Whether you flew back to the Philippines for Christmas or just planning a trip back to the motherland now that the hectic holiday rush is starting to slow down, the first thing that you probably want to do is eat Filipino food. We definitely understand missing traditional Filipino fare that one can’t really replicate when cooking abroad, so we’ve come up with a list of restaurants that feature local dishes that you’re already familiar with, and new haunts that will widen your perspective of how rich and diverse Filipino cuisine truly is. Make this your bucket list of must-try local dining spots around the country, and every time you come home, tick one (or several) boxes off!
1. Manam (Metro Manila and parts of Luzon)
Location: Check their website for a complete list of branches around Luzon
Budget: Approximately P350 per head
If you’re looking for accessible Filipino food that hits the spot right when you arrive, reserve a table at a Manam branch. Manam has a huge menu of local staples, but they’re most famous for their sisig, gising-gising, and Sinigang na Beef Short Rib & Watermelon. Sinigang, a dish that calls for a sour broth, usually uses tamarind, tomato, calamansi, kamias, and batuwan to give it its distinct taste. Manam uses watermelons, which gives their spin on this classic dish a unique, sour taste that has a slight tinge of sweetness.
Most Manam branches are in malls, and two of them have function rooms: the one located in SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City and the one in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. If you can, always try to reserve a table early, as there’s usually a long queue at any branch.
2. MilkyWay Cafe (Makati)
Location: 2nd Floor, MilkyWay Building, 900 Arnaiz Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas, Makati, Metro Manila
Contact details: (+632) 8843-4124, (+632) 8843-7124, (+63966) 634-5792, [email protected]
Budget: Approximately P400 per person
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This is a restaurant that many who grew up in the ‘60s remember with great fondness. Established in the 1950s as a dairy bar in the old San Miguel district in Manila, MilkyWay Cafe has grown into a full Filipino restaurant and has moved locations through the decades—from Aguado, Manila to Pasay Road (now known as Arnaiz Avenue), Makati.
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Expect to be hit hard with nostalgia as everything on the menu tastes like lutong bahay (home cooking). Go for their Kare-kare, but you should also try their seafood dishes such as Crispy Apahap and Adobong Sugpo. Don’t forget to order a serving of the MilkyWay Halo-halo and their special Buco Lechias (coconut and lychee) Sherbet to cleanse your palate.
Function rooms are available if you have a party of 16 upwards to 160. Details are available on their website. MilkyWay Cafe has another, smaller branch at Power Plant Mall in Rockwell, Makati.
3. Palm Grill (Quezon City)
Locations: 179 Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City | New Gateway Mall 2, Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City
Contact details: (+63947) 719-9558, (+63938) 932-8861
Budget: Approximately P400 per head
Southern Mindanaoan cuisine is not something often seen in restaurant lists, so let’s try to remedy that. Palm Grill’s main thrust is to bring meals from Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi (collectively known as “ZamBaSulTa”) to a wider audience. ZamBaSulTa cuisine is an interesting mix of dishes familiar to those from Luzon and Visayas, with influences from nearby Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia. These often feature coconuts and coconut milk, which are abundant in the south.
Explore a unique taste profile starting with the Pianggang Manok from the Tausugs of Jolo. It has seven different spices bloomed in coconut milk and coconut bits—definitely a great introduction to the cuisine. If you want something really indulgent, go for Tiyula Itum, a black beef soup that looks like bulalo spiced with turmeric, onions, pepper, lemon grass, and galangal, highlighted by toasted coconut meat which gives it its distinct color.
4. Balay Dako (Tagaytay)
Location: Nasugbu Highway, Tagaytay, Cavite, 4120
Contact details: (+6346) 413-4866, (+63923) 726-6290, [email protected]
Budget: Approximately P800 per head
Balay Dako, which means “big house” in Negrense, used to be an ancestral home in the cooler climes of Tagaytay. With smartly utilized spaces that open up to the garden and the beautiful view of the Taal Volcano beyond, you’ll definitely enjoy your order of Bulalo na Baka (a Tagaytay staple) and Kansi (an Ilonggo soup).
While Balay Dako does not take table reservations, they do host events. Set menus for 10 people range from P8,150 to P12,950. You can check their packages on their website.
5. Farmer’s Daughter (Baguio)
Location: Tam-awan, Longlong Road, Baguio City
Contact details: (+6374) 661-4348, [email protected]
Budget: Approximately P300 per head
If you’re interested in traditional northern cuisine and heritage cooking techniques, visit Farmer’s Daughter, an intimate restaurant in Baguio that serves Ibaloi dishes. Their Kinuday Jen Baboy (smoked pork), Kinuday Jen Baha (smoked beef), and Kinuday Jen Manok (smoked chicken) take days of preparation, as they are smoked with guava and gum tree wood, resulting in a deep, full-bodied flavor. Order yourself a slice of ube cake for dessert, and don’t miss out on their great coffee!
