Puerto Princesa
Awash in shiny blonde wood and flamboyantly decorated with colourful paintings, Ka Inatô is a welcoming place with a comprehensive menu of Filipino…
Must-see restaurants in Philippines
Manila
Their handmade dumplings – you can see them being made in the window – are a northern Chinese variety, in contrast to the Hokkien (southern) cuisine that…
Cebu City
In a character-laden house with a long bar and beautiful wood floors, this blokey spot is popular with expats but nonetheless has decent Western food. The…
North Luzon
Mommy Phoebe can stuff you full of her delicious pansit, bagnet and whatever else she's got cooking that day; cool you off with fresh, icy juice shakes;…
Around Manila
Head to the waterfront to dine on delicious grilled seafood dishes such as blue marlin, tuna and squid, along with a range of chicken, pork and beef…
Mindoro
Easily the best restaurant in town, Camalig serves freshly prepared curries and other Filipino food under a soaring nipa canopy. It's just off the…
The Cordillera
This dimly lit bar serves large portions of lechón kawali, chicken wings and other local faves, alongside nightly live music – OK, it’s mostly '80s pop…
Panay
Good for a quick meal or drinks at night, this brightly lit place has a mix of Filipino, Chinese and American dishes, including pizza and burgers. Buckets…
Manila
This bright and shiny clean restaurant is the original branch of what has become one of Manila’s more popular Chinese chains; it’s known for dim sum but…
Samar
Run by a burly Australian, this restobar serves up pizza, and Western and Pinoy food on a waterside deck. You can watch boats come and go to neighbouring…
El Nido
A Filipino greasy spoon where backpackers (often nursing a hangover) and locals chow down on soups and rice and meat dishes. Streetside fan seating and an…
Panay
A comfortable and cool escape from the noise and sounds of the city. Cappuccinos here are extremely milky lattes sprinkled with cinnamon, but the frappes,…
Manila
Well located next to Manila Cathedral, this is a great place to escape the heat with a cold caffeinated beverage. A few pasta dishes, sandwiches and…
Around Manila
This Tagaytay institution is fast food with a difference, renowned for its cheap and tasty vegie mushroom burgers (as well chicken and rice dishes). It’s…
Manila
The original location of the now-widespread Filipino restobar chain is a Quezon City institution. Look no further for an introduction to Filipino bar food…
Baguio
Catering to night owls, revellers with postdrinking munchies and a loyal lunchtime crowd, this informal spot serves surprisingly good pizza, fried chicken…
Puerto Princesa
A buzzing food park just north of Puerto's central intersection with several bars and small eateries. Beer towers and live music give the whole place a…
Dumaguete
Known for its all-day breakfasts, Mamia's also offers a limited menu of upscale cafe favourites (eg sandwiches) and some sophisticated mains, such as kare…
Manila
An unassuming turu-turò style vegetarian place in the heart of Chinatown, serving stewed or barbecued fake meat plus dim sum. The fried cashew 'shrimp' is…
Puerto Galera
Swiss-tinged Tina’s has some of the best food on the beachfront, and the prices are good for PG. Do try the schnitzel.
Puerto Galera
A busy, longstanding restaurant on the main drag in Sabang. It's known for shakes and discount brekkies, but also doles out a surprisingly good range of…
El Nido
Certainly pricey, but New York City bagels by way of France are a nice change of pace. Other breakfast items plus burgers are on the menu and the…
Northern Mindanao
A coffee shop with pastries and an extensive food menu at the airport entrance. Airline announcements are piped in here, so it's a convenient place to…
Southeast Luzon
Run by the charming Angel de la Cruz, this local institution has a creative menu specialising in seafood and noodles. It's near the junction where you…
Coron Town
Offers up fresh Thai–style food, pizzas and Mexican faves, and will cook Indian food on request. Stay late and enjoy mean cocktails and buckets of San…
Manila
Experience the singular joys of black mung bean hopia (dense Chinese Filipino sweet cakes), sticky moon cakes and all manner of odd and exotic baked goods…
Mindoro
A colourful cafe serving coffee drinks, light meals, sandwiches and burgers. It's in a strip of bars and restaurants practically on the grounds of the…
The Cordillera
Buses between Bontoc and Tabuk pause here, in the middle of Tinglayan, for a meal stop. Expect large helpings of the dish of the day and a very crowded…
Boracay
Geared to locals and backpackers on a budget, this is a good spot for freshly baked bread and on-the-run breakfasts such as bacon, egg and cheese…
Manila
This open-air food fair outside the Market! Market! mall is lined with eateries serving regional cuisine and is one of the rare places for a cheap meal in…
Sagada
Filipino standards are well represented here, and there are brave stabs at international dishes, but the eponymous lemon pie is where this place really…
Siargao
Indistinguishable from the other barbecue shacks lining the town beach, but for whatever reason this is the one where expats congregate in the early…
San Juan (La Union)
Genuine Greek tavern tempting surfers with such delights as moussaka, pastitsio and generous souvlaki platters, all with a view of the sea.
Manila
Filipino take on an old-school meat-and-potatoes American diner. Home in on the budget set meals, which include a soup and iced tea.
Cebu City
The food court on the 3rd floor of this popular mall scores for budget meals including Filipino comfort grub and Western fast food.
Boracay
This always bustling grocery store is also useful as a meet-up spot. Many shuttle vans for hotels further afield depart from here.
Manila
This outdoor food court next to A Venue Mall is a great introduction to Filipino food, including many regional specialities.
The Cordillera
This informal local favourite inside the market dishes up Filipino favourites with unlimited rice for the extra-famished.
Cebu City
Relatively inexpensive though not very authentic Japanese fare in Ayala Mall's Terraces. Expect maki rolls and the like.
Leyte
A simple place on the main drag which offers filling Filipino chicken, meat and veggie dishes at moderate prices.
