The best restaurants Philippines

The restaurant serves excellent traditional Spanish cuisine. A good address to come and enjoy tapas.

Located in the hills, the Jack's Ridge restaurant is renowned for its superb view of Davao and its gulf. It's no surprise that the place was garrisoned by Japanese forces during the Second World War, when the Americans landed. The restaurant retains some elements of this history in its decor. On the plate, varied and delicious Filipino cuisine: grilled tuna, sinigang, lechon... Also ideal for an evening drink.

A small restaurant with modern decoration, where Asian cuisine (especially Chinese) is well prepared.

It is an institution in Angono. The Balaw-Balaw restaurant takes its name from the speciality made of rice, fish and shrimps fermented in coconut wine. The cuisine (many specialties from the Rizal region such as Itik duck) is delicious, the decoration traditional and refined. While waiting for your meal, you can linger in its gallery of folk arts and antiques. Exhibitions of local artists are regularly organized.

Located right on the beach, Aria has been a highly reputed Italian restaurant in Boracay for over 20 years. In a friendly setting, almost with your feet in the sand, people come here to enjoy Italian specialities, each more succulent than the last. On the plate, lots of vegetables and seafood. We recommend the fettuccini with squid ink, as well as the vast choice of wood-fired pizzas and the tempting wine list. Prices are a little higher, but the quality of the products is noticeable. Give it a try!

This upscale restaurant is an institution, all the beautiful people of Manila come here just to have lunch or dinner in an enchanting setting. The interior is tastefully decorated with Filipino inspired wooden furniture. The beautiful outdoor terrace, lit up at the end of the day, offers a magnificent view of Taal Lake. Moreover, it is one of the best tables in the country, the European-inspired cuisine is refined, with exceptional meats on the menu (the duck confit is divine) and a menu that varies according to the chef's inspiration.

It offers Filipino and Chinese specialties: sinigang (bitter soup),crispy pata (pork shank) and the very popular barbecue chicken. Since then, this restaurant has had a lot of followers all over the capital. A restaurant as the Filipinos like them so much: large lively room, a relaxed and family atmosphere plus a menu full of meat specialties, the perfect combo for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Cheap. A classic in Manila since 1936.

Within the Evolution Diving resort, the Craic House is a sort of Irish pub on a Philippine beach, in short, an excellent place to have a drink and eat one of the original, tasty dishes offered by the enthusiastic team with their feet in the sand. There are no 150 dishes on the menu, as the emphasis here is on quality rather than quantity, and on using as much fresh, local produce as possible. A wide choice of music to suit all tastes and a rather large selection of drinks (including wine). An address with a good-natured atmosphere.

Expensive but high quality. It is possible to order any Philippine dish.

Although quite expensive, this Chinese restaurant is a safe value.

The decor is not terrible, but we eat it well.

Located on the fourth floor of a shopping mall, this is one of the best restaurants in town. It serves authentic Mindanao cuisine. It's actually a chain of restaurants, and this one has no particular decoration, it's more like a stall in a food court. Don't miss: the homemade soup, sabaw ng mandaragat, with blue crab, shrimp, shellfish and fish fillet. A real delight! Fresh fish, kinilaw and squid galore. Authentic, high-quality dishes at reasonable prices.

It serves lumpias and spaghetti.

Think of a canteen, but it's a very popular place.

Colourful decoration and an attractive map for this restaurant serving Mexican cuisine at reasonable prices. Another preferred place for expatriates.

Small canteen where Filipino breakfast is served. Good street dishes and some classic Western classiques. Very cheap.

The French Alliance restaurant offers excellent French cuisine for very reasonable prices. The full menu changes every day.

Within the Atlantis Dive Resort, Toko's Restaurant is renowned as one of the best restaurants on the beach, with its shaded terrace right on the water's edge. The restaurant offers mostly international cuisine of high quality, which changes daily. With a speciality, the Mongolian wok with tasty meat. The atmosphere is certainly a little more distinguished but also friendly. The service is careful and attentive. Also on the menu, a wide selection of cocktails and other non-alcoholic drinks. We recommend it.

Established for many years in Zamboanga, Mano-Mano is a very good popular restaurant! With its bamboo and nippa roof, it always seems to be crowded. People come here mainly for seafood and fish, but you'll also find all the Filipino specialties based on pork and chicken (adobo, crispy pata, pancit...). Dishes are served on bamboo plates covered with large banana leaves. The al fresco veranda lets in a gentle breeze that's not to be sniffed at!

This restaurant, a little hidden in the vegetation, is a true haven of peace, in addition to serving, in the form of an all-you-can-eat buffet, a delicate and excellent food. It takes its name from the fact that here, the dishes are prepared with vegetables directly from the garden. It is delicious. The establishment also offers Bed & Breakfast formulas with of course breakfast and lunch or dinner included. A good address to go green.

Spaces have been arranged for picnic. 

