Filipinos love food and take every part of the experience seriously — it’s all about the two Fs: flavor and family! A meal is regarded as an opportunity to gather and bond — “tara, kain!” is a favorite expression by locals which translates to “let’s eat!” It certainly comes as no surprise that dining in the Philippines, and indulging in Filipino food, feels like a fiesta with every bite.
Let me preface this post by saying that I truly believe the Philippines has an amazingly diverse and delicious selection of food that you could hardly go wrong wherever you choose to dine. This list of restaurants is merely the tip of the iceberg! This list, too, is an ode to the four odd years I spent living in the Philippines — in the city of Makati, in particular, where most of these restaurants are located. This rundown, then, is as personal as it gets for me; nearly every place has a distinct memory attached to it!
In light of the global pandemic we are facing at the time of writing, I’ve decided to include only my favorite local restaurants. I think now more than ever is the best time to support our local businesses. Also, I’ve added some measures (that I could find), which these restaurants are taking during this time.
So, tara! (Let’s go!) It’s time to share my favorite eateries for the different meals in a day. Enjoy!
Breakfast
Wildflour Café + Bakery
A favorite go-to eatery, Wildflour Café + Bakery is honestly more than just a breakfast place — it’s perfect for a visit at any time of the day! All dishes come in generous portions, and you wish you’d saved some space for the delicious pastries on display. The first time I tried Wildflour at Bonifacio Global City (BGC) was to line up for their famous and nearly-always sold-out cronuts! (The BGC branch was their first one ever; today, Widlfour has six branches all over Metro Manila.) I also appreciated how they were one of the first few places that offered non-dairy milk alternatives for their coffee drinks!
TSK menu picks: Their flaky butter croissant (and all other pastries!), blueberry and ricotta cheese pancakes, and Kimchi fried rice.
response to covid-19 pandemic:
Our shops will still be online on Food Panda and Grab Food. Feel free to contact us via mobile or landline to order food trays or regular a la carte menus for pick up or delivery. For fresh pastries and cakes delivered straight to your doorstep, message us at @wildflourtogo. Stay safe, everyone!
Wildflour café + Bakery
Early Bird Breakfast Club
The Early Bird Breakfast Club is an all-day breakfast-serving eatery, perfect for breakfast lovers like me! It’s my favorite spot for the ultimate comfort food that’s a blend of local and international cuisines. And, for days when the rain pours — which it does pretty frequent in Metro Manila — champorado, a local delicacy that’s basically sweet rice porridge, is your best friend.
TSK menu picks: Their take on champorado and the cheesiest grilled cheese with the tomato-est tomato soup!
Breakfast at Antonio’s
If you get the chance to venture out of the Metro, head over to the airy city of Tagaytay for the day, starting with Breakfast at Antonio’s. Also an all-day breakfast place, Antonio’s edge is the tantalizing views it offers of Taal Lake and the namesake volcano in the near distance.
The restaurant is in a home-like structure, which, in turn, offers a relaxed and breezy ambiance. Paired with the freshly baked bread and jam, you’re surely in for a treat! A little heads up, though: The place gets packed on weekends, and they don’t accept reservations.
TSK menu picks: Beef tapa with garlic rice, and any, or all, of their all-day sandwiches!
Lunch
Marcia Adams
Continue on your Tagaytay adventure to Marcia Adams, only a brief car ride away from Breakfast at Antonio’s and a Tuscan treat in the middle of the Cavite wilderness. The restaurant’s tranquil atmosphere makes you feel one with nature as you indulge in heartfully prepared meals from a menu regularly updated, to guarantee nothing but fresh goodness to diners.
Ooma
“Oomagoodness!” is the only acceptable reaction post-meal at Ooma! It was the new kid on the block right about the time I was set to leave Manila and I’m so glad I tried it! The Japanese restaurant boasts seven different locations all over Metro Manila — you’re bound to find one near you!
TSK menu picks: Ooma’s sushi mixers are a must! Also, their soft-shell crab taco maki is the fusion you never thought you needed. And, finally, their serving of uni udon is so creamy and is definitely a must-have for both sea urchin fans and doubters alike.
response to covid-19 pandemic:
In addition to its food being available for personal pick-ups and delivery via @grabfoodph and @foodpanda_ph, Ooma’s parent company has started the Project Nourish initiative where you may pledge any amount and send a meal to the frontlines! Read more about this initiative on their Instagram post.
The moment group
Gino’s Brick Oven Pizza
Following Japan, let’s venture into a piece of Italy in the heart of Metro Manila at Gino’s Brick Oven Pizza. I’ve never obsessed over pizza as much as I have over Gino’s, whose ingredients are all locally sourced and made in-house — from their cheese to the pasta and pizza dough! On their website, they go as far as to credit the Philippine water buffalos or carabaos for the milk used at the restaurants! It’s the freshness and goodness of their dishes that make Gino’s a favorite. Oh, not to mention their special spicy honey, too! I’m telling you, I’ve drizzled it all over the pizza and had to hold back from taking the entire bottle home!
