Last Thursday June 18,2026As I Came Back From A Vacation Trip To Balabac Island Palawan West Philippine My Friend Mark & Denis have decided to have dinner in one of my favorite restaurant. As the usual we were waiting to be called to our table by the Staff And Have handed the menu so we have ordered and try some of the dish. As our food was delivered by the staff notice the serving was generous and food is really savory and tasty thats one of the reasons why i love dining on this restaurant and offcourse The Corteus And Friendly Staff. The Location And Business Operation As Open 24 Hours gives everybody a chance to enjoy the herlom dishes that they served As It Gives A Family Friendly Vibes. read more

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Since I could remember, THE Aristocrat RESTAURANT has been a regular go-to eatery for my family during most if not all visits to Manila, Philippines. Needless to say, during my November, 2024 vacation, I had to stop by here for a snack or meal which occurred on the evening of Wednesday, the 13th. Established in 1936, The Aristocrat is one of the oldest restaurants in Manila and historic landmark recognised by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines with a marker at this original location on Roxas Boulevard, recognizing its contribution to Philippine culinary history. An iconic spot famed for its homestyle Filipino delights like Lumpiang Shangahi (₱415), Crispy Pata (₱975), and Halo-halo (Blanco ₱160, Regular ₱180, and Specia l₱220), the long-loved brand has won the hearts of Filipinos across the country and is still a favourite up to this day. Situated in the vibrant Malate district, conveniently on Roxas Boulevard, the venue offers diners a picturesque view of Manila Bay, which adds to its charm. The place also has ample parking in the private lot and the interior design is clean and well-maintained. With the onsite bakeshop and store, bright lighting, and 24-hour service, The Aristocrat captures diner vibes while welcoming guests to a warm family-style setting with tables grouped together. Showcasing the best of Filipino culinary culture, the extensive menu at Aristocrat boasts bold, lively flavours served in satisfying portions. Signature dishes include the celebrated Chicken BBQ & Java Rice combination, widely considered "the best chicken barbecue in town," and the iconic Aristocrat Adobo Flying Saucer (₱190), a toasted, circular bread pocket filled with savoury chicken adobo. Each dish is thoughtfully presented and every bite serves as a rich celebration of Filipino cuisine. Below are some of what we ordered at my most recent visit: Fresh Lumpiang Ubod (₱175) - This was Uncle Bolo's order. He enjoyed the shredded ubod (heart of palm) sautéed with pork and shrimp, perfectly wrapped and generously poured with the savoury-sweet and thick peanut sauce topped with ground peanuts and fresh garlic. Crab & Corn Soup (₱98) - The thick, creamy broth filled with sweet corn kernels and shredded delicate crab meat was enjoyed for its warm, savoury flavor, mirroring traditional Filipino-Chinese comfort food. Fried Lumpiang Ubod (₱188) - I'm not a fan of lumpiang ubod, but those who ate this starter enjoyed the crispy texture of the eggroll, especially paired with the spiced vinegar. Gulaman at Sago (₱98) - The Filipino sweet, thirst-quenching iced beverage of gelatin cubes with chewy tapioca pearls in a brown sugar syrup was refreshing and beautiful in presentation. Kare Kare (₱925) - Each spoonful of this classic peanut-forward stew of beef and vegetables was full of flavour. Bistek Tagalog (₱450) - This classic, comforting rendition of the Filipino beef steak, featuring thinly sliced lean beef marinated in savoury soy sauce and tangy calamansi juice and topped with caramelized white onions was impressively tasty and tender. Pinakbet na Baboy (₱330) - This dish featuring a medley of vegetables - such as eggplant, green beans, and bittern melon - and pork sautéed in a savoury shrimp paste is one of Mom's favourites. Unfortunately, she wasn't super impressed with Aristocrat's version. Ginataang Laing (₱225) - This Filipino comfort dish of taro leaves and pork bits cooked in coconut milk and topped with shrimp and siling labuya (small, fiery chili pepper cultivar) was richly creamy, slightly spicy and deeply aromatic. 3-PC Chicken Barbecue (₱345) - This is Aristocrat's iconic dish, often cited as the flagship meal of the legendary Manila-based establishment. Their famous Chicken Barbecue is composed of three pieces of chicken (typically drumsticks and/or leg/thigh cuts) that are marinated, skewered, and grilled to a tender, juicy, and smoky finish. Served with Java Rice (a bright yellow-orange-coloured, savoury rice) and homemade Atsara (a Filipino pickled dish made from grated unripe green papaya) both of which bring out the tastiness of the smoky chicken. Pork Barbecue (₱300) - Two sticks of tender, marinated pork skewers grilled to perfection, typically served with Java Rice and Atsara. Dalyn replaced the Java Rice for white rice to complement the sweet, smoky bites of pork. Fresh Green Mango Shake (₱180) - My shake of fresh succulent green mango fruit blended with light syrup and crushed ice was a perfect balance of tangy and sweet - YUM! THE Aristocrat RESTAURANT's warm, polite and attentive service with nostalgic ambiance and delectable, well-presented dishes have made the establishment a beloved spot for both locals and tourists alike, a must-visit for the heart and soul of authentic Filipino fare. read more

