Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Sarsa

    3.6 (15 reviews)
    PriceyFilipino, Cafes
    Closed 7:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Sarsa Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Sarsa

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Inasal Tofu
    Audrey T.

    Sarsa took the place of Kafe Batwan by Sarsa in their Rockwell Center location. It seems to be a good move because it effectively combined the best of the menus of the two restaurants, giving this branch more main dish options. They maintained the look of the original Kafe Batwan so save for the singage outside, it feels like the same place. The food is still good and comforting, I'm still a big fan of the special batchoy. Whether eaten by yourself or shared with other dining companions, it's got great flavor and would be great as a heavy merienda for yoruself or as an appetizer if shared with others. I like coconut cream-based (Gata) dishes so I like bugtaw-bugtaw (gising-gising). Try the twice-cooked pork belly as well, they serve it with some kare-kare sauce, giving good 'ol liempo a bit of a twist. For dessert, try to sizzling budbud. It's essentially rice cake served on a sizzling plate and doused in caramelized coconut cream so it's bubbles up nicely when served. The rice cake takes on the sweetness of the sauce very well and the rice gets nice and toasty, giving this dessert some nice texture. They also have the banana tsokolate turon. It's really just turon sliced at an angle with some chocolate sauce poured over--- it's okay, but nothing to write home about.

    Interiors
    Alfonse E.

    I'm writing this at Kate Batwan right now because I couldn't wait to write about how MAGNIFICENTLY MAGNIFICENT their Arroz Caldo Parcel is. This thing is a (literal) deconstruction of the good ol' dish your lola would make at home. The rice and and toppings are separated from the soup base and laid out on your plate. This gives you so many ways to enjoy the dish! Dip rice in the soup? Spread the soup over the toppings like a sauce? Just eat the chicken and throw the rest to away (you monster)? The choices are endless! AHHHHHH But aside from the gimmick, this is a legitimately flavorful meal. I particularly love the sticky rice (served to you wrapped in Pandan leaves) and the creamy soup. I wanna eat here again. Now.

    Pancit!
    Rio J.

    Filipino cuisine is having a moment! Locavore, Balay Dako and now, Kafe Batwan. All of them are doing a fantastic job reinvigorating our appreciation for Pinoy food -- and more importantly, #PinoyPride. Kafe Batwan's pancit palabok is a winner. Cooked in crab fat (oh my!), the flavor is familiar yet fresh. It looks like your typical palabok but a spoonful of it is enough to make you realize that this is something else, something above average. Another curious thing on the menu? Lamb kaldereta! What I'm craving right now. A bit more tomato-ey than usual, it has a more refined flavor than your good ol' home-cooked favorite. I guess this is what makes Kafe Batwan's dishes stand out - it makes Filipino cuisine more polished. The flavors are still strong but they are delivered in a cleaner, more balanced way. No umay (which usually happens when I have Filipino food). The best part: Choc-nut turon for dessert. CHOC-NUT. Again - CHOC-NUT!

    Batchoy / Ramen
    Justin L.

    My friend and I came here after trying a few of the Filipino restaurants around Makati and found Kafe Batwan to be a nice refreshing change. While there dishes might not be "traditional", we found it to be very good. Of all the dishes, we found the batchoy (similar to Japanese ramen) to be the best dish there. I could have done with a larger serving size, but we ended up ordering two on top of some other dishes. I'd say the other dishes we had (lamb kalderon and shrimp) were fairly average to a bit above average. I'd also recommend their fresh juices, though they go down easily, so you'll probably buy more than one.

    Smart and casual
    Chris R.

    Kafe Batwan is a great reimagining of Filipino cuisine. They have been able to elevate Filipino everyday dishes into something special. I tried the Batchoy and was blown away. Kafe Batwan's turned what used to be a regular staple at my house into a rich, complex, and nuanced experience. The broth was rich, like a fine ramen and the ingredients top notch and flavorful. I will admit I was a bit disappointed with the soft boiled egg, while in any other circumstance would have been fine, I found it to be a bit flavorless compared to the main dish. I enjoyed the atmosphere, the service, and the reasonably priced offerings. There is a lot of interesting offerings on the menu and if they are anything like this last dish, I am sure I will be back

    Alexandra K.

    This place is amazing. New York really needs to get some Filipino restaurants on Sarsa's level because I loved all the Filipino fusion spots I hit up in Manila and there is nothing comparable at home. I came here with a kind of regular so he did all the ordering and everything was so good. The Isaw skewers were so crispy and flavorful. My favorite dish was the sizzlng kansi ohhhh wow. The marrow just melted into the beef and combined with some garlic rice it was perfection.

