Restaurants in Philippines
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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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Bamboo Lounge
This new restaurant, part of the same compound as the boutique Freckles hotel, serves an interesting mix of food, mostly Asian, including dim sum, spare ribs, and Peking duck. It has a stylish dining area on the 1st floor and a bar open till 02:00 upstairs.
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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Yoghurt House
Fuel up here with mountain coffee and delicious homemade yoghurt before a long day of hiking or caving. Then return for dinner to carb-load on delicious vegetarian pasta dishes or rösti (shredded fried potatoes).
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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Mañana Mexican Cuisine
There are only three tables on the beach path here but the sombreros and terracotta plates tell you this is a Mexican restaurant. Serves big tasty dishes such as burritos, tortillas, and top-of-the-line fruit shakes.
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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Tinder Box
Just adjacent to Crossroads proper, the Tinder Box is a genteel delicatessen and restaurant. Make this the last place you visit in Cebu, lest you find yourself returning compulsively to browse for imported French vinegar, Australian gouda, cave-aged gruyère, Swiss yoghurt and Belgian chocolate. The Australian steak (P825) is extraordinary, as are the lamb shanks braised in cabernet sauvignon. Vegetarians will have to settle for the fancy cheese platters (P150 to P350). Groups of five or more should book ahead for a table in the atmospheric wine cellar room.
reviewed
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Mr A
Can be reached by following the road to Tops Lookout. A favourite with the well-heeled patrons of the Waterfront, it features a terrace with a sweeping view of Cebu City that is arguably superior to Tops. Unlike the view, we found the Filipino/international food nothing to write home about. (If it's the view you crave, a quiet drink will serve the purpose.) It's 40 minutes by taxi, which will cost you around P400 including the wait - or you can include it in your Tops itinerary.
reviewed
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Jambalaya
Wherever this cross between private living room and restaurant ends up – the Irish-Filipina owners are looking for a new location – internet will be available. Jambalaya (Cajun version of paella) is the speciality; gumbo, another New Orleans dish, fresh home-baked bread, cornflakes with fruit, milkshakes and imported coffee are also on the evolving menu. In addition there’s a book exchange and board games – hanging out is encouraged.
reviewed
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P
Badjao Seafront Restaurant
A long lunch – mosquitoes and other flying critters can be a bit of a bother at night – at Badjao, gnawing on whole grilled fish and other seafood, is a nice way to spend an afternoon. The restaurant, perched over the water at the end of a raised boardwalk over mangroves, is fairly high class in terms of service and table settings, but it’s the sea and mountain views that raise it above the ordinary.
reviewed
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Samyz Pizza Bar & Restaurant
An air-conditioned refuge in the middle of town, Samyz Pizza Bar & Restaurant has cable TV and a wide-ranging menu, even if the cheese on the pizzas seems suspiciously unnatural. Come here to use the internet with no obligation to order a meal. Look for the flight of stairs behind the rows of tricycles: you’ll find Samyz on the 2nd floor.
reviewed
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Q
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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Café Leona
This popular eatery spilling out onto Crisologo St is a godsend for weary travellers in search of libation and sustenance after a long hot day of sightseeing. Pluses: excellent Japanese and Ilocano specialities, and frequent all-you-can-eat pasta buffets. Fusses: plastic patio furniture and a loud adjoining open-air karaoke bar.
reviewed