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    Manileno

    4.6 (59 reviews)

    Manileno Photos

    Business Info

    MANILENO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Manileno

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    Reviews With Photos

    Halo halo dessert
    Darla E.

    I love everything about this restaurant! The owner is first and foremost so personable and responsive to all your needs from the moment you enter the door. She's truly a gem! I also absolutely love the upstairs dining room. It's modern and yet intimate in the seating arrangement. The space is well managed for groups as well as small parties. The artwork, the 3D printed table numbers, the unique lighting throughout just lends to great conversation and a great atmosphere. On to the food. We tried the 5 piece lumpiana and the pork adobo. We lost our minds over the adobo, I could slurp the gravy if it weren't unladylike! The pork was super tender and the flavors were on point! The portion is quite large so you can easily share it between two people. I wish I had a bigger stomach but I had to save room for dessert. For dessert we got the famous halo halo, which translates as mix mix in English. It's shaved ice and ice cream and coconut jellies and beans and some crunchy stuff and it's got ube and matcha too. It's literally everything and once you mix it all together you just get a little taste of everything in each bite. I thoroughly enjoyed it! You absolutely need to visit!

    Mocha pastry and seasonal latte
    Anna G.

    Always amazing. Super friendly service, answered all of our questions. We got our baked goods and drinks to go today but dining in has always been a treat in the past.

    Outside Front
    Ted Anthony U.

    Overall Rating: 4.33 If you enjoy Jollibee spaghetti, I suggest ordering the Spaghetti and Chicken combo. -------------------------- Tips -------------------------- Parking - Street -------------------------- Breakdown -------------------------- Experience: Togo order Price: **** - The food is delectable, but it's pretty expensive. Food & Drink: **** - Bistek Tagalog - The flavor is average. I would expect Bistek Tagalog to be sour. - Lumpia - Tastes delectable; you won't go wrong because it's loaded with savory meat inside toppings. - Spaghetti and Chicken - Spaghetti - "It tastes delectable, like Jollibee spaghetti." - The balance of cheese and sweetness melts in your mouth. - Chicken - It's very crunchy, but the meat inside tastes bland. Customer Service: ***** Ambiance: N/A Cleanliness: N/A Each category is rated on a 0 to 5-star scale, with a rounded overall rating. -------------------------- Disclaimer -------------------------- Although I may not be a professional critic, my review is based solely on my experience. I assure you that my evaluation is entirely unbiased and not influenced by any form of compensation from the establishment. I aim to provide an honest and accurate assessment to assist those seeking an informed review.

    Menu
    Giang P.

    I absolutely love the addition of Filipino restaurants in the St. Louis area. I was only able to try the cafe portion and not the dining in options. I can't wait to come back and try what they have for dining in. The restaurant is located in the neighborhood right off of South Grand. There are plenty of street parking spots but if you hate parallel parking then it could be an issue. All of the baked items looked soooo good!!!! I wish I could try them all. I ordered the Ube Ensaymada because to be honest it's probably the most eye-catching item. It tasted so yummy. The bread was soft and chewy with rich ube cream that wasn't too sweet. It was the perfect combination with the shredded cheese (I believe) sprinkled on top. There were various drinks to choose from and we went with the Pandan latte. The coffee flavor was strong (in a good way obviously) but it overpowered the Pandan flavor a bit. Overall still a very good drink. The price is a little high for a coffee shop albeit deserving. I will come back for sure to try out the rest of the menu!

    Leah N.

    Wow this place desserts tend to sold out fast. We came here on a Saturday morning about twenty minutes after this place open and most of the desserts were already gone. When we got here there was already a line. We ended up getting ube ensaymada and blueberry fruit tart along with ice latte with extra ube foam. I like the ube ensaymada. I would definitely recommend to go right before they opened especially on a Saturday to try to get the other popular desserts for the next time tip.

    Menu
    Sean M.

    From my vantage point, Tower Grove South has another gem of a restaurant that is on the cusp of filling its tables every weekend and being a runaway success. The venue itself is gorgeous upstairs and downstairs, and the food is consistently delicious--every single item we ordered was outstanding, and the service that EJ provided was equally fantastic. Even the cocktails and the French wine were delicious! We started with two orders of the Lumpiang Gulay ($7.50)--crispy and light vegetarian spring rolls served with a dipping sauce--and the Manileño wings ($15)--a generous portion of perfectly crispy and super flavorful wings served with a homemade ranch-style sauce. For entrees we had the Bistek Tagalog ($28), Palabok (glass noodles, $29), and the table favorite Pork adobo ($26). I personally loved the noodle dish the best, but all three were fabulous. We finished with a strawberry tart and the mango cheesecake, both phenomenal. We had been wanting to try this restaurant for some time now, and we were delighted from start to finish. The decor and service were the icing on the cake--thanks again, EJ! We will definitely return!

