Welcome home, balikbayans!
This one’s for the balikbayans who plan their trips home during this time of year to spend quality time with their families and loved ones. We’re sure overseas Filipinos have missed the diverse flavors they can only enjoy at home.
Also Read: Top 10 Most-Loved Filipino Restaurants in Metro Manila This Month
At the heart of Filipino cuisine is an unmistakable air of comfort and familiarity and these restaurants across the Metro are sure to make your balikbayans feel right at home.
Manyaman
Manyaman brings the rich and vibrant flavors of Pampanga to life, offering a menu filled with hearty and authentic Kapampangan dishes. Their Sisig is a must-try, featuring crispy pork bits seasoned to perfection with just the right amount of spice. For a comforting classic, the Sinigang sa Miso highlights a tangy, flavorful broth with tender milkfish. Don’t miss the Bringhe, a traditional rice dish infused with coconut milk and turmeric, perfect for sharing with family or friends.
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Vertis North, 1 Solaire Way, Quezon City, 1105 Metro Manila
Mangan
Mangan celebrates the best of Filipino cuisine with hearty, flavorful dishes that bring people together. Their Crispy Pata is a must-try, featuring tender pork hock with perfectly crispy skin, served with a tangy dipping sauce. For a classic favorite, the Kare-Kare delivers a creamy peanut sauce with tender meats and fresh vegetables. Don’t miss their Pancit Luglug, a rich, saucy noodle dish topped with chicharon and smoked fish, perfect for sharing.
Bistro Pamana
Serving both classic and modernized Filipino dishes, Bistro Paman is sure to be a great place to take balikbayans. We recommend trying the Crispy Adobo Pusit Calamares, the classic Crispy Pata, and the classic Kare-Kare from its iconic restaurant, Barrio Fiesta.
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G/F, 106 Perea St, Greenbelt Mansion, Makati, San Lorenzo, Makati, Metro Manila
Mangan-tila Restaurant
For a more casual restaurant head to Mangan-tila Restaurant in Quezon City. They have everything from popular soup dishes like bulalo and sinigang, as well as favorites like kilawin, dinuguan, sisig, and grilled dishes like pork BBQ, chicken inasal, and more!
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26 Sct Torillo cor Sct Fernandez, Quezon City, Sacred Heart, Quezon City, Metro Manila
La Luna Cafe
Located in Taguig, this ancestral home-turned-lavish restaurant is the perfect place to dine, especially for titos and titas who love taking pictures. We recommend trying their crispy pata, grilled liempo, and igado. For those looking to beat the heat, desserts like halo-halo and mais con yelo are a must-try.
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103 ML Quezon, Taguig, Hagonoy, Taguig
Victorino’s Restaurant
Serving classic Ilocos Norte dishes, Victorino’s is not just about bagnet and Vigan longganisa; though they really are a crowd favorite. You can also try the tinuno na pampano, crispy binagoongan, and kilawin tanigue!
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114 Sct. Rallos St. cor. 11th Jamboree St. Quezon City
Sentro 1771
This restaurant is most known for its corned beef sinigang and will be a great place to take your balikbayan friend for Pinoy food with a twist. We also recommend the catfish adobo flakes, touching bangus, and naked lumpia w/ Vietnamese crepe.
Gubat
For better or worse Gubat is probably the most authentic Filipino meal you’ll have outside of your own home. Its open-aired dining area can be hard for those who can’t handle the heat but at the end of the wait is a selection of classic Filipino dishes that are well-cooked and affordable.
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43 Mayaman St, Diliman, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Locavore
Locavore serves locally grown and produced Filipino dishes with a French touch from Chef Mikel Zaguirre. It’s consistently featured on our monthly top 10 lists and is a top choice for reinvented Filipino cuisine. Their bestsellers include Sizzling Sinigang, Lechon Oyster Sisig, and Kare-Kare Wings.
Romulo Cafe
Romulo Cafe is a museum-style restaurant where you can enjoy Filipino comfort food at its best. Must-try dishes include Boneless Crispy Pata, Binagoongan, and Suman sa Latik.