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The Aristocrat checks a lot of boxes for me. Storied history, check. Authentic local food from old generation family recipes, check. Open 24 hours per day for the jet-lagged visitor, check. Plus, a menu with such numerous good choices that I could eat there for weeks and not order the same thing twice. Check! This is a nice restaurant by Filipino standards. Brightly lit, indoors and air conditioned, it is serviced by numerous uniform-wearing employees and has ability to take credit cards. While it is not expensive by US standards, it is about 2.5 times more pricey than it is to eat the same local dishes from a street vendor or open air, sweat-shop carinderia. The best reason for me to come here is to develop a flavor profile and understanding of local dishes based on what many locals consider to be recipes meeting a gold standard. After all, these recipes are well over a generation old and were from the home collection of Aling Asiang who is often considered the Mother of Filipino cuisine. That history is hard to match. This was my first visit and I had a very tough time deciding what to eat. I loved the Sinigang na Baboy with its fork tender pork ribs and thick, slightly sour broth tasting a bit of fermentation. But the star of the night for me was the Beef Dinuguan. Knowing it is a local style of Blood Stew had me prepared for an irony taste which was non-existent. In fact, had you blindfolded me, I would have told you that I was eating melting cubes of beef in a rich, thick gravy with almost mocha-like components to it and velvety mouthfeel. I bit of chili/vinegar to cut the viscosity and spooned over rice and I'll be damned if I did not pretty much lick that bowl clean. I would elect to fly the 19 hrs from home without even blinking just to have a late night bowl of that again. And again. I'm not kidding, it was that good. While the food was the star, the service was a little more on the mediocre side of things. The staff were friendly and polite. Just a bit haphazard and inefficient. It took me a while to get their attention to place an order and again to get my check and the restaurant was not crowded. I think that they were just distracted and having a good time with each other while at work which was nice to see but does seem to put the customer second and prevents it from getting all the stars in my review. Nevertheless, I generally am not going to places primarily because of the servers. For me, it's all about food authenticity and The Aristocrat has that, for sure. I would definitely return even if I had to serve myself if that tells you what I really think of the place. From my tourist perspective, if you are in the area and want a great introduction to the local comfort foods, this is a really good spot that will help you fill that knowledge gap. From my insider perspective, don't miss the Dinuguan. My only regret was that I was not in Manila long enough to go back for another visit. :( read more

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One thing I wanted to do when I was in Manila was to get some good filipino barbeque items but was wary about going to food stalls for fear about food poisoning since it has been a long while since I have been out of the US. My partner's family took us out to Manila City and I got what I had been waiting for. The restaurant is MASSIVE. Great for parties and large groups. There were multiple celebrations happening all around the restaurant it seemed like, with tons of people just flying around the venue; a bit hectic to the point where I could probably get lost in there if I was bumped the wrong way. The food was incredible. Her relatives ordered literally everything imaginable: pork bbq skewers, sinigang, stews, shrimp sizzling plate, pancit, gravy, and supposedly the famous crispy bbq chicken. My favorites were the bbq pork of course and it was so good, better than most pork bbq you can get at filipino-american restaurants. read more

