Manila - The Rough Guide to the Philippines - page 89

sister restaurant, North Park Noodles , which has a similar
menu at the same low prices. Fantastic value - almost
everything is under P200 (dim sum P60-110, noodles in
soup P150 to P195 and fried rice P200). Daily 24hr.
Shinjuku Ramen House 7853 Makati Ave at Hercules
St T 02 890 6107; map p.88. Some of the best Japanese
noodles ( ramen ) in the city, with a vast choice ranging
from basic miso ramen (P295) to more fancy pork and
mushroom versions (P380). Daily 10am-1am.
Top Dish 4890 Durban St, near P. Burgos St T 02 758
1122; map p.88. The best hole-in-the-wall Korean
restaurant in town, open late and with reasonable prices
(P120-150 for noodles), big portions and excellent kimchi
(pickled cabbage). Daily 3pm-4am.
Ziggurat G/F Sunette Tower Building (entrance at
Euphrates at Tigris Streets) T 02 897 5179, W ziggurat
cuisine.com; map p.88. A seemingly endless menu
featuring exotic dishes from all over the Middle East,
Mediterranean and East Africa (try the mezze combos from
P650), with flavoured hookahs to round things off. Count
on about P220-380 for main dishes. Open 24hr.

between Ortigas and Quezon City, this is arguably the best
Chinese restaurant in the city, part of the Shanghai-based
Bellagio group and best known for its magnificent
Taiwanese food, pork buns and xiaolong bao (pork
dumplings; P248). Daily 11am-3pm & 6-11pm.

1

QUEZON CITY
Quezon City is a burgeoning alternative to Makati and
the Manila Bay area for restaurants and nightlife.
Most of the restaurants are on Tomas Morato Ave, which
runs north and south from the roundabout outside
the Imperial Palace Suites hotel. To get to Quezon from
the south of the city (from Malate and Makati, for
example), you can take the MRT and get off either at
Kamuning station or Quezon Avenue station, a journey
of about 25min.
Behrouz 63 Scout Tobias St, off Timog Ave T 02 374
3242; map p.82. Great late-night hole-in-the-wall snack
place, run by a family of Iranians who cook authentic food,
though alcohol isn't served. The lamb kebabs, beef kobideh
(ground-beef kebab) and aubergine-based moutabal (a bit
like baba ghanoush) are all superb - reckon on P200-300
for a meal. Cash only. Daily 11am-5am.
Gerry's Grill Tomas Morato Ave at Eugenio Lopez
Drive T 02 415 9514, W gerrysgrill.com; map p.82.
This is the original outlet of the now popular chain,
serving provincial Filipino dishes such as crispy pata
(pig's knuckle; P465) and sisig (fried pig's ear and
pig's face; P196). Mon-Thurs 10am-2am, Fri & Sat
10am-3am, Sun 10am-1am.
★

BONIFACIO GLOBAL CITY FORT BONIFACIO
Abe Restaurant Serendra Plaza, Bonifacio Global City
T 02 856 0526; map pp.60-61. Most taxi drivers will
know this much-loved Filipino restaurant (Pampanga-
style), with the two highlights Abe's chicken supreme
(chicken stuffed with galapong rice, chestnuts and raisins;
P895 for two) and mutton adobo with popped garlic
(P410). Other dishes utilize forest ferns, banana plant, tiny
crabs and fabulous pork knuckle. Daily 11am-3pm &
5pm-midnight.
★

Lydia's Lechon 126 Timog Ave T 02 921 1221,
W lydias-lechon.com; map p.82. The lechon at this local
favourite is delicious (especially the boneless variety
stuffed with paella), but the secret is the sauce, a sweet,
barbecue concoction that will have you hooked. The meat
is priced at around P750/Kg; P190 for a quarter kilo. Daily
9am-9pm.
Pancit ng Taga Malabon G/F Food Center, TriNoma
Mall, EDSA T 02 703 2229, W pancitngtagamalabon
.com; map p.82. The chain that claims descent from the
original “pancit Malabon” stall in the 1890s, when the
addictive concoction of oysters, squid, shrimp, smoked fish
( tinapa ), chicharon , crab and duck eggs over thick rice
noodles and golden sauce (P85) became known as “ pancit
bame ” - Malabon was the location of the stall and has
since been applied to noodle dishes nationwide. Mon-
Thurs 10am-9pm, Fri-Sun 10am-10pm.
Yakimix 270 Tomas Morato Ave at Scout Limbaga St
T 02 332 8073; map p.82. This all-you-can-eat Japanese
and Korean food buffet is a fabulous deal (P520 lunch
and P620 dinner; P660 dinner Sat & Sun). Add P60 to drink
as much San Miguel as you like. Daily 11am-2pm &
5.30-10.30pm.

Aubergine 32nd & 5th Bldg, 5th Ave at 32nd St
T 02 856 9888, W aubergine.ph; map pp.60-61. The
best reason to jump in a taxi and head over to Fort
Bonifacio, this top-notch restaurant and patisserie delivers
fresh ingredients and crisp flavours; the French-inspired
international menu features slow-cooked Norwegian
salmon (P1160), honey-glazed French duck breast (P1350)
and Australian lamb rack (P1650). Daily 11.30am-2pm &
6-10pm.

ORTIGAS AND GREENHILLS
★

Frazzled Cook 916 Luna Mencias St (near Shaw
Blvd), Addition Hills T 02 725 3354; map pp.60-61.
Shabby-chic purveyor of legendary paella negra (P400
for two people), a short taxi ride west of Ortigas proper.
Serves an otherwise eclectic menu including squash
soup (P130), spicy lamb stew (P400) and scampi pizza
(P320). Daily 11am-10.30pm.
Lugang Café 115 Connecticut St, Northeast Greenhills,
San Juan (Santolan MRT) T 02 542 0196, W lugangcafe
.com.ph; map pp.60-61. Tucked away in Greenhills,