We’ve handpicked the best restaurants for you to try!
They say that the way to someone’s heart is through the stomach, and if that’s true, then the best way to get to Metro Manila’s is by eating your way through it’s culinary landscape. And with the ever-evolving food scene–new restaurants, new flavors, new dishes–there’s always something fresh to look forward to.
Consider this your curated guide to the best restaurants of Metro Manila right now–the recently-opened locations, the hidden gems that deserve the spotlight, and the timeless favorites that are still getting the hype today. Discover the food spot that perfectly fits your mood, your taste, and your budget–and get to know all the necessary restaurant info through the Booky app directory.
Whether you’re going on a romantic date or treating yourself, splurging your paycheck or getting through petsa de peligro, you can still have the most delicious dishes that the city can offer! Let us give you an answer to “Saan tayo kakain?” and you can thank us later.
James & Daughters – Estancia Mall
This is for you if: You want to try delicious international comfort food for a value-for-money price.
Price Range: Mains start at ₱415 to ₱750
If comfort food is the name of the game then James & Daughters has got the money in the bag. Offering a wide selection of international dishes–spanning from Mediterranean flavors, French specialties, to Asian favorites–James & Daughters is the easiest and tastiest way to travel the world.
This casual dining restaurant is unassuming at first glance–and that works in James & Daughter’s favor, breaking down that wall of intimidation that some diners fear they have to overcome to taste seriously good food. Their interiors give off a homey “family restaurant” vibe, making it a perfect spot to wind down and enjoy the food.
When ordering, we suggest you get something familiar and something to new to discover. The Tuna Kilawin is a great start to your meal with its balance of acidity, fattiness, and freshness; followed by their pugon-roasted, herb stuffed Pork Belly that’s crisp and tender at the same time.
For something new, transport yourself to Thailand with the Smoked Duck in Red Curry, to Spain with a whole Iberian Chicken, or to Singapore with the Laksa Noodle Soup. And for dessert, circle back home with Suman A La Hasset, or continue your flavor exploration with Creme Brulée or Mango Sticky Rice–after all, comfort food has no boundaries.
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G/F, Capitol Commons, Estancia Mall, Pasig
Monday to Thursday: 11AM-9PM|Friday to Sunday: 10AM-10PM
Common Man Coffee Roasters – Ayala Triangle Gardens
This is for you if: You’re looking for beautiful al-fresco brunch spot that serves good coffee and generous portions in their dishes.
Price Range: All Day Brunch and CMCA Classics start from ₱550 to ₱850
It may be hard to stand out as a new cafe in Manila’s, especially with its ever-growing coffee landscape–but such is not the case for Common Man Coffee Roasters. Ever since this international chain has opened its first branch in the Philippines, it has proven to be more than your ordinary spot for a cup of joe.
Common Man Coffee Roasters specializes in brewing specialty coffee--and no, they don’t just throw that term around–they roast, sell, and serve specialty grade Arabica coffee.
One of their values is ethically and sustainably sourcing their beans. And once in the hands of roasters and baristas, these beans are meticulously prepared, through various brewing methods and the best coffee equipment, to ensure that the cup that gets to you is simply the best.
But apart from their coffee, Common Man also prides their brunch menu–generous plates of hearty, flavorful, and satisfying creations. Get the Common Man Full Breakfast or the Not Your Common Pancakes, and follow that with a Smash Burger and Chorizo Pizza. Don’t forget your coffee!
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Ayala Triangle Gardens, Bel-Air, Makati
Monday to Sunday: 7AM-10PM
Thank You, Seafood – Power Plant Mall
This is for you if: You want exquisite seafood specialties in a relaxed intimate environment, whether for romantic dates or special feasts.
Price Range: Mains start from ₱490 to ₱4,900
Thank You, Seafood has just opened their doors last October 2023, but it has quickly won the hearts of many customers, and for good reasons. You have the beautiful interiors and laidback ambiance of the restaurant. The place is quiet, relaxed, intimate; with moody lighting and comfortable seats that make it suitable romantic dates and special occasions.
Though their menu is not extensive, you can be sure that every dish fresh, perfectly-cooked, and lip-smacking delicious. The star is of course seafood and we suggest that you begin your course with their Bread & Crab Butter. Focaccia bread in a special crab butter with dill oil–deceivingly simple yet highly addictive.
Then, move to their Baby Squid & Chorizo, Clam & Scallop Spaghetti, and the Butter Poached Halibut. If you still have space for sweet endings, better try their Burnt Caramel Toast, a caramelized dark French toast smothered in Biscoff sauce.
Guaranteed to make you say, “Thank you, Seafood indeed!”
