Michi Photostory

Cabalen restaurant has been around since 1974 but the Eat-All-You-Can concept started in 1986. Cabalen which means “a fellow Kapampangan” is a Filipino restaurant which serves Filipino cuisines and authentic Kampapangan dishes like the snails in coconut milk. I heard that some branches also offer other Asian cuisines and they already have a branch in California, USA.

I was already in college when I first tried Cabalen, my experience was just okay so I guess more or less 5 times pa lang ako nakakain dito. It’s been several years ago na rin nung last na kain namin in Alabang Town Center branch. They have very limited buffet spread and when it comes to taste, it is just okay.


I think it was only two years ago when Cabalen started its operation in SM Sta Rosa. At last, may nadagdag na naman na buffet restaurant sa probinsiya. Just this week, my father-in-law celebrated his birthday so my husband suggested dinner at Cabalen so off we went to SM Sta Rosa. We are a group of 14 persons and we don’t have a reservation, good thing they were able to accommodate us. Siguro dahil weekday, hindi naman punuan.

The staff informed us about the 2 hours buffet limit, since hindi pa kami complete we waited outside the restaurant. But after a few minutes, the staff asked us kung nasaan na ba kasama namin and we said papunta pa lang. She said, we can go inside and start eating already so finally we can eat dinner around 6:30PM.

They have 50+ dishes, there are appetizers, soups, salads, grilled dishes, main dishes, and desserts. My favorite here is the ginataang langka, namiss ko tuloy yung luto ng lola ko na mga ginataan. I hope they can improve the taste of the Lechon (na mukhang lechon kawali), it is too salty.







The buffet spread may not be amazing but it is still a good meal, for P367.36 you can already have a buffet. Marami ka na makakain, mas mura and mas marami pa yan compared sa buffet meal namin sa Palm Beach Resort and sa isang order ko ng Pasta sa Cafe Mary Grace. You can treat your family or friends without breaking the bank. 

Watch the video here

They have a birthday promo of 5 + 1 pero hindi rin namin siya nakuha kasi when I checked the bill, same lang yung number or persons sa nabayaran namin. Lesson learned, always double check your bill before paying. We paid, 12 adults and 1 Kid (+1 Baby Free), dapat 11 adults and 1 kid (Free birthday celebrant and Free baby). Sayang din ang P367.36. hehehe!

Unlike other buffet restaurants, wala sila pakulo sa mga birthday celebrant except sa FREE ang buffet. So it is better to bring your own cake and kayo na rin magdecide kung anong oras ang pagblow ng candle.

Read: Dinner at La Fiesta: A Taste of Filipino 

Cabalen Buffet Rate 
Kids 4ft above and Adult - 328 + VAT = P367.36
Kids 4ft below - 50% + VAT = P183.68

Cabalen SM Sta Rosa 
SM City Santa Rosa,
Manila S Rd, Santa Rosa, Laguna