Our favorite place for Shawarma (Middle Eastern dish). Place was upgraded and they now have a "fast…read morefood branch" nearby. Skip their "Shawarma Meals" fries included was very disappointing!

Nice restaurant to go to. They have a full menu to order from with reasonable price. The servers…read morecoordinate well with the customers. The restaurant makes you feel you are in the Arab peninsula part of Manila.

My family took us here to try the food. We got seated right away. The atmosphere was nice. The…read moreservice was very good. The food were delicious, sorry i did not get a chance to take pictures. They have parking spots but very tricky to get in and out. Will definitely come back.

Hossein's interior is gorgeous as well as apt for its motif, all dimly lit curtains tinged with a…read morewarm, sun-baked palette. I learned about Hossein through my best friend, who loved their food so much that she couldn't stand up after clearing her plates. Neither could I, and that's a good sign. First things first: one does not simply enter Hossein without trying their Roti Channai (P125). Served with a mild sauce mixed with Indian spices, the roti is soft on the inside and crisp on the outside. As for mains, I strongly recommend their Lamb Shish Kebab (P550) and their Raan Masala (P2780), the latter of which is leg of lamb cooked in a creamy and thick curry sauce, mixed with special herbs and spices. In my opinion, the Raan Masala is definitely the star of the menu. Even the sauce of the masala goes really well with the kebab. So much so that I ended up dipping my kebab in the sauce of the masala instead of the actual sauce of the kebab. All of this doesn't come with rice yet, so you'll definitely want to order a heaping of buttery-hot Biryani Rice (P180), good for two people. I used to have a "don't love it, don't hate it" attitude toward Persian cuisine, but because of Hossein, I am now stuck in the "will eat everything until I puke" phase. Easily the best (and priciest) Persian restaurant I've tried in Metro Manila.

I'd passed this place without giving it a second thought. It looked like just another shawarma…read morespot. There were five million other shawarma spots and this place looked pretty small. Man, was I wrong. This wasn't just a shawarma place. It was a legit grill place. Shawarma, kebabs, chicken fillets, dapas... you name it. Impressive. And for a price that didn't go over 100php for most items. Even more impressive. What stunned me though was how much bigger it was on the inside. It added a lot to the ambiance of the place. There was lots of room and lots of seats, giving it a rather cozy feel. The food itself is pretty good! Not dry, tasty and that's without drenching it in sauce as is my usual modus when it comes to these wraps. Despite the price, it wasn't at all small and they didn't skimp on the fillings which is something that doesn't happen very often. So if you're looking for something light and filling but won't kill your wallet or make you feel like you didn't eat enough, this is where I'd suggest to go.

At first I was a little frustrated because Mandi Persian Grill replaced this cool café on that same…read moreplace. It was the only one with turtle pie then. It took me some time to warm up to it but my love for hummus has overcome this tampo, so I decided to try it out. Needless to say, it was on a whole different scale than the café it replaced, but I still like it because of my love for Middle Eastern food. PROS: You'd be surprised how roomy it actually is. On the ground level it would just be around 4 tables and you have to scoot to get to the counter and place your order. But downstairs, it's comfortably spacious; I love samplers! So of course I had their Mandip Trio. It was so fun to eat because I got to try the Moutabal and Keema too, which is quite good; I liked reading this little story on their menu on how Mandi got their name. CONS: Orders take a bit of time to prepare; We could use for more pita for the Trio. TL;DR: Authentic Persian food that's not just some random shawarma place. More Mandi!

Pretty chill hookah bar with Arabic music in the middle of metro Manila. The setup is unique…read more You're on a small couch with 1-2 other people adjacent to each other, but you're a bit cramped. It's a creepy place to go alone, because of the neighborhood and of the old male clientele, so try to go with a friend. I recommend the berry mint hookah. Skip the grapefruit flavor.

We had a VERY VERY BAD EXPERIENCE with this restaurant. It is infuriating!…read more What we received were FOUL SMELLING CHICKEN SHAWARMAS and FRENCH FRIES SOAKED IN CHICKEN FAT!!! Aside from this, let's talk about the MISSING ORDERS! It was highly unacceptable and when we called the customer service to fix it, they only defended themselves that they make food fresh everyday. LIKE REALLY???!!!! TRY TO EAT THE CHICKEN SHAWARMA you sent us and you'd know immediately that the food is not good anymore, when you open the container it has A FOUL SMELL. and we know what good shawarma chicken smells like since we order this a lot. P.S aside from these they have an AWFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY ONLY GAVE US EXCUSES and didnt really solved the problem! HORROR EXPERIENCE!