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2/F, Rockwell Dr, Power Plant Mall, Poblacion, Makati
Monday to Thursday: 11AM-9PM|Friday: 11AM-10PM |Saturday: 10AM-10PM |Sunday: 10AM-9PM
Hai Di Lao Hot Pot – SM MOA
This is for you if: You’re a big group who wants to splurge and indulge on some high-quality hotpot with unlimited side dishes, fruits, desserts, and sauces.
Price Range: Broths range start ₱200, Top 10 Signatures start from ₱400, Proteins start at ₱140
If you want the ultimate hotpot experience, Hai Di Lao Hot Pot is the place for you. As China’s largest hotpot chain, Hai Di Lao was hyped even before it opened its first branch, and when it did, fans were not disappointed. You see, Hai Di Lao is more than just food–it takes entertainment and hospitality to a whole other level.
Hai Di Lao’s branch in SM Mall of Asia boasts of a large seating capacity–and we mean, big. There’s an area where you can avail of their free manicure service, a kid’s room to entertain your little ones, and two stations where you can get your sauces, desserts, and side dishes.
Not to mention a spacious dining area that transforms into a stage for the occasional noodle dance performance. Hand pulled noodles twirled and twisted mid air, flown right above customers heads, and then dipped straight into the simmering hotpot. Where else can you get that?
And the food? That’s the best part of all. High-quality meats and seafood, fresh vegetables and dumplings, all swimming in a delicious broth. Your heart is happy, your stomach’s happy, and your nails are most probably on fleek. Plus, you get a goodie bag before you leave!
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G/F Entertainment Mall, Seaside Blvd, SM Mall of Asia
Monday to Sunday: 10AM-5AM
Candid Coffee – EDSA Shangri-La Plaza
This is for you if: You want to have a unique coffee experience.
Price Range: ₱130 to ₱250
Candid Coffee is a homegrown brand that quickly gained fame and affection for their coffee’s witty names and descriptions. With their motto, “Walang pake basta may kape”, their approach to coffee is a balance between serious passion and candid humor, making brews that are not only delicious but with a personality.
Their most recent branch, Candid Coffee Strawberry Bar, is in EDSA Shangri-La Plaza. Apart from their usual selection of coffee beverages, this branch specializes in two exclusive, strawberry-based drinks.
The Illustrado is like a Spanish Latte, but better. It has two shots of Candid Coffee’s signature S’mores espresso blend mixed with a plant-based condensed cream and strawberry oat milk. The result? A creamy yet bold coffee with hints of berry flavor.
Then, there’s the Milk Washed Ethiopian Latte. It blends together an Ethiopian Sidamo cold brew with strawberry marmalade, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, and full cream milk. The key element here is Milk Washing, a 30-hour process that essentially brings a silkiness and smoothness to the drink, making it unlike any other.
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Shangri-La Plaza, EDSA Shaw Blvd, Mandaluyong
Monday to Sunday: 7AM-10PM
5678 Handroll & Highball Bar – Poblacion
This is for you if: You looking for a intimate date spot that offers affordable Japanese course meals plus alcoholic beverages
Price Range: Courses are from ₱500 to ₱800, drinks start at ₱300
A hidden gem of Poblacion is the recently-opened 5678 Handroll & Highball Bar. This Japanese restaurants, tucked inside Wantusawa, offers 5, 6, 7, and 8 course meals priced at ₱500, ₱600, ₱700, and ₱800 respectively. But apart from the affordable course meals, a special highlight of 5, 6, 7, 8 is that you get to roll your own sushi!
Stepping inside the restaurant, you’ll first notice the dimly-lit surroundings, the intimate seating, and the open kitchen-slash-bar where you can watch fresh ingredients get transformed to the food in your plate. But while the vibe here is relaxed, the flavors of the dishes are one to dance in your mouth.
A 5-course Handroll meal starts with a Seaweed Chilled Miso followed by three rolls–Spicy Tuna Tambakol, Alumahan Ceviche, and Wild Sea Shrimp Tempura; all of which come with sauces at the side. The course is finished with a Salted Fish Fried Sushi rice which is best paired with their Sakura Gin Highball for an additional ₱350.
If you’re hungry for more, they also offer soups, salads, small plates, and rice dishes that you can order a la carte. But for the best experience, order their highball and unwind. You may even chance upon a DJ set if you stay later in the night–and if that’s the case, take it as a sign to have fun.
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5811 Jacobo, Poblacion, Makati
Monday to Sunday: 5PM-12MN
Redwood Hawker Center – Marikina
This is for you if: You want a casual, budget-friendly spot to have Southeast Asian comfort food
Price Range: ₱169 to ₱318
Hole-in-the walls often have the best tasting food, the kind of food you remember in the middle of the night and crave immensely for. Such is true for Redwood Hawker Centre, a casual neighborhood spot in Marikina that offers Southeast Asian hawker food.
