Fastfood in Metro Manila

Metro Manila is bustling with businessmen, young professionals, laborers, tourists and the like. This high concentration of people in the National Capital Region will work throughout the day. And this requires a huge amount of energy, in consequence food. Most people prefer to dine-out and grab a quick meal as the day goes on. A lot, if not most, will attain their meals through fast food restaurants. The cheaper is usually the better for majority of the populous. A list of restaurants in Manila, particularly fast food restaurants will be vital for those looking for a quick meal in their area.

Jollibee is the homegrown fast food flavor of the Philippines and they are getting stronger each day. They feed everyone from students, laborers to businessmen and professionals. Their menu is attuned to the palate of the Filipinos. They serve macaroni soup, a variety of burgers, fried chicken, burger steak and everything in between. They have also expanded in several countries across the globe being the Philippine flag carrier when it comes to fast food. Jollibee is probably at the top of the list of restaurants in Manila when it comes to fast food service. A decent meal would cost around 100 php.

 Asian cuisine is very popular in the metro. Fast food restaurants like Chicken Bonchon caters to the fried chicken fans. They serve fried chicken in a whole other way. The skin is dry, crispy and flavorful while the meat remains tender and juicy. This Korean themed restaurant also offers kimchi coleslaw, bulgogi rice, fish taco, box meals and dessert. Although a bit pricier compared to other fast food chains, Bonchon has gained a loyal following. A meal would costs around 150 php to 200 php. The extra bucks brings a highly flavorful meal in this restaurant.

 Hamburgers coupled with fries are one of the fastest meals to get and devour. That convenience makes this meal set highly popular in a fast paced life. For those looking to spend a few more minutes to enjoy their meal, Brothers Burger offers some of the best burgers for it’s price point. They pride themselves in serving flame broiled 100% pure beef burgers along with fresh lettuce, tomatoes and oatmeal bun. They have baby Brothers burger to cater to the small in appetite, Brothers burger, double Brothers burger, big brothers burger, Brothers pounder, Brothers lamb burger and black Angus burger. Gourmet burgers are offered during different seasons. Be sure to keep track of their activity and promotions to get the best of their service. A burger meal would cost around 150 php to 300 php.

A list of restaurants in Metro Manila will get the reader somewhere, but the best way to find the best fast food restaurant is to actually try most of them.

Lounges in Tomas Morato Street, Quezon City, Metro Manila

At the heart of Quezon City, you’ll find Tomas Morato which is home to a dizzying array of restaurants, bars, and shops. Anyone who goes for lounges in Tomas Morato will be spoiled with choice, as there’s easily something for every budget and preference. Apart from bars, there are also different karaoke establishments and even spas, easily making Tomas Morato a hub for entertainment and recreation. Filipinos love a good time, and it’s evident with the selection of watering holes of all kinds all over the city. Most of the establishments also offer delicious food, so don’t forget to bring your appetite and wash it down with cocktails, beer, and liquor. Here are some of our recommended bars to check out while in Tomas Morato:

1.    Space Superclub is one of the most popular bars for the young crowd in Quezon City. It’s open from Monday to Saturday, and can be counted on for always having a happening party each night. Space Superclub plays lively dance beats and popular music to get the crowd going each and every night.

2.    The Lounge is another popular party place, which is also reliable for private parties and functions. Guests can choose from a chill-out or club set up, so you can have your choice of either laid-back or lively partying when you’re at the Lounge. The Lounge attracts yuppies and even celebrities who come for their top-quality drinks and bar chow.

3.    If you enjoy live music, drinking, and dancing all night long, don’t forget to check out Guilly’s. It’s renowned in the bars and clubs in Tomas Morato for their fun parties thanks to their in-house DJ’s that know how to get the crowd dancing all night long. Guilly’s also serves authentic Filipino food and deliciously greasy bar chow.

