Savoring must-try comfort food Filipinos loved throughout the ages should be a part of every tourist’s itinerary in order to capture the best of Filipino experience. Filipino cuisine is starting to gain popularity across the world, as Filipino chefs abroad introduce the authentic flavors that Filipino food has. We believe that you should try it, because we did enjoy the unique flavors of these Filipino Restaurants in Metro Manila Philippines.
Filipino cuisine is a blend of various native flavors, and influences of colonialism and early globalization. Unique dish interpretations per province is also common among Filipino dishes, where Filipino cooks utilize spices and flavorings that are available to them easily. That’s why there is no “standard” recipe for Filipino dishes, as regions around the country have their own interpretation for these delightful meals.
In this article, we will discuss our best restaurant bets. The article is about the 10 Must-try for every foreign traveler where you could capture the essence of authentic Filipino flavors that is loved by locals through generations.
Restaurants with multiple branches in Metro Manila:
The Filipino restaurants, 10 Must-try for every foreign traveler restaurants listed below are essential Filipino restaurants that are all easy to locate and you can literally try them anywhere around Metro Manila, and major cities in the Philippines. So you don’t need to worry about searching for it, because most likely one of these restaurants is near your accommodation. Some even offer delivery services where you can order it right at your fingertips. They aren’t fast-food chains but instead, restaurant chains, with some even having branches outside the country.
Manam
Manam is a Filipino comfort food bistro that is quite popular to local Filipinos and foreign tourists alike. One popular dish here that you must order is Sisig, a popular pork dish that is made out of pork skin, head, and ears that are chopped to smaller pieces. It is commonly served in sizzling plates (be careful, it’s really hot) and it is best enjoyed over rice (it is tempting to order another cup of rice.) Make your own dipping sauce too, with soy sauce, calamansi (Philippine lemon), and a piece of chili. Not a fan of pork? Then try their bangus (milkfish) sisig which is only made of shredded milkfish meat.
Be sure to order these as well:
- Beef Kare kare (beef cubes, ox tail and vegetable stew in Peanut sauce) Food allergen: nuts, and shrimp paste
- Sinigang na liempo (Pork belly in tamarind soup, served with vegetables)
- Pancit Palabok (Noodles with seafood stock, seared squid and shrimp, topped with crushed chicharon or pork skin)
- Pinakbet (Stir-fried mixed Filipino vegetables with pork belly bits)
- Ube (purple yam) and sago (pearls) shake for dessert
Enjoy these delectable traditional and contemporary takes of Filipino meals in 7 branches across Metro Manila.
You may also opt for delivery via Grab or Food Panda.
Aristocrat Restaurant
Aristocrat Chicken is another popular restaurant in Metro Manila. Serving chicken barbeques all over since the 1930s. It has been one of the favorite go-to meals of Filipinos. They take pride in their chicken barbeque and rice meals. Well, there are other barbequed meats available, but chicken barbeque is their specialty. Enjoy traditional Filipino chicken barbeque with a hot cup of rice, and their secret blend of peanut sauce, which kind of reminds us of the chicken satay of Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. But this tastes different!
You can order these chicken barbeque meals even while you’re staying at your accommodation in Metro Manila via Grab app or Food Panda app.
Be sure to order these as well:
- Pancit Canton (Cantonese-style noodles with pork bits and stir-fried vegetables. It is similar to chow mein noodles, but with more ingredients.)
- Lumpiang Shanghai (Spring rolls with ground pork, spices, and herbs)
Savor the freshly grilled barbeque in over 15 branches across Metro Manila you can enjoy it on-site or have it delivered to your location with the help of Food Panda and Grab Food. Download the app in App Store and Play Store. These apps would be very helpful to you as well.
Gerry’s Grill
Another accessible Filipino restaurant, Gerry’s Grill has been a common go to place for several Filipinos over the years. The restaurant-bar offers traditional Filipino dishes and some alcoholic beverages as well.
We recommend you to try their grilled seafood selections, Crispy Pata (Fried pig’s leg) sisig, among several other Filipino dishes you will surely love. Pair sisig meals, and other grilled delights to a pint of Iced Cold San Miguel Beer to complete your Filipino experience with a unique beer that has a refreshing and crisp taste leaving you wanting more.
With over 30 branches in Metro Manila alone and dozens more across the country, you will definitely find the restaurant easily accessible no matter where you are in the country. They also have branches in Singapore, Qatar, UAE, and United States, so if you’re looking for a Filipino restaurant abroad, Gerry’s Grill is a must-try.