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I was there with family last Tuesday Oct. 28th for my last meal in Manila before I go back to USA, we ordered Lumpiang Sariwa and side of Pork barbecue, let me tell you these were the best I have ever tasted while vacationing, my brother ordered boneless chicken barbecue with Java rice it was excellent, Pancit Canton and lumpiang shanghai is also a hit. Although we were told it's about 25 mins wait for foods to arrive, it came out pretty fast. Service is good and the staffs are friendly and the ambiance is superb, this really takes you back in time. I would go back in a heartbeat if I was only about 2 hrs away. I guess I have to go back when I visit again. Love love the foods it was delicious! read more

The Aristocrat - Pancit canton, lumpiang shanghai, lumpiang sariwa, boneless barbecue chicken with jave rice and ensaladang with bagoong and pritong talong. - Bakeries Near Me - Manila, NCR

The family was in the area and we decided on having a meal at a historical location: Aristocrat on a weekday during the evening. First timer here. We had a party of 9 and were seated immediately. I did not venture far but observed a large amount of seating and workers. There were quite a bit of people that night, and as such I appreciated seeing all those who worked there going back and forth between tables on the fly with every request. We ordered a plethora of food - lumpia, chicken, fried rice, ginataang laing, pancit bihon, ampalay con carne, camaron rebosado and sisig (may have left something out). We all enjoyed our food - the only dish that I personally ordered was sisig and - everyone that tried it was very disappointed in it hence knocking it down one star. Overall however, the experience was pleasant and much props to the workers and how hard they were working with the amount of people that were being served that night. read more

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Just got back from a quick weekend in Manila and hit up The Aristocrat for dinner on our last night--jet lag had us starving at like 11 p.m., and thank God this place never closes. Walked in and it felt like stepping into a living museum of Pinoy comfort food: those old black-and-white photos everywhere, the framed stories about Aling Asiang, the whole spot just humming with locals and travelers alike. We loaded up the table with the classics--boneless chicken barbecue that was smoky-sweet perfection, dripping with that thick peanut sauce, a mountain of java rice to soak it all up, sizzling sisig that popped with every bite, and their halo-halo to finish because why not go full send? Everything tasted like someone's lola spent hours perfecting it: bold flavors, generous portions, nothing skimpy. The staff hustled hard even with the late crowd, refilling calamansi juice without us asking and keeping things warm and welcoming. It's not flashy or Instagram-fancy, but that's exactly why it's so good--it's real, hearty Filipino home cooking done right in a place that's been doing it forever. Left full, happy, and already missing it. Easily the best meal of the trip. Five stars all the way. read more

Just landed in Manila after a long flight and needed something comforting and real--no fancy tourist trap. Friends had raved about The Aristocrat, so we headed straight there late one evening. The place is huge, buzzing with families and groups, walls covered in old photos and memorabilia that tell the story of this iconic spot started by Aling Asiang back in the day. It's got that classic, homey Filipino vibe--bright, air-conditioned, and open 24/7, which was perfect for our jet-lagged crew. We went all in: the legendary boneless chicken barbecue (sweet, tangy, charred just right with that killer peanut sauce), java rice that's somehow addictive, lumpiang shanghai crispy and packed with flavor, and a big bowl of dinuguan that was rich, velvety, and way better than I expected--no off-putting irony, just deep, comforting goodness over steaming rice. Portions are generous, everything came out fast despite the crowd, and the staff kept things moving with smiles even when it got hectic. Ended with halo-halo to cool down--layers of everything good. It's not just food; it's like stepping into Filipino food history. Authentic, satisfying, and reasonably priced for what you get. Already planning my next visit before we even left. If you're in Manila craving the real deal, this is it. Five stars, no question--thank you for the amazing meal! read more

The original Aristocrat in Manila. A lot of spacing to eat and the even appear to have a conference area. The do Borthdays, Wessings, Baptismal, catering, meetings and Corporate Events. There Facebook account is @TheOriginalAristocrat read more

Still the ORIGINAL and the BEST! Always a staple when I'm visiting Manila. It never fails to satisfy my craving for good old barbecue. They offer 3 pcs bone-in chicken BBQ, pork BBQ, boneless chicken among other Filipino dishes. They have changed packaging from boxes to plastic partitioned containers but flavour remains the same. This location has been there for decades and the fame and popularity never fades. Will always come back for more. read more

