Hands down my favorite place to eat in in Taft Avenue!…read more Ababu opened about a year ago and hasn't lost its momentum since, well at least for me. They serve Persian and Mediterranean foods which are two of my favorites! The best part? It's just a block away from my building so if you do visit, there's a possibility of you running into me there (don't forget to say hi!)! Ababu's food is very affordable but unlike most cheap eats, Ababu serves amazing food! Their Beef Kebab Rice Meal is my favorite! It consists of charbroiled ground beef with egg, corn, onions and tomatoes on rice. They also serve bottomless iced teas with the meals though I believe they use powdered iced tea. The only drawback is that the place can get really hot and a little smoky when they are cooking the meat and the poor air-conditioning sure doesn't help.

When, like my sister and me, Mediterranean food is your comfort food and you want to eat it in a…read moresimple, no-frills place like we do, head to Ababu Persian Kitchen. Good thing there's one located across my office! I love their Chicken Rice Meal, which, at Php 139, comes with grilled chicken breast, a cup of rice, a slice of butter, some corn, tomatoes, onions, and a sunny-side-up egg. A bit of warning, though: the grilled chicken is really just that. It's not grilled barbecue-style so it's sauce-free, which is good news for weight watchers. It's a heavy meal, enough to fuel you from lunch to dinner. In fact, it has become my go-to lunch for days when I practice hot yoga after office and afternoon snacks are a no-no. My sister, the shawarma lover, loves their Shawarma Rice--no surprise! Their meals include unlimited yogurt dressing (of course!) and unlimited iced tea! Don't be surprised when they offer you one pitcher though you're dining alone. Though certainly amusing, that pressured me to drink more iced tea than I normally consume!

Reasonably priced and really good Persian food! :D…read more My usual orders are Ox Brain, Hummus, and Beef Kebab. Oddly, they are more expensive than the branch in Timog. Must be the rent in Metrowalk. Either way, the food is good, service is good, and value for your money is great!

This restaurant has been around for quite some time now- Family's usual midnight food-go-to place!…read moreWe go here like 2-3 times a month, I used to be very picky with food, but I finally learned to appreciate the food here! The menu has a wide selection to choose from -- shawarma, kebabs, hummus, and many more. I recommend getting the Chelo beef kebab kobideh, for P275 (add P30 for basmati rice!) -- definitely a must-try- or the Mahksos. Most of their dishes served with rice is good for sharing, however, when really hungry, it could be just for one. Pair it with Dogh (yogurt shake), and you're good to go! We keep coming back here all the time for our midnight cravings!

My family took us here to try the food. We got seated right away. The atmosphere was nice. The…read moreservice was very good. The food were delicious, sorry i did not get a chance to take pictures. They have parking spots but very tricky to get in and out. Will definitely come back.

Hossein's interior is gorgeous as well as apt for its motif, all dimly lit curtains tinged with a…read morewarm, sun-baked palette. I learned about Hossein through my best friend, who loved their food so much that she couldn't stand up after clearing her plates. Neither could I, and that's a good sign. First things first: one does not simply enter Hossein without trying their Roti Channai (P125). Served with a mild sauce mixed with Indian spices, the roti is soft on the inside and crisp on the outside. As for mains, I strongly recommend their Lamb Shish Kebab (P550) and their Raan Masala (P2780), the latter of which is leg of lamb cooked in a creamy and thick curry sauce, mixed with special herbs and spices. In my opinion, the Raan Masala is definitely the star of the menu. Even the sauce of the masala goes really well with the kebab. So much so that I ended up dipping my kebab in the sauce of the masala instead of the actual sauce of the kebab. All of this doesn't come with rice yet, so you'll definitely want to order a heaping of buttery-hot Biryani Rice (P180), good for two people. I used to have a "don't love it, don't hate it" attitude toward Persian cuisine, but because of Hossein, I am now stuck in the "will eat everything until I puke" phase. Easily the best (and priciest) Persian restaurant I've tried in Metro Manila.