TSK menu picks: Their salted egg pasta is a cult favorite, and there’s nothing quite like a classic margherita pizza with fresh mozzarella done right.
response to covid-19 pandemic:
As per their last Instagram post, all branches have been closed since March 18, and “will reopen once more information on restaurant restrictions are released. Stay safe everyone!”
Gino’s brick oven pizza
Merienda
A meal before dinner? Yes, of course! A merienda — practiced in Southern Europe, Latin America, and the Philippines — is your afternoon snack for that boost of energy before dinner time. Might I add, it is best served post-siesta!
Mary Grace Café
Café Mary Grace is synonymous with family gatherings, where at least a box of their goodies is ever-present! Besides the delicious food at all times of the day, it is the ambiance at all their cafés that keep people coming back for more — it’s so heartwarming that it feels like the holiday season all year round! Mary Grace is the perfect venue for friendly catch-ups, dates, study sessions, and celebratory meals of every kind!
TSK menu picks: Their ensaymada or soft bread roll is exceptional and a definite must-try; best paired with their signature hot chocolate. You also cannot go wrong with their special cheese rolls and selection of cakes.
Response to Covid-19 pandemic:
For everyone’s safety and well-being, all Mary Grace cafes and kiosks closed its doors on March 16 until further notice as a precautionary measure against the spread exposure of COVID-19. However, select and limited Mary Grace Baked Goods now available for ordering this April which can be picked up via Grab or Lalamove.
mary grace café
Café Breton
Café Breton was my little piece of Paris in Manila. Ahh, I could still recall the warmth of their freshly-prepared crêpes! I love everything about Breton, from their savory dishes to their sweet plates that satisfy every craving. At Breton, it’s perfectly acceptable to have ice-cream and crêpes any time of the day — need I say more?
TSK menu picks: The smoked salmon with capers and Breton mozzarella burger are must-tries for their savory dishes while it’s safe to say that anything and everything in their sweet corner is mouth-wateringly good!
Potato Corner
Have you ever tried something somewhere and wished you came up with the concept yourself? Or, thought hard about ways you could bring the concept back home? Well, that’s my take on Potato Corner, my honest-to-goodness guilty pleasure! There’s just something about their fries that make me finish an entire bucket in one sitting — this perhaps explains why I don’t have any decent photos of my own from here!
TSK menu picks: I dream about their bbq and sour cream flavors all the time. Period.
Response to Covid-19 pandemic:
Only selected stores are still open to serve everyone’s favorite Potato Corner flavored fries, all of which follow strict measures on food safety. For those at home, delivery through Lalafood and Grabfood is also available.
Potato corner ph
Dinner
Kko Kko
Are you a fan of Korean food? I am, too, and I assure you are going to have a blast when you feast at Kko Kko! They offer a guaranteed good time with friends over ridiculously good food platters — perfect for sharing and are such satisfying soul-food!
TSK menu picks: Their cheese fondue, which is basically a bread bowl filled with melted cheese, served with fries, onion rings, and boneless chicken is a must-try! So is their creamy Korean ramen filled with fish cake, rice cake, and veggies.
Response to covid-19 pandemic:
While Kko Kko has limited operating hours from 10am to 3pm with batch deliveries, it has also gone above and beyond in supplying at least 50 servings of its bibimbap for frontline heroes across various hospitals in Metro Manila!
Kko Kko ph
Recipes
If you’re looking for authentic Filipino food that’s great in taste and easy on the wallet, look no further than Recipes, a restaurant that has truly mastered the perfect recipe for each dish they serve! This place is one of my two all-time favorite Filipino restaurants — the second is the next on the list! — and for a good reason: the meals at Recipes are simple, no-frills, just downright good comfort food.
TSK menu picks: General’s chicken, no-pork gising-gising (beans in coconut sauce), spring rolls, crispy tilapia, and beefsteak Tagalog. Please do me a favor and order this marvelous spread — you will not regret it!
Lorenzo’s Way
The final restaurant on the list, and the second of my two all-time favorite Filipino restaurants, is Lorenzo’s Way. Their slogan is “Where Taste Matters,” and it shows with the flavor and thought put into each dish — from the ingredients to the presentation. A meal at Lorenzo’s Way is like enjoying a heartwarming Saturday night dinner at your grandmother’s place with recipes passed down from generation to generation.
TSK menu picks: Their Asian Vege-licious spring rolls and garlic gambas (shrimps) for the appetizer. For the main course, a serving of their Dilis-cious rice (rice with small dried fish); Binukadkad na Pla-Pla (butterfly tilapia); and Bulalo (beef broth soup).
And there you have it! An illustrative take on my must-visit restaurants each time I head back to the Philippines. As most, if not all, these joints are locally-owned, they would surely appreciate a visit or two from regular patrons and newcomers alike, once the pandemic ends. After all, helping a local business, or two, while satisfying our appetites is a double treat in itself. Wouldn’t you agree? Happy fiesta, friends!
Kace in point (recap)
Lots of love and travel miles,
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