Although unassuming by the looks, this humble spots packs a punch when it comes to their dishes, and the best part is, you can get satisfied for less than ₱318.
If we’re talking about cravings, the Cereal Prawn is something you’ll think even after you’ve left the restaurant. Plump prawns perfectly fried to a crisp–you’ll want the whole plate to yourself.
Have that with the Pad See Ew or the Creamy Tom Yum Noodles, both rich with umami flavors. Cap it off with Bandung Lychee and you’ve got yourself a happy tummy.
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14-C Redwood Street, San Roque, Marikina City
Monday to Sunday: 11AM-8PM
Buk Gyeong – Malate
This is for you if: You’re craving Korean-Chinese comfort food that’s open 24 hours.
Price: ₱200 to ₱1,200
Malate’s Koreatown is always a vibrant scene to take your tastebuds to–Samgyupsal spots over here, Korean fried chicken joints over there. But if you’re in-need of Korean comfort food dishes, the kind of food that tastes just like a hug, Buk Gyeong is the place to be.
Buk Gyeong is the kind of restaurant that you want to gatekeep, especially now that they’ve reopened after renovation. This Korean-Chinese restaurant offers everything from unlimited Korean barbecue, noodles and soups, meat and seafood dishes, dumplings and rice meals, all the way to alcoholic beverages.
But if it comes down to the top tier dishes at Buk Gyeong, you should definitely go for the Jamja Myun, half Jajangmyeon and half Jjamppong; Jeyukbokeum, Mando, and Kimchi Jjigae
And because Buk Gyeong is open 24 hours everyday, you can come here to satisfy those ungodly cravings early in the morning or late at night. Heck, have Korean barbecue for breakfast, what’s stopping you?
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Dakota Residences, 555 M. Adriatico St, Malate, Maynila
(0995) 977-5695 | (0968) 595-0415
Monday to Sunday: 24 Hours
Hanamaruken Ramen – The Grove
This is for you if: You want to treat yourself to high-quality ramen.
Price Range: Ramen starts at ₱295 to ₱580
Ramen is one of those dishes that never loses it’s appeal. Whether it’s piping hot outdoors or raining non-stop, a warm bowl of hearty, savory ramen always sounds like a good idea. And despite the hundreds of shops around the metro, Hanamaruken remains to be a strong contender.
Their branch at The Grove has a new look, now with an open kitchen and a bar-type seating, complete with necessary condiments in front of your seat. With their improved interiors, guests are sure to get a full and authentic ramen experience that for a moment will send them to Japan.
The number one must-try is their Signature Happiness Ramen, the masterpiece of Hanamaruken’s founder, Takaku Arakawa, made of shoyu tonkotsu broth with a slow-braised soft bone pork rib on top. This dish is a medley of umami–you get the savory broth, the tender meat, and the perfectly cooked noodles–no wonder why it’s called Signature Happiness.
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E Rodriguez Ave, The Grove by Rockwell, Ugong, Pasig
Monday to Thursday: 11AM-10PM; Friday to Sunday: 11AM-11PM
Livestock Restaurant & Bar – multiple branches
This is for you if: You want to treat a big group of family and friends to classic Filipino food.
Price Range: Main pork dishes start at ₱360 to ₱1,480
Livestock Restaurant & Bar understands two very important things about Filipinos–one, is that we love to gather; and two, we love to eat together. Which is why most of the dishes on their menu spotlight Filipino favorites that are best shared with family and friends, with or without any special occasions.
Pinoy at its core, Livestock Restaurant & Bar is popular for their Crispy Pata, so crispy and perfectly-cooked that you don’t need a knife to cut through it–just a popsicle will do! Other must-haves on the table are their Crackling Pork Belly, Spiced Crispy Ulo, and Mic’s Sisig–dishes that will make you say “Bakit kaya masarap ang bawal?”
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Ya Kun Kaya Toast – One Ayala
This is for you if: You’re craving Kaya Toast, Laksa, and other Singaporean dishes
Price Range: Kaya Toast Sets start at ₱168 to ₱178, Asian Signatures start at ₱248 to ₱288
From Singapore to the Philippines, Ya Kun Kaya Toast has opened their very first stand-alone restaurant in One Ayala, Makati. The restaurant, which is considered as a cultural icon in Singapore, is best-known for serving kopi, kaya toast sets, and laksa!
Although their menu is not extensive, what you can guarantee is flavor, comfort, and value in every dish. Their Kaya Toast with Butter set is a great choice for afternoon meryendas, and if you need a bowl of warmth after work, the Prawn Laksa is the perfect comfort meal.
