Favorite Guiltless Restaurant Picks In Manila / Also Top Guiltless Date Places in Manila

Eating different cuisines in Manila is a great way to experience a slice of life in different parts of the world. I am not an expert in differentiating which one is more authentic because you would have to have a good palate, a good memory and a thick wallet to do that. I do, however, have my own list of favorite restaurants in Manila that serve different cuisines. If you ever decide to try them out, you will be able to get a taste of my food preferences and how restaurateurs perceive either their own food or an adaptation of another cuisine through their restaurants. Sometimes, they even try to provide the same ambiance, culture, language and service of the country they are representing. Oftentimes, everything suits your taste that you end up assuming that this must be what I would be served when I go to that country. Note: Some restaurants here adjust their recipes to satisfy the Filipino senses.

As for this blog post, favorites are favorites. It's so hard to rank them and there is no need because they have different cuisines. Only my favorite locations are listed and I've included restaurants opened by locals (even those with no particular cuisine). We are not going to discuss the price because premium ingredients are generally expensive and restaurants are supposed to make some business (if you don't like to eat at home and make it yourself). If you eat in one of my favorite restaurants and you don't like the food I marked with Y, it just means that we have different tastes. I rest my case. This post will appear again once in a while with new additions (new restaurants and pictures) so stay tuned! I will search the metro and pickle my brain for some more.

New 2015
A Taste of Mediterranean
Restaurant: Tapenade in Makati
I ♥ : Soup, Mains, Greek Salad, Bomboloni
My Tapenade Experience: Tapenade at Discovery Primea Makati

A Taste of Latin America
Restaurant: Punta Manila in Shaw, Mandaluyong
I ♥ : Vientre de Cerdo (Pork Belly), Ropa Vieja (Shredded Brisket), Ambiance with Live Music

A Taste of Mexican
Restaurant: El Chupacabra in Makati
I ♥ : Ambiance, Cheap Food

A Taste of Classics
Restaurant: Nostalgia Dining Lounge in Ortigas
I ♥ : French Onion Soup, Fresh Bread, Pork, Chicken, Salmon, Tartufo, Ambiance with Live Music
My Nostalgia Experience: Nostalgia Dining Lounge in Ortigas, Pasig

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A Taste of Italy

Restaurant: Casa Nostra in Makati

I ♥ : Truffle Pasta

My Cosa Nostra Experience: Cosa Nostra Makati

A Taste of Japan

Restaurant: Ramen Santouka in Glorietta

I ♥ : Shio Ramen with Pork Cheeks

My Hokkaido Ramen Santouka Experience

A Taste of Filipino

Restaurant: Aysee in G-Strip, Greenhills Shopping Center (Closed, Have Other Branches)

I ♥ : Sizzling Pork Sisig

My Aysee Experience: Aysee Greenhills Sisig

Bipolar Food

Restaurant: Van Gogh is Bipolar in Teacher's Village

I ♥ : Black Mountain Rice, Mood-Altering Food, Jennifer's Love Potion
My Van Gogh is Bipolar Experience: Van Gogh is Bipolar Maginhawa

A Taste of New York and Miami

Restaurant: Sunrise Buckets at The Grove Rockwell

I ♥ : Juan's Buffalo Wings, IBC Rootbeer Float, the Ambiance

My Sunrise Buckets Experience: Sunrise Buckets The Grove Rockwell

A Taste of Switzerland

Restaurant: Vieux Chalet in Antipolo

I ♥ : Raclette, Pasta, Pizza, Soup

A Taste of Canadian-Style Milk Tea and Japan

Restaurant: Bubble Tea in Tomas Morato, also Greenhills

I ♥ : Milk Tea, Yakisoba, Japanese Fusion Dishes, Cakes Free WIFI

Craving for Steak and Pasta

Restaurant: Mamou in Serendra

I ♥ : Steak, Truffle Cream Pasta

A Taste of Korea

Restaurant: YeDang, near Ortigas Metrowalk

I ♥ : Bibimbap, Cold Noodles, Samgyeupsal
My Yedang Experience: Yedang Korean Restaurant in Manila

A Taste of Korea

Restaurant: Jang Ga Nae, near Ortigas UA&P

I ♥ : Salad, Grilled Woo Sam Gyup
My Jangganae Experience: Jang Ga Nae Korean Restaurant in Manila

A Taste of Japan

Restaurant: Ramen Bar in Eastwood

I ♥ : Ramen, Yakiniku Beef

A Taste of Korea

Restaurant: Sarambang, near Ortigas Metrowalk

I ♥ : Chadol, Samgyeupsal

College Favorite

Restaurant: Chocolate Kiss in UP Diliman

I ♥ : Eggplant Parmigiana, Hainanese Chicken, Carrot Cake

Culinary School Kitchen
Restaurant: CCA in Eastwood
I ♥ : Tomato Cream Pasta, Risotto

