I’m back in Manila for a week, and I came hungry. Between old favorites, new finds, a few Michelin and Bib Gourmand stops, and some meals that were just okay, here’s everything I ate from Sept 26 to Oct 1.

Sept 26: Batangas to Mandaluyong
Before heading to Manila, my brother and I stopped at our favorite burger joint in Batangas, Hungry Hippo. The burgers are affordable and delicious, with a juicy patty. They no longer offer meals, but it’s still my go-to burger spot in Batangas.

In Manila, I got a facial at Skin Station Megamall (prebook if you can) and picked up some Tokyo Cheesecake to go. Dinner was Chicken Inasal Haus in Mandaluyong, a short walk from where I live. Heads up: you have to ask for a queue number after you order. Luckily someone told me, because I had no clue. The inasal took over 30 minutes, so I’m glad I had the cheesecake with me. I probably won’t go back, since there are far better inasalan places in town, but it’s worth a try. Go when it’s less crowded, not at dinner time.

Sept 27: Filipino food and art
This is the day I was looking forward to most: Manila again, and Filipino cuisine. I tried Cabel, near Malacañang Palace, which holds a buffet every last Sunday of the month (10am–1pm, ₱1,600). The place is cozy, and I got to taste dishes from different regions: lechon, kansi, piyanggang manok, bam-i, taho and ice cream. My favorite was the lechon, flavorful with crispy skin. Next was the bam-i, a Cebu dish that combines bihon and canton noodles. It reminded me of childhood occasions at my grandparents’ house, where they always served it, so it felt special. I was so full I had to leave early. Booking a ride was difficult because of road closures, so keep that in mind.

Next, the National Museum of Fine Arts. It was a weekend and crowded, but the queue moved fast. Entry is free: just show an ID and tell them where you live. It’s airconditioned, which is a bonus. You see Juan Luna’s Spoliarium as soon as you enter, though many visitors now seem more interested in photos than in learning about the art. On the 4th floor is a cafe I love, Papa Kape, which serves locally sourced Philippine beans. Having coffee inside a museum was a great experience. I ordered ice buko americano for 220php and it’s quite refreshing.

That night in Poblacion, I tried Super Uncle Claypot, but an event around 8pm kept me from dining in, so I took out the beef and tendon claypot (₱450). Deeply savory and kissed with smoke, it was a standout. The beef was fall-apart tender, the tendon silky and gelatinous, and the tutong, that crisp, caramelized crust at the bottom of the pot, added a toasty, smoky depth to every spoonful. It’s easy to see why it earned its Michelin Selected nod.

Sept 28: Yoga and Bib Gourmands
I booked a yoga class through ClassPass at Breathing Room in BGC. It was a great workout. Mats are ₱100 to rent, and there are showers, blowers and lockers. They also have a salt room, but it was already reserved.

A short walk away is Cochi, a Bib Gourmand place. It’s cozy, and their specialty cochinillo serves 10, so I ordered the cochi summer rolls with cochinillo instead. You wrap them in lettuce, and they’re like lumpiang shanghai: flavorful and an interesting twist on lumpia. I’d like to try the whole cochinillo next time.

I also visited Bolero just for their award-winning Spanish cheesecake. It wasn’t available to go, so I ate it there. It was just okay: not too sweet, and nothing special beyond the melted cheese. Maybe I’m just not a cheesecake person, but I’m fine skipping it next time. 

Sept 29: Comfort food and old friends
I went to Decathlon Pasay for gym clothes, checked out the new stores nearby and visited some colleagues. Then I had my favorite stress meal at Bacolod Chicken Inasal: the Balay meal with dilis, grilled pork, iced tea, monggo and rice for ₱365. It’s my happy meal when work gets tough.

After an early dinner, I met my former colleagues and we caught up on old memories. We went to MOA for malatang at Sichu Malatang. It was okay, but I made a mistake adding noodles; I should’ve gone for more meat. Then we went up to MOA Sky for Cafe Kulture, where I had a refreshing mango coconut smoothie. It was great seeing them after more than a year.

Sept 30: Merienda Pan de Manila and silog dinner
I had lunch with my colleagues at Merienda Pan de Manila, a short walk from our office. We ordered kangkong with bagoong, lechon kawali and lumpiang shanghai. It was my go-to restaurant when I worked in Pasay, and you can never go wrong with their meals.

For dinner, I stopped by Tuding’s Porkchop Haus, a short walk from my place. I got the porksilog for ₱165. The porkchop was thin, but it was fine. They provide condiments and have plenty of seating, so this is where I’ll go when I’m craving silogs.

Oct 1: Bread, katsudon and sinigang
Breakfast was at Panaderyo Toyo in Karrivin, one of my favorite Makati hangouts. The potpot pandesal is ₱65, a bit pricey, but worth a try. They have al fresco seating, so go in the morning when it’s cooler. They close once sold out and often have weekend collabs. The bread was okay, but I loved the bicho-bicho flavors: very fluffy and filling. I’ll order more of those.

For lunch, I tried the newly opened Katsuya at Megamall. The katsudon (₱245) was just how I like it and one of the best I’ve had. I’ll be back for other dishes, and it’s now my go-to in Manila.

Dinner was at Siklab+ in Shangri-La, which serves Filipino dishes. The queue was fast, and I ordered sinigang, gulaman and rice. It was just okay: the soup was tangy, but I can cook this at home. I was curious because so many people go, and their group meals look good. I’m not giving up yet. I’ll try other dishes, and the sinigang still satisfied my craving.

That wraps up my Manila food run, from crispy lechon and the best katsudon to a few “just okay” meals. Every bite was worth the trip. Until next time!

Love,

Maria