PALAWAN TRIP PART 4: KA INATO RESTAURANT,DEAF MUTE FOOD SERVERS AT PUERTO PRINCESA
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I’m back with my Palawan Trip Series. On my first post, I was talking about my Itinerary and Budget, please click here: Palawan Trip Part 1 – Itinerary and Budget. Then on my second post I shared general tips on traveling to El Nido, please click here: Palawan Trip Part 2 – Traveling to El Nido. Of course, I was discussing my experience when we do the Island hopping at El Nido, Tour A, please click here: Palawan Trip Part 3 – El Nido Tour A.
I have more to share about my El Nido experience but here in my Palawan Trip Part 4 series, I opted to jump a bit and share with you an experience I had with this lovely restaurant.
PALAWAN TRIP PART 4: KA INATO RESTAURANT, DEAF MUTE FOOD SERVERS AT PUERTO PRINCESA
“As I enter the restaurant premises, I was greeted by various wooden sculptures common in Palawan”
That was my last night at Puerto Princesa. My friends were still in their offices so I have to find a place to eat while waiting for them.
At Go Hotel, I asked where is the best place to eat, that’s not really far. Of course I was looking for “Tamilok”, I only read about this delicacy, but I haven’t seen nor tasted it yet. The guard gave me various options, but most of these restaurants were quite far. So I opted for the option which was quite near from Go Hotel – the Ka Inato Restaurant.
From Go Hotel, I just took a tricycle and just pay PHP 15.00. Ka Inato is located just along the Highway. And the tricycle dropped me off right in front of the restaurant.
As I enter the restaurant premises, I was greeted by various wooden sculptures common in Palawan. But these sculptures were colored and don’t look scary. In fact, I was immediately impressed by the ambiance of the Ka Inato. The al fresco restaurant was decorated with several paintings and the alley was lined with multiple Palawan wooden sculptures painted in bright and lively colors.
“some paintings decorated at Ka Inato Restaurant”
I opted to sit in a corner where few were sitting. Of course, I don’t want people to stare at me while taking pictures of the food I ate and of the restaurant. I also don’t want people hearing me interviewing the staff about the restaurant.
I was so disappointed upon learning that they don’t serve Tamilok as what I was told. In any event, I don’t desire to blow up my night just because I cannot find this Tamilok and I cannot spend all my time hunting for it. I will be back anyway, and the next time I will come back at Puerto Princesa, I will certainly be eating this delicacy –just to fulfill my curiosity.
One of Ka Inato’s specialties is chicken inasal, but for heaven’s sake, I live in Bacolod City and chicken Inasal is also a treat. Then I browsed their menu and found their price really fair. I was not really starving, but I ordered the following:
Binusog na Pusit (Stuffed Squid) – PHP 145/serving
Talon Kinilaw – PHP 65/serving
Rice – PHP 20/cup
Buko Mais – PhP 65 (served in coconut shell)
They provide the complimentary clear soup. But sorry, I didn’t like the gustatory sensation.
They add 10% for the service charge.
“Binusog na Pusit and Talong Kinilaw”
I was entertained by their food servers who were college interns in one college in Puerto Princesa. But one thing that truly got my attention was the food servers in yellow uniform. In their uniform was a mark which says “deaf mute proudly working”. I asked the interns about them and I was told there was around 10 deaf mute working at Ka Inato.
While awaiting for my food, a huge group (families I suppose) arrive and settled next to where I was sitting. Evidently they were local tourists like me as they were hashing out about their experience in some offices in Puerto Princesa. As I was eating, waiters started to serve also the food of this group. A deaf mute server carrying a tray with bowls of complimentary soup came to assist the other board. The group
The group was busy speaking and sharing their joyful experiences. A young man didn’t notice the food server (as she cannot say “excuse” of course), hits the tray which made the hot soup spilled over him. The deaf mute server looked a bit scared and apologetic, but just making a sign language which I guess no one paid attention to. Then she left the table. Praise God, the guy was also gracious knowing it wasn’t intentional. A few minutes later, the server went back with a fruit platter and gave it to the guy she spilled the soup with. Then I heard the guy saying:” wow, I love fruits, who ordered this?” Nobody ordered for fruit from their table. Then they send for a waiter and return the fruit platter. Then I just heard the waiter said:” No, sir, that’s complimentary…. because of what happened”.
” A photo op with a deaf mute food server at Ka Inato Restaurant”
I like the policy and practice of the Ka Inato for giving complementary items to their guests considering of course of the thing which might happen with the staff that they have. But I like more the gesture of the family/group. I picked up an older guy saying, “No need for that, we infer. If this will be charged to the girl, then I insist we will just pay for it”.
That scenario completed my sumptuous meal at Ka Inato. The food nourished my body, but the exchange of good gestures of the people I saw nourished my soul.
Ka Inato Restaurant
Cor. San Manuel Road, North National Highway
Brgy. Tiniguiban, Puerto Princesa City
Tel: 0917-5531721; 048-434-1721
MORE PHOTOS AT KA INATO RESTAURANT, PUERTO PRINCESA:
The entance of Ka Inato
Part of the garden sorrounding Ka Inato Restaurant
I live on Palawan and Ka Inato is my favourite place to eat here. There are two branches however, only the one near Go hotel has deaf waiters. The other branch is very near the airport and has similar wooden artwork. Both are excellent and have reasonable prices.
I wasn’t able to try this resto when we went to Palawan last year. We went to Kinabuch twice though.
I’ve heard about Ka Inato from relatives in Palawan! Definetly one of the places I would try when I go there.
Aw I think that’s nice though–allowing persons with disabilities to live and work like normal people. Must be really nice for them 🙂
puerto princesa is indeed a beautiful place, i would love to visit the other parts of it.
The restaurant looks cosy. I love checking out food places when travelling too 🙂
I wish to visit Palawan this April. If our plan will push through I would like to try this restaurant. I hope that more restaurants or establishments will hire people with disabilities.
Palawan is one of my bucket list to visit with my family in the Philippines someday. Thank you so much for sharing your amazing trip.
what a nice trip to palawan! perfect summer getaway!
what a nice trip to palawan! it’s perfect for summer vacation!
It’s great that they decided to open a restaurant with deaf/mute servers. It goes to show that havinga disability is not a hindrance to doing a great work. The food looks so yummy as well.
It’s nice that they give opportunities to deaf mute servers. It’s also nice to see people being considerate to them.
Palawan is definitely the go-to place for tourism, but along with travel comes food! It’s great this place provides employment to deaf-mute people
I will have to make my visit to Palawan soon. Love to travel to places!
We’re going to Puerto Princess too this year. I’m gonna add this on our itinerary.
We might visit Palawan soon so I’ll have this place in mind.
I take one look at the pusit and I drool right away! Mannnn! I wish I’d be on a trip to Puerto Princesa soon. God knows I need a break from the buzz of the city.
I was able to visit Ka Inato when I was in Palawan and I like their food. I heard also about the Tamilok but I haven’t tried it too. Maybe next visit.
Food has been the reason why I love to travel. For sure, you enjoyed a lot on your travel!
I’ve not gone to a place or resto served by a personnel of deaf and mute. I could imagine how difficult to communicate with them. In my case, I will just take hold of the menu and make an order pointing my fave among the foods, sweets, drinks available.
The food prices are super affordable. It’s great that people that are physically challenged are welcomed to work in this place. There should be more like it so these people can feel that their services are also well appreciated.