Manila Restaurants

  1. Mey Lin

    Hand-pulled noodles prepared in the front window are the draw at this smart little place. The décor is as bright and sparkly as the service. There are 20 kinds of fresh noodle soups plus much more, including free wi-fi.

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  2. Museum Cafe

    Enter the pages of Vogue at this light-as-a-feather café across from the Ayala Museum. The nibbles are sublime and drinks come with fresh veggies and spicy dips. Be beautiful inside or at the breezy tables overlooking Greenbelt Park. More substantial food includes hearty breakfasts and good lunch sandwiches.

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  3. MXT

    Offers mami (noodles in soup), its specialty siopao (steamed dumplings with meat filling) and various dim sum for very low prices. A window lets you buy from the pavement.

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  4. My LK

    The LK stands for Little Kitchen but that doesn't stop chef Melissa Sison from creating some wonderful fresh dishes such as salads and sandwiches. The pasta menu is good and there are many specials depending on what's fresh. The interior is a nice study in soothing white and green.

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  5. My Spoon

    The soaring ceilings inside and the tables outside give My Spoon an environmental feel that melds with the large trees out front. Black with accents of magenta provide a dramatic backdrop for global cuisine served with great attention to presentation.

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  7. North Park Noodles

    Get 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.

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  8. Nuvo

    An attractive curved bar welcomes you to this temple of modern fusion cuisine. One of Manila's best restaurants, Nuvo emphasizes seafood on its changing menu that melds east and west. Stuffiness is kept at bay by whimsical touches amid the elegance.

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  9. open-air barbecue places

    There's a few good choices in Intramuros - but fewer than you would think. To go really casual, look for the open-air barbecue places near the Baluarte de Santa Lucia.

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  10. Pantalan Maynila

    Locally a favourite, the menu is as long as the ocean is deep. The seafood is pretty reasonable (ask for lots of garlic) except for that huge lobster in the corner; he'll set you back around P3000 .

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  11. Patio Guernica

    A long-established Spanish eatery that specialises in Iberian dishes such as paella. Although patrons are casual in attire, the place is nicely dressed in beige tablecloths and dark woods.

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  13. People's Palace

    When this popular Thai restaurant moved from Malate to Makati it signalled the shift in the balance between the two popular entertainment areas. Dishes are sprightly and the design inside and out is high concept. Aside from the food, it's a great spot to watch Manila as it goes by.

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  14. President Restaurant

    This holds the distinction of being the oldest restaurant in Chinatown. Gather a group of 12 people and come here for a lauriat (banquet). Otherwise you can order off the typically ginormous menu. Birthday parties abound.

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  15. President Tea House

    No relation to President Restaurant, this place is boldly decorated and is as neat as a red-and-white pin. The dim sum is great and there's much more on the menu.

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  16. Rastro

    A star among the Rockwell Center restaurant row, this tapas place has a long list of plates to choose from. There's a rich interior that opens onto a nice patio. Over it all is a good mix of jazz.

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  17. 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.

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  19. Restaurant Uno

    This gem of a restaurant is slightly off the T Morato strip, which is all for the better as you can dine on the seductive upper balcony in relative peace. Inside, the seasonal fusion menu is complemented by a minimalist style. Recommended.

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  20. Rickshaw Bar & Resto

    The peppy staff in this spotless eatery are deft at serving inexpensive dim sum for hungry tums. A bowl of noodles will only set you back a meagre sum, as will a rice topping set, served with soup and iced tea.

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  21. roadside carinderia

    The kind of food stalls commonly found in some Southeast Asian countries are conspicuously absent from the streets of Manila, but there are roadside carinderia . These basic eateries, often family owned, display a selection of pre-cooked dishes on a counter or in a glass case. They usually include adobo (pork and/or chicken cooked in vinegar, soy sauce and garlic), sinigáng (pork, fish or prawns in sour soup) and various preparations of bangús (milkfish, native to the Philippines). These places are called turu-turò (literally point-point) as ordering is a simple case of pointing at whatever takes your fancy.

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  22. Robinsons Place Food Court

    Robinsons Place has the usual enormous food court littered with fast-food choices as well as family-run outlets.

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  23. Sala

    One of Manila's finest restaurants, Sala is a refined European bistro. The décor is done in shades of green and cream, the perfect backdrop for the flattering lights. The changing menu features fusion dishes with an emphasis on simple mains seasoned creatively with organic herbs. Sunday brunch features Eggs Benedict and other treats.

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  25. Sala Thai

    This is the granddaddy of Manila's Thai restaurants. The dishes here are authentic and the prices sensible. A standard Thai dish, such as coconut curry and rice, won't set you back an arm and a leg.

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  26. Schwarzwälder German Restaurant

    Schnitzel abounds at this long-standing German restaurant. Baked goods are sought by European expats, and the salad bar is popular. This is a good spot for a real 'continental' breakfast.

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  27. Sea Food Market

    Probably the best-known seafood place in town. You select the raw ingredients from an iced-down counter or a fish tank, after which a team of chefs will cook your meal in the flaming wok-filled kitchen (a show in itself, especially from the pavement in front).

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  28. Seafood Wharf

    The cooks here will prepare whatever selection you make from the fresh seafood on display. Hostesses helpfully point out that the offerings don't come from the bay. Sunday breakfast buffets lure in expat throngs. The complex also has an impressive swimming pool.

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  29. Sentro 1771

    This is the best place in Makati for local food. The setting is upscale but the food remains true to its roots. Dishes are served with flair and among the many winners are the garlicky adobo with chunks of meat that are both crispy and meltingly tender. Sit outside and enjoy the passing parade.

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