I hear this place is pretty popular. Came highly recommended. Love how open this restaurant is…read more Large windows, ceiling fans, no ac. Very old school. The staff are super friendly and helpful. They have huge servings, so come hungry. Came for lunch. Ordered samosa sampler, hummus with pita, chicken shawarma plate, beef chelo kabab plate and a lamb kabab plate with basmati rice. Everything came out fresh and hot. I can see why Mr. Kabab has a huge following. Big servings of freshly made food. Overall, I thought the spices were very understated. The samosas were hot but not much flavor, the hummus was on the runny side and needed a little bit more cumin or something. The chicken shawarma was pretty crunchy, not how I prefer my shawarma meat. The kababs were juicy, but again barely any flavor. It's a good place to eat but if you're looking for authentic flavors, you won't find it here.

This is one place I will always be going back to whenever I'm here. Ever since, I have always…read moreordered sizzling keema with eggplant or ox brain with pita plus a yogurt shake. Taste has never changed. I docked a star though because my sizzling keema did not come in sizzling even as I dumped in the gravy. I was surprised on how the ordering has a new process now where you have to go to the counter to order. This visit also led me to discover that they also make very good pizza. My niece's cheese pizza came in fresh and its dough was perfectly made. Would always be coming back here!

Worst service it's like I didn't exist arriving. Calling…read morewaiters was a waste of time. Beef kebab and chips was more like a plate of chips with a toothpick kebab how lousy Taste was pathetic I've lived in Iran for 2 years , this food would never be excepted in Iran I've no idea how anyone can rate this restaurant higher than 1 star . In Iran they also greet and make you feel welcome . Nothing like this place! No ambiance !

Poor service and inadequate menu selection. I would advise against it because they don't even have…read morehot tea or water for a Persian restaurant

What is it with Poblacion and middle eastern restaurants? Not only is there a glut of them in the…read morearea, they're the very best Makati has to offer. One should be wary about opening a kebab place in this area, and yet Kite steps up to the plate. Kite is more of a bar that happens to serve Persian stuff than it being a proper middle eastern resto. The joint doesn't try to look middle eastern; instead you get a casual, relaxed, almost homey bar that is not intimidating at all. As for the food, it was brilliant. I had a Mediterranean BBQ Chicken thigh fillet and a Wagyu kebab. The chicken was properly spiced and was tender and flavorful. However, the Wagyu kebab stole the meal. Four cubes of tender melt-in-your-mouth, bursting with flavor in your mouth... It was absolutely heavenly. It was so good, i did not want to drown the flavor with any of their sauces, preferring instead to savor each cube on its own. Am not ready to give this place five stars just yet, though. Give me two or three more visits and i may change my mind. But yeah, i think Kite is damned good, and i am ready to go back soon.

The newest kid on the block in Williams-Burgos, just on Ebro St. is Kite Kebab Bar. A Mediterranean…read morestreet food bar created by Kian Kazemi. This place fits right into the artsy hip vibe that has encompassed this neighborhood over the last few years. The decor inside is warm and inviting with murals on the walls and tables hand made from reclaimed wood. The outdoor seating is just as beautiful with the perfect amount of lighting. The menu they have currently for their soft opening is small and simple. Kebabs, salads, wraps and if you're hungry Biryani. I had already had my dinner, but couldn't resist having a little snack. I went with the wagyu beef kebab, paired with the Falafel salad and some Baba Ganoush. Ok, so a little bit bigger than a snack. ;) The wagyu was juicy and flavourful as you'd expect. You only get 4 cubes per order, but for the price it's a pretty good deal. The falafel salad was my favorite, with falafel, feta, grapes and tomatoes in a nice light dressing. The falafel was cooked perfectly, not dry at all, with nicely balanced flavor. I've always liked hummus more than Baba Ganoush, but now that has changed. It was packed with flavor and a good amount of smokey-ness. The pita was also really good, which I'm told they make themselves. Overall, it was a great little meal. I look forward to coming back with a few friends for dinner. It's great to see people with a vision to create not just great food, but great experiences with it. The restaurants name 'Kite', stems from the symbolism of the word. To dream, to imagine, to create... Having only been open for 3 days, it's the calm before the storm. Before the people come soaring in the door of Kite.