4.    The Cuisiner Brasserie Bistro is a culinary workshop by day, and laid-back bar in the evenings. Count on Cuisiner to serve up tasty French gastronomic treats which you can wash down with a glass from their extensive wine selection. If you feel like something fancy, or are celebrating a birthday or special occasion with your loved ones, check out Cuisiner for a unique dining and drinking experience at lounges in Tomas Morato.

5.    Cerchio Restaurant and Lounge serves a fusion of Asian and Mediterranean cuisine, as well as local and imported drinks. It’s a two-storey lounge that’s ideal for intimate dinners but is also available for private functions and meetings.

Korean Barbecue in Metro Manila List

Korean food is gaining its popularity all over the world and across different ages. Most liked Korean foods aside from kimchi are bibimbap, hotteok (pudding), dbeokbokki (street food), japchae (noodles), tteok (rice cake) and yangnyeon tongdak (fried chicken). On top of these list is Korean barbecues that has been a favourite of everyone, including me.

Korean barbecue is called different names depending on the type of meat and if it is marinated or not. Beef that is marinated is called Bulgogi or Galbi while Ansim gui is the name for non-marinated tenderloin.  Derunsim gui is the non-marinated sirloin. Likewise, marinated pork is called Dwaeji bulgogi whereas non-marinated unsalted bacon is known as Samgyeopsal. For chicken, Dak galbi is the dish for marinated barbecues and Dak gui is for non-marinated ones.

Korean food such as their barbecues are commonly known as Gogigui in Korea. It particularly refers to roasted meat. It can either be chicken, pork or beef that is served on charcoal grills, gas grills or portable stoves on top of the dining table.  This setup itself makes the experience of eating Korean barbecues more appetizing and indulging. Bulgogi, the most common type of Gogigui, is the most well-served Korean barbecue dish in every restaurant in Korea. It s made from tenderloin or beef sirloin that is thinly sliced and marinated. Beef short ribs are a tasty alternative as well. 

Do you wonder how Bulgogi is prepared? To serve a scrumptious Korean barbecue, marinate meat with sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, pepper and garlic. The longer the meat is marinated, the more flavourful it will be after cooking. The meat would also come out very tender, almost a melt-in the mouth. Can you imagine that? Bulgogi is then grilled in perforated griddles or pan-cook. On the other hand, Galbi is prepared the same way as Bulgogi but with water, sugar and sliced onions. It is mostly cooked in charcoal or burned wood chips. 

Over the web, there are a lot of Korean barbecues recipe you can find. Would that be very interesting to try? But if you don’t have much time and can’t wait to taste Korean barbecues, some of the restaurants that you can visit are Seoul Korean BBQ Restaurant in Silverdale Way, Washington, Soowon Galbi KBBQ Restaurant in Los Angeles, Sariwon’s Bulgogi and Galbi Korean Restaurant in Quezon City, Philippines, Jang Soo Kang Korean BBQ Restaurant in Cerritos, California and Korean Manna BBQ Restaurant in Lauderhill, Florida. So what are you waiting for? Bring your family and friends to any of this place or set-up a Korean cuisine for lunch or dinner. Everyone will surely end up full and happy.

Listings
Korean Restaurants in Metro Manila

Bang for the Buck, Buffet Restaurants

Filipinos are such great food lovers that Buffet Restaurants are such a treat to us.  Since buffet restos are the typical eat-all-you can type of serving dishes, people flock in these places to experiences the variety of Filipino food offered.  The Kamayan Restaurant, offers a Filipino tradition of eating buffet style which highlights different specialties of various regions in the country.

Eating buffet style is also a value for your money.  You can enjoy tasting and eating almost all the dishes that you love, repeatedly, even in large portions without any additional cost.  You go home fully satisfied and happy all at the same time, that you get to eat new and exciting recipes.  If you are quite adventurous and a traveler, out-of-town restaurants like the My Pot located in Antipolo wherin you pay a measly P100 only for an eat-all-you can experience. 

