Everyone needs alone time!
We all need our me time every now and then. After all, no one understands our struggles and battles better than us. While it was once frowned upon and judged, dining alone shows maturity and a lack of care for the norm. I mean, it’s just eating, guys. What’s the big deal?
Also read – One Bite Isn’t Enough: Restaurants Worth Going Back for Seconds
If you’re not sure where to dine, we got you covered! From traditional Filipino food to different flavors across the continent, we listed the 20 best restaurants for solo foodies.
Mangan-tila Restaurant
Located in Quezon City, Mangan-tila is a Filipino restaurant that serves elevated cuisine. We’re big fans of their seafood menu, as the cheesy garlic mussel is a flavor bomb you can enjoy alone, while the bangus sisig has a smoky aroma perfect with beer. On the other hand, their lechon kawali is crispy, juicy, and flavorful.
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26 Sct Torillo cor Sct Fernandez, Quezon City, Sacred Heart, Quezon City, Metro Manila
LABL Cafe
If you want to unwind, we recommend checking out LABL Cafe in Fairview. Their sisig rice is flavorful, as the chopped meat and liver topped with calamansi, onions, and green chili pepper is a textural experience. The Vigan longganisa is savory, garlicky, and spicy, making it the ideal breakfast meal. LABL also serves good coffee, such as Americano, cappuccino, and mocha.
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G/F, 53 Commonwealth Ave, Greenfield Center, Fairview, North Fairview, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Brick Wood
Brick Wood is a restaurant that has a plethora of different cuisines, such as Filipino, American, and Mexican. Their chicken adobo has rice, tomatoes, and a hard-boiled egg. Meanwhile, their buttermilk pancakes are fluffy, sweet, and served with chicken. Lastly, their oven-roasted Tex-Mex chicken is hearty and tasty.
Pappa G’s
Pappa G’s is an award-winning Indian Restaurant located in Paranaque. If you’re unfamiliar with the cuisine, we recommend starting with the pani puri, as the crispy-fried puffed ball filled with different flavors is the ideal appetizer. Afterward, you can follow it up with biryani, a classic Indian rice dish that comes with chicken, beef, shrimp, or more.
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Unit 3, El Grande Ave, JSA Bldg, BF Homes, BF Homes, Parañaque, Metro Manila
Wheat and Bean
Relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city by dining at Wheat and Bean. Their spam and egg platter served with garlic rice is salty, sweet, and garlicky, an ideal dish to start the day. The baked truffle chicken with pasta or garlic rice is juicy and flavorful, as the truffle permeates through the protein.
Lau Pa Sat
Lau Pa Sat brings Singaporean cuisine to your table and a piece of the country with every bite. A melting pot of flavors, Singapore is known for various dishes inspired by different countries, such as Lau Pa Sat’s Hainanese chicken rice. If you want something with more kick, we recommend their spicy Malaysian chicken curry or seafood tom yum.
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3/F, Gen A Luna Ave, SM City San Mateo, Ampid I, San Mateo, Rizal
The Pods Cafe
Located in Scout Rallos, The Pods is a cafe with a homey atmosphere, in large part due to its laundry section. While you wait for your clothes, savor some of Pods’ food, such as the crispy, savory salted egg tofu. And if you’re craving something different, their lechon kawali with laksa sauce is rich and aromatic.
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46 Sct Rallos St, Scout Rallos, Laging Handa, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Harry’s Buffalo Wings
We won’t judge you if you decide to take on the challenge of eating unlimited buffalo wings, especially if it’s at Harry’s. This restaurant offers different flavors, including salted egg, garlic parmesan, yangnyeom, buffalo, and more. Of course, they also have rice meals with the same flavors, as well as pasta including spicy shrimp, aglio olio, carbonara, and more.
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Blk 3 Lot 8, Pampanga St, Phase 1, Pinagsama Vill, Pinagsama, Taguig, Metro Manila
Suffuse
Suffuse is a restaurant that serves and elevates street food. For example, laksa is a popular Malaysian street food elevated by Suffuse by generously adding ingredients like crab sticks, prawns, tofu, egg, and more. The same thing rings true for their braised beef and wonton noodles soup, as the dumplings and beef are plump, juicy, and well prepared.
