We had lunch here over the weekend for a birthday celebration. Ambience was very nice with Spanish…read more We ordered 2 kinds of Paella the chicken and mixta. We prefered the chicken paella. We had the croquettes which was good, the kids loved it. I liked the salpicao as it was tender and tasty. Would definitely come back.

I didn't have much time my last trip to the Philippines but I did get to try several places for…read morepaella. Barcino's paella was excellent. On the downside they didn't have a few of the items we wanted to try . I shall be back

I popped into Ilustrado during a sunny afternoon stroll through Intramuros and it felt like…read morestepping into a beautiful old Manila postcard. The place is tucked away in this charming historic building with high ceilings, antique touches everywhere, and that perfect mix of Spanish elegance and warm Filipino vibes. We started with the classic adobo and some crispy pata that was perfectly crunchy outside and tender inside--seriously flavorful without being greasy. Then the highlight was the stuffed chicken relleno; juicy, packed with chorizo goodness, and that gravy just tied it all together. Ended with the famous sampaguita ice cream--never had anything like it, floral and refreshing in the best way, like eating flowers but in dessert form. Service was attentive and friendly, they even remembered our drinks without us asking twice. Parking was easy in their private lot too. Such a lovely, relaxed meal in the middle of the city--definitely one of my favorite spots now. Five stars all the way!

This is an old-world Spanish and Filipino fusion restaurant in historic Intramuros. I found the…read morefood was good, but I got my appetizer after my main. I recommend Adobo Bagnet, and Lengua con Setas. Unique Desserts: Known for its unique Sampaguita Ice Cream The decor was a little worn out, but I noticed that the more stylish, formal main function hall was reserved for special events. I guess this area was where the romantic reviews I read came from

The experience was surprisingly nice and very enjoyable. It was like having a meal at your…read moregrandparent's house. The dishes were well-made, comfort food. Nothing earth shaking in terms of flavors, but everything tasted familiar - the way it should. I love this place for that. I'm not a big fan of fusion and deconstructed food dishes. We specifically loved their gambas, kare-kare, roast pork, leche flan. Apart from the good comfort food, what will make me return again and again to this place are the staff and the ambiance. - the staff - some of them have been with the Legarda family since tita Moning was alive. There was even a brochure write-up introducing all the staff to the guests. I love how the owner is goving much credit and appreciation to the staff. As a result, the staff were really very warm towards the guests. It wasn't just professional courtesy. I could feel that their service came from the heart (especially Tining). - the ambiance - too often, old ancestral houses converted to restaurants end up just being a shell structure of the house with a restaurant inside. This isn't so for La Cocina. One could still feel the heart and soul of the home as it once housed the Legarda family. It wasn't a restaurant in a shell structure of an old house. It was a restaurant in a home. At the end of the meal, it felt like we had eaten at our lola's house not in just any other restaurant.

Time travel and food is not a common combination to have, but stepping inside La Cocina De Tita…read moreMoning is to be transported back to Manila's opulent past. The restaurant-cum-ancestral house offers patrons a dining experience like no other. To start things off, you are given a tour of the mansion and told tidbits and stories pertaining to the Legarda family. The tour starts in the first floor and you gradually make your way up where you'll eventually be led to the dining area. Describing it as extravagant and exquisite is putting it mildly. There are rose petals strewn about the length of your table. There are literal bells you can pick up and ring to get the attention of the help. The whole experience is surreal. The food itself isn't bad. It's obviously inclined towards Spanish fare given the Legarda family's heritage. It's not the best though. Paying a visit to La Cocina De Tita Moning is something I'd recommend. Not for the food, but for the whole experience involved as a whole.

After a disappointing paella stint at Las Flores, I finally got my Paella craving satisfied…read more The paella was great - taste and price-wise it was spot on. We ordered Paella Valenciana, croquetas de pollo and croquetas de jamon, calamares romano all of which tasted good. Only 4/5 because some details need work. We requested the paella to be a litte toasted but it was little burnt under which is okay since you just have to scrape slowly. The tapas need a little more attention to detail since the croquettas de pollo has a small bone in it and the calamares had a small remnant of its quill

I grew up with Casa Armas. After Señor Armas passed away a few years ago, I didn't want to go back…read more But nothing has changed. It serves the best tapas, paella, cochinillo, Iberian chicken in this side of town. It had the same cheesy 3man band that just adds to the ambience. I love the place! And the sangria help with the ambience.

Great ambiance. Food & service is excellent. I look forward to the next time. Great venue for a…read morepersonalized wedding.

Its a small restaurant with limited seats. AC not adequate for the pace, felt stuffy…read more Super super friendly staff My fav is the paella. Beef tongue felt not fresh.. fruit shakes also winner as they dont add sweeteners i believe and still really good

Fantastic paella. Great service. Owner was very accommodating. Very cozy ambiance. Will…read moredefinitely come back.

This place is awesome - pay for the cultural show its buffet, it's worth it!…read more It's located near Intramuros tourist areas and the ambiance is so pretty! Many tables of tour groups but the service is excellent and I absolutely loved the cultural show taking you through Philippine history. Very well executed!! The buffet is quite diverse and a great way to try Philippine cuisine en masse. Highly recommend!