More classy restaurants like Saisaki and Cabalen offers exotic and delicably tasty buffets.  Some have choices ranging from Chinese cuisine, Japanese and even European.  The real advantage of these buffets aside from the choices of different dishes and the price is the quick service.  Sometimes we do not have the luxury of time waiting for the food to be cooked and served. This is just convenient especially to busy people who are always in a hurry.

At other times, ambience also play an important role in buffet restaurants, it can affect one’s appetite. There are people who want magnificent dining even though the place is a buffet restaurant. In addition, there are also people who concentrate more on the variety of Filipino foods rather than the ambience.  Whichever way it is these restaurants definitely should have the best of the two worlds, meaning good food and good place.

So if you are looking for the best variety of Filipino foods around, you may ask your friends for those places you have not gone yet, or even check the internet.  Buffet restaurants are also good for bonding with the family, since you tend to enjoy sharing and discussing the flavors of these dishes.   Good places are packed with a customer which means fine foods are being served there.  But beware.  Some restaurants offer very low quality of food, and you might be caught unaware.  You can find buffet restaurants who may offer simpler Filipino foods yet quality is not sacrificed.  It is alright to choose from simpler foods as long as they taste delicious as they should be. 

Look at the Food Selection

Let us say for example that you have found a great buffet restaurant with a nice luxurious ambiance and good traffic.  Now, your search will be meaningless if they have low quality food selection.  For this reason, you should also take a look at their food selection, too.  Fortunately, there are buffet restaurants in the Internet that can help you narrow down your search.  Customers who have dined at the buffet restaurants provide testimonials not only about the place but most especially about the food selection as well.  This way, you will get your money’s worth when you visit the place.  Remember, the more food choices offered in the buffet restaurant, the better.

SPANISH RESTAURANTS IN MANILA

Manila has a myriad of restaurants that serve all kinds of food from different countries around the world. From Thai food to Italian cuisine, Manila most probably has it all. But if you are looking for restaurants that serve Spanish foods, then there are definitely a few on the list of restaurants in Manila that will definitely serve what you are looking for.

First on the list of restaurants in Manila that you can go to if you want to try some Spanish food is Casa Roces in San Miguel, Manila. The restaurant serves both Filipino and Spanish cuisine, and is open from Monday to Friday from 9am to 9pm. On Saturdays they are open at 9am to 10pm, and on Sundays they are open at 8am to 9pm. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as coffee is you want to stop by and just have a nice steaming cup of caffeine in your system and drinks. You can reserve a place in restaurant if you want or just walk in. You can take your food home if you prefer to eat home, and there are also seats outside of the restaurant if you want to “eat out”. They have valet parking and you can with your credit card. Their specialties include Choritos en Balsamico, Truffle Mushroom Puree, Lengua Caesar Salad, Lengua in Mushroom-Cognac Sauce, Oven-baked Salmon Wellington, and Malacanang Frozen Souffle. 

Another place you can go to for Spanish food is Casa Armas Tapas Bar Y Restaurante. This restaurant has a number of branches. There is one in Malate, two in Makati, and one in Mandaluyong. The restaurant is a bit pricy because their prices go from 500 to 999 pesos. Their specialties include Gambas al Ajillo, Chorizo Frito, Paella, Cochinillo, Snipe Bird Adobo Flakes, Lengua Estofada, Tortillia Paisana, Tabla Casa Armas Especial, Calamares Fritos and Croquetas de Pollo.

 
Another place that’s on the list of restaurants in manila is Café Adriatico which has a branch in Malate, Quezon City in Gateway Mall, and in Pasay in SM Mall of Asia. This restaurant serves both Filipino and Spanish food. For a budget of 200-499 pesos, you can avail of their yummy meals. They’re specialties are Salpicao, Callos, Chocolate Eh, Spareribs Adobo, Classic Burger, Cheese, Chocolate Fondues, Omelets, and salads. They also serve Chicken ala Kiev, Salpicao Rice, Elngua Estufada, Classic Café Adriatico Burger, Pancit Palabok, and other authentic Spanish hot chocolate.

