Dampa Seaside, Manila Overview

Situated between Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila and the Manila Film Center at the CCP Complex, Dampa Seaside, also known as the Pasay Seafood Market is a seafood market with a host of dine-in restaurants. Considered to be a treasure of good quality seafood like scallops and mantis, shrimp, oysters, lobsters, squids, stonefish, and red frog crabs.

These restaurants are called ‘dampa’ which is a Filipino word meaning traditional huts that are sheltered with coconut leaves and supported by bamboo sticks. Originally the restaurants were just huts where customers used to bring self-purchased fresh and raw seafood in order to be cooked in whatever way they wanted. The tradition continues even today, although the conditions of the restaurants have improved over the years, making the place a ‘modern’ dampa. Although the food prepared is most Asian, you can request your own recipe and have your own way. As per future plans, Dampa Seaside is also believed to have retail stores for lifestyle products, hotels and wellness shops, and the already existing dampas and local wet market place.

Things to Do when at Seaside Dampa

Step 1: Choose your own seafood
Once on the seaside, you will find several compact and tiny shops selling freshly caught seafood with an assortment of fish, oysters, crabs, lobsters, etc. It is advisable that you first take a tour of the place to settle on the best quality food and freshest ingredients. After that, you can decide on where to purchase the products from. Almost all of these shops price their products at the same rate so there is little scope of bargaining.
Step 2: Select a Restaurant
After you have bought raw food, you can proceed to select and settle on the restaurant of your choice. Some of the finest one include Aling Marya, Claire dela fuente, Cyrill grilled restaurant, Huey ying, Super wok and Papa dann’s grill etc. You will find all kinds of restaurants here - one with great ambiance and also the ones which are friendly on the pocket. Some of these specialize in Chinese cuisine while some others in Asian. You can choose as per your taste.