This is an interesting discovery among the booming food choices along Dona Soledad in Better…read moreLiving, Paranaque. The place has a very unassuming façade which looks more like a garage than a restaurant. But once you're inside, you will be surprised to find that the place is huge and is full of collectible vintage items. It really is amazing, from the vinyl records to the old plate numbers to the old movie posters, there's just so much to see in there. But it isn't just a place to visit for the décor. They have amazing food as well. So I'm just going to get this out there: Their nachos are the bomb! I've had nachos in big fancy restaurants, but they don't even compare to what Fat Frank's has to offer. It has meat. It has cheese. It has sour cream. It has salsa. It has jalapenos. It has all the good things you want in a huge order of nachos. If you're looking for a great date place where you can save money (but really don't want to look cheap), this is it. Just fill up on the nachos and their creamy, lovely milkshakes and you're pretty much set. An order of entrée is just icing on the cake...trust me, by the time you get to the main dish, you're already full. I highly recommend Fat Frank's to anyone into the American Diner feel and taste.

My family and I always enjoyed a bite at this burger joint especially on special occasions and/or…read morecelebrations. Very fond of their tapa for breakfast, burgers for snacks and chicken sate for dinner! Live the ambiance and warm service. A bit expensive but overall great food,

Such an amazing place for brunch !! We went two mornings while staying at the hotel. I ate so many…read moredelicious items! The first morning I had silog with tamarind chicken and pork asada, and lots of crispy Danggit! The congee was amazing! U added every topping possible plus fresh calamansi juice! Also had lychee chia pudding one morning and blueberry the next. The lycée was absolutely delicious! We consumed heaps of the most delicious dragon fruit. Now onto the pastries!! One morning they had bread and butter pudding squares and the other morning they had taisan bread. Both were so scrumptious!! Our server Harven was a delight! Friendly, got us warm milk, and answered my 6 million questions! We also took pictures in the back patio that overlooked Laguna de Bay. Beautiful views in every direction. They also had pineapple and mango jam! New jam flavors to me that were delicious on my cream cheese filled French toast. My husband also tries the miso ramen and the fresh salad with a great sesame dressing. In other words, we ate everything, everyone was so friendly and the views are incredible.

Our hotel package booking included daily breakfast at The Nest, located at the 31st floor of Vivere…read moreHotel in Alabang. Though it operates as a rooftop bar and restaurant, they also offer buffet breakfast for in-house guests. FOOD: 3/5 The overall food selection was quite limited, primarily a mix of Filipino, American, Chinese and other International dishes. The food was decent but could have been better overall. SERVICE: 5/5 I noticed that most of the servers were male while a few female staff at the food counter. Regardless, all of them were attentive, polite, and efficient. AMBIANCE: 4/5 Being at the rooftop, the restaurant provides a full view of the city. I can only imagine how much more stunning these views at night with the city lights. It also features a mini pool - not for use but aesthetically for decor which I believe needs a little polishing and renovation. Overall, the buffet breakfast at The Nest did its job - it fill us up in the morning, though I wished there was a wider selection. And I take my hats off to the staff at The Nest - their service were on point!

Too many hustlers. They're all over us to make a choice. Pressure selling ‍ I'm not sure if we got…read morea good deal. Moving too fast.

There's something special about the feeling of buying your food in the market, having it cooked and…read morefeasting on it right away. This kind of experience is what the Original Dampa market offers for those who want to enjoy good food without hurting their pockets too much. The original dampa market is a compound with different stalls/restaurants offering basically the same kind of food for customers. It's a place where you can make "paluto" whatever you just bought at the conjoining wet market. You have an option to buy from the wet market whatever you wish to eat (which can get your a lower cost) or ask the staff from the restaurant to buy (but of course this will have a slight markup on the cost). I suggest you go for option A at least once just for the experience of getting to haggle with the vendors to give you a lower price. One place I have tried is called Jagz, which is the 3rd restaurant to your right as soon as you enter the compound. We bought from the wet market ourselves the following: Pork Liempo, Shrimps and Mussels and had it cooked right away in the restaurant. While waiting for the food to be cooked, cracker nuts were offered to us as appetizers. We opted for the Pork Liempo to be grilled, our shrimp to be tossed in garlic and butter (my ultimate fave!) and the mussels baked in garlic, butter and cheese. The buttered shrimp was super good, especially if you got big shrimps from the market. It had just the right amount of flavour! I got to eat about half of this! Hahaha. The baked mussels were also good as a generous amount of cheese was placed on top! Having baked mussels in the Metro can be a challenge since not a lot of restos offer these. The grilled pork liempo was perfectly grilled as well! I definitely enjoyed my trip here! For drinks, they have sodas in can, juice in can and bottle and for the big families, they also have 1.5 L bottle of sodas. The place is airconditioned with 2 tv sets, both with cable so you can also watch while eating. Beer is also available and you can also bring in your own hard drinks, although you need to pay a corkage fee. If you want to belt out a couple of songs, a karaoke machine is also available. Parking is also available just in front of the restaurant though during weekends, this might be a problem. Budget is around Php 1,000 - Php 1,500 for 2 (depends on the quantity of the food you will buy in the market) as this will also be the basis on the charge of their "paluto".

