March is really one of the busiest months for us because we have three celebrations back-to-back: our wedding anniversary, our second son’s birthday, and our sixth child’s birthday. For our anniversary, we kept things simple and ordered takeout from Goldilocks because I honestly didn’t want to cook. But for our second son’s birthday, he had a special request: he wanted a seafood buffet or unli seafood. After comparing the DIY seafood party total cost versus dining at a seafood buffet, we realized na mas malaking tipid talaga ang DIY.
Instead of eating out, I decided to go to the market, buy fresh seafood, and cook everything at home. Aside from being more budget-friendly, mas satisfying din because we got to choose the ingredients ourselves and prepare the dishes exactly the way we wanted. It also felt more special because it was prepared with love for his birthday.
For this celebration, our Seafood Party Total Cost was only ₱3,270, and it was already good for 10 people. Considering the variety of seafood and dishes we served, sulit na sulit talaga.
@mommypehpot Kapag March talaga ang dami naming ganap 🥰🥰 2 birthdays and 1 anniv and for 2nd son’s birthday handa: unli seafood! #happybirthday #seafoodparty #birthdayparty ♬ original sound – MommyPehpot
Seafood Party Total Cost Breakdown
Here’s the complete breakdown of our expenses:
1/2 kg Salmon for sashimi – ₱400
1/2 kg Salmon for sinigang – ₱170
1/2 kg Tanigue for kinilaw – ₱300
1 kg Tahong – ₱140
2 kg Oyster – ₱240
1 kg Crab – ₱650
1 kg Hipon – ₱560
1 kg Pusit – ₱560
Fruits – ₱250
Total Seafood Party Total Cost
₱3,270
That total already gave us a full seafood spread for 10 people, which is honestly a much better deal compared to paying for a seafood buffet for the whole family. If you are curious about your own Seafood Party Total Cost, this kind of setup can really help you save while still serving a complete and satisfying meal.
Our DIY Seafood Party Menu
We wanted the menu to feel complete, so we made sure there was a good mix of grilled, steamed, fresh, and soupy dishes. Since seafood can feel a little bit nakakaumay if everything tastes the same, having different styles of cooking really made the spread more exciting.
Here’s what we prepared:
Sinigang na salmon belly para may sabaw
Grilled oyster
Baked tahong with cheese
Steamed shrimp
Steamed crab
Grilled liempo
Kinilaw na tanigue
Inihaw na pusit
Even though seafood was the main highlight, we also added grilled liempo for a little variety. This is always a good idea, especially when feeding a group, because not everyone wants pure seafood all throughout the meal.
Simple Marinade, Big Flavor
For the pusit and liempo, we used a very simple toyomansi marinade. Sometimes, simple really is best. The combination of soy sauce and calamansi gives that perfect balance of salty and tangy flavor, and once grilled, it becomes even more delicious because of that smoky taste.
No complicated ingredients needed, just a reliable marinade that works every time.
Best Sawsawan for Seafood
Of course, a seafood feast would not be complete without the right dipping sauces. For this party, we prepared two classic Pinoy sawsawan options:
Suka with sibuyas at sili
Toyomansi with sibuyas at sili
These simple sawsawan choices really brought out the flavors of the grilled and steamed seafood. Minsan talaga, sawsawan pa lang ulam na.
Fruits for Dessert
To complete the meal, we also served fresh fruits on the side:
Mangoes
Watermelon
These were perfect panghimagas after all the seafood and grilled dishes. They added a refreshing and light finish to the meal, especially since seafood feasts can feel quite heavy.
Why the Seafood Party Total Cost Was Worth It
When we compared the Seafood Party Total Cost of preparing everything at home versus eating at a seafood buffet, the difference was very clear. With a buffet, we would have spent a lot more, especially for 10 people. And while buffets are convenient, the DIY setup gave us more value for our money.
Here are a few reasons why DIY worked better for us:
First, it was more budget-friendly. For only ₱3,270, we were able to prepare a generous spread for 10 people.
Second, we got fresher ingredients. Since we bought everything ourselves from the market, we had more control over the quality of the seafood.
Third, the menu was customized. We got to prepare exactly what the birthday celebrant wanted.
And lastly, it felt more personal. There is something extra special about a birthday meal prepared at home. It may require more effort, but it also feels warmer and more memorable.
Looking at our final Seafood Party Total Cost, we can honestly say that the extra effort was worth it.
