Top 10 Most Loved Restaurants in Makati for December 2016

Single Origin is a commonplace for brunch, coffee and alcohol. It is is the second collaboration between Carlo Lorenzana and Dodgie Vialogo, the same duo behind Nikkei fame. It’s become a popular choice for lunch meetings and an after-work drinking spot. It’s not for diners who want alone time as tables are meant for sharing. We recommend the Single Origin Burger, Surf n Turf Beer Dough Pizza, S.O. French Toast. Don’t forget to try their Valrhona Mocha Latte. Our insider tip: They serve specialty Lamill coffee blends from California. Full feature here.

Mendokoro Ramenba is a 20-seater ramen joint from the people behind popular Ramen Yushoken from Alabang; it is also called being tagged as Yushoken 2.0. It’s for people who don’t mind queuing a bit for a spot at the table. It’s not for people who want rice bowls and other Japanese favorites. We recommend the Tantanmen, Shio Ramen, and Super Chasu Bowl. Our insider tip is if you’re in a big group, be ready to be seated separately if you want to get seats faster.

Le Petit Souffle is a French and Japanese-inspired cafe from the Tasteless Group (of Hole in the Wall, Scout’s Honor, Bad Bird, Wrong Ramen, etc). They serve modern dishes crafted with flavors and precision of Japanese and French cuisines. It’s for anyone with adventurous taste buds. It’s not for people who are on short meal breaks. We recommend you try their French Toast, Foie Mac n Cheese, Squid Ink Rice, then cap off with their soufflés and matcha dessert selections. Here’s an insider tip: Always watch out for Chef Miko’s new dishes and desserts. P.S. Tasteless Group just launched a new hot and cold combo dessert shop, called Freezerburn.

Vikings Luxury Buffet opened its first branch in the Mall of Asia complex in 2011. Five years and nine branches later, it is now considered the Philippines’ largest luxury buffet chain. This homegrown brand has expanded all around Metro Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao (full feature here). It’s for families and groups who are looking to celebrate special occasions affordably. It’s not for people who prefer the quiet and relaxed ambiance of a hotel buffet. Fun Fact: Every Vikings branch has a unique design theme, SM Jazz’s is European.

The Girl + The Bull is the brainchild of hip and young couple Gab Bustos (the bull) and Thea de Rivera (the girl). Their combined passion for food and art is translated onto every plate they serve. After their first branch in BF Homes closed down and a short hiatus, they’re now back in all new Makati location. It’s for people who love to Instagram their food. It’s not for people looking for loud music and live bands. We recommend their signature Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Faux Twix for desserts. But also try their new Bone Marrow with Burnt Onion and Lychee. Our insider tip is head upstairs to find a secret bar featuring their extensive wine selection, plus coffee by Habitual Coffee.

La Cabrera is an Argentinian steakhouse found amidst the busy office district of Makati. The rustic and country interiors add to the elegance and charm of the restaurant. They serve all-meat entrees with unlimited side dishes. It’s for groups who love to share orders. It’s not for vegetarians. We recommend the Provoleta, Ojo de Bife and Rogel De Dulce De Leche for a sweet ending. Our insider tip is get a seat away from the open grill, customers say it gets quite warm in the area. Read our full feature here.

Nikkei is the first Peruvian-Japanese sushi bar in Manila headed by Argentinian Chef Christian Cejas. “Nikkei” is a term that describes Peruvian cuisine culturally inspired by the Japanese; it is the latest food trend in Europe. It’s for adventurous eaters who love to try new cuisines. It’s not for people looking for party-sized servings. We recommend the Salmon Belly Nigiri, Miso Kurobuta, Seared Tuna, Kobi Nigiri Sushi and Parmesan Scallops. Our insider tip is get their good-for-sharing Tres Leches dessert for free when you submit feedback to the restaurant using your Booky app!

Ooma is a modern Japanese restaurant by the Moment Group and young acclaimed chef Bruce Ricketts, the same partnership that brought us Mecha Uma. Ooma, a wordplay on Uma meaning ‘good’, promises bold Japanese flavors at affordable prices. It’s for people looking for quality sushi at affordable prices. It’s not for people looking for ramen. We recommend the Soft Shell Crab Taco-Maki, Hangar Steak and Uni Udon. Our insider tip is that at Ooma, you get to ‘brush’ (not dip) soy sauce on your sushi. P.S. Servers roam around with buckets giving out unlimited rice.

Recently listed as one of the world’s best restaurants, Your Local is a neighbourhood bistro serving modern Southeast Asian dishes. Opened by Chef Denny Antonino and Nicco Santos, the restaurant has a hipster meets industrial vibe and serves all day brunch together with their standard menu. It’s for yuppies in the area or intimate but casual date nights. It’s not for people looking for quick Asian takeouts. We recommend the Lamb Rendang and Torched Salmon Donburi and their value-for-money 24 Hour Sous Vide Corn Fed USDA Choice Beef Short Rib. Our insider tip is Chef Nicco just opened a brave new Chinese/Malaysian/Indonesian concept restaurant in BGC called Hey Handsome.

Little Tokyo is a food hub of restaurants featuring unique Japanese specialties like yakitori, wagyu, okonomiyaki and more. Izakaya Kikufuji is one of them and it serves fresh sashimi and affordable and tummy-filling bento sets. It’s for people who want to experience authentic Japanese style dining–kimonos, tatami mats, Japanese families and all. It’s not for those looking for a quick ramen bowl. Aside from their sashimi selections, we recommend their Wagyu sticks and spicy salmon sushi. Our off-menu tips: (1) They can order you Japanese fried rice from its neighbor restaurant. (2) Claim one coupon for every P500 spent, for a free glass of beer on your next visit. (3) Check out all 14 restaurants inside Little Tokyo here.