A Taste of India

Restaurant: New Bombay in Podium

I ♥ : Palak Paneer with Cottage Cheese, Masala, Naan, Gulabjamun

A Taste of Paris

Restaurant: Bizu Patisserie in The Promenade, Greenhills

I ♥ : Macaroons (esp. Pistachio, Vanilla and White Truffle), Focaccia Bread

My Bizu Experiences: Bizu Macaroons Menu Picks, My Love Affair with Parisian Macaroons in Manila

A Taste of Italy

Restaurant: L'Opera Ristorante Italiano at The Fort

I ♥ : Truffle Pasta

My L'Opera Experience: L'Opera Fort Best Truffle Pasta

A Taste of Serbia

Restaurant: Balkan Express, near Wilson Greenhills

I ♥ : Cevapcici, Goulash, Stuffed Pljeskavica

A Taste of Thailand

Restaurant: Thai Dara in Gilmore
I ♥ : Thai Iced Tea, Tom Yum, Panang Curry Beef
My Thai Dara Experience: Thai Dara in Gilmore

A Taste of Thailand

Restaurant: Som's near Rockwell in Makati
I ♥ : Red Beef Curry, Thai Iced Tea
My Som's Experience: Som's Thai Food in Makati

A Taste of Persia

Restaurant: Mister Kabab in Quezon City
I ♥ : Kabab with Margarine Rice
My Mister Kabab experience: Mister Kabab, 12 a.m. Craving Satisfied

A Taste of Hungary

Restaurant: Magyar in Magallanes (closed)

I ♥ : Goulash with Sauerkraut, Paprika Dishes with Spaetzle

My Magyar Experience: Food Trip: Magyar Under P350, Hungarian Food in Manila for 2!

A Taste of Vietnam

Restaurant: Aquanox in Ortigas (try other branches, this one is closed)
I ♥ : Regular Beef Pho, Vietnamese Iced Coffee, Prawns on Sugarcane
My Aquanox Experience: Aquanox Vietnamese Kitchen

A Taste of Vietnam

Restaurant: Ba Noi's in Makati

I ♥ : Regular Beef Pho

My Ba Noi's Experience: Ba Noi's Makati Vietnamese Restaurant

Diner Experience

Restaurant: The Real Thing Diner in Tomas Morato, Quezon City
I ♥ : Creamy Tomato Soup, Chicken Amigo, Coke Experience
My The Real Thing Diner Experience: Real Thing Diner


A Taste of Vegan
Restaurant: Corner Tree Cafe in Juptier, Makati
I ♥ : Sicilian Tomato Soup, Croquette, Tofu Burger with Salad

A Taste of Good Old Pinoy

Restaurant: Dayrit's, Bonifacio Stopover in Taguig
I ♥ : Homemade Spam, Crispy Ribs
My Dayrit's Experience: Food Trip: Fort Bonifacio on a P300 Budget

A Taste of International Cuisine

Restaurant: Oakroom Restaurant & Bar in Ortigas (their menu changes, seasonal) - now Nostalgia Dining Lounge

I ♥ : Pasta, Ambiance

My Oakroom Experience: Oakroom Ortigas, Pasta e Basta, A Taste of Italy in Manila!

Evening & Music Delight

Restaurant: Annabel Lee Cafe in Tomas Morato, Quezon City
I ♥ : Crackatoa, Singing
My Annabel Lee Experience: Annabel Lee Cafe Piano Bar in Manila

Big, Unique Burger Delight

Restaurant: Big Better Burgers, with Branches
I ♥ : Hahalapeno Burger
My BBB Experience: Big Better Burgers Hahalapeno

A Little Outside Metro Manila

Fresh Green Food

Restaurant: Sonya's Garden in Tagaytay

I ♥ : Fresh Salad and Dressing, Tomato Cream Pasta, Fresh Bread, Dalandan Juice, Tarragon Tea

Forest Food Trip

Restaurant: Kainan sa Dalampasigan in Nasugbu, Batangas
I ♥ : Sago't Gulaman, Baked Mussels, Seafood
My Kainan sa Dalampasigan Experience: Kainan sa Dalampasigan Nasugbu

I am a picky eater but I'm learning to undo this flaw slowly. In general, I stay away from raw food, endangered and cute animals and innards. Finally, I am allergic to chocolate but I still eat it if it's really good.

Go ahead, pick one! Just comment if you need additional info.