We got to try Manileno for Sunday brunch and it was delicious! We had the Pan Demonyo and Shish Kabobs. The Ube bun for the Pan Demonyo was fresh and soft. The slightly sweet bun perfectly paired with the pork meat. The Shish Kabobs were perfectly seasoned and grilled. For drinks we had the Bunko Pandan latte and their strawberry cheesecake latte. Both the drinks were perfectly balanced and wasn't too sweet. We went for a late brunch and ended up missing out on their delicious pastries. Looking forward to being back and trying the rest of their menu. The service was prompt and this place is great for larger groups as well. read more

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Finally, a Filipino restaurant in Saint Louis! I read about this place, went to bed and the next day, we came for dinner because I was THAT excited and the reviews have been great. We've only tried the restaurant side but one of these days, I will try their cafe and the many offerings. They were busy when we came, had a huge party but they were able to seat us right away. The place was lovely with space to lounge around in the sofa. We started with some lumpiang Shanghai. While that didn't blow me away, the rest of our meal did. I had the pork adobo and my husband ordered the pancit. The serving is enough for 2 people but it was a great way to try different things and have some leftover for the next day. I had both leftovers. The pancit was really good. Not dry and not oily either, just right. Staff were friendly and pleasant. I can't wait to come back! read more

Manileno - Lumpia shanghai - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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When local Filipinos tell you that this is the place to eat, you know it has to be good. A true hidden secret in the Saint Louis culinary scene! Manileño is part of the vibrant South Grand restaurant hub and it stands out greatly. The outside is fairly unassuming, but the inside offers a refreshing cozy feel as you enter into the bakery side of the restaurant. It is always full of local bakery goods and drinks, but they do sell out quickly. The restaurant part itself is separated into a downstairs and upstairs area. A very elegant and clean feel. I was able to come for a recent brunch and I cannot get over the food that we got. We were fairly hungry so we started with the Manileño wings and got the Bangsilog and Sisig. Thankfully they were very accommodating as the sisig wasn't actually on the brunch menu. The fish was absolutely amazing and needs to be eaten hot. The sisig had the best taste and was traditionally prepared for us table-side by our very helpful server, who is always rocking the best kicks whenever we come. Whether you're in the mood for a quick bite and drink from the bakery, or a sit down meal you won't regret, Manileño offers it all. read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

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Unfortunately pricing is way off. Thin slice of "pistachio(!) cake" $10.25 ?! I grew up in a pistachio country and I can easily say this dessert does not contain pistachio. They maybe used a hint of it -for coloring- and nowhere near close to taste like pistachio. It looks good but taste like lots of sugar, butter, cream and that's it. UPDATE: Business respond states that it is actually a "24 layers of pistachio avocado crepe" which is not crepe either and nothing tastes like avocado. Calamansi mimosas are interesting, citrusy, sweet & sour. Ube pastry is good, white chocolate topping goes well with it. Lumpiang Shanghai is my fav, highly recommend the meaty one! Place is 2-story, cute and cozy. Our waiter wasn't attentive. We waited way too long for him to check on us. He didn't even bring us water until we ask. He also mixed up our orders. read more

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! read more

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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! read more

Manileno - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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

Manileno - Sinigang - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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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. read more

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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!!! read more

Manileno - Lechon Kawali - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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. read more

Manileno - Bistec tagalog - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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. read more

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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. read more

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Classy bakery with extraordinary pastries and coffee drinks. Quick Friday morning coffee with Alex. Super service. Can't wait to try the restaurant. read more

Manileno - Ube Latte and Buko Pandan Latte - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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Manileno, the newest addition to the Filipino culinary scene in STL, is a unique gem nestled in the heart of the city on South Grand Boulevard, a stone's throw away from Tower Grove Park. I've had the pleasure of experiencing this culinary delight at various times of the day, exploring both their restaurant and coffee shop sides. The restaurant itself is welcoming, and it is a two-story restaurant with a second floor where the main dining area and the bar are, while the first floor has a smaller dining area and a coffee shop. I ordered mojito cocktail drinks and puny*ta, which were delicious. As for food, I ordered lumpiang Shanghai, bistek Tagalog, and palabok as the main entrees. For dessert, my mom and I ordered strawberry crepe cake! The food was so good, tasted authentic, and was close to what I had grown up eating in the Philippines. I highly recommend their bistek Tagalog, one of my favorite Filipino dishes! I highly recommend this restaurant if you are in STL and looking for a Filipino restaurant that tastes authentic. read more