Even if it's hard to believe when you see its faded yellow and green front, between fast food and supermarket, this restaurant is one of the institutions of the city since 1993! And nothing seems to have changed here, in the decoration or in the plate, since 30 years, for the greatest happiness of the nostalgic inhabitants and the travelers of passage. It is renowned for its Chinese and Filipino cuisine, including its delicious pancits, the best noodles in the region, or its sweet and sour lapu-lapu, a traditional Chinese fish dish.

It offers dishes based on fish or seafood as well as pizzas. Cocktails can also be enjoyed. The atmosphere is nice and the restaurant is open late in the night.

Prepares Chinese specialities.

This restaurant serves local cuisine in a modern yet cozy setting. There is also a terrace. On the menu are Filipino specialties such as pork adobo, fried fish or fish in sauce, grilled chicken, suckling pig (lechon), squid, spareribs with garlic and honey sauce, etc. The menu contains pictures so even if you don't know anything about it, it will be easier to make your choice. A good address to (re) discover a tasty Filipino cuisine! There are several Sentro 1171 in the rest of the city.

This is undoubtedly one of Zamboanga's most popular restaurants. The establishment is renowned for its bagoong and curacha (endemic shellfish), as well as for its seafood platters arranged on banana leaves, in the Filipino fashion known as boodle fight. They are as beautiful visually as they are tasty. You can dine al fresco, in the shaded patio at the back. Service can be a little slow, but no one's in a hurry, right?

The Cable Cafe is one of the only places open in the evening in Bontoc, which is one of its big advantages. On the plate, you should not expect anything special. But it's better than nothing and it does the trick! Especially since it's a must since it's here, in the office right next door, that you can buy your bus tickets to go back to Manila for example. Nice to have a drink or a bite to eat before taking the bus next door!

This great, popular restaurant serves good and copious cuisine, while offering Philippine dance shows (also fire cracheurs, etc.). Combo are offered between 450 and 1 200 P per person according to your appetite, and transfers from/to your hotels are free upon reservation! A good opportunity to spend a pleasant time with family or friends.

They serve fine Japanese dishes.

This is the meeting place of some expatriates. We haven't been excited by the atmosphere. In the evening, the restaurant is animated by live music concerts. Adjoining the restaurant, there is also a small information desk that can help the visitor organise his excursions.

There's a Mediterranean ambience both inside and outside the restaurant. The staff are very friendly. You can smoke hookah while enjoying oriental bread accompanied by halal meat or hummus. Try: lamb stew, Greek moussaka, souvlaki (marinated beef and chicken with vegetables and tzatziki), all kinds of curries, Middle Eastern salads and tea and coffee from all over the world.... In short, IMAM cuisine as they say: Indian, Mediterranean, African and Middle Eastern.

A not confused with fast-food Jollibee. It serves traditional, cheap cuisine.

Situated on the main road, with a lovely elevated terrace, Siargao Corner is both a café and a restaurant. You come here for delicious waffles - rumor has it that this is the place to eat the best waffles on the island - sweet and savory, accompanied by a cup of coffee. And when you see the long list of coffees (vanilla frappé, flat white, Vietnamese iced coffee, caramel latte...), it would be a shame to settle for an espresso. As for waffles, we really like the bacon-avocado-egg waffle and the fruit waffle. A real treat!

Here is an address whose secret seems to be still well kept since even our guide, during our visit in March 2023, did not know it. Located in the heights of Banaue, near the Viewpoint, this very cosy and warm café-restaurant enjoys an exceptional view on the rice fields that you can appreciate from its terrace. You can enjoy very good breakfasts (pancakes, omelets and coffee!) as well as Filipino specialties such as chopsuey (vegetable dish), meats and curries, all accompanied... by rice, of course!

If the Ivatan kitchen does not seduce you, you can enjoy the good pizzas made by the Casa Napoli.

Ivatan restaurant restaurant, in a pretty rustic stone house. That is excellent. Sandwiches and fruit juices are also served. Also accommodation (rather summary but not expensive at all). For an evening not like others, you can organise a dinner at the Phare lighthouse.

Calle Arco is located in an old renovated house, with a neat, authentic and personal decoration. Here is a very good restaurant which proposes essentially a traditional Filipino cuisine and some western dishes. We recommend the sinigang na baka na may langka, a beef soup with tamarind. The place is very popular with local families who like to come and enjoy the large terrace of the restaurant (often quite full... but it's a good sign!). A good quality-price ratio.

A little away from the center of Vigan, this café-restaurant hidden in a garden of tropical and refreshing plants is a charming haven of peace. Nicely decorated, with its rustic furniture, in a well-kept garden, some come to buy plants and flowers, there are also bonsais. It serves mostly authentic Ilocana specialties in a relaxing atmosphere. The very fresh fruit juices are cheap and delicious. In the evening or on weekends, it is better to make a reservation, as it can be very crowded.