    Sara G.

    Finally got to try Manileño, an authentic Filipino restaurant on South Grand! It's such a cute aesthetic, perfect for lunch or dinner date. The aroma of spices hits you as you walk in. The menu features a variety of Filipino dishes, from hearty stews like adobo. They were out of the pescatarian dish I went for so our server hooked me up with a shrimp dish and I don't know what it was called but it had a coconut milk base with veggies and shrimp and it was delicious! Manileño was made possible by the dedication of the Torio family under the cook boss, their matriarch, Josie Seele. Josie always wanted to own a restaurant so here we are. Please stop in and support!

    Sinigang
    Hong L.

    SourSingang soup isn't favorite soup in Saint Louis!! Also the spring rolls are super fresh and flavorful. Definitely be back soon.

    Quyen H.

    We had such an amazing dining experience at Manileno. We were welcomed warmly from the moment we walked through the door.Our server EJ was so sweet and kind. Both of the bakery and dining area are so aesthetic and gorgeous. - Buko pandan latte and Ube latte (9/10): very good with subtle sweetness, but I think the espresso was too strong and overpowered the flavor of Ube/pandan - Ube ensaymada (10/10): soft and cheesy bread filled with Ube halaya. It was served freshly baked so the bread was so fluffy and the warmth brought out the sweetness of the Ube filling. It's such a good pair with the coffee - Lechon kawali and Pork shish Kabobs (10/10) served with 2 lumpia, rice, and pickled on the side. The pork belly was very crispy and crunchy. The pork skewers were very flavorful and tender. Overall, we were satisfied with both the food/drink quality, and service. Definitely recommend and we"ll return.

    Lechon Kawali
    Jeremy C.

    Dropped by and loved the food. Includes a bakery and cafe attached to the main dining area, and lots of good food options. The specials were good and the classics were there. Service was great and very friendly, though the prices were slightly higher than I'd like, but it's a great date spot. Got the lechon kawali and they give you a fork and spoon, but after the first bite I had to use my hands. Would return!!!

    Bistec tagalog
    MaryAnn B.

    Great dining space upstairs. Light cheery and comfortably decorated. Our servers were family members and couldn't have been more friendly, helpful and exuded pride in their restaurant. Wouldn't say not child friendly, but more an adult setting and menu. Most of the dishes ordered by our group were delicious, but all had a slight bit of spicey heat to them. Nice cocktail menu. Prices were a bit high, but portions generous (28.00 for chicken curry I thought was a bit high). All in all a pleasant dining experience.

    Dzuy T.

    Prefacing this review by saying I only tried the bakery. This place is one of my favorite dessert places in STL now! The desserts we tried weren't too sweet, really letting the fruit flavors carry, especially with the raspberry tart. The cheesecake was a little frozen which made it hard to eat so so I would want to try it again another time. The only gripe I have is that the ube latte didn't have a very strong ube flavor but it was really pretty to look at, at least. Although the desserts are more on the expensive side, I would come again to try other things + the staff is super sweet and kind.

    Kevin H.

    I cant speak to the restaurant, but as much as the cafe blew us away we will most definitely be going back soon for an actual meal! The staff here is so incredibly warm and inviting. The space is absolutely beautiful. We popped in just for some coffees, and upon seeing the pastry case were forced to try one of those as well. Everything was wonderful. Cannot recommend Manileño enough if you're looking for a unique Cafe experience.

    Ube Latte and Buko Pandan Latte

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    1 year ago

    Great service - pretty space - romantic upstairs. Good was awesome. Cant go wrong with anything on the menu.

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    1 year ago

    It's okay. Not spectacular, but well made simple food, filling and comforting, at a very affordable price.

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    2 years ago

    The Ube matcha was one of the best things I've ever tasted. Not too sweet and perfectly refreshing

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    1 year ago

    The hospitality was friendly and welcoming. The food and ube latte was very delicious. 10 out of 10 would recommend.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Manileno

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    4.9(152 reviews)
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    First time here! It's been in my list for a while and glad I finally got around to it. The staff…read morewas so helpful assisting me with recommendations. The ambiance was so cute too :) I LOVED my BBQ chicken. It was super flavorful. It paired well with the rice. I tried my partner's adobo chicken and it was good too. Much more on the umami side than the BBQ, which I would consider sweeter. The sausage was too spicy for me but it had a lot of great flavors.