6. Kinabuchs Grill and Bar (Palawan)
Location: 348 Rizal Avenue, Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Contact details: (+6348) 434-5194 to 95, (+63949) 167-9837, (+63945) 693-0141, [email protected]
Budget: Approximately P600 per head
You can’t visit Puerto Princesa City in Palawan without dropping by Kinabuchs at least once. As it is a resto-bar, it serves mostly bar chow. Order a beer or a cocktail and try their sizzling sizzlers, like the delicious Bulalo Steak. And since you’re just kilometers away from the sea, you’ll want to try their list of seafood specials, as well as their Lato (seaweed) salad. Don’t forget to ask if they’re offering tamilok (woodworm). It’s not really a worm, but a kind of mollusk that lives in mangroves surrounding the island. They sort of taste like oysters and are great when eaten raw and soaked in vinegar (kinilaw).
7. Cafe Laguna (Visayas and Mindanao)
Locations: Check their website for a complete list of branches in Cebu, Ormoc, Dumaguete, General Santos, and Cagayan de Oro
Budget: Approximately P500 per head
Cafe Laguna serves traditional, no-frills Filipino food, and has a wide menu of dishes you may have missed while you were away—from Pancit Bihon and Halaan Soup to Binagoongang Baboy and Pandan Chicken—that will leave your stomach and heart satisfied.
If you want to skip the mains, their merienda list is also just as filling. Enjoy that long-missed combo of Diniguang Baboy at Puto, have something warm like Chicken Arroz Caldo, or go for the traditional December fare of Bibingka and Puto Bumbong. Their kakanin platters, which include Sapin-Sapin, Biko, and Palitaw serve around 8-15 people. These need to be ordered two days before pick up, so give them a call if you want to bring these home as pasalubong.
They have function rooms at Cafe Laguna at Laguna Garden Cafe, Level 1 of the Terraces at Ayala Center Cebu.
8. Tatoy’s Manokan & Seafoods (Iloilo)
Locations: Main branch is at Sto. Nino Sur Arevalo, Iloilo City; other branches around Iloilo are listed on their Facebook page
Budget: Approximately P500 per head
Tatoy’s Manokan & Seafoods is a very popular restaurant in Iloilo, known for its hefty servings of Native Chicken and flavorful Lechon Baboy. Aside from these, you’ll also want to try their fresh seafood dishes such as Kinilaw na Tanigue, Butter Garlic Pasayan (shrimp), and Diwal Sugba (grilled angel wing clams). Order Lato (seaweed) for a well-rounded meal.
Head to their branch in Villa Arevalo for the full experience: order from the staff in the main area and make your way to the many small cottages across the street, which offer you a beautiful view of the beach. After all, what’s better than indulging in perfectly cooked chicken and fresh seafood like oysters while enjoying the sea breeze?
Tatoy’s has a lot of space, so a walk-in arrangement won’t be much of an issue. It’s still be best to reserve seats, especially during Dinagyang Festival season in January. You may contact the Villa branch at (+6333) 337-1360 or (+63981) 766-6187.
Tip: If you want great food with the local resort experience, opt to spend a few days at Tatoy’s Resort.
9. 21 Restaurant (Bacolod)
Location: #4 21st Street, Bacolod City
Contact details: (+63917) 707-3784, [email protected]
Budget: Approximately P350 per head
One of KUBO’s recommended restaurants to try when in Bacolod, 21 Restaurant serves classic Filipino food such as Chicken Binakol (native chicken soup with coconut), Fresh Lumpia, and Chicken Pork Adobo Flakes, along with other comfort food.
You also wouldn’t want to skip the Batchoy, their delicious version of the Ilonggo local staple. The key to 21 Restaurant’s Batchoy is its savory-sweet broth that goes with a variety of toppings (like chicharon, of course), giving you an explosion of deep flavors and different textures.
You’ll be happy to know that 21 Restaurant has function rooms, which can fit up to around 200 people. There’s also ample parking and free WiFi.
10. Bugsay Seafood Restaurant (Mindanao)
Locations: SM Uptown, Pueblo Business Park, Gran Via cor. Pacific Street, Upper Carmen, Cagayan de Oro | 3rd Floor SM Downtown Premier, Cagayan de Oro | Barangay San Juan, Surigao City
Contact details: (+63906) 244-1812, [email protected]
Budget: Approximately P350 per head
If you really missed local seafood dishes, then Bugsay Seafood Restaurant should be your go-to place in Mindanao. Get your hands dirty as you choose among shrimps, blue crabs, mussels, and scallops and have them cooked four different ways. If you want something less complicated, there are also regular plated meals on the menu.
Since seafood is Bugsay’s specialty, we recommend skipping your usual chicken and pork and just dive into their selection of kinilaw and grilled tuna and squid. They also have a list of desserts that include halo-halo and mango tapioca to complete your meal.
Bugsay’s SM Uptown branch in CDO can accommodate large groups, as it has indoor and outdoor dining areas. They’re also currently renovating a function room that can accommodate around 15 people, so there’s that to look forward to. For queries, just message them on Facebook.