This 24h restaurant is located in the heart of Manila's Red Light District area. The goal seems to…read morebe emulating a Middle East ambience. But when you put all the "arabian nights" clichés together - with pink walls, pink tables and coloured cushions - the chances of being kitsch are high. That's what happens with Ziggurat, in my opinion. I particularly didn't feel in Middle East. The extensive menu made me forget about the kitsch ambience and focus on the food. What makes Ziggurat interesting is that it offers dishes from every corner of Middle East - that includes countries less obvious them Morrocco, Siria, Algeria, Egipt and Libanum. Maybe you can try some recipe from Ethiopia or Pakistan. I liked the menu presentation. It's designed as a newspaper (Ziggurat Gazette) and there are some texts about Middle East cultures. I'm the kind of person who always read what's on the menu. If you like that, the gazette is nice to entertain you while you wait for your meal. Don't get that impressed with the amount of dishes possibilities, though. At first I said: "wow! It's 24h and it offers thousands of dishes from all these countries!". My husband told me he didn't believe it was possible to offer all that is there on the menu...well, I accused him of being negative, but when I told the waitress my first order, she said: "sorry, ma'am, it's not available". Then the same for my second choice. Hubby was right. We decided to order one of their best-sellers, so I would make sure it was available. As a starter, we had a Mezzo Mezze (hummus, muthabbah, jazar and mahroussa) with flat bread (kohbiz) and the Pakhistanese Bread called "roti". This one was definitely the best! I loved it. Then we shared a potato curry, which was tasty, but not extraordinary. For the main course I had a chicken shawarma and my husband had a kafta. He didn't like his, but my shawarma was tasty. To drink, I recommend their mango lassi. If you are curious enough, you can try one of their artisanal beers. Hubby had one from Ethiopia, with honey, which actually tasted like Coke for me.

Wohoo! I've been here last night and I can't stop talking about the food with my friends…read more Before Ziggurat, my middle eastern food experience is limited to just kebab and shawarma (Sad, I know). Even then, I didn't feel like the ones I've tasted are as authentic. Ziggurat just opened my eyes and palate to a whole new world. And while I really can't compare the food, cause I've been ignorant and haven't been exploring this food domain, the taste feels the real thing. Ziggurat's ain't going to get a Manila's Best Kept Restaurants award if it's not one of the best, if not the number 1 in nailing middle eastern food. I recommend going here if you like ambiance while dining. The restaurant's interior is designed with a patterned carpets, draped fabrics, throw pillows and low tables. People coming in are meant to remove their shoes and eat in a sitting position. Definitely going back to try other food from their menu! IT WAS SO GOOD. Me and my friends devoured the warm khobiz (flat bread) as soon as it was set on the table. We tried the hummus (pounded grabanzo beans with tahini) and mutabbal (grilled eggplant with tahini) for dips. We also got to taste the mixed kebab platter, made up of beef and chicken tikka and kulfeh. We also sampled their biryani and their lassi (a yogurt drink). The big star of the night was their lamb curry. It's unbelievable how creamy and rich it was! I only had a spoonful of that stuff but I wanted to mix a whole cup of rice with it. So gooooood!

My second time dining at Persia Grill. I've decided it's a solid 4 star. I'm a recent expat living…read morein BGC. Persian has always been a comfort food for me. My standard order os's babaganush and kubideh. The food itself is decent, although the babsganush was better spiced the first time. The service is standard Pinoy: usually attentive. The decor is a bit tired but definitely Persian. It's doing the job in terms of the comfort food vibe. Just wish it was a little more flavorful. Oh, try the iced tea. It's masarap! But be prepared to be up for hours... it's strong!

