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.

It is surprising how ignorant I am about Filipino Muslim/Moro food and culture despite having loads…read moreof friends who hail from the colorful and beautiful region of Muslim Mindanao. I have heard many stories about the rich culture down there, but I haven't gone there so I couldn't get a visual of what it looks like. Thankfully, halal food, especially Maranao regional cuisine is prevalent here in Metro Manila because of the large Maranao population in certain districts in the metro. I have had the privilege of sampling the best of Maranao cuisine at Mofara's, which is a small hole in the wall near Quiapo's Golden Mosque. A quick word about Maranao cuisine: the people of Lanao are resourceful freshwater fishermen, and most of their diet is fish and seafood, but they also have great beef dishes such as the Indonesian-inspired randang (rendang). Mofara's looks like your typical carinderia, but it is always spotless. There are no flies buzzing around, and dishes are cleared away immediately after a table is vacated. If you have a taste for fiery curries and spicy food, Maranao food should be next on your bucket list. Order Mofara's randang and be prepared to down cupfuls of ice water. I like spicy food but nothing prepared me for the heat of their randang, which was thick and very rich, making it a dangerously viscous vehicle for the spice, with the biting piquancy of the meat lingering like napalm in your throat. It's a good and refreshing shock to your system that gets the blood pumping. You can cool down with their herbal tilapya curry, which is also creamy but not as rich. The chicken papar, a Maranao specialty mustn't be missed. The tender chicken cooked in thick coconut milk and coconut flakes just hits the right buttons for me.

This is the new food court found in the new wing of SM Megamall, SM Fashion Hall. It's completely…read moredifferent from the "normal" food court you'll find in Manila. The food kiosks here are a bit more expensive. But, I believe what you're paying for here is the ambiance and also the food quality. :) The main difference between this food court to the other older food court is that this place is very clean! They have a bigger staff here and they are dressed more like "hipster waiters" (sorry, I don't really know how to describe their uniforms). The downside, again, is that the number of people who eat here. So, tables are limited. Like what I suggested before, if you're eating here with a group, have one person sit at a table and everyone else will buy the food! My favorite places to eat here are Frankie's (for their chicken wings), NAV (for their Thai food), SP Steak and Paella (for their Paella, enough for 4 people), Waffos (for their waffles), and Sweetea's by Da.u.de. Of course, this is where you will also find The Halal Guys (I'm not a fan though). This is a good place to rest and have a break from shopping or a meeting place for friends after work! Just remember that you have to shell out about Php250-300 for a meal here. :)

I think Megamall's Food Hall is a brilliant move! If you're shopping at the Mega Fashion Hall and…read morewanna take a break or get some grub or two (that are not fast food), you can venture to the Food Hall. The food haunts that are at the Food Hall are not as cheap as the ones found in Megamall's Food Court but are not as pricey as the stand-alone restos at the Fashion Hall either. Safe to say you'll need 200 to 300 pesos per person. They only have a handful of grub spots here but all these are of very high quality. I know because I've practically tried them all. Hahaha. At the Food Hall you will find Frankie's New York Buffalo Wings, Miguelito's, Tex-Mex, SP Steak and Paella, Sweetea's by da.u.de, Nav, Yakitori, Waffos and Dojo Diary. Soon enough, they will also be house to a US-favorite street grub, Halal Guys. The food hall is pretty spacious and the interiors are very chic! It's definitely a nice place to stay at if you're waiting on your girlfriends to be done with shopping or if you just want to catch a break and hangout.

I lived near Taft a couple years ago and I would usually find myself exploring all the nooks and…read morecrannies of nearby Malate to look for great places to eat. I went through a shawarma, kebab and hummus phase ,that's why I made it my mission then to go to all the Middle Eastern restaurants in the area. Al Hana looks quite gaudy and over-the-top from the outside, with its pink and blue neon lights screaming for attention. Inside, at least, you get skirted tables and nicely padded chairs. My first visit here was with my a friend who spent some time in Egypt, and she said that the food was great and it actually surpassed her expectations. I think that's good validation right there. Though my favorite Halal resto in the area is easily Shawarma Snack Center, I still eat here every now and then just to see if they still had their touch. Middle Eastern cuisine is ubiquitous in Manila, but if you are after authentic and diverse food options, you should check out Al Hana. The prices are surprisingly quite fair and reasonable and everything is worth the price. You should also try their falafel, which is served with a spicy harissa sauce The servings are huge, so make sure you ask for the serving suggestions first before you go "takaw mata" and order everything.