Aside from traditional Maranao food which has been quite widespread in Metro Manila, another…read moreexciting cuisine for me to discover is Tausug food. One of my best friends in grad school in UP is this adorable Tausug Muslimah, and she has always egged me on into trying her homeland's best recipes. She has lived most of her life in Manila, though, and she gets her Tausug food from her yaya who is also from Zamboanga, that's why she isn't much of a guide as far as Tausug food in Manila is concerned, so I had to explore and find these spots myself. One of my favorite Tausug restaurants is Gayyah's Pagkaunan, which is a fairly recent addition to Malate and Ermita's string of Halal restaurants. Gayyah's not only serves Tausug food, but they also have Arabic, Pakistani, Malaysian and Indonesian, fare. Outside is a sign that they are also a Halal butcher and grocery store. What I love about Gayyah's is their clean and very well-kept premises. I don't mean any offense, but most Halal restaurants that I have been to don't really care much about their look or their presentation. Gayyah's is spotless, bright and cheerful. The food here is carinderia-type, and it is mostly composed of traditional Tausug fare combined with Halal Filipino food such as adobo and other saucy viands. What I like about this store, though, is their traditional Tausug "tiyula itum" which they describe as South Mindanao's black soup. It is indeed a strange color of green-black: the curry gives it a greenish tinge, while the beef is completely blackened by burnt coconut flakes. It has a sour broth that reminds me a lot of the Ilonggo "linaga" that I enjoyed as a kid. On my first time, I finished the entire bowl with gusto. A P50 serving had a few chunks of tender beef in it. I have never had anything quite like tiyula itum before and it definifely was a cultural experience for me. When I went there for the first time, the ladies were very helpful and they patiently answered my questions about Tausug food. I have gone back twice, because the satti wasn't available the first time I went. The food is cheap and clean, and the service is very friendly and warm. Moro hospitality at its best!

very delicious food and very nice person, and it's really halal for muslim. the name of the boss…read more is called Muamal , located muslim from south philippins, same year-old with me .after the dinner ,i asked him how to take a jeepny to makati, he first helped to get one jeepney but every jeepney was full ,so then he asked his brother to drive us back to hotel for free.

I went to Indonesia a couple times last year, and my several trips to the city's food streets have…read moreleft me with such a big craving for the trademark spices and preparations of Indonesian cookery. Although authentic Indonesian food is quite tricky to find in Manila, I find that Malaysian restaurants come close (but not quite, yet I can't be choosy). Fortunately, when talking about Malaysian food, I know a handful authentic ones that serve really good, cheap, Halal and affordable food options that remind me of my great days in Jakarta and its neighboring cities. One of such restaurants is Pamanganan Malaysian Restaurant, which is smack in the middle of the Muslim community in Quiapo. This place primarily serves Malaysian food, but they also have Halal versions of food items that non-Muslims usually consider as street food - Halal pizza, non-pork Siomai, etc. They also have Yakan regional cooking, which is rare here in Manila. The Yakans are one of the Muslim tribes in Mindanao, and Pamanganan offers home-style recipes that are really familiar to the Yakans. Anyway, if you are looking for Malaysian and Indonesian food, they have really good nasi goreng, which I always get since it is quintessentially Indonesian. I have also tried the martabak, which is also sold in Indonesia. The martabak is an Arabic crepe that is usually stuffed with savory fillings, but there are also sweet versions. The place quite a shabby yet cozy feel to it. I just wish they didn't spray the dining area with that chemical solution that smells like fabric conditioner (their idea of air freshener). They also advertise an iftar meal platter, which is a nourishing set of dishes that are to be eaten after a Muslim breaks his fast every sundown during Ramadan.

