Best Homegrown Restaurants Only in the Philippines

Manila has completely undergone a transformation not only with an increased number of skyscrapers but also with its growing trend and love for world-class quality restaurants. In no particular order, here are the 10 best homegrown restaurants in Manila right now:

 

1. Little Flour

Little Flour is the place to go for a beautiful representation of a Filipino bistro today with rice bowls and classic signature breakfast items as well as traditional Western favorites like egg dishes, sandwiches, burgers and more.

Homegrown Restaurants
Ginataang Sugpo (prawns in a squash puree and fried rice), Pork Adobo Fried Rice, Champorado (chocolate rice pudding), and a salad. And a local craft beer, too. This is a great place to discover Filipino cuisine as well as indulge in a modern plating of your favorite dishes.

 
Little Flour BGC | TripAdvisor Reviews | Map
G/F World Plaza, 31st Street corner 4th Street, BGC, Taguig
Monday to Saturday, 5am to 2am
Sunday, 6am to 4pm
 
Little Flour Salcedo | Map
G/F The Stratosphere, 136 Valero Street, Salcedo Village, Makati
Monday to Saturday, 6am to 12am
Sunday, 6am to 4pm
 
Little Flour Megamall | Map
G/F Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall Building D, ESDA, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong
Monday to Friday, 11am to 11pm
Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 10pm
 

2. Wildflour Cafe + Bakery

Wildflour has become Manila’s place to go for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner; and it is also Little Flour’s big sister. You can enjoy classic cafe dishes as well as internationally inspired plates. Fun fact: Wildflour was the training ground and test restaurant for the popular LA restaurant Republique run by the same chef-owners.

Homegrown Restaurants
Chorizo and Gambas. There are so many great dishes at Wildflour that it’s best to share multiple dishes from appetizers, salads, pasta, and main dishes. Be sure to enjoy the baguette with butter (if you want to make it extra special order Echire butter).

 
Wildflour BGC | TripAdvisor Reviews | Map
G/F Net Lima Building, 5th Avenue Corner 26th Street, BGC Taguig
Monday to Saturday, 6am to 12am
Sunday, 8am to 10pm
 
Wildflour Salcedo | TripAdvisor Reviews | Map
G/F V-Corporate Tower, 125 LP Leviste Street, Salcedo Village, Makati
Monday to Thursday, 6am to 10pm
Friday to Saturday, 6am to 11pm
Sunday, 8am to 4pm
 
Wildflour Rada | TripAdvisor Reviews | Map
G/F Frabelle Business Center, 111 Rada Street, Legaspi Village, Makati
Monday to Thursday, 6am to 10pm
Friday to Saturday, 6am to 11pm
Sunday, 8am to 4pm
 
Wildflour Rockwell | Map
G/F 8 Rockwell Center, Plaza Drive, Makati
Daily, 5am to 12am
 
Wildflour Podium | TripAdvisor Reviews | Map
G/F The Podium, 18 ADB Avenue, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong
Daily, 6am to 12am
 
Wildflour Greenhills | TripAdvisor Reviews | Map
O’Square Building, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan
Daily, 6am to 11pm
 

3. Helm

Helm is the hot restaurant at the moment from Filipino-British Chef Josh Boutwood (who recently re-opened Test Kitchen in Rockwell) with a chef’s table and nightly tasting menu. The cuisine is modern using both local and imported ingredients to create an innovative dining experience likened to top-rated Michelin-starred tastings around the world.

Homegrown Restaurants
Bread course. One of the highlights may seem too simple, but this bread course is truly a start in its own right because of the deliciousness of this freshly baked out of the over bread and room temperature butter.

 
Helm | TripAdvisor Reviews | Map
G/F Arya Residences, McKinley Pkway, Taguig
Tuesday to Saturday, 6pm to 10:30pm
Online Reservations Required
 

4. People’s Palace

Consistently rated and talked about as the best restaurant in town, People’s Palace has delighted locals and expats with its modern, fresh, and authentic Thai cuisine. Peoples is perfect for solo diners to large groups who want the taste of refreshingly delicious Thai plates.

Homegrown Restaurants
Appetizers are a must-have at Peoples. They are great to share with the table as the plates come out quickly from the kitchen. Other must-haves include the salads, curries, and pretty much everything on the menu.

 
People’s Palace | TripAdvisor Reviews | Map
Greenbelt 3, Esperanza Street, Makati
Monday to Thursday, 11am to 2:30pm and 5pm to 11pm
Friday, 11am to 2:30pm and 5pm to 12am
Saturday, 11am to 12am
Sunday, 11am to 11pm
 

5. Blackbird

For international cuisine with something for everyone in a classy restaurant atmosphere, head to Blackbird in Makati. Signature dishes include their Fish Pie, Fish Curry, Lamb Rendang, and Spiced Grilled Chicken. The menu also offers pizza, pasta, and brunch selections.

