Restaurants in Manila
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A
Gerry’s Grill
The original location of the now-widespread Filipino restobar chain is across the street from the ABS-CBN television studios.
reviewed
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B
Café Adriatico
Don’t be fooled by what appears to be a small and informal restaurant; this Malate legend right on Remedios Circle has good Spanish and Italian food to go along with top-notch people-watching.
reviewed
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C
North Park Noodles
This much-loved fast-food joint serves what some consider to be the best bowl of Chinese noodles in town. It’s a sleek little place with a minimalist stainless-steel style.
reviewed
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D
Harbour Square
A modest food court overlooking Manila’s marina in the CCP Complex.
reviewed
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E
Aristocrat
This Manila institution began life in 1936 as a mobile snack cart, and today has branches all over the city, while still being entirely Filipino-owned. It feels like a huge, brightly lit diner, and the massive menu is rich in traditional Filipino staples and favourites.
reviewed
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F
Ziggurat
Half open-air restaurant, half pillow-covered bazaar, Ziggurat takes its inspirations from India, the Middle East and Africa. Don’t let its location just off girlie-bar-laden P Burgos St fool you: this is one of Makati’s best-kept secrets. At the outside bar you can recline and enjoy a hookah in a setting that manages to slightly evoke a desert tent somewhere. The menu is long and includes kebabs, chutneys, curries and Moroccan tajines.
reviewed
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G
Museum Cafe
Much more than a simple refuelling stop for museum patrons, the M Cafe, as it’s popularly known, is a magnet for Manila’s chichi class. The trip-hop ambience and exquisite all-white interior make for an especially artistic experience. The menu is heavy on light bites and sandwiches.
reviewed
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H
Casa Armas
A passionate clique of chowhounds and foodies have been spreading the good word about this Filipino-Spanish spot for years, where tapas, paella, seafood and even entire roast suckling pigs are on offer. There’s a second branch in Makati’s Greenbelt 3.
reviewed
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I
Italianni's
New York-style Italian food stars, which means thick tomato sauce, great meatballs and big portions. One of the most popular places on this popular strip of restaurants, the staff here takes motivation seriously: group cheers are common.
reviewed
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J
Bellini's
This hip little Italian café serves good pizzas under the watchful gaze of an eclectic wall of fame (photos of purported customers). It's popular with local artists, many of whom have shops in adjoining storefronts.
reviewed
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K
Max Brenner
This jazzy outlet of the revered chain of chocolate shops has all the rich drinks and treats you'd expect. There's also a small menu of breakfast items and heartier fare served through the day.
reviewed
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L
Cafe Via Mare
You can get a snack or a meal at this trendy little spot on a busy corner of the Rockwell Center. The coffee is authentically Italian while the dishes are an upscale mix of Filipino standards.
reviewed
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M
Dad’s
Most everyone visits Dad’s for its aptly named all-you-can-eat ‘ultimate buffet’, when a mind-boggling array of Filipino dishes are set out in deep serving dishes. Come hungry.
reviewed
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N
Hap Chan
One of the more popular teahouses, it specialises in hotpot dishes, but also serves dim sum, noodles and rice dishes. It's small, clean and unadorned.
reviewed
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O
Tasty Dumplings
The name says it all at this modern little place. The meatball soup is excellent.
reviewed
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P
Cafe Havana
Conjure the illusion that you're in Havana just before the city's fall to Castro. You can opt to have an all-Cuban evening starting with Cuba Libre and ending with a Cuban Cohiba Esplendido cigar, with some Arroz a la Cubana in between. It's busy serving local partiers until late and many revitalize with the good fresh fruit drinks.
reviewed
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Q
Shawarma Snack Center
It doesn’t sound like much, but this open-air Middle Eastern place serves the richest and most flavourful felafel, matabal, hummus, and kabobs for kilometres around. In the branch across the street is more upscale dining in air-conditioned comfort.
reviewed
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R
Red Crab
This outlet of the small Manila chain is all things crab, from the crab origami decorating the stylish dining room to the myriad of crab preparations on the menu. There's lots of other seafood items on the menu but you can never go wrong with Thai chilli crab.
reviewed
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S
Caffe Ricco Renzo
Something like a modern-day piano bar, but with pastries and espresso instead of gin and tonic. The real draw, of course, is the building it’s located in: the International Design Center. There’s live jazz on Friday night.
reviewed
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T
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Part of the chain found throughout town, this is a better choice than the chain whose name rhymes with 'sucks'. It's a smart setting inside and out, and the drinks are many and varied. Good iced tea and free wi-fi.
reviewed
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U
Heaven ‘n Eggs
QC’s best all-day breakfast spot does American classics (omelettes, steak and eggs) and Filipino surprises with equal skill and precision. There’s another branch next to the entrance of Glorietta 4 in Makati.
reviewed
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Grilla Bar & Grill
Grilla is conveniently located in Makati. It’s a fine place to sample Pinoy specialities like sizzling gambas (shrimp) and crispy pata (pork leg) and drink San Miguel by the bucketful.
reviewed
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V
Benjarong Royal Thai Restaurant
Manila's best Thai restaurant is hidden away on the second level of the Dusit Hotel Nikko. The dining room is elegant, befitting the 'royal' moniker. The cuisine is both lavish and inventive.
reviewed
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W
Harbor View
Located on a jetty and overlooking Manila Bay, it’s no wonder Harbor View has become a legendarily romantic date destination. Sushi, super-fresh seafood and Filipino fare are on the menu.
reviewed
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X
Bistro Remedios
Food from Pampanga province is the speciality here, including many exotic and unusual dishes, like fried frog legs. The nicely relaxed ambience is traditionally Filipino.
reviewed