Another restaurant on the list of restaurants in Manila where you can get Spanish food is Guernica’s Restaurant in M.H. del Pilar St., Manila. For 200-499 pesos you can get a lot of their specialties like Tabla de Jamon Serrano, Spanish Cocktail Sausage, Ensalada de Chef, Callos, Paella Ala Valenciana, and Pasta con Mariscos.

Milkshakes in Manila

Milkshakes are a treat for children and adults alike. This rich creamy thick drink is made with milk, ice cream, sweeteners and flavorings. This non alcoholic beverage beats the a heat and keeps the head cool and the belly full. Fast food chains to dine in restaurants serve this sinful drink in different variations and goodness. Luckily, Metro Manila houses a pretty good number of restaurants, from fast food chains to humble casual dining, that serve this nutritious drink.

Probably everyone’s favorite pizza joint, Shakey’s serves great pizza and super shakes to complement the already rich meal. The super shakes have done justice to the childhoods of many people and are often shared with the next generations. Their milkshake flavors include chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, mango and coffee. They cost around 100 php to 125 php depending on the size. For the sweet tooth, the vanilla flavor is preferable.

Mcdonald’s has a say when it comes to milkshakes. Being a fast food restaurant, milkshakes are not traditionally prepared by manually mixing the ingredients, instead a machine produces this goodness. Available vanilla, chocolate and strawberry, their milkshakes are ideal after school and for those running along looking for a quick drink. Fans of the hot fudge sundae can taste a glimpse of it in the chocolate milkshake. This drink costs around 55 php to 65 php.

Starr’s Famous Shakes is a little snack place along Katipunan, Quezon City that concentrates on it’s greatest strength: milkshakes! Starr’s gives the milkshake fan a whole new world with 4 unique categories: Starr’s famous milkshakes (classic flavors), do your shake a flavor (make your own shake, Starr’s V.I.P. shake (combination flavors) and Starr’s sugar free flavors (for those counting calories). Classic flavors are banana, caramel, cherry, chocolate, cookies n’ cream, latte, strawberry, vanilla and mixberry. Classic shakes go for 80 php. In do your shake a flavor, customers can choose any classic flavor and pick ingredients to make their own unique blend. Toppings such as butterfinger, candy sprinkles, Nestle crunch, wafer sticks and whipped cream can be mixed with almonds, cashew, cheesecake, cookie dough, mint choco, Oreos and more. The V.I.P. milkshakes go for 95 php and some flavors are bubblegum, mixberry and banana, strawberry cheesecake and choco banana split. Probably the ultimate place for milkshakes in terms of diversity and affordability.

Charlie’s Grind and Grills is primarily known as serving some of the best burgers in the Metro. Now they will be known for their milkshake. Charlie’s serves wagyu burgers, black angus burgers, sandwiches, cheesesteaks, wings and truffle fries. To complement all of these, they serve the perfect non alcoholic beverage, their own milkshakes. Their flavors are chocolate, vanilla,black and white, peanut butter, strawberry, caramel and pineapple. This drink goes for around 180 php to 220 php. They are a bit more expensive but totally worth it.

List of Hotel Bars and their Specialty Drinks

As of last year, with the Department of Tourism’s push for everything being more fun in the Philippines, it was decided that if Singapore had the aptly named Singapore Sling in the historical Raffles Hotel, then the Makati Shangri-La would also have a signature drink for Manila, called, the “Manila Sunshine” of course.

 The “Manila Sunshine” is made with lambanog, a coconut wine, as its base. It is also mixed with local fruits including mangos and pineapple, with a dash of triple sec, and the local rum much loved by tourist, Tanduay. The cocktail is then garnished with lemongrass and a sliver of sliced pineapple. A non-alcoholic version of the drink is also available, appropriately called the “Virgin Manila Sunshine”.

 Not to be outdone, The Mandarin Hotel’s Martinis Bar provides live music in a sophisticated setting, and of course –excellent martinis. Have your fill of the hotel signature drinks in the form of the Ginger Martini, Calamansi Martini, and the Coconut Martini. If you’re looking for something not easily replicated in other bars though, have a “Manileno”, a mojito/caipirinha mix made of the local dark rum muddled with fresh ginger and topped with ginger ale.

