there would be tanigue in it. When it arrived, the platter was 60% onions, 30% carrots, 5% shrimp and 5% pork. Seafood huh? The boat (as it was called) wasn’t even full. And 570php for just that single order. I know it’s Black Saturday and they’ve been serving customers since morning but I totally wish they told us in the first place that they couldn’t serve all the contents of our sizzling seafood platter because they ran out of ingredients. I would even appreciate it if they had not let us come in in the first place. In all fairness to the waiter, since it was not in his power to discount our order, he gave us complimentary leche flan to appease us.
Apart from this sir Anton, the condition of the sheep is totally unacceptable. Kawawa naman. There is this part in the right wing of the restaurant beside the kitchen near the tacsiyapo that smells awful! This is the waste disposal area adjacent to the kitchen. Isn’t it unsanitary?
I think it could be a nice place at night though it wouldn’t be advisable to go there during peak days. Nevertheless, the tacsiyapo wall is a must try (I used the saucer plate as if I was playing frisbee).
Gusto ko itry yung pagtawid sa parang tulay na may dalang timba. Nakapunta na ako sa Isdaan years ago pero yun, bumisita lang and ala ginawa. Next time itry ko na mga activities and food. (-:
We passed by this place yesterday on the way down from Baguio but left very disappointed. It took 30 mins to seat us in a floating hut and then we just sat there with no one coming to take our order. Twice we used the red light to call for service and each time a woman designated a ‘bill outer’ would turn it off and just tell us to wait. We just got up and left having burned off nearly an hour for some tacky pics. The place has had better days but for us (hungry party of 7) it was a bad joke. My advice? Stop for some quick pics then just keep driving on.
Beautiful Isdaan, and delicious food found there, also try in san miguel tarlac, near luisita