I live 2 minutes away from Sieg's. Although I go here just to get one thing, I go here very often…read moreas it's my quick go-to place for a lazy dinner. They have a very extensive menu, but since I'm vegan, that isn't of any advantage to me when they only offer a few veggie dishes that are veganize-able. As mentioned, I only get one thing here, and it's worth writing about. Sieg's sizzling tofu is very tasty (it has MUSHROOMS too! Which are always a GOOD thing unless you're weird) and can serve two for about Php 180. For this dish to be vegan, you'd have to give them specific instructions, which are to remove the worcestershire sauce or oyster sauce and replace it with soy sauce, no mayo, no butter, and no chicken powder. Whew. I also find it funny how local TV is projected on a huge white projector screen in one corner of the restaurant, and being a family restaurant, I guess they're trying to recreate a typical dinner at home with TV Patrol or a teleserye on.

Seig's is Filipino comfort food at its finest. This is one of the older food joints in the Dona…read moreSoledad stretch inside Better Living Subdivision in Paranaque. While its age is evident in its interiors, you'll soon feel like you're dining in an old house with only the best in Filipino cuisine on the offer. Classics such as Kare-kare, Crispy Pata and Corned Beef Sinigang are always popular but I highly recommend their Bicol Express. While most Filipino cooks would make this edgy dish with string beans, chili and coconut milk, Seig's adds a special twist to an old favorite with the use of sigarilyas and by topping it with a hefty portion of fried liempo (very crispy, and almost with a lechon kawali quality). The dish is savory but not too spicy. This is by far the best Bicol Express I've had - my mother is from the region, so I've had plenty. They also have a sampling of other western dishes such as their chicken roll or barbecued ribs, as well as a nice selection of pasta. For those who want to go for appetizers, you have over 20 items to choose from, including the surprising Tofu Sisig. Here, they use two kinds of mushrooms, soy and chili and silky tofu cut into squares and lightly breaded. It's actually good enough to be an entrée and eaten with a bowl of rice. Whatever dish you choose, Seig's is sure to deliver high quality dishes with an unforgettable taste. If you're still not full after the large portion servings, try the Frozen Brazo, it's the perfect way to end a good meal.

I had dinner at Locavore while visiting Manila, and it was honestly one of the best meals I've had…read moreduring my trip. I'd been wanting to try Filipino food, and this place came highly recommended by some locals. The food was incredible. I tried the sizzling sinigang, and it completely surprised me. The flavor was sour, savory, and comforting all at once. I also had the oyster sisig, which was crispy, rich, and perfect with a cold San Miguel beer. Every dish came out hot and well-presented. The restaurant itself has a great vibe!!! lively but not too loud. The staff were really friendly and helpful, especially since I wasn't too familiar with Filipino dishes. They explained what everything was and even suggested a few must-tries. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone visiting the Philippines. And I'll definitely come back next time!

First time to try Locavore Kitchen & Drinks and na enjoy namin ang brunch dito sa Kapitolyo What a…read morefantastic meal! We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.Tastes great! Eating something delicious right now.. i love it..

My first meal in the Philippines on this trip happened to be here at Hukad, inside of the SM mall…read more My parents are lovers of all things buffet and were super excited to take me to Vikings in the same mall, but they closed at 2:30 (we arrived at 2:15). With disappointment, we ended up coming here. The place was cute with an outdoor area that no one really used, simply because it is just way too hot in the Philippines all the damn time! We ordered crispy pata, cebuchon, kare-kare, and crispy dinuguan. My favorite dish out of all of them was the cebuchon. It was seasoned so well and paired with an awesome saw to dip it in. I was most excited to try the crispy dinuguan but was disappointed when I actually tried it. The service is good, but the food takes time. We definitely waited a good 30 minutes before all the food came out. I hope that just means that it was because it was made super fresh!

There are several branches of Hanako all over Metro Manila. This one along Dona Soledad opened very…read morenear where we were staying at about the time we were moving further down Better Living. But that didn't stop us from trying it out anyway. We first had a sit down lunch at Hanako, which only has a handful of tables. They do deliver and have easy pick up. You call and place an order and it will be ready at the time you want. But sitting there for a meal is still a good idea. The place is pretty affordable and the food is generally excellent. But it is a little crowded, all things considered. So if you're claustrophobic, better to have your choice delivered. There are a couple of other Japanese restaurants in Better Living, but I have to rate Hanako as my favorite because of their prices. Don't look for any authentic Japanese ambiance. The decor is modern and has only a few touches of Japanese architecture. But the food is indeed as authentic as any other. I give this little restaurant that delivers a full five stars.