Homegrown Restaurants
Spiced Grilled Chicken with yellow dahl, brinjal, basmati, mango chutney, and papadum. The menu has many modern interpretations of British cuisine including dishes with Indian and Southeast Asian influences.

 
Blackbird | TripAdvisor Reviews | Map
Nielson Tower, Makati Avenue corner Ayala Avenue, Makati
Sunday to Thursday, 11am to 11pm
Friday and Saturday, 11am to 12am
 

6. 8 Treasures Roasting

When you think of a gas station, you would just think of getting gas and maybe some junk food at the store for sustenance on the road. In Manila, one gas station means getting premium-quality Hong Kong-style roast meats. 8 Treasures now has 2 more locations in Rockwell and Santolan Town Plaza for roast meats, noodle soup, and dim sum to satisfy your quick, yet quality, Chinese cravings.

Homegrown Restaurants
You can dine-in or take out at 8 Treasures as the restaurant is ready with presentable take out packaging which you can use on your buffet tables. This is a half cochinillo, or baby pig, which must be pre-ordered. You can also choose what’s available in the restaurant at the time of your visit.

 
8 Treasures Roasting | Map
Petron Dasma, EDSA corner Arnaiz, Dasmarinas Village, Makati
Sunday to Thursday, 11am to 9pm
Friday and Saturday, 11am to 11pm
 

7. China Blue

For the best, classiest, and most fun Chinese dining experience, head over to Conrad Manila and dine at the hotel’s Chinese restaurant, China Blue. The dim sum is the best in Manila and their a la carte menu also has dishes that are as delicious and beautiful as those in Shanghai and Hong Kong because of Chef Jereme Leung who hails from Singapore with top-rated restaurants in Singapore and Shanghai.

Homegrown Restaurants
Matsusaka Pork Neck barbecued in the char siu marinade. One of the must-haves in the restaurant using premium pork from Japan and plated on a fun grill-block for a playful presentation. Get your cameras ready when you dine at China Blue.

 
China Blue | TripAdvisor Reviews | Map
Conrad Manila, Seaside Boulevard corner Coral Way, Pasay
Daily, 11:30am to 2:30pm and 6pm to 10:30pm
 

8. Kyo-to

For the classiest and most authentic Japanese kaiseki experience, make a reservation at Kyo-to in Makati. This multi-course meal has no menu as it is completely created by the Japanese Chef Ryokei Kawamoto according to the best ingredients of the season.

Homegrown Restaurants
Seasonal Unagi gorgeously plated with fresh greens and garnishes flown in directly from Japan. At Kyo-to you can have the ultimate chef’s table experience at the counter to watch the chef meticulously cook and plate each and every course.

 
Kyo-to | TripAdvisor Reviews | Map
G/F Coyuito House, 119 C. Palanca Street, Legaspi Village, Makati
Tuesday to Sunday, 5pm to 10pm
Reservations Required
 

9. Ramen Yushoken/Mendokoro Ramenba

The Philippines cannot get enough of ramen with all the major Japanese brands in Manila, including Ippudo Ramen and Ramen Nagi. Manila’s own Ramen Yushoken and its spin-off Mendokoro Ramenba make bowls of tonkotsu ramen as good as those in Japan. The must-have in all their locations is a plate of Gyoza which is the best and tastiest in Manila.

Homegrown Restaurants
The best gyoza in Manila and you can have them in Ramen Yushoken in Alabang or in Mendokoro Ramenba in Makati and BGC. It’s the balance of ingredients inside, the inclusion of cabbage which adds a light, fluffy bite, the seasoning for flavor and the grilling on the flat iron. Every component is done well to truly make it the best.

 
Ramen Yushoken | TripAdvisor Reviews | Map
Molito Commercial Complex, Alabang, Muntinlupa
Daily, 11am to 11pm
 
Mendokoro Ramenba Makati | TripAdvisor Reviews | Map
V Corporate Center, Soliman Street, Salcedo Village, Makati
Daily, 11am to 12am
 
Mendoro Ramenba BGC | TripAdvisor Reviews | Map
Icon Plaza, RCBC Building, 26th Street, Taguig
Daily, 11am to 12am
 

10. Elbert’s Pizzeria

There are many pizza places all around the capital, but none have the same deliciousness as those authentic pies in Italy, Japan, and the U.S. Finally, with the opening of Elbert’s Pizzeria, Manila has an authentic, world-class pizza joint with ingredients imported from Italy including the flour, tomato sauce, and toppings.

Homegrown Restaurants
Pizza Margherita at Elbert’s Pizzeria. The test of an excellent pizza is in how they execute the Margherita. It is all about the balance of the cheese, the natural sweetness of the tomato sauce, the fluffy chew of the crust, and how properly and well-baked the how pie is all the way through the center. Elbert’s Pizzeria passes with flying colors!

 
Elbert’s Pizzeria | TripAdvisor Reviews | Map
V Corporate Centre, 125 L.P. Leviste Street, Salcedo Village, Makati
Daily, 11am to 11pm
 
 


 
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