If cocktails aren’t quite your thing, then head over to Dusit Thani Hotel’s bar and restaurant called Fiesta San Miguel.  Here you can take partake of their signature drinks in the form of unlimited San Miguel Draft Beer with beer matches such as currywurst, fish and chips, and adobo pizza. You can take your drinks in the main area backdropped by big brewery kettles while listening to the Top 40 tunes provided by the house DJ. If you’re looking for a more laidback evening with your friends or workmates, head over to the terrace to bask in the open air for a relaxed evening.

 A reliable list of hotel signature drinks in Manila would not be complete without mentioning the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila’s grand restaurant Spiral. With 21 dining ateliers to cater to your every gustatory need, including a peking duck oven, a churrasco, a cheese room, a hug chocolate station, and all the sushi and sashimi you could ever hope to eat in an evening –there is certainly the a drink to match your every need. But because this is a French-run hotel, you might as well have something from their impressive wine cellar. Have their in-house sommelier choose a wine to go with your food, and don’t be afraid to tell them your budget beforehand, they won’t sneer at you if you want something affordable.

 The Salon de Ning of the Peninsula Manila provides the setting for a 1930s Shanghai ala Wong Kar Wai’s film “In The Mood For Love”.  Lose yourself in the cocktail lounge’s signature drink “Ning Sling”, a blend of Belvedere Pomerancza, lychee liqueur, passionfruit fruit puree, and orange juice.

Bars in Metro Manila

Filipinos enjoy gathering around with their office mates or friends after work and on weekend to enjoy drinks. Be it just to hang out or some business meeting, getting together with alcohol is part of every culture. For that very reason bars nowadays offer a wide variety of beer, wine, and spirits from all over the globe. There are a good number of bars and clubs in the Philippines that are perfect for enjoying a night of drinks.

The Distillery’s 3 branches around Metro Manila says it all about them. They aim to supply the crowd with whiskey, vodka, tequila, and foreign beer at reasonable and competitive prices. The place is usually packed with people but enough elbow room for comfort. High ceilings and a dim ambiance give it a cool place to relax and just enjoy with the company. Their branches are located in Eastwood City, The Fort, and Jupiter st. The crowd is great and usually filled with young professionals who want to catch a drink or two after work. Drinks usually range around 100 php to 200 php depending on the drink.

Draft Gastropub is a place not only for great drinks but also for great food. They specifically serve European food generously. Draft is located at the Fort and is usually best to call and make reservations since it seems like it’s always full. The gastropub definitely has a pub feel with wooden planks rowed in for walls and booths. Customers can also choose to sit in front of the bar and share a story or two with the bartender. The waiters and waitresses are very friendly and eager to serve. This place serves almost every drink one is hoping to find. Beers such as Stella Artois, Hoegaarden, Becks, Guinness, and Leffe are on top of their list. They got a great selection of sandwiches, burgers, ribs, pasta and dessert to go with their drinks. One bottle of Hoegaarden goes for around 150 php and above.

Tourists and locals looking that are looking for a different kind of club, Sky W lounge bar is the place to be. This bar is located on the roof deck of W Building in Fort Bonifacio Global City. The place is classy and refreshing since it’s an open air area with huge fans to circulate the air. The place overlooks the Global city and is on the pricier side with drinks ranging around 200 php and above. This place requires reservation on their guest list and a proper dress code to get in. This bar is the place to see and be seen right now in Manila. Everyone comes to have a great time.
Republiq Club is located in Resorts World Manila and boasts the best nightlife and parties in the Metro. It is one of the biggest dance clubs in Asia with around 13,000 square feet of dance space to guests to move around and have a great time. International artists are invited often to draw the crowd into it’s dancing halls. The club caters to a younger crowd and never runs out of music and movement making it one of the best among bars and clubs in the Philippines.