You know when a Japanese restaurant is cheap, people tell you to steer clear of it lest you end up…read morewith a really bad experience. Don't! Sometimes, such close-mindedness will make you miss out on a lot of wonderful food discoveries. Hanako is one of those great discoveries for me. They have meals for as low as P99 but everything is actually good! My favorite is their tofu steak. I love that special sauce. The tofu is breaded and deep fried then they put it over that really yummy sauce (I swear it's so good I eat it as is, even when I've already finished all the tofu). Their gyozas are also delicious, albeit a bit on the oily side. If you're looking for cheap but good sushi, try the spicy tuna crunch. It does not disappoint with the level of heat and I love the added crunch from the chopped up fried tempura batter. Their tempuras are also pretty decent but I personally prefer the "fry" version -- the ebi fry and the fish katsu, in particular since it uses panko breading. If you're dining in with a big party, manage your expectations as the place is really small. A party of 10 would be a snug fit in one of the corners of this oddly-shaped place. It is better to get the food for to-go or get it delivered. I noticed that the prices went up a bit just this year, but still very affordable and the food quality did not change. It looks like Hanako will be around for a while because they offer good value-for-money.

Kowloon House Piela Dasma along Gov Drive across PTT gas station us a very cozy dining place with…read moreairconditioning to complement the newky steamed dimsum classics in addition to the noodle soup dish. We are excited to try their rice meals - chicken feet lumpia shanghai and asado rice. This outlet is perhaps the cleanest and accommodating branch where every minute is worth your while.

There are countless places to get siopao in Metro Manila, but for me there are only two brands with…read moredistinctive tastes. One is Ma Mon Luk, the other is Kowloon House. Since I cannot watch movies without a siopao or two to munch on, I'm glad there's a Kowloon House near where I used to live. It's in a strip mall fronting Brazil street, which makes it not too far from SM Bicutan. Whether asado or bola-bola, Kowloon has been able to maintain its terrific taste over the decades. This place is open until late into the evening, so whenever the urge hits, I can be sure that I can get my favourite jumbo siopao practically anytime. Kowloon claims to have the "world's best dimsum" and it's not an idle boast. How else could it have survived for the longest time? However, the outlet along Dona Soledad Avenue says it's open 24 hours a day, but there have been several occasions when I passed by and it was closed for business. The place is more kiosk than restaurant, by the way. There are only a handful of tables and chairs, but that's ok. Most customers order take out anyway. There's been only one out of so many times when I wasn't totally satisfied with my Kowloon siopao. The taste seemed funny, close to spoiling. I chalk up that one bad experience to their possibly recycling unsold siopao. Or maybe it was just one bad batch out of thousands sold every month. I've been crazy for Kowloon House siopao ever since I was a kid. I still am. Five stars for the world's best dimsum!

During our most recent visit to Manila, we have dined at three different locations (actually if we…read morecount another one last year, it will be four for me). Every single location delivered the same top-notch service and excellent food. It seemed that there was always a waiting list. But what they did that was so smart was give us the menu and and an order form and that gave us the time to peruse the menu, decide what we want and place our orders. By the time we sat down, it didn't take long before our orders were delivered. The first time we dined, there were only two of us, so we ordere the small plates. Another smart idea to have the choice of small, medium and large orders depending on the number of people. We've always dined family style so we were able to taste different foods. We've ordered the essential Filipino foods i.e., different kinds of sisig, salpicao, sinigang, adobo, pancit palabok, buko pie, puto bumbong, halo halo. And every single dish was phenomenally tasty, especially for us who are all residing in the US. Manam will always be our first choice whenever we are in Manila.

Easy eats vibes with the choice of smaller portions if you aren't too hungry…read more Went for a casual lunch. Despite there being tables available, we had to wait about 15 minutes to sit. Ordered their garlicky chicken and pork adobo, sisig, garlic rice, and turon. The adobo was fine, I think it would have been better just with the pork vs with chicken. Sisig was on point. The garlic rice was fine as well. The turon didn't have bananas in it but mangoes instead. I had thought it would have had both mangoes and bananas, but was mistaken. Overall, a decent place for casual sit-down vibes.

First stop at food trip of our vacation. Ordered typical daily life dishes that are hard to make…read moreand find in the US. Kare-Kare and daing na bangus. Rice and lugaw. The service was quick and patient with us after a long flight. The kare -kare was excellent. Good balance of sauce, vegetables. The fish is just okay. Popular food has better quality since there's more turnover. They also have a decent selection of peanuts and small packed foods. Recommend from me.

Home-cooked meals take time and a lot of effort to prepare. For those days when you need to whip up…read morean excellent Filipino dish but just don't have the time or energy for it, there's Lola Idang's. It's hard to believe that all the home-cooked goodness they offer won't even cost you that much. My top picks from this place are: kare-kare, crispy pata and pancit malabon. Everything tastes like it was cooked with so much love and care. The only downside, food takes a while to get served whether you are dining in or taking the food to go. But really, quality food takes time so best to set your expectations. You can call ahead to order and pick up. They also deliver to nearby areas but will only take orders for delivery until 7pm and it will take more than an hour for your food to arrive so plan ahead.