I was at the adjacent hotel when I saw a hookah in the window of Persia Grill. Desperate for…read morehookah, I took the chance and got some hookah, along with a pot of calamansi tea with honey. The calamansi tea was excellent, and the hookah was passable and much cleaner than the other hookah bars i visited, despite the lack of flavor selection.

Al Batra is probably one of the most underrated Mediterranean restaurants in manila. I hardly know…read moreanyone who knows about it but the food is superb and the service is very good! I'm no expert when it comes to Mediterranean food but everything I've tried there tasted good. I have tried the Hummus, most of the Kebabs, Lamb Pizza, Lamb Chop, Moutabal, Keema, probably a lot more and always the Shisha. Serving size is also very generous. However, what surprised and impressed me the most is this one waiter. His service was top notch!! He took care of our table as good as another would do with her child! Very attentive, good speaking skills, proper table service, always asked for comments on the food, he's probably in my top ten list of waiters I've ever had service from. Unfortunately I didn't get his name. I would recommend going to Al Batra if you have a craving for some good Mediterranean, Persian or Indian food. Or even for just a nightcap since they're open till late.

I picked up my friend from his work and we were both craving for Middle Eastern and Mediterranean…read morefood. Our first choice would have been Shawarma Snack Center in Malate, but tonight was a Friday night and we didn't want to have to go through the trouble of going all the way to Manila when Burgos and Makati Ave., with their profusion of Halal restaurants were just a couple city blocks away. I suggested Al Batra, because I remember eating here many times before and it was actually quite good. Tonight's visit, though, was a little underwhelming. It wasn't completely bad, though. The hummus is great, as always. I just love how creamy and silky smooth the hummus is, which is a great dip for their warm and fresh pita. The fun stopped there. My friend ordered for the mix grill, which had chicken chunks, mince chicken kebab and mince beef kebab, plus onions and grilled tomatoes. We thought it would at least be okay for sharing, since it was a bit expensive, but the serving was tiny and it wasn't satisfying at all. My friend and I were still hungry after the meal, so we went to a nearby (cheaper and better) restaurant to grab some more food.

One of the more decent options at SM Jazz, and it's Middle Eastern cuisine! (Small fist pump in the…read moreair. I wouldn't know how to take it if it was some kind of blasphemy towards Persian food. Like Kebabers on Katipunan was. Yech.) While they have a very) dubious color palette for their interior design, don't let that put you off. (I avoided the place for the first couple of times because of their colors... because honestly, it didn't look very appetizing to eat in there. I finally got over it and relented-- after all, who can't deny the siren call of kebabs for long?? Their kebabs were delicious, as is what you'd expect! But The Kebab Factory truly shines with their starters, especially the dip. I quite enjoyed their spinach pesto and baba ganoush. And their CURRIES. Dear, Lord. Explosion of spices in my mouth. I could finish one whole serving of rice just on the sauce ALONE. I thoroughly loved the chicken and fish curry, but have my reservations about the beef kofta. (It's not what you'd expect, honestly... I find the sauce of the beef kofta a bit too watery to really give a lot of flavor. ) The prices are a biiit too steep though. Their shawarmas value meals are priced at 250, while their curries and kebabs range from 300-400. But they're also good for sharing, so I guess it works out in the end.

Ever since I've gone vegan, one of the things I've sorely missed having is shawarma, so I'm glad to…read morehave come across this place that offers veggie meat shawarma options! We had veggie meat shawarma, which I found to be just okay (though a bit pricey at Php195 for a VEGGIE shawarma). I didn't find it to be astounding, but as far as shawarma goes, it's a good try and the portions are just average. The veggie meat they use was marinated, but don't expect it to taste like beef or meat at all (it does need a bit more flavoring, in my opinion). If you're vegan, do note that they use yogurt-based sauces for the shawarma, but you can request to have tahini sauce with your meal instead. I haven't sampled their falafels yet, and that's on my next agenda.