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My husband and I have tried to Manileno for both dinner and brunch and have had great experiences. For dinner, we shared the Lumpiang Shanghai and the Pork Adobo. Overall, we thought both dishes were delicious but slightly overpriced (especially when you get the sauce with the Lumpia for an extra $5). We both agreed that the potatoes were unnecessary with the Pork Adobo dish when rice was also served. When we came for brunch, I got the Pan Demonyo and my husband got the Longsilog. We both got Ube Lattes. We really enjoyed the dishes and the service. The restaurant overall has a really cool vibe in a great location and awesome service. We're excited to go back sometime for their walk in coffee and pastries area. We took a look at the pastries on our way out and they looked incredible. Overall, we were really happy with the food and service but think it may just be slightly overpriced for the serving sizes. read more

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We tried this place for the first time with the family. All of us agreed it's WAY OVERPRICED! We ordered lumpiang Shanghai, pancit, palabok which is just good. I'm not a fan of how they cooked their Bistek Tagalog. It's not the same taste I grew up eating. First of all it's sweet. My mom used to cook it with soy sauce, onion and calamansi or lemon. It's supposed to taste salty and sour. With a so and so taste.....it's way overpriced! Definitely not coming back. read more

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

We came by Manileno again this past week after our amazing last experience, and we were not disappointed! We decided to grab a different drink this time around, Buko Pandan Latte. It was delicious! I personally preferred the Ube Latte slightly more, which is saying a lot about how great this place is! Can't wait to be back! read more

Our server was welcoming and efficient for a late lunch, and our food came out pretty quickly and fresh. I had a fried pork belly dish and my buddy had the Pork Adobo. Both were very flavorful and satisfying, especially the adobo seasoning. My pork belly almost felt like two separate dishes, with the meat being tender and juicy while the outer layer was like a large, crunchy pork rind. I loved it, and that made for a memorable dish. read more

Manileno - Lechon Kawali - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Exceptional service. Everyone was very friendly and attentive. Food was amazing, tasty and unique. read more

Manileno - Bistek Tagalog and Crispy Bicol Express with Lumpia - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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This place is an absolute 10 out of 10! The atmosphere is so cozy and inviting. The Food is quintessentially Filipino comfort at its best. And the Staff are so nice!! Rocky, the owner, is incredibly friendly and sweet, as well as, EJ, Xavier and Makela!!! Everyone should visit this place as often as you can. My wife and are probably coming back this weekend to try the brunch menu and pastries next!!! read more

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

The ambiance was fantastic, but the server was pretty green. He was nice, but not very well trained. He kept forgetting to bring us the smaller bowls for the soup we ordered that we were promised was shareable, but was actually smaller than a pho we typically get at Vietnamese restaurants and easily consume individually. Speaking of which, the soup was good but not great and for $30 for a soup consisting of pork broth, some pork spare rib, mostly cabbage, and some potato, it was considerably overpriced (about twice what it should be). I could have also done a much better job at home with a recipe myself as the ribs were not as good as they could be - they were clearly not browned separately before adding to the soup. The sisig was much better and it was neat that it was finished tableside. The chili peppers gave it some nice heat. It however was also skimpy on portion and the waiter lost some of ours while preparing it tableside to make the intended portion even smaller. The rice was done well and came out nicely presented for both dishes with some green onion garnish on top, but this dish was similarly overpriced at $30. As good as it was, Fattened Caf's is better (more to eat, better seasoned, and close to half the price). The pinoy cocktail with Filipino gin and calamansi was the most reasonably priced at $12. They were also out of several of the dishes that I had wanted to try (about a 1/3 of the printed menu) and was really looking forward to trying some Filipino food that Fattened Caf doesn't typically offer. I might be back if I am really craving Filipino on a day that Fattened Caf isn't open, but I wouldn't hold your breath about it. I will most likely just hit up Fattened Caf next time I craving Filipino food and be able to enjoy some Earthbound beers at a cheaper price than this place's cocktails. read more