I do like a good wrap. There's just something so guilt-free and satisfying about a decent…read moreshawarma... well, guilt free as far as "I didn't eat rice and am perfectly full" goes. Maybe it's the fact that you get a whole pita bread. Maybe it's the vegetables that come with it. Maybe it's the fact that the meat is cooked over heat rather than fried which makes it feel good. Either way, a good wrap is good eats. Meshwe is definitely good eats but with a few "ehh" moments. Firstly, the fries. The fries are divine. Meshwe calls them Arabic fries and I have no idea what combination of spices they use with these shoestrings but I say keep em coming! They're the kind of fries that don't need ketchup or mustard or salt. They're delectable on their own especially when coupled with that wonderful garlic sauce. Now that's flavor I dream of for days afterward, I kid you not. Thankfully Meshwe offers a sample plate with their fries, 2 sambousak (kind of like samosas) and pita chips. Now for the ehh moment. Those pita chips, delectable as they are when warm are kind of... hard. Sure, they're crunchy when fresh and hot but eventually, they get kinda hard. Your mileage may vary, of course. But let's get to the main course. The shawarma. You can either get it as a shawarma, a shawarma plate (ie, a deconstructed shawarma) and with rice. My one gripe though is that it comes off as a little dry. Maybe it's the fact that I keep ordering the plate which gives you the sauce (I could write litanies about that sauce it's so good) on the side. And that, quite honestly, is my only ehh moment when it comes to the shawarma. It's tasty, yes. Certainly worth the price you pay for it but it just seems a little lacking in the juicy department. However, I can say that the flavors are good enough that it keeps me coming back when I need a quick meal.

A few months back when I wasn't too preoccupied with my thesis, I used to hang out a lot with my…read morefriends in the Z Compound, and Meshwe was a staple dinner. I love that they have a flavorful falafel that can rival any falafel in town. It is chunky, flavorful and delicious, and the wrap comes with a generous helping of fresh vegetables and a surprise element - a few pieces of french fries - which makes this a very heavy and satisfying dish. It is a good vegetarian option for herbivores like me, and it is good when coupled with their hummus (creamy and just the right consistency) and the baba ganoush (which is perfectly smoky and yummy, especially with their warm pita). They run out of their shawarma really fast, so it's best to come early. That tells you that their food is great. What I don't get, though, is why my orders usually take FOREVER, even when I can clearly see that there is no one else queuing. Surely, it doesn't take that long to fry a falafel? Or it doesn't take that long to assemble a wrap since the ingredients area already prepared mise en place. The sluggish service makes a really bad impression. Good thing the food more than makes up for that. And the cool guys Noel and Nathan, who man the store, are always cheerful and nice.

Glad we went in this establishment. Food was amazing. We ordered almost everything in the menu and…read moreloved it all. See pics. The falafel was not the usual try and over powering. Their version was crispy outside but tasty and juicy inside. Service was tops, accommodating, friendly and fast. The ambiance was pretty simple. No frills but clean and comfortable. Price over size plating was a average. My 9 year old son even enjoyed their shawarma hummus. Ohhh the baklava... delicious! Will definitely be back here just before we go back to Saipan.

This was my first stop on my trip! It was one of the only spots open late night! Thank goodness…read morebecause it is delicious. It's also much healthier than the other late night choices. The hummus here is delicious! I also like that you can order half or full sizes of the falafel. The half size is fulfilling already. If you eat just those two things, you should be quite satisfied. My family comes to this place quite often! I can see why!

Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Persian, Indian food... all of these cuisines have become a…read morespecialty to one name serving up magical dishes since 1985: Hossein. I've had the pleasure of meeting Chef Hossein when he opened his branch in Serendra and he's always had this passion to share his food. His restaurants are incomparable to your usual kebab stops as he takes the flavors of tradition further and bring forward authentic cuisines. I especially like eating in Gilak not just because it is in my neighborhood but also because they do their dishes so well. Hummus is not a pre-mix but home made among other delights such as their moutabal and samosas. For a great overall experience, go for the sampler appetizers where you will get to try their best sellers. I always order as well their Mix Kebab samplers to get a good taste of the well-marinated juicy grilled beef and chicken. Carb up and pair your dishes with the delightful Kabsa or Macluba rice dishes; Wash it all down with my favorite sweet lassi or a traditional mint tea. Overall, I always have a good experience with service and the food's consistency. The ambiance takes you to the middle east with interiors and architecture reminiscent of old world charms. A great place for a special lunch or dinner!