    I must say, walking inside does give a bit of a Filipino-style feel, especially when seeing the…read morepeacock and bamboo woven chairs + decor that reminded me of home. The owners are very approachable and could immediately recognize us as Filipinos when we were sitting and eating there. The restaurant reminds me of a "fancier" Filipino style like you see in big tourist spots in Boracay. I do admit, the wait is a bit long as we were waiting for almost 30 minutes for our food to arrive. However, I feel like the complaints about it from other reviews are ridiculous since this place isn't considered fast food, but cooked with love. I mean- when I was living in The Philippines, everyone has patience of a saint, especially when it comes to food so I do not see the wait time as an issue. It's not served immediately like karinderya style. I ordered the Filipino-style chicken BBQ and I'd like to say that it's so delicious and flavorful. However, it doesn't remind me of home. I do want to point out to definitely ask for tuyo kalamansi with chili for the dip if you're not a fan of vinegar. I was told it was homemade by the owner and it did not disappoint. The pork BBQ that my father ordered was a bit too hard for his liking, as Filipino meat tends to be on the softer side. The ube banana pudding is also yummy, however, it is way too sweet for our liking. I'd like to point out that Java rice is so good that I think that it isn't enough for a Filipino like me and I personally don't want to pay for another cup of Java rice. There were more sides than rice tbh. I was also a bit bummed that halo-halo isn't in the menu at all, With that being said, I feel like the food and desserts here are mostly catering the American palette, but it would be good for people who has never tried Filipino food.

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    Filipino Bakery Cafe & Market - The catering area

    Filipino Bakery Cafe & Market

    4.1(82 reviews)
    12.6 mi

    I was in town for a volleyball tournament and stopped to pick up a takeout order from a neighboring…read morespot when I stumbled upon this gem. As soon as I walked in, there was a one-man band playing guitar, freshly prepared food by the counter, and shelves filled with bakery items--it had such a welcoming atmosphere. The staff were incredibly friendly. I decided to order some lumpia to go, and while they were preparing it, I took some time to browse the bakery and market section. I ended up grabbing several bag of chips and a slice of cake as well. The lumpia were perfectly crispy with great flavor, and the cake was incredibly moist. Next time I'm back in town, I definitely want to try the ube bread!

    I really wanted to love this place. We recently moved from SoCal, so having Filipino comfort food…read morenearby felt reassuring especially on a night when I didn't feel like cooking. I know it's hard to compare restaurant food to home-cooked meals, and I wasn't expecting to be wowed. "Mid" would've been fine, but unfortunately, this fell below that for us. We ordered the menudo, chicken adobo, bangus, and lechon. Both the menudo and chicken adobo were noticeably sweet and not in a subtle way. The bangus only came as half with the combo (I'm not sure if that's standard), which was a bit disappointing since I'm used to getting a whole bangus. The lechon had a slightly off taste possibly from the oil used. I ended up cutting it up and putting it in the air fryer, which helped a bit, especially with Mang Tomas. My kids were excited for the ube bread, but there was barely any ube. Thankfully, I had ube jam at home to add more. That said, I'm still glad this restaurant is here representing the Filipino community. It's wonderful that they host gatherings and bring people together. I do think there's room for improvement, especially when it comes to showcasing Filipino food well for those who may be trying it for the first time.

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    Buzzs Hawaiian Grill

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    4.4(121 reviews)
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    Stopped in last Saturday afternoon, and left shocked they weren't packed to the rafters. I've eaten…read morea lot of Hawaiian food around the country, and Buzz's is among the very best! We enjoyed the pork steamed buns immensely, especially with the wide array of sauces and seasonings...I thought the spicy pepper water (apologies for not recalling its proper title, but you'll know what I mean when you see it) was the best pairing for the fluffy, doughy goodness in those buns. I am a musubi connoisseur--these might have been my all time favorites; I got mine with egg and gochujang. Do that. Thank me later. My lady had the salmon poke...we've struggled to find good poke in the Midwest, but Buzz came through in spades! My loco moco was near perfect...I felt the gravy needed a teensy bit more salt, but that was easily adjusted. All in all, catch a sunny day on the super inviting back patio and you will not regret it. Next time we're in STL, we will definitely be back!