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808 Banawe St, Quezon City, Sienna, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Just Thai
Offering authentic Thai classics, Just Thai is a homey restaurant that should bring you to Bangkok. Everyone is a sucker for good pad thai, and Just Thai’s is close to being perfect. Similarly, their tom yum is spicy, sour, and outright addicting. And if you’re not feeling too adventurous, we recommend giving the bagoong rice a try.
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Madrigal Ave, Molito Commercial Complex, Alabang, Muntinlupa, Metro Manila
Shi Lin
A Taiwanese-inspired restaurant, Shi Lin offers authentic cuisine with loads of flavor. Their Chinese pepper shrimp is coated in an assortment of chilis to bring out the freshness of the shrimp by peppering it with spices. If you want to turn up the notch, their spicy shrimp and pork wonton offer an even higher Scoville level.
Slap Stack Burgers
Burgers are always a good idea for those wanting to dine alone, especially if you get your fix at Slap Stack Burgers. Their classic cheeseburger is juicy, flavorful, and savory, making for the perfect meryenda. Slap Stack also serves a breakfast burger topped with bacon and eggs to recreate a morning meal.
28 Treasures
28 Treasures HK Roast + Dimsum is a Cantonese-style restaurant that serves authentic Chinese cuisine. While a whole duck might be too much for one person, 28 Treasures’ duck head is perfect for those looking to try the protein. We also recommend trying their beef wanton, as the hearty broth complements the handmade noodles.
JoeMag’s
JoeMag’s is a cafe in Quezon City with an inviting atmosphere perfect for those seeking solace. Not only are the vibes immaculate, but JoeMag’s food is equally fantastic, including their curry laksa sure to pick you up. Similarly, their pork liempo with garlic rice and ensaladang talong is the perfect meal, as none of the flavors overpower the other.
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Magno Hall, Magsaysay cor Ylanan, DMST Complex, Quezon City, UP Campus, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Tipsy Chef
Take yourself out on a date by dining at Tipsy Chef, where elegance is paired with tasty food. Their Italian chicken quesadillas are flavorful, healthy, and elegant, making them a good starter for any diner. You can elevate your dining experience by trying their rib-eye steak, cooked to your preference. Lastly, the tiramisu makes for a bitter yet sweet finale to cap off the night.
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Blk 2 Lot 27 JB Tan St, Las Piñas, BF Resort Vill, Las Piñas, Metro Manila
Hanagiku Resto Bar
A resto bar in Las Piñas, Hanagiku serves authentic Japanese cuisine like their yaki gyoza. And if you want something more familiar, their agemono cart menu has different tempuras like shrimp, vegetables, fish, and more. Hanagiku also has rice meals like marugodon, ebifuraidon, tendon, and more. And if you want your money’s worth, their grilled wagyu is juicy and flavorful.
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888 J Aguilar CAA Rd, Las Piñas, Talon Uno, Las Piñas, Metro Manila
Moon Hey Hot Pot and Grill
If you want to try grilling and hotpot yourself, we recommend trying Moon Hey Hotpot and Grill. For only PHP 1,009, you can get both with different meat choices like pork heart, kidney, intestine, and liver, as well as Taiwanese sausage, hotdog, and more. As for the hotpot, take your pick between fish tofu, lobster, beef, and squid ball.
South Mandarin Restaurant
South Mandarin is a fine dining restaurant in Paranaque that serves authentic Chinese cuisine. Their sharks fin with crab meat soup is a hearty dish best eaten during cold evenings. Meanwhile, the salt and pepper squid is flavorful and has an assortment of textures thanks to the stir-fried garlic, ginger, and peppers.
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140-142 Aguirre Ave cor N Jacinto, BF Homes, Parañaque, Metro Manila
Tamoya Udon & Tempura
Are you looking for an intimate Japanese restaurant? Check out Tamoya Udon in GH mall and SM Fairview! Tamoya’s carbonara udon is a unique take on the classic Japanese dish, as the creamy carbonara sauce complements the thick udon noodles. On the other hand, the Hokkaido seafood don is perfect for seafood and rice enjoyers.
Comida
Comida is a pet-friendly Mexican restaurant in Quezon City that serves fan favorites from Mexico. For one, their soft tacos are traditionally made, with choices between beef, chicken, carnitas, shrimp, and fish. If that’s not enough, their burrito bowl has your choice of meat, taco rice, beans, and different greens.
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2/F, 67 Nicanor Roxas St, Kingspoint Bldg, Quezon City, Lourdes, Quezon City, Metro Manila
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