Lola Cafe + Bar
Named after the matriarch of the Sanvictores family, Lola Victoria, this post-WWII era home is one of Quezon City’s most well-kept secret restaurants. Lola Cafe + Bar offers Filipino specialty cuisine by Chef John Mangibin whose repertoire of reinvented Filipino dishes includes Bone Marrow Sisig, Wagyu Salpicao, Spicy Tinapa Pasta, and Kimchi Kaldereta.
Abuela’s
Abuela, which means ‘grandmother’ in Spanish, serves Filipino heirloom recipes with a twist by Chef Marco Legasto. Their must-try dishes include Kare-Kare Risotto and Bagnet with Thai Sauce.
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2/F Somerset Millenium, 104 Aguirre St, Legazpi Village, Makati
Max’s Restaurant
Max’s Restaurant first opened its doors in 1945, just after World War II. In one way or another, we’ve all been under the roof of “The House That Fried Chicken Built.” Their simple Filipino offerings are reliable and appetizing which is why we keep coming back for more. Aside from their signature fried chicken, our favorites include crabmeat fried rice, Ruby’s favorite crispy pata, and sizzling tofu.
Tatatito
Visit Tatatito, a Filipino Home Kitchen that serves classics like Kare-Kare, Crispy Pata, Chicken Inasal, as well as exciting creations such as Sizzling Bulalo Steak, Squid Ink Bamboo Rice, and Ginataang Salmon!
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OPL Building, 100 Don Carlos Palanca, Legazpi Village, Makati
JT’s Manukan Grille
JT’s Manukan is the brainchild of celebrated local actor Joel Torre. The eatery features chicken marinated the Ilonggo way, with almost every part of the bird being used. They even serve some of its most interesting parts, such as isol (chicken bottom), baticulon (gizzard), atay (liver), and corazon (heart). On a cold December night, nothing beats the restaurant’s version of batchoy.
Aristocrat
Aristocrat, by Lola Asiang’s, is a Filipino restaurant that has been operating since 1936. Their signature Chicken BBQ and Crispy Pata remain constant favorites to this day.
Sarsa Kitchen + Bar
Sarsa Kitchen + Bar (‘sarsa’ meaning sauce in English) was created on the premise that Filipinos love eating food with accompanying sauces or condiments. Celebrity chef JP Anglo, who is from Bacolod, has successfully curated the best of Filipino-Negrense dishes, with little tweaks. Apart from the Inasal, we recommend trying the Sizzling Kansi, Bangus Belly Salad, Pritchon Pancake, and Piaya Ice Cream Sandwich.
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109 Rada St. (Frabella One), Legaspi Village, Makati City
Abe
Abe serves traditional Filipino food, mostly Kapampangan, and gourmet dishes inspired by Abe’s travels around the world. Its concept and design provide the ideal setting for friends and family to dine comfortably and have a good time. From their mains, we love the Klassik Kare Kare and Lamb Adobo. The Choco Eh! Fondue with Fried Suman is also a must-try.
Toyo Eatery
Chef Jordy Navarra’s modern Filipino eatery features modern dishes championing local ingredients. His simple, yet innovative dishes are what make the restaurant worthy of all the buzz. While the tasting menu is the best way to enjoy your dining experience, you can order ala carte. We recommend the Bangsilog, Toyo Eatery Three-Cut Pork BBQ, and Garden Vegetables – an ingenious dish that makes use of all the vegetables from the Tagalog folk song, “Bahay Kubo.”
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The Alley at Karrivin, Karrivin Plaza, 2316 Chino Roces Ave, Makati
Manam
Manam is a homegrown concept from the Moment Group and is said to be the home of the best sisig in the metro today. It takes modern Filipino food to a new level with its two-part menu – one side shows the traditional version and the other, the twists. We highly recommend the Crispy Pansit Palabok, Beef Short Ribs Sinigang with Watermelon, Lamb Curry Kare, and Bibingkang Ube. You don’t need to order everything on your first visit, we guarantee this is a restaurant you’ll keep coming back to.
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