Barbara's is a solid choice for lunch if you are visiting Manila in the Philippines. We had a…read moreblast! What stood out about this restaurant was the exceptional customer service and the cultural dancing while you eat delicious traditional Filipino food buffet style. I don't know if it's because they cater to tourist that makes this place so special but I left here feeling very full and very happy from the cultural performances. What was also fun was after the performances they invite the visitors from different regions of the world up to the stage and taking a picture with the dance performers. It provided a great keepsake to take back home. They also perform different songs from around the Philippines and the different dialects they speak and where they are from providing an educational opportunity. One of the songs was from the region, where my mother's father is from which is why I took a trip to the Philippines to learn more about my grandfather's culture and homeland. This touched my soul deeply and will never forget my time at Barbara's. The food was outstanding and very tourist friendly. I went up two times to partake in the delicious offerings from the buffet. I think the best thing about this place too is to have experienced all of this in an air-conditioned building. It was a nice reprieve from the 90+ degrees Fahrenheit with humidity weather that I endured in Manila. I also attended another restaurant with the cultural performance, and it was outside, and the experience was not as special due to the weather. So that's why I can't say enough good things about how I was treated and the yummy food that I ate and the beautiful cultural performances I admired at Barbara's. Highly recommend Barbara's while visiting the Philippines .

QUEZON is a newly-opened buffet restaurant that focuses on Filipino and Spanish dishes. It is…read morelocated on the second floor of the Fisher Mall along Quezon Avenue. Weekend dinners here will set you back less than P600 per head, inclusive of unlimited soda and iced tea. While not all dishes are stellar in flavor, it does give good value for money if you love sisig, lechon, salad greens tossed in salted egg yolk sauce, crispy kangkong and other deep-fried bar chow. Sisig station - Chicken sisig is surprisingly really good, though it doesn't look anything like sisig. Pork sisig I find to be average at best. Bangus sisig tastes really meaty and satisfying, but there are bits that are tough and can wreck lolo and lola's dentures. The Angus beef tapa was very tender and flavorful. Too bad Quezon is not open for breakfast. I'd eat this for breakfast every morning. The chicken skewers dressed in classic Pinoy BBQ sauce could have been better if it were more tangy. I was very happy that Quezon serves grilled vegetables. Even a meat lover like myself needs a little fiber now and then. The onions and bell peppers were grilled perfectly. I wish the zucchini was not sliced too thinly so it wouldn't look too limp and soggy. IMO, eggplant would be a great addition to its grilled vegetable selection. Carving station - Lechon baboy, lechon baka, bagnet, and roast chicken. YUM! YUUUUM!! Almost as good as Vikings. Except the line of diners to the carving station are much shorter (counter crew chops, carves, and serves meat faster) and more disiplinado (less patay gutom). The paella rice and callos... Could use flavor. A lot more of it. The chorizo y gambas is really bad. Tastes nothing like chorizo, and the shrimp was overcooked to death . A simple halabos na hipon would probably be a more successful dish. The pork binagoongan and the kare-kare were decent. The pakbet looked really good but I wished it had more kalabasa. None of the other dishes looked appetizing enough to be sampled. The desserts spread looked like the desserts station of your typical buffet. I stealthily stole a piece of leche flan from my friend's plate and I kinda regretted it. The texture is weird. Like it was made of 90% egg whites with a little egg yolk thrown in for color. I didn't try any of the other sweets. Overall, for the prices charged, I don't think it was a total waste of time. If you start yourselves off with a salad with its smooth salted egg yolk sauce, and become semi-permanent fixtures in front of the sisig and carving stations, you are going to enjoy dining at Quezon.

Unique dining at its very best! Abbiocco Alternative Filipino offers Filipino cuisine with a twist…read moreof Spanish and Italian taste. Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted by the welcoming and courteous staff. The very clean dining area is bright and nicely decorated. A VIP room for guests wanting a private dining experience is also available. All the dishes we ordered were visually pleasing and more importantly very delicious; however, my favorites were Fried Shrimps In Salted Egg Sauce, Montiel's Special Palabok, Abbiocco's Paella Valenciana, Tatay Mar's Kare Kare, and Tablea Chocolate Cake for dessert. I also ordered a delicious cup of premium Kopi Lowak. This cup of coffee is definitely a unique treat for me. Drink it black without sugar to truly enjoy the mild and somewhat sweet taste of the coffee. When in Manila, I highly recommend Abbiocco Alternative Filipino!

One of the best casual meals I've had in Manila. Chicken katsu was crispy, Korean style pork was…read morevery delicious and the Banana Rhuma sweet lumpia was incredible. I couldn't remember what it was called, so I looked it up just now and learned that this place is the birthplace of the recipe! Wow! Totally recommend.

Mang Tootz is a large carinderia just beside UST. It is also absolutely the best carinderia in the…read morewhole wide world. While other carinderias settle themselves with the usual fare, Mang Tootz serves dishes nobody would even dream of sticking in a virtual hole-in-the-wall. The place is absolutely brilliant. The joint first became famous because of their Chicken Tenders, and after having them for myself, it's not hard to see why. Tender, juicy, delicious, with just the right amount of breading, these tenders wouldn't be out of place in a more upscale restaurant. In fact, we should ask these upscale restaurants to check out the tenders for themselves to see how it's done. You have a selection of sauces to choose from, including tartar sauce and teriyaki, so you can really enjoy these tenders the way you want to. Mang Tootz is now famous for their most excellent turon, which they call "Banana-rum-a" (I hope that's how it's spelled). Small, finger-sized turon, deep-fried with an infusion of rum and a dusting of cinnamon powder, the brilliantly crispy candied outer shell covers a banana core that is, to borrow from Masterchef Australia, "Barstin' wid flavah!". And if these two dishes aren't enough, they have a whole selection of food to choose from, from the expected but brilliantly done (Liempo and Sisig, my goodness that sisig), to the unexpected (Korean Beef Ribs, Kebabs, etc).