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2/F, Ayala Ave, One Ayala, San Lorenzo, Makati
Monday to Sunday: 10AM-10PM
Zhu Ba Jie Restaurant – Malate and BGC
This is for you if: You’re looking for a late-night, Korean comfort food spot
Price Range: ₱250 to ₱975
Expect to hear Zhu Ba Jie’s name when you ask recommendations for the best Korean restaurant in Metro Manila. Zhu Ba Jie is a beacon for those who are scouring the city in the late hours for a warm homecooked meal, especially since this restaurant is open until 3 AM.
Hungry for meat? Craving for soup? Zhu Ba Jie offers a selection of Korean comfort food like Kimchi Stew in different varieties, perfect for sharing; Spicy Pork Ribs to get down and dirty with; or the Mala Gamjatang, a must-try dish consisting of thick mala soup with veggies and pork neck bones. Now that’s the kind of stuff that makes you happy to be alive.
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1779 Adriatico St, Malate, Manila | 28th St cor 7th Ave, The Fort Strip
Mantra – multiple branches
This is for you if: You want to indulge and try different Indian dishes, then cap off your meal with an alcoholic beverage.
Price Range: ₱250 to ₱1,800
If you need an introduction to Indian cuisine, or are searching for the best place to indulge in it, there’s no better place than at Mantra Indian Kitchen & Bar. Here, you’ll find a wide array of Indian dishes from tandoori and specialty curries, biryani and Indian bread, all the way to desserts and drinks.
Mantra has recently opened their first branch in the North, at Ayala Malls Vertis North, and their new space is an invitation to feast. Whether you’re having dinner with your workmates or celebrating milestones with the family, the modern interiors and homey atmosphere will make your dining experience satisfactory.
Start your meal with their Kurkuri Bhindi, crispy okra strings in traditional Indian spices, to get your appetite going. Then order their Chicken Makhani, Palak Paneer and Butter/Garlic Naan and feel your the explosion of flavors in your mouth. For dessert, have the “Indian Ice Cream” or Kulfi, for a sweet finish!
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2/F, Mindanao Ave, Ayala Malls Vertis North
Monday to Thursday: 11AM-9PM | Friday to Sunday: 11AM-10PM
Manam – Ayala Triangle Gardens
This is for you if: You want elevated comfort Filipino food for special occasions.
Price Range: Mains start at ₱145 to ₱1,405
Manam is a classic. It’s a go-to place for family celebrations, for reunions with balikbayan loved ones, and for any comfort meal that stars the best of Filipino cuisine. Who can resist Manam’s Sinigang na Beef Short Rib and Watermelon or their Crispy Palabok? Or the House Crispy Sisig paired with Ube + Sago?
But just when we think Manam couldn’t get better, they upped the game one more time by opening their flagship store at Ayala Triangle Gardens. This restaurant stands out from other branches, because apart from the grand interiors, it’s the only one that accepts reservations.
The new Manam flagship store can certainly wow you and your guests. But the star of the show is and always will be the food. Manam has new dishes, exclusive to the flagship branch, some of which are the Midnight Beef Ribs Adobo, Whole Spatchcock Chicken Inasal, Floating Calamandan Island, and more.
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Ayala Triangle Gardens, Bel-Air, Makati
Steak and Frice – BGC
This is for you if: You want to try a new steak place that’s more affordable compared to other steak restaurants.
Price Range: Mains are from ₱780 to ₱3,650
If you’re always on a mission to try every steak place in the metro, then you shouldn’t miss out on Steak and Frice. This newly-opened, casual restaurant in BGC is a great place to celebrate special occasions or have romantic dates. But if you think that Steak & Frice is just another steak spot, think again.
Steak and Frice offers other delicious dishes that will satisfy you way before the steak dish lands on your table. Have the Potato Soufflé with Sour Cream & Onion Dip or the Onion Flower & Dad’s Basketball Sauce for starters.
For steaks, you may choose between US Ribeye, S&F Striploin, and Chateaubriand–all of which come with fries and steak rice that’s refillable once. They also have different sauce options to pair with your meat!
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LG, Central Square, 5th Avenue Cor. 30th St., Bonifacio High Street Central, BGC
Whether you’re a casual foodie or a culinary connoisseur, one thing’s for sure, there’s always something for your palate. And as Metro Manila’s culinary landscape continues to change, evolve, and push boundaries, you can count on Booky to keep you updated on the tastiest eats around the city.
Keep your appetite hungry and stay tuned for the next round-up of Metro Manila’s best restaurants. In the meantime, continue your food discovery with the Booky app free to download on iPhone and Android. Find everything and anything you’re craving–from the coolest cafes and must-try restaurants, to the best deals and sulit discounts–it’s all in the Booky app!