The Aristocrat - Chicken BBQ (no rice option) - Bakeries Near Me - Manila, NCR

The food flavor never changed since the 60's. Always celebrate special occasions like birthdays, graduations. I really liked the bbq chicken with Java rice and the peanut dip is delicious. Every time I go home I go straight to this branch before going to the house.service was great and service crew was attentive, and ambience is good. Minimum noises just excited relatives welcoming their balikbayan relatives. I recommend this particular place. read more

This Aristocrat location isn't just a restaurant, it's a Filipino staple and must-visit if you're visiting the Philippines. Their signature Filipino dishes are legendary - every bite bursts with flavor, a testament to generations of perfected recipes. But the magic goes beyond the food. Step inside and you're enveloped in a warm, nostalgic ambiance. It's comfy and clean, a place where memories are made. Several function rooms make it the perfect venue for any gathering, big or small. And you can see Manila Bay across the street... The entire staff, from the waiters with genuine smiles to the friendly parking lot security guards, embodies Filipino hospitality at its finest. Their warmth makes everyone feel welcome, like they're part of the family. It's no wonder we love it here - it's a true taste of Filipino tradition, served with a heaping helping of genuine care. Definitely order family-style to share! We went with the Kare-Kare, Bulalo, Sotanghon Guisado, Sinigang na Baboy, Crispy Pata, Lumpiang Ubod Sariwa and Lumpia served with Steamed White Rice (of course!). Make sure that you leave room for their delicious Halo-Halo and their world famous bakeshop next door. Talk about amazing Filipino desserts! This location was my favorite one and it's an experience that stays with you long after the last bite. I absolutely LOVE The Aristocrat! read more

Came in to try the food for my wife who has never been to the Philippines. We were the first to be seated in the room and ordered promptly. New groups came in after we did and all were served before we did. They blamed it on an error in the system even though we were given a receipt to monitor our orders. Unacceptable service and no accountability for their actions when asked what happened. If i could give negative stars, I would read more

After 5 years from my last visit, I was surprised that it is still full packed by mostly balikbayans, local and foreign tourists. But, still was able to get a table for two. Had a good time enjoying all the food we ordered at very reasonable price. They don't hurry up to finish your meal. Just take your time and enjoy the food and conversation. I recommend this place for foreign tourists especially. Good food and clean place to meet up! read more

For a restaurant in Manila, on Roxas Boulevard with a view of Manila Bay, I think this place is still on its way to match with some of the 4 and 5 star restaurants in the in the city. The service was was decent, but didn't satisfy my expectations of Filipino hospitality. It appeared that the two times we visited the waiters and waitresses were struggling to find seats and tables. We asked how long it would take to be seated, but they just kept saying "hold on, not long". Not long was about 30 - 40 minutes to be seated. If they told us the length of wait, we could have found another restaurant or rescheduled. The food was ok. But nothing I would take pictures of or would want to return to. However, the place was clean, air conditioned, and conveniently located close to the office buildings, so we came back twice. read more

Yelp for the aristocrat Imagine this: it's a warm day in the middle of March, it's you first time in the Philippines and you can't wait to try your first bite of some delicious Filipino food! There's so many places to choose from in Manila and you wander into The Aristocrat. At first you get the feeling that this is where they serve family style dishes by the way all the tables are grouped together. Which is true! You also get the feeling that this is like a super corporate chain restaurant that doesn't really give you a welcoming vibe that makes you feel like you're in the Philippines. Also true. You take a seat, you look at the menu and see they have all the traditional Filipino eats! Excited, you get greeted by your server who was welcoming but very transactional You order the famous Lechón Kawai, rice and some puto for a little sweetness to break up the flavors. They let you know it will take 25-30 minutes to serve :( okay... (Luckily it didn't take that long cuz you're starving!) After getting your food, you pour the gravy over the lechón and you take a bite, instantly you melt to the floor from the delicious flavor & texture from this crispy skinned pork belly. It was delicious, the puto was just the right amount of sweet and the rice, just like grandma makes. All these things were true BUT I soon realized there was lechón around the city that was far better and will take you to another dimension. All in all I'd say the service was ok, not super welcoming and felt as transactional as a McDonald's The food was good, but definitely have had better for the same price The ambiance, let's just say it was missing some soul. Everything was clean but wasn't super comfortable. This place was definitely designed to make money and not much else. That said, does it scratch the itch for Filipino food? Yes But it does leave a lot to be desired. Luckily, you're in Manila and there is plenty more to be had. read more

