Zamboanga: Satti in the city and more
Perk up your mornings with a semi-spicy Satti meal
Pardon the title pun there. Just have to use it on this entry, hehe. Being close to our neighboring country in Sabah, Malaysia, you could find certain similarities in terms of design, culture and especially food in Zamboanga City. One such similar dish I found here is their famous Satti which is very similar to the Malaysian Satay.
An expesnive satti at Morning Sun, Php4.50 a stick
Satti is actually a breakfast meal to the locals of Zamboanga. Satti shops open up as early as 4am and by mid day it would be rare to find a meal by then. Major difference I saw from its Malaysian counterpart is the servince per stick. While the Satay is similar to our regular BBQ, Satti has only 3 small strips of roasted meats on a stick. The meat can be any from beef, pork, liver or chicken. Why the tiny serving? I’m not really sure, but when you couple it with the sticky rice, served floating on a thick semi-sweet and spicy sauce, it seems a bit size is enough to add flavor to the sticky rice.
A cheaper satti house (taken with SE K800i)
There are several Satti shops in town and most famous are those along Pilar street. One shop we heard was the most popular was the Morning Sun Satti. And I must say I won’t recommend this shop despite its popularity. For one thing it’s expensive. They sell a sticks for Php 4.50 whilst the first side street carinderia we ate Satti at sell a bowl of 8 sticks for only Php 20. And their satti taste much better. Their chicken satti isn’t much to rave about either and it seems saturated with food color. What I only like about that shop is their sticky rice which is much flavorful than the rest and their liver satti. But value for money? It’s not that good.
Street side Tempura
If suddenly, walking around the streets of Zamboanga, a sudden hunger pang strikes, there are numerous Tempura stalls in some corners to relieve those food cravings. They are more popular here than fishballs and for only Php 3.00 you get a stick, with the tempura looking like a larger version of a kikiam.
Curacha, the water cockrach meal
If you are looking for an authentic Zamboanga cuisine, head over to Alavar’s and order their famous Curacha. No, not the Babaeng Walang Pahinga by Rosana Roces. Curacha is a local Chavacano name given to this sea crab species also known as a sea cockroach. This species which seems to be a mix of a giant crab and a lobster can only be found here at the waters of Zamboanga and not anywhere else in the world. A serving of curacha is around Php 700 and is good for 2-3 persons due to its sheer size. There are several ways to cook it but what we have which is topped with some garlic spices and some chili is really delicious. I noticed this species of crab has more meat on its body. Also while at that restaurant, try to get a bottle of their special bagoong. Another special of their that I really enjoyed. I should have bought a few bottles more when I went home.
Streetside barbeque
Zamboanga City doesn’t have much in their night life department, but you could head down to their famous Boulevard where you could enjoy a scenic sunset and some barbecue dinner as well. It’s really cheap and delicious but you have to have to settle on the comforts of some monobloc chairs and concrete benches which is really just fine.
Hanging out at the boulevard
The Boulevard is their local version of Baywalk, but this one is curved like a cove facing the sea. No major restaurants or eateries as well aside from some BBQ carts, Balut Penoy and some Tempura vendors. Lots of locals seems to hang out here at night. It’s quite nice enjoying the air here and the food as well.
Tags: Boulevard, Curacha, Eats, Food, Satti, Tempura, Zamboanga City
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Tuesday, August 7th, 2007 at 3:19 pm 
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August 7th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
Another set of yummy foods.
I wonder if I would feel “bitin” after eating that Satti.
August 7th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
yam yam… hmmmmmmm….
August 7th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
frankly, parang hype yung curacha. i was able to eat it sans the alavar’s (not with “e”) sauce in Tawitawi pero I still prefer the blue crabs. Yung sipit nya not that thick with meat.
August 7th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
by the way, is the satti made of pork or beef?
August 7th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
You definitely should consider changing this into a FOOD BLOG! LOL. damn that crab looks really good.
August 7th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
i think i want to go to zamboanga. the foods look yummy and VERY affordable.
August 8th, 2007 at 3:18 am
good tips and what must be a nice experience in zamboanga.
August 8th, 2007 at 4:33 am
unang pic palang nakakagutom na mas lalo na sa crab! heheh
yan ang heavy breakfast!
August 8th, 2007 at 6:02 am
hmm, di ata kasya sakin ang isang satti ah. as usual, kakagutom ang entry mo ulet. =)
nga pala, ayus sa pun. lolz! =)
August 8th, 2007 at 11:19 am
I am ogling at the Satti and true enough, it reminds me of Satay over here in Malaysia. I guess Satti can only be found in Zamboanga … And not Manila, di ba?
Anyway, this post is making me hungry!
August 8th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
You should have been in Boulevard on twilight and watch the sun set to the horizon, you’d see the orange sun dipping perfectly into the sea, like the sea had gobbled it, and when the weather is fine, you’d see how the sun could ultoimately and perfectlt spheric, since the setting sun won’t be too harsh on the naked eye, and you’d see it’s wondrous shape like no other.
I believe Boulevard is one place who one can see the best sunset of all time, among other places of course.
August 8th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
yang crab na yan ang namiss ko lalo na ginataan Delish!
August 8th, 2007 at 11:54 pm
Hmmm… I’m not much of a seafood lover but that Curacha right there got me thinking… Parang gusto ko tuloy ng any kind of crab right now.
August 9th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
The curacha looks like an interesting species. I wonder what it’s scientific name is.
Special bagoong? What’s so special about it?
August 9th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
you always get the right texture and contrast for your food photos. kaya lalong nagmumukhang masarap ang mga pagkain na kinukunan mo.
August 10th, 2007 at 4:06 am
the other night while drunk with my friends at my house, we were all laying down with all the lights turned off. all of us were filipino and most of us haven’t gone back to the homeland for a long time and we juss started talking about ‘ihaw-ihaw’. i missedphilippines even more. =(
but that thing with 3 pieces of meat is 4.50? no wayy! but it must be really good for it to be that expensive.
August 10th, 2007 at 11:52 am
Satti is definitely exotic food more so that it is actually a breakfast dish ! I love to devour that curacha crab. Looks so inviting
August 16th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Oh yeah… the Malaysian restaurant here also seves breakfast much like that satti. I find it weird because it seems that it’s more appropriate for lunch.
Besides sites and landscapes, you’re really also a good food photragrapher Ferdz.
August 16th, 2007 at 1:28 pm
there’s also this eatery near robinson’s galleria, more of a turo-turo style offering satti together with fishballs, kwek kwek…
September 15th, 2007 at 12:58 am
[...] eating a Satti breakfast at one of the Satti shops in Pilar Street, morning finds us strolling the streets of [...]
September 15th, 2007 at 7:49 pm
i love satti very much. but im now in south cotabato. couldn’t find satti here. i wonder if you could share us how to prepare satti. tnx! dancjoe@yahoo.com
September 16th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
ahhh, so the philippinized satay is satti! it looks deliciously inviting indeed!
January 18th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
try our satti! 116 maginhawa st., teachers village, qc
February 26th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Hi… anybody knows the procedure on how to prepare Satti especially the ingredients they use?…..