    I was asking for tuyo but unfortunately they cannot accommodate. I end up having this dried fish platter but the dried fish is not crispy.

    See all

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Susan U.
    517
    1085
    3049

    10 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Karen S.
    24
    175
    233

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chris R.
    38
    40
    38

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Meliza D.
    147
    27
    53

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Gino B.
    102
    14
    5

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Review Highlights - Sarsa

    Kafe Batwan's turned what used to be a regular staple at my house into a rich, complex, and nuanced experience.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Filipino 1,286 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Abe - Chicharon Bulaklak

    Abe

    4.6(23 reviews)
    2.4 kmTaguig City
    ₱₱

    My friends and I decided to eat lunch at this place --- an apparently so did a lot of groups of…read morepeople attending their respective reunions. For a place that was so busy, surprisingly, it wasn't too noisy and we were able to carry out a conversation. The staff was very attentive, and it seemed like we had multiple people serving us Like most groups, we dined family style. We shared everything that we ordered and every dish was scrumptious. Three of us reside overseas so we were all looking frward to authentic Filipino foods. This place rose to the occasion. The standout was the fish that was filleted and deep-fried, and spread out like a butterfly so it was easy to take a piece off. The fish was cooked perfectly, that is, it wasn't overcooked like most fried fish dishes would be. All of us asked for fresh buko (coconut) juice servied in a whole coconut. However, the coconut was no longer young coconut that usually has soft meat that we can spoon up. instead, it was more "niyog" or mature coconut that needed to be cut up which the staff did for us.

    I've been to Abe a few times and I've never been disappointed. They offer traditional Philippine…read moredishes, some being very familiar and some more exotic. On this visit I had the following items: - Crispy Tadyang - Bamboo Rice The Tadyang (fried short ribs) was incredible - tender, yet crispy and full of flavor. There's a nice portion of beef that arrives in the order, so it's very satisfying. The rice has an interesting flavor profile since it's mixed with spices and shrimp...it's definitely an interesting rice dish you won't find anywhere else. Abe has a huge menu that showcases the diversity in Philippine cuisine. The fact that it includes appetizers, salads, soups, mains, sides and desserts means you'll leave a very satisfied customer. Can't wait for my next visit!

    Photos
    Abe - This restaurant is highly recommended.. so nice ambiance and all food are so delicious

    This restaurant is highly recommended.. so nice ambiance and all food are so delicious

    Abe - Spicy Sisig Pampanga

    Spicy Sisig Pampanga

    Abe - Lechon Cubano and Garlic Rice

    See all

    Lechon Cubano and Garlic Rice

    Ilonggo Food Company - Crispy pork kare kare

    Ilonggo Food Company

    5.0(1 review)
    1.6 kmTaguig City

    First time eater and definitely coming back. Food here was great. I would suggest driving their…read morefamous sugarcane calamansi juice for starters. We had the calamari for appetizers. The portion was moderate and it can feed 2 people. It was hot and crunchy and the sauce was pretty good. The pinakbet with pork liempo was awesome, please keep in mind that pinakbet in some regions are cooked without the sabaw (sauce). The eggplant was definitely fried. The bitter melon and the kombucha squash were steamed well. The pork was super crunchy!!! Please also note that one order of pinakbet will probably good for 2 people but I can definitely devour it on my own! The kare kare with crispy pork was also good. The sauce was slurry and not too thick. The string beans, banana heart (puso ng saging) and bok choy were steamed and cooked well. They were not soggy but crunchy. Also the eggplant was fried and added with the sauce. When you order kare kare it automatically comes with sautéed shrimp paste. This dish alone will probably feed 4 people. Overall the service was great, we did not wait long for the food, and we were seated right away since we arrived there around 11:45ish. The restaurant was clean and quite cozy. There's one bathroom for both genders. Total of all the meals including 1 sugarcane calamansi juice refill P1745.00 (also includes gratuity charges).

    Photos
    Ilonggo Food Company - Sugarcane calamansi juice.

    Sugarcane calamansi juice.