Other must-try meals:
- Chopsuey (Stir-fried vegetables that are Chinese inspired)
- Calamares (Fried squid rings)
- Chili cheese sticks (similar to mozzarella sticks but the cheese is stuffed inside a green chili. This is a perfect beer-match snack!)
Have these Filipino favorites delivered to your doorstep, via major food delivery apps?
Mesa
Mesa or Table in English is another Filipino chain restaurant that you will surely adore. With over 40 branches nationwide, contemporary and timeless Filipino meals that Filipinos love for generations are being served here.
If you’re a huge fan of seafood, finding a good seafood restaurant in Metro Manila can be a challenge. Here in Mesa, you can enjoy large shrimps, and crabs smothered with different sauce options. But our favorite was Laing, and Bicol Express, a delicacy from the Bicol region on the South East of Luzon island. Laing is made of dried taro leaves, boiled in fresh coconut milk, and spiced with chilies. While, Bicol Express is a stew made of coconut milk, and pork belly, spiced with chilies too. If you’re not a big fan of chilies, be sure to inform your waiter to lessen the spice or not put chilies at all. Anyway, it would still taste delicious. It has a creamy, leafy, and a bit of earthy taste that is a perfect appetizer before you dive into the scrumptious seafood you’ve ordered.
Be sure to order these as well:
- Tinapa (Smoked fish. Pair it with garlic rice to enjoy a classic Filipino breakfast!)
- Pork Binagoongan (Pork belly sauteed in shrimp sauce. It’s a bit savory and salty so be sure you pair it with rice as well. Maybe two cups of them. :P)
- Crispy leche flan (egg pudding similar to the flans of Mexico. But this comes with a twist!)
Mesa can provide you these delicious meals at home via major food delivery apps.
Max’s Restaurant
A house that fried chicken built, says the slogan of this Filipino restaurant. Max’s Restaurant boasts over 170 branches in the Philippines, and has started to become popular abroad as well. When you visit a mall in Metro Manila, it will sure have Max’s. Making it accessible for local residents and tourists alike.
For over 70 years, this heritage restaurant takes pride on their must-try fried chicken that is enjoyed by multiple generations of Filipinos. A unique Filipino style fried chicken that is quite different from the one’s you’ve had before, served with sweet potato fries and rice. Instead of dipping it in gravy, the fried chicken is best enjoyed with sweet banana catsup. Yep, you read that right, a castsup made from bananas.
Another must try meal here is their sizzling tofu! It reminds us of the pork sisig, but this one is made out of tofu, instead of pork. Great for our vegetarian friends out there. It is still crispy and it is covered in this unique sauce that we haven’t seen before.
Other must try meals:
- Beef Bulalo (A traditional beef soup vegetables, beef cubes, bones, and bone marrow.)
- Different varieties of Sinigang (Sour tamarind soup with vegetables, and meat of your choice, shrimp, pork, fish)
- Beef Caldereta (Beef cubes in tomato sauce and vegetables)
- Sago’t Gulaman (A dessert drink that is made of pearls, jellies, and sweet brown sugar syrup, on ice. A classic Filipino cooler during hot summer days)
Enjoy Max’s signature fried chicken, and other Filipino classics right in your own accommodation! Order them via Grab or Food Panda.
Specialty Restaurants to visit in Metro Manila!
We’ve been discussing the best accessible restaurants in Metro Manila, 10 Must-try for every foreign traveler. We’ve discussed 5 restaurants, let us now focus on specialty restaurants that serve meals that are both delightful and can elevate your dining experience! Let us complete the list of our best restaurant picks,10 Must-try for every foreign traveler!
Locavore
A Filipino restaurant with contemporary flare! That’s Locavore. If you’ve tried the classic Filipino meals, then level up your Filipino dining experience by having Locavore’s reimagined classics! From their sizzling Sinigang, to Boneless Lechon Belly,to Pinakbet Ratatouille (We’re saying that it’s really good, not because we’re French 😛 )
Did we mention that Locavore has an excellent wine selection as well? If you don’t know your way around wines, you can definitely ask for recommendations for wine pairing, the waitstaff would be glad to assist you. Aside from wines, they also carry Scotch, Bourbon, Gin, Brandy, and more!
Other meals to try:
- Lechon Dinuguan (Lechon meat in pig’s blood stew.)
- Gising gising (Winged bean, cooked in coconut milk, and a bit of chilies)
- Kinilaw Tanigue (Fish Ceviche)
Enjoy delicious reimagined Filipino meals in 7 Locavore branches in Metro Manila.
