Are you in Manila for vacation or a business trip? Whatever the case might be, if you love Asian food and can’t get enough, it’s easy to find restaurants here in Manila that will tickle your palette and make you want to stay for as long as you can. These restaurants are not only different in cuisines, but they also excel at the cuisines they carry. Make sure to try out these restaurants to explore Asia through your taste buds to make the most out of your stay in the capital of the Philippines!
1. Buddha-Bar Manila (Asian)
This restaurant carries all things Asian. With a laidback, lounge-type ambiance and a huge selection of delectable options, Buddha-Bar Manila is a great place to hang out with your friends on a Friday night. Try out their Buddha-Bar Selection filled with assorted Japanese sushi and sashimi, their tom yum goong (Thai soup with tiger prawns), and surf & turf roll. All three are widely recommended by Buddha-Bar’s many loyal patrons. The starting rate for entrees is at 500 PHP (10.00 USD), drinks start at 150 PHP (3.00 USD) and they’re open from 4:00 PM to 2:00 AM.
Buddha-Bar Manila
Address: Picar Place, Kalayaan Avenue, Poblacion, Makati City
Price: entrees start at 500 PHP (10.00 USD). Drinks start at 150 PHP (3.00 USD).
Website: Buddha Bar
2. Mesa (Filipino)
Of course, you have to try Filipino food when in the Philippines! The Philippines takes pride in its exotic but surprisingly delicious array of native dishes. And many restaurants — both large and small — offer their own mouthwatering twists to these Filipino dishes, but none can do it quite as well as Mesa does. Its casual dining ambiance notwithstanding, eating at Mesa feels like a feast. Don’t miss out on their crispy boneless tilapia, fried tofu, and crispy pata! Entrees start at 300 PHP (6.00 USD), and drinks start at 60 PHP (1.20 USD).
Mesa
Address: Greenbelts, Legaspi Street, Makati, 1209 Metro Manila
Price: entrees start at 300 PHP (6.00 USD). Drinks start at 60 PHP (1.20 USD).
Opening Hours: 11 AM to 9 PM
Duration: around 3 hours required.
Website: Mesa
3. Your Local (Asian)
Your Local is your best friend when it comes to sampling different Asian cuisine dishes while on a date. It has a casual ambiance that’s perfect for conversations over good food coupled with a tasty cocktail, and has a couple of dishes you should definitely watch out for. Must-try’s at Your Local span through different cuisines, their torched salmon donburi, laksa fettuccine, and chorizo sandwich all deserve space on your plate. Starting rate for entrees are at 400 PHP (8.00 USD) and drinks start at 200 PHP (4.00 USD).
Your Local
Address: Ground Floor, Universal LMS Building, 106 Esteban Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City
Price: entrees start at 400 PHP (8.00 USD). Drinks start at 200 PHP (4.00 USD).
Opening Hours: 11 am to 2 pm, 6 pm to 10 pm
Website: Your Local
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4. 101 Hawker Food House (Chinese)
101 Hawker Food House is home for Asian cuisine lovers, particularly those who just drool over Chinese food. Its casual dining vibe sets the — whether on a solo date or on a hangout with your friends. Sample their most famous dishes, namely the 101 prawn laksa, nasi goreng, and Hainanese chicken while you’re at it. Entrees start at an affordable price of 180 PHP (3.60 USD) and drinks start at 40 PHP (0.80 USD).
4. 101 Hawker Food House (Chinese)
Address: Urban Avenue Corner Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City
Price: entrees start at 180 PHP (3.60 USD). Drinks start at 40 PHP (0.80 USD).
Opening Hours: 6 am to 10 pm
Website: 101 Hawker Food House
Manila Tour Guide
Jerick Magat
Manila Tour Guide
Alvin Salen
Hi I'm looking forward to be your tour guide in Manila. I'm 20 years in tourism industry in the country and will take you to the historical sites in Manila such as the 400 year old Spanish fortress.
Tours by Alvin
5. Ooma (Japanese)
As Japanese food enjoys a steadily climbing number of fans in the Philippines, restaurants serving Japanese sushi to sashimi are also popping up almost everywhere you look in Manila. But few only really do stand out, and among those that do, Ooma is the go-to place for some good Japanese food you just simply deserve at the end of a tiring week. Don’t miss out on their restaurant favorites: scallop and tuna aburi maki, hanger steak, and o-gyoza. Entrees start at 300 PHP (6.00 USD) and drinks at 80 PHP (1.60 USD).