I had dinner with colleagues and we had a visitor with us. He does not eat pork, so we have to…read moreconsider a halal restaurant. Good thing that they have seafood, pasta, and other vegetarian dishes. I love their panizza with alfalfa, lettuce and tomatoes. It is unique DIY and healthy version of the traditional pizza. Do not get fooled on how thin their pizza is because I was filled! Their staff is friendly and very accommodating. They did not need to be told of water refills. Moreso, we had single orders split into two so that people at both ends of the table can reach the food easily. Its location at Eastwood is a 50/50 for me because it is convenient for me (near my workplace), but traffic is really bad going there. Overall, I had a blast! I would definitely come back. :)

There's a reason Mister Kabab is still standing strong despite having so much competition serving…read moresimilar fare. One, the food is inexpensive and simple, served straight up with no frou-frou or tweaked versions of classic Middle Eastern/Mediterranean dishes. It seems to me that what you eat is here what people have been eating in those parts of the world for centuries. I really enjoy their flafel - crispy on the outside, rightly mushy in the middle, and all subtly seasoned. It's the perfect size, too, so I never overstuff myself despite the temptation. I like how they cook their kabab and chelo kabab, too. The chicken is a no-fail for me because it's always so tender! My other recommendations would be the ox-tail and the korma dishes. The second reason is the service, or at least the service I get at their Fisher Mall branch. They're always so warm and attentive. One time, we stayed here for almost four hours and nobody gave a bleep. I love that! I've seen different groups of people here - families, friends, loud ones, quiet ones. I've eaten here alone. I never regret any visit!

I'm used to what's standardly recognized as Middle Eastern fare. I mean, I've had my fair share of…read moreshawarma, I've had kofte and falafel here and there. Ah, Mister Kebab... that's pretty good nosh right there. Firstly, let me say that their keema is something I dreamt about for days. It's the sort of memorable flavor that stays with you. It's the perfect blend of salt and spices that's neither too overpowering or confused. And the best part is they don't even lie when they call it sizzling. It comes to you hot and fresh and really good with nary a wait. And I rather like their ambiance. It doesn't look at all cheap nor does it look inanely modernized. It sticks to the Middle Eastern theme rather well, imho. There's always some detail you'll end up noticing every time you go so staring at the walls while you're eating isn't necessarily a bad idea. Go on, take in the ambiance. It'll make your meal taste twice as good.

This place is absolutely amazing! We found it by accident when visiting from America several years…read moreago and keep returning. Their roti bread (kind of like Nan) is so amazing. As is their Beef Randang. Try their green mango juice too. One of our favorite restaurants in Manila. It is conveniently located at the Mall of Asia. Try it!

I was excited to try this small restaurant. I ordered roti and a vegetable dish. Shortly I got my…read morefood, I noticed one of the workers stood by the entrance door and began stroking an alley cat. I became very concerned about this event. Another employee did the same thing! Cats peruse the ground level at MOA, sewers, and they're filthy! The ground, and the alleys reek of human stench and pollution. I hope the owner sees this review and correct the employees practice of befriending and stroking alley cats. It made me nauseous on seeing this behavior!

Ordered the chicken and gyros platter for lunch. Looked very appetizing but while I was mixing the…read moresauce with the contents of the plate, I found a very thick hair. I'm not actually sure if it's human hair but the thought of it was disgusting. (You can see it if you open my photo below and zoom in close enough) I informed them about this experience through Facebook and they said they will look into this and deeply apologized. And "to make it up to me", they offered me a free meal.

I guess I'm just disappointed by the hype. Don't get me wrong, it's delicious - I wish there was…read moremore meat and less rice. I had the falafel/chicken combo and the falafel was really overfried. Not my thang. Thankfully we went during a rainy day so there wasn't too bad of a line. If you're looking to bypass the wait I suggest going on an off day!

Shisha is a huge thing among the city's Arab expats, and their ubiquity in most of the Middle…read moreEastern restaurants in the city have led us youngsters to acquire the habit as well. I smoke heavily in college, and though I have long since quit and kicked the habit, I find that I still crave a cigarette every now and then. Though shisha doesn't really give me much of a boost, unlike nicotine, I find that it it is much better than actually lighting up a stick (though scientific studies suggest otherwise). At least it gives me something to do with my mouth when I'm not stuffing it with food or when i'm not talking my friends' ears off. Anyway, I find that the cheaper places to score a good load of hookah are the places that the Arabs frequent. They are often in the seedier areas of the backstreets of the red light districts, and true enough, one of those places is called Jerusalem, in Malate. I have also come here for the food, though I don't remember anything much standing out to me aside from the shakshuka, which is always a great favorite of mine. I have actually been here exactly three times, and one of those times was during a telecast of a World Cup game. They have a TV that is usually turned to some Arabic language newscast, but during the games, they would air and replay the games for everyone to see.