Barbara’s Heritage Restaurant
In Intramuros, Manila, Barbara’s Heritage Restaurant will transport you to the Spanish colonial times. A restaurant with Hispanic and Filipino elements, plus timeless Filipino classic meals is a cultural experience you need to try before leaving the Philippines!
Barbara’s Heritage Restaurant pays homage to the long and rich history that the Philippines and Spain once shared.
It is highly evident in their menu selection. Have a taste of authentic Spanish meal like the Paella Mariscos that is crafted with fresh seafood and rich spices. Another must-try is their Lumpia al Fresca, which is made out of palm hearts sauteed with pork bits and shrimp, wrapped in a soft crepe like wrapper, plus a savory sweet peanut garlic sauce. Finish of your meal with a traditional dessert pilipit (sweet pastry) and Chocolate Español.
While you’re at the restaurant, be sure to drop by their museum, and art gallery which displays cultural artworks, and ancient relics from the era.
Other dishes to try:
- Arroz ala Cubana
- Krispy Tadyang (Crispy beef rib can be enjoyed as an appetizer or a main dish with rice. Best served with spicy vinegar.)
- Brazo de Mercedes and ensaymada (cake and pastry dessert)
Experience the rich Filipino-Spanish history with delicious meals, and intricate interior design that serves as a reminder on how the Philippines and Spain has a shared affinity for good food.
Las Casas Q.C.
Las Casas QC is another cultural marvel that you must experience! Enjoy familiar Filipino flavors while dining in a traditional Filipino-Spanish setting. We can’t believe that in the heart of busy Quezon City, there lies a place as if you stepped back in time. There are currently 2 restaurants in Las Casas. First is Kusina ni Maria, a Filipino restaurant, and La Bella, an Italian restaurant. You may opt for a quick day tour packages with merienda (afternoon snacks) but we recommend that you stay for dinner and try on excelent Filipino dishes.
We chose to enjoy a good meal at Kusina ni Maria. Enjoy fresh fruits of the sea in their Seafood Kare kare, seafood simmered in turmeric infused peanut sauce, and steamed vegetables. Another meal to enjoy is the Bagnet, or a transitional Ilocano freid pork belly that comes with a side of Balayan sauce. Finish it of with a quezo de leche crepe (Another French food, we know. It’s good how they incorporated some French food references to the Filipino kitchen)
Other meals to try:
- Kalderetang kambing (Goat meat simmered in spiced tomato sauce, and vegetables)
- Fiesta Palabok (Noodles withcrab fat and seafood sauce)
Guevarra’s by Chef Laudico
Now let’s feature a place for travelers with big appetites for good meals! Guevarra’s is an all you can eat buffet that serves foodies come to love. It is housed in a 1920s home in San Juan, Metro Manila. With a wide selection of Filipino and international dishes that Filipinos fell in love with, Guevarra’s is the must-visit for somebody who wants to enjoy a lot of Filipino dishes all in one place! From hearty meals, delicious seafood, to fulfilling desserts, you will definitely make the most out of your trip in the Philippines, and fall in love with the classic dishes that Filipinos all over come to love.
One thing to keep in mind to make sure that you ca get a table since the restaurant has a smaller seating capacity compared to other buffets in Metro Manila. So be sure to reach them out first before going.
But rest assured that you will have a great time bonding over flavorful food, in an intimate homey setting.
Blackbird at Nielsen Tower Makati
Just a few kilometers away from the airport, Blackbird at Nielsen Tower Makati is a must-visit for tourists and local residents. The restaurant pays tribute tot what was dubbed as the golden age of travel in what was once the airport of Manila prior to the one that we know today. The romantic surroundings in a lavish art deco setting is perfect for a date night, or an elegant night out with friends and family.
Delight yourself with a wide selection of delectable meals to choose from. Enjoy steaks, pastas, pizzas & more!
Finish it of with a nightcap from their wide array of wines, and of course champagne. Great for celebrating the good things in life.
Now that you’ve learned the best restaurants in Metro Manila, 10 Must-try for every foreign traveler, be sure to try them at least one of them to get that full authentic Filipino experience! These restaurants come in all price points so you will find one that will fit your budget and your appetite.
The best thing about this, is that several restaurants mentioned above are available for food delivery! Have delicious meals from the restaurants, 10 Must-try for every foreign traveler delivered to your doorstep.
Aside from our best picks of restaurants, 10 Must-try for every foreign traveler Want to learn more about other travel destinations across the Philippines that we love? How about this Banaue blog for a one-of-a-kind travel experience, check our vlogumentary in Banaue as well where we featured a farmer and his daily life. Or these Top 6 Destinations to visit in Cebu.
