Must-see restaurants in Philippines

  • Ghetto Plates

    Western Visayas

    Don't let the humble entrance fool you: inside lies a real breath of fresh air. This cool cafe and meeting place offers excellent fruit shakes and pizza,…

  • EJ's Cafe

    Northern Mindanao

    Part of the Hotel Tavern complex, this contemporary cafe qualifies as hip, for Surigao. Sandwiches, burgers, plus pastries, cookies and excellent coffee…

  • Big Bad Thai

    El Nido

    At this popular upstairs place on El Nido's main drag, dishes like pad krapow (stir-fried minced meat) and crab curry emerge from the kitchen on…

  • Señor Pollo

    Manila

    The speciality here is, naturally, chicken – we prefer it roasted with a couple of sides. Nachos, quesadillas, margaritas and local craft beer on tap …

  • Troi Oi

    Iloilo

    Featuring Vietnamese street food such as banh mi and a variety of pho dishes in a pleasantly designed room with colourful umbrellas hanging from the…

  • Kawayan

    Siargao

    Kawayan's restaurant does food inspired by French, Basque, Moroccan and Filipino cuisines (Moroccan tagine is the speciality), served in a sumptuously…

  • Legazpi Sunday Market

    Manila

    This laid-back farmers markets has an array of local specialities. Here you'll find stalls serving cuisine from Filipino food-crazy regions such as Ilocos…

  • Red Bean Halowich

    Boracay

    Especially popular with Korean tourists, this place selling shaved ice and fresh fruit topped by soft-serve mango ice cream, a twist on the traditional…

  • Zubuchon

    Cebu City

    A popular pick for a lechón fix, with several branches around the city. This place in the heart of town offers a platter of classic or boneless lechón for…

  • Waway Restaurant

    Bicol

    For an authentic experience of Bicol food, Waway is a local institution (often booked with tour groups) for its splendid lunchtime buffet of spicy coconut…

  • Den

    Manila

    This is where the creatives at the HUB get their caffeine fix and work on their laptops to soothing coffee-presser sounds. It's crisp and cool with an…

  • Escolta Ice Cream & Snacks

    Manila

    This unassuming eatery has acquired cult status and is a de-rigueur stop on any tour of historic Escolta St. In addition to ice cream (try the nine-scoop…

  • Tio Jose

    Southeast Luzon

    Although styled on an American diner, with booth seating, memorabilia, and nachos, fries and hot dogs on the menu, Tio Jose also does a fine line in…

  • Red Platter

    Bicol

    One of the more upmarket independent restaurants on the Magsaysay strip, Red Platter is semiformal in atmosphere but high quality in presentation. The…

  • Blue Ice

    Bantayan Island

    Lively spot on a corner plot that's deservedly popular for its food – a mixture of Asian dishes and Scandinavian specialities: try the Swedish meatballs …

  • French Coffee Shop

    Moalboal

    It does what it says on the sign – French coffee – well, it serves Italian-style coffee too…plus shakes, crêpes, baguettes, breakfasts and salads. There's…

  • Aplaya

    Boracay

    This open-air Mediterranean restaurant and mellow beach bar feature beanbag chairs on the sand, a massive tropical drinks menu, ambient grooves, shisha…

  • Pyt Stop

    Iloilo

    Choose from more than half a dozen 'boodle fight' set menus (P1400 to P1700, good for eight), where heaping serves, laid out on banana leaves in the…

  • Sibid-Sibid

    Bicol

    A wonderful open-air bamboo-and-thatch restaurant 1km north of Legazpi City, Sibid-Sibid specialises in highly original, Bicol-inspired seafood…

  • Barbarossa Pub

    Southeast Luzon

    This German-owned bar-restaurant in Gasan is popular with a mix of expats and locals thanks to its German sausages, tasty takes on Filipino standards and…

  • L'Jodec

    El Nido

    This is the place for authentic French galettes and tasty paninis (try the signature spicy beef version). Take them on your boat trip or dine in at the…

  • Freska

    Iloilo

    The theme is traditional Ilonggo seafood, with snapper and shellfish taking pride of place on the menu, and a great all-you-can-eat lunch and dinner…

  • True Food

    Boracay

    Desultory service aside, head to the 2nd floor with its floor cushions and airy (hot when no breeze) dining space for excellent set vegetarian and meat…

  • Hanoi Restaurant

    Davao

    Long running and stylish Hanoi serves tasty Vietnamese cuisine, including excellent banh mi (baguettes); some dishes are dumbed-down versions to appeal to…

  • Tiny Kitchen

    Davao

    Paellas and other Iberian–style meat dishes dominate most of the chalkboard menu at this bustling and homey place, where the owner roves the tables…

  • Gaisano Mall

    Davao

    Centrally located. 'The Peak', a 5th- and 6th-floor addition, has an outdoor plaza lined with cafes and restaurants, including Kublai Khan's, an all-you…

  • Buzz Cafe

    Bohol

    With views of the bay, this family-orientated restaurant has something for everyone including espresso coffee, vegan dishes and plenty of Filipino fare…

  • 357 Steakhouse & Sushi Bar

    Northern Mindanao

    Not much curb appeal to this utilitarian-looking restaurant next to the Surigao Coast Guard office. However, it's pleasant enough inside and serves…

  • Tadakuna

    Davao

    Tadakuna doesn't look like much: a handful of tables in a modest dining room. However, the owner, a passionate fisherman, knows how to turn out some of…

  • Pleasure Principle Resto-Bar

    Moalboal

    Named after an obscure Gary Numan album, this enjoyable, efficiently run place on the main drag offers an eclectic (too long) menu including French, local…

  • Warung

    Siargao

    Warung's Indonesian chef serves up good-value specialities like nasi rames (dish with small portions of rice, meat and vegies), laksa (spicy noodle soup)…

  • Monkey Business

    Siquijor

    Here you'll find hip young things tucking into massive breakfast bowls and sipping fruit shakes in swings by day, while by night music fills the air –…

  • Kiwi Bakhaw

    Malapascua Island

    This place is well worth sniffing out for its gorgeous cordon bleu and curries. Quality food takes time to prepare: expect to wait up to an hour. Bring…

  • Om's

    Coron Town

    Headed by a Thai chef, the kitchen churns out authentic curries, papaya salad, larb (meat salad) and other specialties from the Land of Smiles. While the…

  • Original Conching's Native Chicken

    Davao

    A whole chicken and a bucket of beers. What's not to like? Celebrities apparently are on board. Their photos are plastered on one wall of this otherwise…

  • Kismet Cafe

    Manila

    Blink and you'll miss this hippy, trippy Rumi–inspired cafe specialising in delicious vegan sandwiches and fair-trade coffee from Benguet in North Luzon…

  • Aria

    Boracay

    Long-time White Beach favorite Aria serves Italian food with herbs and other ingredients sourced from its organic garden on the island. It has excellent…

  • Kubo Resto Bar & Grill

    Boracay

    Avoid the oft-inflated White Beach prices at this local, open-air nipa-hut-style eatery serving a wide selection of noodle, meat and seafood dishes. The…

  • Cafe Itoy’s

    Puerto Princesa

    Long-running coffee joint on the main drag with functional wi-fi, an agreeable Spotify soundtrack and an extensive menu of sandwiches and Filipino faves…

  • Cargo Grill

    Mindoro

    The speciality at this bar and grill is carabao meat. It's served in many forms, most popularly carabao burgers. It's 2km south of the city centre in the…

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