Manileno - Rice that comes with every dish and the pork spare rib soup special. Also, my beautiful wife. - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Absolutely my favorite Filipino restaurant in STL! Their lattes are amazing, pastries and food are phenomenal. Lattes are beyond your typical lattes, Filipino inspired drinks like their Ube, Buko Pandan, and yesterday they launched a new drink called Turon and it was DELICIOUS! I am a regular and I have never had a bad service or experience. Anytime I have people come from out of town, I like to take them here, the place I would say, is more on the upscale side between the other Filipino restaurant here, ambience has a warm feeling with a touch of class. I highly recommend visiting Manileño and supporting our local restaurants and family owned business, I promise you will not regret it! read more

We had seen the IG photos, but in the late afternoon, the pretty pastries were all gone. We were sad, but decided to try the Filipino cuisine. We are no strangers to Filipino food. Manileno did not disappoint us. From the Shanghai lumpia with our calamansi drinks, we thoroughly enjoyed our experience in this elevated upstairs space, with stylish furniture and brick walls. Our entrees, pork adobo, and a chicken special in coconut milk were delicious sbd we had plenty of leftovers. The highlight was the dessert. The strawberry cake was light, and slightly sweet with rich, fresh berry flavor throughout. The cake was moist and fresh. My only disappointment was that the coffee machine was off for the day, so no coffee with my dessert. All in all, if you're looking for Filipino on South Grand, don't miss this delightful oasis on Juniata. read more

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Delicious! First time trying a pastry/coffee here and it did not disappoint!! We will for sure be back for a meal, but the pastries were the highlight this time. Make sure you get here early and get something because they will run out of the pastries! read more

Manileno - UBE ENSAYMADA - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Very tasty food and cool venue. Iced ube latte hit the spot. Parking is tough, but such is the area. read more

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Beautiful new Filipino restaurant in Tower Grove neighborhood. They offer Sunday brunch and a full Filipino menu. I made the mistake of going on the first day. They had a full house and they had a lot on their plate and a lot of kinks to work out with service. I would recommend waiting a month or two before giving it a try. read more

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Manileno exceeded all expectations! Arrive early for their baked goods, which are a perfect masterpiece of flavor. The pandesal is fluffy, tender and not too sweet, the salmon savory artichoke tart is crispy, dense and filling. Their ube matcha is sweet, smooth and well-balanced, and the drink bar is open for breakfast and the dinners. Service is incredibly warm and kind, Rocky is so wonderful. Visit, make friends, eat, and enjoy! read more

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The pancit and lechon were both good. The young man that served us was really good and very respectful. He answered our questions and brought us water refil and asked about the meal. It was very quiet at around 3pm or so. The pastries were delicious according to hubby and Biko pandas cold coffee were definitely delish as well. read more

Manileno is a perfect spot for a nice dinner or a dreamy brunch. Their service is excellent and their staff is always so friendly & the food is unmatched. The pastries and drinks from their cafe are perfection. Today I had the strawberry tart & the ube croissant and both made me want more. read more

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

Veggie lumpia & lumpia shanghai is sooo good. We'll be back for sure. Nice place Jay our server is so accommodating read more

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

This is a true hidden gem! I went for brunch and ordered the Pan Demonyo sandwich, which was unique and delicious, I'd definitely get it again. It came with fries, which was a disappointment, griddled breakfast potatoes or a veggie would have been better. I couldn't leave without trying a pastry, I went all-in and ordered the Ube ensaymada. ...woah, it was intense and special. I'm a picky foodie with a sweet tooth, and it was amazing. The atmosphere is very comfortable, tasteful decor, linen napkins, beautiful upstairs and bar area, the restaurant is a very pleasant setting. Lastly, the staff is soooo friendly!! :) I chatted with them for a while and they were cheery, helpful, and enjoyable. They also gave me a free breakfast beverage without me asking for anything ... it was a delicious juice, sweet, but definitely high quality ingredients. If you're thinking about going, definitely do it, I can't imagine anyone having a bad experience. I highly recommend. I don't write too many yelp reviews, and sorry no pictures, but I think this spot is worthy of praise. read more