Located near Roxas Boulevard and Dolomite Beach, it's an unpretentious, no-frills spot but worth a stop if you're in the area at lunchtime. Fans of kebabs, hummus, falafel, tabbouleh and shawarmas cannot leave Manila without trying it here. It's simple, on-the-go food but made with good products and the portions are generous. The prices are quite reasonable and the atmosphere is friendly. A good place to eat on the go, in short!

Don't be fooled by the somewhat innocuous exterior of this restaurant. The interior, with its red brick walls, wooden tables covered with white tablecloths, and its bistro counter is reminiscent of Spain of course. The atmosphere (often with live music in the evening) is pleasant. In the plate, one has the embarrassment of the choice. First of all, you can enjoy some very good tapas before having a paella (the speciality) or roasted suckling pigs. An authentic and unpretentious address.

At the entrance of the charming San Luis passage, in an old colonial building where everything breathes the ^19th century, they serve a very good Filipino cuisine but also Spanish. Seafood paella, grilled meats, chicken Adobo, noodles... Try the seafood Amelie, a scallop, shrimp and crab meat puff pastry, served with a beef medallion. At lunch, a reasonably priced buffet is served. In the evening, a traditional dance performance enlivens the dinner.

Another oddity in the heart of Boracay, this Hispanic restaurant-bar has moved to the main street of Station 1, where it has a tavern-like atmosphere, sometimes featuring flamenco. Excellent tapas and paellas (the house specialty) are served, as well as meats, fish and salads. Musical accompaniment most evenings. To add to the festivities: an extensive wine list. For larger parties, or if you're with friends (you'll need a lot of people): opt for the suckling pig or cochinillo, a delight.

Here's a Moroccan restaurant where everything is delicious: hummus, kemia, kefta, salads, soups, brochettes, tajines with lamb in particular, couscous or baklava... The decor in vibrant Maghreb colors is supported by atmospheric lighting and the delicate scent of incense. It's nice to sip a mint tea or a cocktail while admiring the sunset over the ocean. Musicians from all over the world perform regularly: flamenco guitar, Brazilian gafiera, Indian sitar. Local celebrities can also often be heard here. A must-see!

At La Preciosa, we serve mainly typical quality Ilocana cuisine. We enjoy bagnet (fried pork), dinengdeng (vegetable and grilled fish soup) or pinakbet (local vegetables simmered with bagoong fish and pork chicharons). It is very good. For dessert, the local star is the carrot cake (literally covered with grated carrots). As for the atmosphere, the decoration seems not to have been changed for a long time, it gives a touch of authenticity and nostalgia, why not. A good address and for a good price.

In a tropical setting (including a small bridge that spans a stream where turtles graze), we eat under small thatched huts. On the menu, Filipino specialties such as fried squid, kare kare (stew of vegetables, beef, tripe in a peanut sauce), sizzling pork , sisig (roughly pig's head and liver) or adobong kangkong (spinach stew in vinegar). You can also eat grilled chicken with all kinds of sauces!

Part bakery, part tea/coffee shop and part restaurant, this establishment has been renowned in Dipolog for many years. Their specialties are first and foremost pastries (trompe-l'oeil cakes, mango-caramel cake, carrot cake, halo-halo, ice creams and, of course, a host of milkshakes). On the savoury side, you'll find all the classic Filipino dishes, as well as a wide selection of salads, pastas and well-stocked sandwiches at low prices. You can also have breakfast here. A no-frills, low-cost address.

Here, you can eat indoors or on wooden pontoons directly on the lagoon (you'll have to pay an extra 150 PHP), local style! As a seafood restaurant, fish is king here. You'll find almost anything depending on the catch of the day (squid, crabs, prawns, various grilled fish), and the freshness of the produce is undeniable! The more adventurous can take a zip-line ride while waiting for their meal, while others can admire the view and sip an excellent buko, the national coconut drink.

It's the address that gets passed on by word of mouth. The reason - and not the least! - this family restaurant has a rooftop terrace. At the end of the day, it offers one of the best views of Coron Bay, with the sunset, it is superb. Concerning the food, a well-stocked menu, from breakfast to dinner, with a multitude of vegetarian options and Filipino dishes. We recommend the chicken adobo and the grilled fish with curry. The service is very slow, but the terrace is so nice. Go early.

A very cute café, where you want to sit down. It serves simple but good food: delicious pesto pasta, toasted sandwiches, burgers and very tempting desserts. The decoration is modern and the prices quite reasonable. You have to try the homemade cream puffs. In the early afternoon, the family prepares the desserts on the spot, and the preparations give the café a sweet smell of greed. The waffles and drinks (coffees, frappuccinos, refreshing lemonades) are also very good.

Ideally located in the city, it is a nice address at any time of the day. In the morning, they serve pancakes and smoothie bowls that are as pretty as they are good to fill up on energy. At noon, you can choose between sandwiches, pastas, salads and waffles. And in the afternoon, we will let ourselves be tempted by a snack break. Their halo-halo, the most famous Filipino dessert (a mixture of crushed ice and condensed milk on which various toppings are added), is recommended by the locals, it would be the best in the city!