The Aristocrat - Lechón & White Rice - Bakeries Near Me - Manila, NCR

super sarap dito kaya dito gusto kumain ng fam namin lagi e five star ka sa akin tapos ang babait pa ng mga nag sserved

super duper tagal ng servings, like water nalang aabot pa ng 20mins lao ung bill out anlala waittngs malala

I grew up eating in this restaurant and the food hasn't changed from then until now. I was happy to dine here again after decades of living in the US, and I'm so glad I was able to introduce this to my family who were vacationing with me. Keywords: Filipino dishes, original location, nostalgic. A must when dining in Manila. read more

It's been about 20 years since I've been at the aristocrat- and my what a huge change! They must be going through some renovations or just completed because the restaurant was very bright and had air conditioning! We had a party of 10 and ordered: Crispy Pata x 2 Bulalo x 2 Pancit x 2 Fried fish (I forgot) Chop suey x 2 I was a big fan of the bulalo and chop suey. They did a great job. My family loved the crispy oats and almost ordered a 3rd one. read more

The Aristocrat - Bakeries Near Me - Manila, NCR

Had their staple dish. 3 pc bbq chicken. In a nutshell, the chicken was cooked to perfection, juicy tender and snappy. The flavor went through and through and every bite kept getting better. Paired with their Java rice, it's the perfect combo. The Java rice has a slight sweetness to it but more so savory that dominates towards the end. Mango banana smoothie was my first time tasting that combination and I gotta say, what a refresher that was. Not overwhelmingly sweet. Tastes both fruits and it seems to be the only two things. No additives or concentrates. I had two lol. read more

Delicious meals are tasty and appetizing.. chicken is great very flavorful and smells so good.. the tenderness i really love it.. Very enjoyable meal, friendly & helpful staff. read more

The Aristocrat - ambiance are so nice and the food is so great.. superb - Bakeries Near Me - Manila, NCR

I swore off Aristocrat for decades because it seemed it was the only place to stop at for grub after getting off a flight. Not that their food is bad, I just had it way too often that I simply got tired of it. I would rather wait an hour to get out of the general area of Manila and eat at one of those stops on NLEX. But our family of about 20 found ourselves in this area to attend an event at the nearby church. We all arrived way too early, so we decided to kinda separate in groups to do a little exploring. Lunch wasn't going to be for another couple of hours at least and my party of 5 had a little bit of hunger pangs. And that's how we ended up here: just for a snack. SIZZLING GAMBAS: It didn't look that appetizing, but Big Bro and I were surprised how delicious it was! We were completely fooled by its lackluster appearance. This is a must have! LUMPIA: GodNiece's choice. Nothing special, I've had better for sure. DAING BREAKFAST: Pops decided he was hungry enough for a breakfast plate. I didn't get the chance to try it, but it came with a drink. But it's more like a shot (see attached picture.) He finished his entire serving, so I guess he liked it. FOOD: 3.5 SERVICE: 2.5. Needs work. There were at least three of them in our area (including our server) and not one was easy to flag for extras. VALUE: 3. Fair for what they're charging. PARKING: Street, semi-private. Not really sure what the arrangements are here... OVERALL: 3. It was an okay experience. Still not coming back anytime soon for reasons cited earlier... but I hope that doesn't hinder anyone. Don't knock it 'til you try it! read more

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The food is good but don't take their promos because instead of getting more to your senior discount, you will get none for the grand total. You will just be vat free which is a lot less..in short beware of their buy 1 take one promos. read more

Excellent food. A lot of variety to choose from. Great to bring balikbayans who misses filipino food. Excellent service. Something to look forward too everyday for great food. Their cakes are also great. read more

BEST BBQ IN THE PHILIPPINES! All I could think about before and on the flight over from LA was how much I wanted to eat Aristocrat! I arrived at MNL at around 9-10PM and we headed straight over here. The place had lots of parking and the restaurant was crowded but had a few tables left open. The only complaint I had at that time was the service, it was a bit slow since they were busy. The price was the best part of all of this, total was less than $10 per person with tip! I ordered the Boneless Bbq (Php 190)($3.56) with Java Rice, Sotanghoon Soup (Php 70)($1.13) and Leche Flan (Php 160)($3) for dessert. The Bbq was cooked perfectly, it was moist and tender and it came with a packet of sweet bbq sauce. The soup was yummy and hot, but a bit oily. The Flan was a perfect dessert to end the night, it was light and the sweetness was just right. read more

