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.

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!

We like this place, first time to try it was last week, we tried the roti with chicken curry…read morechunks, hainanese chicken and their rice noodles and I also tried their cheese roti which is my favorite! The roti was soft and chewy and had a good taste the curry was a bit strong more On Indian curry with very much lots of cumin! The hainanese chicken was good and so were the noodle. It's a very basic restaurant the cutlery was basic and so were the plates so nothing that much to show to social media. Service was quick too and they have a place to bring your furry friends! Ambiance was busy but clean. Overall I would recommend this place for a quick bite.

Looked like an average place when we were checking out places to eat in this section of the mall…read more We ordered only roti with curry sauce and devoured it and ordered rest of our food which was delicious. Service charge was totally acceptable ( we didn't like how in the mall in the Philippines they had this charge automatically added) as the waiting staff was excellent from the beginning to the end. We ate here twice in our 2 weeks Manila stay and will definitely be back next time.

Best food ever. We just wish that the staff noticed or paid more attention to guests. They are so…read morebusy cleaning and they never look up to see us waiting for service. Customer service needs a little improvement. The cooks are excellent at this location. We will definitely come again. I highly recommend the Hainanese chicken rice set. It is so delicious. The sticky rice though needs more sugar and the mango was sour. They shouldn't offer this if the mangoes aren't sweet. That's what they do in Thai restaurants abroad.

The family and I were hungry after watching the PBA semi-finals and our car was parked at the mall…read more As we knew that traffic was going to be horrendous, we decided to eat before our trip back to Batangas. We ended up here at Banana Leaf and it did not disappoint. I loved that it had all kinds of different Asian food. I not only got to try Filipino dishes, but Thai, Vietnamese, and Malaysian food. What an experience! The food came out in dishes, but you had to eat off the banana leaf like a plate. Super cute! Food was good, staff was friendly, and there is a senior citizen discount in the Philippines at EVERY restaurant. So cool!

Location & Directions The street faces the A Venue entrance…read morewith Domino's Pizza and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. (on foot) From "A Venue", cross Makati Ave, walk along Guanzon, and you'll see the restaurant on your left. Restaurant I expected it to be warm since it's hole-in-the-wall but it's kinda breezy during the evening, making our stay relaxing. The dine-in space is limited with a few seats outside but they have a bar, high chairs and all. Morning Glory with Garlic This one is typical veggies. It's okay to have for mixing things up but I won't really look for it. Thai Basil Chicken We liked it enough to get an extra order. We shared but each order is already a meal for one person. Thai Stir Fried Glass Noodles This is their Pad Thai. It's good but not the best I've had just yet. Service It was quick up to taking care of the bill.

Crying Tiger Street Kitchen is one of Poblacion's ever favorite hole-in-the-wall Southeast Asian…read morecuisine restaurants that will take you back to the street market food stalls of Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. A bit hidden on P. Guanzon, the street directly facing the frontside of A.Venue Mall, this restaurant is widely known among the neighborhood, but could be easily located on an online map. Dining was an easy breezy as the dishes are described in the updated menu spread with photos of their best-selling items. We had their famous Mee Goreng, Beef Rendang, and Thai Iced Tea. Our food was served in less than 15 minutes, considered fast for table-service restaurants. Calling the attention of the service crew, asking for recommendations, and ordering were all easy. Most service crews were welcoming, though we encountered one who just grabbed the menu spread and the tissue rack off our table when we were still dining. We didn't mind, but it could have been much more courteous if she spoke with us and asked for permission, as we were still eating. Also, the music could have been much softer to preserve the relaxing vibe, because it was hard to hear my companions when we were chatting, to the point that we had to shout at each other. Their Mee Goreng was full of ingredients and a plate could serve up to two to three people--but less in seafood. I mean, what's a "spicy seafood noodles" without much spice and just a few pieces of seafood? It was flavorful and a bit on the sweet-spicy side, may be catering to Filipino tongues that are used to the sweet palette. Beef Rendang, their take on Malaysia's spicy beef curry, was an instant favorite. The meat in the dish generously spicy and soft that it tasted like it was braised slowly and carefully. With rice, the dish can only serve and would leave you wishing you'd have more. The Thai Iced Tea was the spice quencher, if it suddenly feels hot when eating both the Mee Goreng and the Beef Rendang. Crying Tiger is definitely a must-visit in the area if you crave for Southeast Asian dishes, but make sure to get a table before groups go in around dinnertime as it gets full with avid patrons.

They have the bestest Nasi Goreng Kampung and other Asian fusion meals! You can also enjoy your…read morefavorite drink there while watching/listening to your favorite bands and musicians. Nice place to chill!

I don't know how I was ever smitten by laksa, but I've always been looking for that savory,…read morecoconut-y, spicy taste ever since. I haven't found it yet and I've only come so close with Laksa King. I walk around Granada street sometimes, because I'm a nut (also it's the only way I know how to get from Greenhills to Aurora Blvd.), and I see Laksa King all the time. I figured to go and have a bite there this one day, since there's no harm in satisfying my laksa craving. The place is a humble affair, almost Spartan in its setup: simple, no-fuss tables and chairs with photos of the laksa against the wall to egg you on. I had the spicy curry laska chicken noodles and... was left wanting. Maybe I was looking for a different flavor in my laksa? I did found a lot of everything else though--noodles, mushrooms, tofu. It was a hefty serving, to be fair, big enough for two. I don't know, maybe I'm thinking of the wrong soup? lol. Even still, it was good and tasty, but not mind blowing. Thus the search for satisfying laksa continues.

AMBIENCE & LOCATION They are located along Salcedo across…read morethe Embassy of Indonesia and near the entrance of Beneficial Life. Air-con is freezing cold and their warm lights in the evening are relaxing. Seats are also available outside but parking seems to be tricky. We walked to this location to avoid possible parking inconveniences. Packets and kid meals are not included for Zomato Gold perks. FOOD Ayam Bakar Padang Boneless smelled and tasted so good! Daging Martabak (Beef Pancake) had an interesting shape and the first few bites were exciting, but halfway through the dish, we started getting a bit thirsty. It reminds me of lumpiang shanghai but it is cut into squares. Dip was a bit bland and, overall, the dish was okay. We LOVED the Soto Ayam! Glass noodle combination was a first for us. SERVICE There weren't that many customers during our visit but the servers weren't proactive with beverage refills. I couldn't ask them to smile more but they might need a little more motivation from the management because they seemed straight-faced, and I understand that feeling. CHANCE We felt adventurous during our last visit but the Chicken Sate and Beef Rendang might be promising choices for next visit. When we get the chance, we'll give those a try!

Live life with a bit of spice…read more This is their bottom written on their wall, and well, yep. We're living a lot of life. The food is . If that's your jam, you came to the right place. This is my go to spot when I'm in the area as their food is good, portions decent, and prices reasonable. These dishes are definitely not anything I'd normally cook at home. Been here three times this month and I either get the Nasi Goreng or the Mee Goreng.