Oooma
Address: Third Floor, Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Price: entrees start at 300 PHP (6.00 USD). Drinks start at 80 PHP (1.60 USD).
Opening Hours: 10 am to 10 pm
Website: Ooma
6. Mendokoro Ramen Bar
Makati is laden with many creative and great restaurants, and Mendokoro Ramen Bar is one of them. Its laidback vibe invites a huge variety of guests — from couples on a romantic evening to friends catching up over lunch — but more importantly, so does their menu. Try out their karai tokusei (dipping Ramen), a hard-to-find dish in most Japanese restaurants, their gyoza and their shio ramen. Entrees start at 400 PHP (8.00 USD) and they don’t serve alcoholic beverages.
Mendokoro Ramen Bar
Address: V. Corporate Center, Soliman Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City
Price: from 400 PHP (8.00 USD)
Opening Hours: 11 am to Midnight
Website: Mendokoro Ramen Bar
7. Locavore (Filipino)
If you want to go on a chill Friday or Saturday night out with your family or your friends, Locavore is the place to be. Aside from its laidback and relaxed vibe, Locavore offers a fresh and unique take on Filipino dishes, and you can see that in their restaurant favorites. Kare kare wings (chicken wings with Filipino peanut sauce), oyster sisig, and sizzling sinigang are all transformed versions of their traditional counterparts. Entrees start at 400 PHP (8.00 USD) and drinks start at 80 PHP (1.60 USD).
Locavore
Address: Brixton Technology Center, 10 Brixton Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig City
Price: entrees start at 400 PHP (8.00 USD). Drinks start at 80 PHP (1.60 USD).
Opening Hours: 11:30 am to 1 am
Website: Locavore
Traveler's tips
Locavore has many branches in Metro Manila. I've visited the one in BGC and love the cozy ambiance of the restaurant. I personally love their unique take on traditional Filipino dishes. They give your usual food a modern twist, like their Salted Gabi Chips. Who would have thought you can turn gabi into chips? Another favorite of mine is their Sizzling Sinigang and Fried Oyster Sisig.
8. High Street Café (Asian fine dining)
One of the top fine-dining restaurants in Bonifacio Global City, High Street Café is really for a high-class kind of night. This restaurant blends Asian cuisine with fine dining to create a night you would not forget. Visit High Street Café when you want to celebrate a special milestone (like an anniversary or birthday), and enjoy a smorgasbord of Asian food choices right at your fingertips with their Intercontinental Buffet. Entrees start at 1,200 PHP (24.00 USD) and drinks start at 200 PHP (4.00 USD).
High Street Cafe
Address: 30th Street, corner 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Price: entrees start at 1200 PHP (24.00 USD). Drinks start at 200 PHP (4.00 USD).
Opening Hours: 6 am to 11 pm
Website: High Street Cafe
9. Crying Tiger (Thai)
The Crying Tiger may not be as visible as the Asian restaurants placed in frequented malls or public areas, but this hole-in-the-wall attracts many customers and turns them into loyal fans. With their food and general casual/nightlife ambiance, Crying Tiger is hard to ignore. Fans of Thai food will find delight in their pad see ew (Thai friend noodles) and gai pad ka prao (Thai basil chicken). Entrees start at 250 PHP (5.00 USD) and drinks start at a wallet-friendly rate of 50 PHP (1.00 USD).
Crying Tiger
Address: 4986 P. Guanzon Street, Poblacion, Makati City
Price: entrees start at 250 PHP (5.00 USD); Drinks start at 40 PHP (0.80 USD)
Opening Hours: 4 pm to 1 am
Website: Crying Tiger
10. Tim Ho Wan (Chinese)
This go-to restaurant houses some of the most interesting (and delectable, of course!) Chinese dishes in Manila. Located in SM Megamall, Ortigas, Tim Ho Wan serves must-try Chinese dishes — whether it’s your first time eating Chinese food or you’re a veteran of the cuisine. Try out their baked bun with barbecue pork, spinach dumpling with shrimp, and wasabi salad prawn dumpling. Entrees start at 120 PHP (2.40 USD) and they don’t serve drinks.
Tim Ho Wan
Address: Ground Floor, Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City
Price: from 120 PHP (2.40 USD)
Opening Hours: 10 am to 10 pm
Website: Tim Ho Wan
A feast for the senses, right here in Manila
Manila is known to be a curious blend of Western and Eastern rolled into one, but what many people don’t quite highlight is how it’s also home to many great restaurants serving a plethora of Asian dishes. Those that are on this list are just the tip of the iceberg — there’s more to explore when in Manila!
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