During our last travel to Bohol, Philippines, we passed by a native carinderia known as the Iya Tinay.
Carinderia is very popular in the Philippines wherein foodies are sold at an affordable price. And it is a food stall with not so huge seating area found near a market or at a roadside.
Tiya Inay was found at an accessible place since all vehicles were passing the road.
The weather back then was so gloomy because a typhoon is approaching so I wanted something that could give warmth to my hungry stomach.
As I stepped into Iya Tinay, I was struck by Tarsier displays and its welcoming atmosphere. It was an open place for everyone so anyone could enter at any time although the space is not so huge. I then captured the very cute Tarsiers.
These structures had a bigger version of a Tarsier and it is not life-size since real Tarsiers are really small creatures that live in Bohol Tarsier sanctuaries.
After having quick snaps of the native structures, I then noticed the wooden tables and chairs, native decor, and friendly people that made me feel right at home. And, I was excited to try the carinderia’s specialties.
Unlike restaurants where menus are placed by staff at the table, in this dining place, menus are ordered at the counter through the cashier. Indeed, this criteria offered a self-service.
As I went to the counter, I could see that the place had a variety of native chicken dishes from adobo to tinola and even grilled chicken.
Aside from the native menus, sisig and bulalo were also placed on the glass display so every customer could see what they are serving.
I decided to order the grilled chicken, along with a side of rice, bulalo, and mango float.
As I waited for my food to arrive, I went around the place and I discovered that they were also selling Bohol souvenirs.
Here are the souvenirs displayed on the side.
The cute guitars caught my attention first and they were so fantastic.
And then the customized bracelets and colorful necklaces made of various raw materials along with the keychains.
The coin purses as well were fantastic in different designs. They were all colorful. Sole coin purses were made with native raw materials and they were sold at cheaper prices.
Since I was younger, I had interested so much in the delicious flavors of native chicken, and I could not wait to taste it for myself in Tiya Inay.
Perhaps when my food arrived, I was not disappointed.
The grilled native chicken was delicious and they were chopped into pieces. It was juicy and flavorful, with a smoky and slightly sweet taste.
The rice and bulalo complemented the chicken perfectly while providing a balance of textures and flavors.
The bulalo was spicy and had a savory beef flavor. It was a bit spicy but just right to my taste.
After I have eaten the main dishes, I had the mango float as a dessert and it was so delicious too.
As I savored each bite of my meal, I felt so full. I must say that the food at Iya Tinay was not only delicious, but it also felt like a priceless moment of Bohol's rich culinary culture.
Indeed, I was feeling grateful for the wonderful experience of dining at Iya Tinay. The restaurant had not only given me a taste of Bohol's unique flavors but as well as delicious and affordable menus.
After I finished my meal, I had great plans of exploring more of the island's culinary offerings and went to another restaurant for dinner.
Perhaps, I had a delicious and memorable lunch at Iya Tinay's native dining in Bohol. It was a delightful and satisfying experience. And it was truly worth visiting carinderia.
Disclaimer: All texts and pictures are my own unless otherwise stated.