Top Restaurants In Manila For Filipino Flavors

Scampis dish of razor clams, manila clams, fennel, chives, prosciutto
Scampi's dish of razor clams, manila clams, fennel, chives, prosciutto | © Evan Sung
Melissa Pearce

Manila’s cuisine takes influences from Asia, central Europe and the cooking styles of the regions around it. As such, it is home to some of the tastiest food in the country. We line up the 10 best restaurants to find unique flavors in the Filipino capital.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

LULU Restaurant

Restaurant, Filipino

Dishing up contemporary cuisine and inspired by traditional Filipino flavors, LULU specializes in breakfast and brunch. It is a popular destination for healthy yet comforting food. Although it has an impressive selection for vegetarians, the restaurant is also known for its quality steak and small bites giving you little tastes from a variety of cuisines. With clean and modern decor both inside and out, the building is spacious and airy.

People’s Palace

Bar, Restaurant, Thai, Vegetarian, $$

People’s Palace, Makati

Fusing contemporary influences with classic Thai dishes, People’s Palace is a renowned destination in Manila due to its zesty flavors and dishes presented in a minimalist fashion. The restaurant has a bar and garden lounge, which makes it ideal for romantic candlelit dining. Run by successful chef and restaurateur Colin Mackay, his high standards ensure the restaurant runs smoothly. The menu offers a selection of dishes from hot soups to spicy noodles and notable vegetarian options. Finish with one of the fresh juice cocktails to cleanse the palate.

Kashmir

Restaurant, Indian, Malaysian, Middle Eastern

Kashmir Indian Cuisine Makati, Makati City

Kashmir surrounds you with the aromatic delights of traditional Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine, with additional menus offering Malaysian and Arabian dishes. Knowledgeable staff are available to assist you in ordering your dishes, so those who are a little uneasy with extreme flavors and spices needn’t worry. Fruity and spicy flavors are merged in order to create traditional Middle Eastern food, and the restaurant is known in the local area as one of the best for Indian cuisine.

Lugang Café

Cafe, Restaurant, Filipino
Courteous staff welcome you into Lugang Café, for high-quality, fresh Taiwanese food. The clean and modern decor is understated and tasteful, and ideal for a formal lunch or dinner. The restaurant is run by the Bellagio Group of Shanghai and Beijing, who have used their previous successes to ensure the high quality of this establishment. Within the kitchen, eight expert Chinese chefs create dishes from the large menu, which the wine selection accompanies perfectly.
Café Ysabel provides a cozy setting that’s practically a Manila institution. Set in an ancestral home, the restaurant offers an authentic Filipino feel, and consistently serves top quality food from breakfast through to dinner, with a range of homegrown and international flavors.

Kokoro Ramenya

Restaurant, Ramen, Sushi, Japanese, Contemporary, 0

Kokoro Ramenya, Quezon City

Kokoro Ramenya is one of the best places in Manila to go for quality ramen noodles. However, the restaurant also specializes in a range of rice and sushi dishes. The menu offers up simple food and fresh tastes, including delightful Japanese deserts such as Uji Kinok. The contemporary decor emphasizes the peaceful ambience within the restaurant.

Gloria Maris

Restaurant, Filipino, Chinese
Feast on delicious dim sum at Gloria Maris, as well as an array of hot dishes, in addition to the popular Shabu Shabu. This restaurant serves consistently delicious Chinese cuisine and has become a reliable spot for both locals and tourists. Simple flavors complement the authentic Chinese menu which is executed flawlessly. Staff will go the extra mile to ensure that your meal is enjoyable.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Culture Trip Spring Sale

Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots.

X
close-ad
Edit article