    Ilonggo Food Company - Pinakbet

    Pinakbet

    Ilonggo Food Company - Calamari

    See all

    Calamari

    Manam - House Crispy SigSig M

    Manam

    4.2(133 reviews)
    1.9 kmTaguig City
    ₱₱

    During our most recent visit to Manila, we have dined at three different locations (actually if we…read morecount another one last year, it will be four for me). Every single location delivered the same top-notch service and excellent food. It seemed that there was always a waiting list. But what they did that was so smart was give us the menu and and an order form and that gave us the time to peruse the menu, decide what we want and place our orders. By the time we sat down, it didn't take long before our orders were delivered. The first time we dined, there were only two of us, so we ordere the small plates. Another smart idea to have the choice of small, medium and large orders depending on the number of people. We've always dined family style so we were able to taste different foods. We've ordered the essential Filipino foods i.e., different kinds of sisig, salpicao, sinigang, adobo, pancit palabok, buko pie, puto bumbong, halo halo. And every single dish was phenomenally tasty, especially for us who are all residing in the US. Manam will always be our first choice whenever we are in Manila.

    Easy eats vibes with the choice of smaller portions if you aren't too hungry…read more Went for a casual lunch. Despite there being tables available, we had to wait about 15 minutes to sit. Ordered their garlicky chicken and pork adobo, sisig, garlic rice, and turon. The adobo was fine, I think it would have been better just with the pork vs with chicken. Sisig was on point. The garlic rice was fine as well. The turon didn't have bananas in it but mangoes instead. I had thought it would have had both mangoes and bananas, but was mistaken. Overall, a decent place for casual sit-down vibes.

    Photos
    Manam - Inside restaurant

    Inside restaurant

    Manam - Crispy Palabok

    Crispy Palabok

    Manam - Mango shake and ube sago (purple yam shake with mini taro balls)

    See all

    Mango shake and ube sago (purple yam shake with mini taro balls)

    Hole in the Wall - One of the very cool dining areas.

    Hole in the Wall

    4.5(30 reviews)
    1.2 kmMakati City
    ₱₱₱

    Philippines review #36…read more Located on the 5th floor of the Century City Mall in Makati, Hole in the wall has got to be one of THE BEST food courts I've been in! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hole-in-the-wall-makati?select=mocXQLUJFGLa-v9nW-wNqw The best because the style / décor is very cool, modern and sophisticated. It's casual and comfortable with a variety of different seating areas. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hole-in-the-wall-makati?select=2wby6b6vGb-RopzYpYkuNA http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hole-in-the-wall-makati?select=NlsB3_lcW_K52uwCZ2XCdg You'll find a variety of different food items to choose from at more than a dozen restaurants with fun names like: Bad Bird, Pho Bobo, Smokey Bastard, Serious Dough, The Beef, Scouts Honor, etc. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/hole-in-the-wall-makati?select=TmvhJCz7Z6pARaszQFKWkg Of course there are a number of more formal, sit-down restaurants located in the mall. But this is a fun, casual spot, with a variety of food served quickly and at reasonable prices!

    The high-end food court has been a huge thing across the globe since the early 2010's, except in…read morethe Philippines. Back then, if you've been living in Manila for most of your life, the words "food" and "court" in the same sentence never really sounded appetizing. Enter Hole in the Wall. I've been here a few times already, but stepping inside its huge hip maze of interiors never ceases to excite me. I'm not sure if it's the thrill of choosing what meal to try next or just the nice aesthetic of literally everything, that excites me more. On my first visit, I made sure to first try the super popular fried chicken from Bad Bird. As a big fan Southern-style fried chicken, I wasn't disappointed. The crispy skin had a yummy seasoning that's new to the palette, very different compared to my other favorites, such as the Chickenjoy from Jollibee and the Pan Fried Chicken from Pancake House. And there's something about their side dishes that just completes the whole meal. The corn on the cob with bonito flakes, sweet and umami flavors melting in your mouth, was to die for. The coleslaw provided a nice acidic break from the saltiness of the chicken. The meal was a fun experience itself. Just the other day, I tried the Pastrami on Rye from Mr. Delicious and it was monstrous--just plain impressive in terms of size. I didn't even attempt to bite on the entire stack, using my fork and knife like a pretentious chick on a first date instead. Each bite off the monster-wich was packed with so many different flavors, though the pastrami still easily emerges as the hero of the dish. And let's not get started on the sweet potato chips. I'm not a big sweet potato-lover, but damn, the portion was more than satisfying. If there's anything I'd like modified, I just wish there was a bit more of the veggie pickles to cut through all the meat and fat. For now, I'll end this review right here. If it isn't yet so obvious, I'll probably be back here in no time to try a different food stall or two.

    Photos
    Hole in the Wall
    Hole in the Wall
    Hole in the Wall - Beef Shawarma Rice from Liberation Shawarma!

    See all

    Beef Shawarma Rice from Liberation Shawarma!

    Sarsa - filipino - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...