    I always have a hard time rating places that serve local-Hawaiian food because I was privileged…read moreenough to live on O'ahu, Maui, and the Big Island and I know EXPECTING true to taste in the Midwest is asking a lot .... BUT entering, there was like, no aloha spirit, the vibes were so off, the music selected wasn't even, at least modern Island reggae, and the lights were really dim. That is outside of the HUGE wait times of DoorDash orders coming through and stalling the people waiting in line to order. The staff were working HARD to get through the line, but they were just overworked. We got an order of garlic shrimp that came with rice, mac salad, and a pineapple slice for some reason. We also ordered the Poke Bomb Flight which is fried tofu skins filled with rice and topped with poke. The Poke Bomb Flight, or inari, was pretty good! I liked the flavor of the poke and it was a great one bite situation. The garlic shrimp however was small - like not even plate lunch servings. It was 5 pieces of shrimp, two small scoops of rice, and mayo heavy mac salad. They must be doing something right though with all those DoorDash orders, but we won't be coming back to try more.

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    Global Foods Market - Frozen Okonomyaki kit

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    Global Foods market is on a monthly rotation for me! This time I came armed with a $10 gift card…read morecompliments of Fennel cooking studio, after a collaborative event where the food was purchased from Global Foods and used by local chef, Rick Lewis of Grace Meat + Three and Grace Chicken and Fish. Such an awesome local collaboration! Plenty of parking in the lot, and carts are available outside before going inside. The front area has large volume rice and then you enter the all the fun! Plenty of fruits and veggies, I always pick up Fresno peppers, loose okra, and Thai Basil. From there you have the aisles based on country, I always want to skip aisles, but I just cannot, there is always so much to look at, something you haven't seen from the last time. The frozen section holds all kinds of things to try; I like the frozen Indian entrees! If you need any kind of ingredient for any dish, you should be able to find it here. when it is time to check out, there are always plenty of lanes open and the staff is always pleasant and friendly.

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    If you go up and down every aisle, it's like a trip around the world…read more As you shop, you will find items that you didn't know you needed. Also, don't be afraid to ask employees questions, they'll be happy to assist. My last visit, I was with a friend who was shopping to make spring rolls and he got assistance from a little old Vietnamese lady who was a customer herself. Listening to her explain all the detailed steps made us both smile. Be smart when shopping the canned goods, some items can be more expensive. However, the fresh vegetables are always a good value. The meat department makes me cringe, but I know that is just me being quirky. My friend gives it a thumbs up. Customer service is okay, nothing outstanding and nothing bad. It's just okay. The cashiers get you out the door in an orderly way.

    -- Great Selection, But Room for Improvement…read more Jay International Food is one of my go-to spots for variety -- you can find ingredients and products here that are hard to track down anywhere else in St. Louis. The international selection is truly impressive, and it's the main reason I keep coming back. That said, the store could use a little TLC. While I've noticed improvements over time, it would be even better with a deeper, more consistent clean. The staff gets the job done, but a bit more warmth and friendliness would go a long way toward making the shopping experience as inviting as the selection itself. Bottom line: I'll keep shopping here because the variety is unbeatable, but I'm hoping to see the atmosphere match the amazing products on the shelves.

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    4.3(162 reviews)
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    This Asian market was recommended to us by other Yelpies, so we decided to come and explore it…read more There is a huge free parking lot right out front. In addition to the huge market area inside, there is a bubble tea stand, hot food with seating, and some skincare products across the front wall. The market itself is kind of amazing. There was an extensive selection of fresh Asian fruits, vegetables and herbs at great prices. Once we got into the aisles, there was, again, a huge selection - some of our favorite things were all the bottled sodas/coffees, the mochis and all the vinegars/sauces. In the back there is fish area that has live crabs, lobsters and even eels in addition to fresh fish. There is also a halal meat counter. We saw packages of frozen scallops, frozen crab legs and ground lamb that we plan to come back and try. I can't wait to return.

    Great place for its grocery selection. It offers a huge variety of different Asian cuisines from…read morefresh produce and seafood to snacks, sauces, and hard to find ingredients. It's the kind of place where you can go in for one thing and end up discovering a bunch of new stuff. The food court is also a big plus! It's fairly cheap, quick, and perfect if you want something casual without a long wait. The options are solid and hit the spot, especially if you're already there shopping. It can get a bit busy and cramped and it's not the most polished shopping experience but that's part of the charm.

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    Manileno - filipino - Updated May 2026

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