Since Makati is known as the central business district of the Philippines, it’s no surprise that the area is packed with diverse food options. With countless employees, employers, and investors frequenting Makati, one of the best ways to unwind during or after a busy day is by indulging in some delicious food!
Before diving into this list, note that most of these recommendations come from my personal experience or suggestions from my officemates. Some also have detailed reviews available on my blog.
Makati Restaurants by Cuisine
Filipino Restaurants in Makati
Makati offers a wide variety of Filipino restaurants, but if you’re looking to enjoy Filipino dishes in a more upscale setting, I recommend Abuela’s. Their food presentation is truly unique.
On the other hand, if you’re in the mood for a boodle fight experience and want to learn a bit of Philippine history, Dekada is the place to be. Their menu is inspired by Filipino heroes who played significant roles in the country’s history.
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- Abuela’s
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- Dekada
Another restaurant worth trying is Sentro 1771. They offer sinigang na corned beef, a surprising twist on the classic Filipino sour soup, which is traditionally made with pork. You might wonder how corned beef works in sinigang — well, the only way to find out is to give it a try!
To learn more about Filipino cuisine, check out my article: Getting to Know the Food in the Philippines.
Chinese Restaurants in Makati
I wasn’t really a huge fan of Chinese cuisine until I started working with a Chinese boss and officemates. Here are a few Chinese restaurants in Makati that I’ve tried — popular spots where many Chinese locals dine. You might even notice that some Filipino servers can speak basic Chinese.
One of the standout experiences is enjoying hot pot, which I ended up loving! While I can’t pinpoint a single must-try dish (since the ingredients just keep coming), I can say this — be cautious with the spicy hot pot. It’s REALLY spicy!
- Happy Hot Pot
- Shrimp Master Food Inc
- Jiang Nan Hot Pot
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- Happy Hot Pot
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- Jiang Nian
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- Shrimp Master Food
For my Filipino readers, I recommend Peking Garden if you’re willing to splurge a bit. On the other hand, if you’re looking for something more budget-friendly, Hawker Chan is an excellent choice — both are delicious!
I haven’t personally tried Din Tai Fung Xiaolongbao Bar, but it’s been trending on my social feeds for quite some time. Meanwhile, Luk Foo Cantonese Kitchen has a fancy vibe, yet their menu is surprisingly pocket-friendly.
Last but definitely not least, my officemates and I always order the kutchay pork dumplings from Lao Beijing for delivery. Whenever we had to stay late at the office, this became our go-to comfort food — the dumplings are so good and really large!
Korean Food in Makati
I had a Korean boss back in 2016, which meant I often dined at Korean restaurants since our clients were also Korean. While I’ve eaten at several places, I can’t fully evaluate the food because I was often busy organizing 100-day celebrations (a Korean tradition for a baby’s 100th day) and birthday events for kids.
Kaya Korean Restaurant on Jupiter Street is a great choice if you’re hosting an event, as they have a function room perfect for gatherings. Meanwhile, San Sung Korean Restaurant was our go-to caterer whenever my boss rented an events place and needed food service. Although I haven’t visited their physical store in Poblacion, I’ve had their food — it’s authentic, and Koreans really enjoy it.
Dong Won Restaurant was conveniently located near my former office. Sometimes, our boss would treat us there, and eventually, my officemates and I became so familiar with the menu that we’d sneak off for lunch to enjoy samgyupsal, bulgogi, japchae, tteokbokki, and kimbap.
If you’re craving the classic Korean combo of chicken and beer — just like in K-dramas — head to Big Mama Restaurant. Their chicken is fantastic, and the beer mugs are huge, so pace yourself! Don’t feel intimidated if you see groups of Koreans hanging out here — they’re just enjoying their own space. The staff are friendly as well.
Now that samgyupsal has become a craze here in the Philippines, here are a couple of unlimited samgyupsal restaurants I’ve personally tried. Yes, I’ve tried them all!
- Samgyupsalamat
- Romantic Baboy
- Jinjoo
- Kozi Kozi
Korean desserts are quite pricey. But it’s a must-try. If you want patbingsu or known as a shaved ice dessert with toppings, try Hobing Korean Dessert. If you want to have a soft-serve ice cream, try Kiss the Tiramisu
Japanese Food in Makati
When it comes to Japanese food, I may not have had a Japanese boss, but there’s one restaurant I can confidently recommend — Mitsuyado Sei-Men. My college friend worked as a manager there for quite some time, and she can confirm that they have many Japanese customers. We often dine there as well because their hand-pulled noodles are incredibly good!
If you find yourself in Century Mall, I highly recommend trying Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen.
Indonesian Food in Makati
Would you believe I’ve had Indonesian officemates, too? Don’t bother asking how old I am or how many offices I’ve transferred to — what you should be curious about is the presence of Indonesian food in the Philippines!
If you’re a fan of kwetiao goreng and pempek, the best place to visit is Warung Indo. Their dishes are reasonably priced, typically ranging from ₱100 to ₱350.
If you’re craving a comforting bowl of soup, try ordering bakmi from Bakmi Makati. They have a Facebook page where you can check their menu and place orders.
For Indonesian food delivery, you can also check out Bakmi Nyonya and Komunistas.
Lastly, if you’re into discovering hidden gems, Unitry is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant that offers a variety of authentic Indonesian dishes.
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- Kwetiao goreng
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- Pempek
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- Bakmie
I did not expect I would love Indonesian food so bad! It has a rich flavor!
Thai Food in Makati
I haven’t had much opportunity to explore Thai restaurants in Makati, but thanks to my Thai officemate, I have some great recommendations for you: Soi in Glorietta and Simply Thai in Greenbelt.
For the best experience, I suggest ordering their tom yum soup, Thai papaya salad (som tam/pokpok), and of course, Pad Thai.
There you have it! I hope you enjoyed reading my post. For more restaurant reviews in Makati, feel free to scroll down below.
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. Due to pandemic, the operations of the restaurants mentioned may have been affected at this challenging times.