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Always booming. I live down the street. The food is fairly basic and well done, consistent. Cakes. Service is great. They have a long history dating back to before WWII at their Roca Blvd Service Road location. Nice park next door and old church back on the far corner. Malate/Remedios Church Rainbow crosswalk could use more durable paint. There are a series of other raretors circling the park. Enjoy. read more

Since 1928 this place is a old Filipino establishment. The review is really about their famous chicken on a stick. Though the meat is non discernible from other bbq meats. It was tender with a delish glaze and charred to perfection. Eggs sunny up was over cooked and meh. Adobo that came with was also food compliment. Service is minimal. Cash only too. read more

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Our family had so much fun at this well-regarded restaurant! The food and service was superb!

This was a complete joke. I couldn't believe it. After the hype and everything I've heard about this restaurant, I finally got a chance to visit and boy was it a mess. First off, there's no one to help you with your seating. Employees just walk by and don't even acknowledge your presence. I had to go up to someone and ask for a table. We got our orders down but we waited a whole hour!!! This was getting out of hand. Our drinks even took 20 mins! LIKE WTH?? I asked multiple servers but there was no clear answer. There were only like 15 people dining in total at 7-8am!! THIS MADE ME MAD! I couldn't take it so I talked to their manager and complained. Our food literally came about 5 mins after which was good but our food was just ridiculous on all levels. WHY did it take over an hour for two pieces of meat, sunny-side eggs and a slice of tomato?? NOT ACCEPTABLE. I don't recommend anyone coming here. It's gross, messy service, and just an overall bad experience. If you do come, prepare to wait an hour or more. read more

This is my to go place when ever i go home... all of my favorite dish are here. Currently they are duing renovation, staff are friendly. I would always consider going back. read more

Service was great. Ribs were cut down the middle in half with the rib tips. Tough chew to ribs but the sauce was good to cover the meat quality. The chicken was also dry for leg and thigh so disappointing after the long drive. Ambiance was nice with window seat. read more

The chicken is tender, juicy, and smothered in a tangy, sweet, and spicy BBQ sauce that will leave you craving more. I opted for the barbeque chicken, and it was absolute perfection. The portion size is generous, to say the least - I ended up taking some home for lunch the next day (and devouring it all). read more

Very good food and bakeshop. But the service is not good. Our food arrived after 45 minutes , after how many times of follow up, coz all our close by tables are already served while we are still waiting for our order to arrive. read more

Great food. The service is great. The environment is peaceful. Everything seems to be fine when we dine in here.

Been a GO-TO to all Filipinos from all walks of Life. Nostalgic to Baby Boomers. Food is great as well as service.

I had lunch there with descendants of the original owner and while eating, I also got a history lesson on the restaurant (did y'all know it started out as a food truck). I had no idea what to try, so the food was ordered for me. Everything I tried was delicious!!! Unfortunately I don't remember the name of each dish, but I'll post pictures. The wait staff was also extremely attentive. When I visit the Philippines again, I will definitely dine here! read more

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Service was very slow, no personality. Barbecue pork was good but cold. Wife's soup was in a 1 inch deep bowl. Would not come back. read more

The Aristocrat - Don't know what kind of rice that was nasty. - Bakeries Near Me - Manila, NCR

It was disgusting. Didn't finish anything and even spit out some of it. I'm a foreigner and my coworker Filipina. She didn't like it either.

Ambience & Service: Restaurant is spacious but very full at dinner time. Long business hours is a big plus here. Servers are friendly but at our last visit, they took awhile to serve one missing order of Gulaman at Sago. Food: We usually order Pork Barbecue, Chicken Barbecue, Chicken Honey, Clubhouse Sandwich, and Crab Foo Yeong. Whether it's dine-in or deliver, the food quality's always good. Barbecues - have epic java sauce (also sold separately). Make sure to check your barbecue; sometimes it's undercooked inside. Chicken Honey - has excellently thin and crunchy skin Clubhouse Sandwich - can serve 1-4 people (each triangle cut being tall). Gulaman at Sago - sweet & just right Pinakbet - BEST veggies ever! read more