Sometimes, it can feel like a hassle to go out to eat. Fortunately, in Manila, you can conveniently order food and have it delivered right to your doorstep using apps like GrabFood and foodpanda. However, if you haven’t tried ordering from the restaurants on these apps, choosing can be overwhelming given the wide range of available options.
As a frequent user of these apps, I’ve decided to write an article recommending the best food and restaurants I’ve tried so far. This article is an ongoing list and may be updated randomly as I discover new favorites.
Note that the availability of some restaurants may vary depending on your location. Additionally, cloud kitchens are prevalent in Manila, meaning that some of these “restaurants” may not have a physical store and could even operate from the same kitchen location.
Table of Contents
Fried Chicken
Fried chicken is a staple in the Philippines—and probably worldwide—so I’m starting my list with this beloved dish. While you can always go with familiar fast food chains like Jollibee (the most famous Filipino fast food chain), Chowking (known for their Chinese-style fried chicken), McDonald’s, KFC, and Popeyes, I won’t be including them in this list.
The Crunch
Super cheap chicken. They sell chicken shots, chicken skin, and fried chicken, all with original flavor, but you can add sauces including Honey Garlic, K-Style, Teriyaki, Texas BBQ, and Cheesy Bacon.
- Price: ₱
- Taste: ✰✰✰
- Available on: GrabFood, foodpanda
Better Boneless
They specialize in boneless fried chicken with various flavors, including BB Bacon in Mozzarella, Orange Glazed, Garlic Parmesan Alfredo, Dakgangjeong, Smoked BBQ, Honey Garlic, Spicy Butter, and Original. They also sell Burrito Wraps and Burgers. A unique offering is the Double Whammy, which is a no-bun burger with two patties.
- Price: ₱₱
- Taste: ✰✰✰✰
- Available on: GrabFood
Soon Chicken
They specialize in Korean Boneless Chicken that is juicy and tender. There are lots of flavorings to choose from, including Cheese, Soy Garlic, Yangneom Spicy, Cheongyang Mayo, and Thai Chili. They also have rice bowls and Korean side dishes like Tteokbokki and Fried Mandu.
Soon Chicken is only in Banawe, Quezon City, so it might be out of the delivery area for many parts of Metro Manila.
- Price: ₱₱₱
- Taste: ✰✰✰✰
- Available on: GrabFood
99 Peso Sulit Chicken
True to its name, 99 Peso Sulit Chicken offers 99-peso Chicken Karaage Rice Bowls with different flavors, including Yangnyum, BBQ, Soy Garlic, and Gravy. They also offer for-sharing karaage—my favorite is the Garlic Aioli flavor.
- Price: ₱
- Taste: ✰✰✰
- Available on: GrabFood, foodpanda
Filipino Dishes
Next up are Filipino dishes. You can’t go wrong with these, especially if you’re a foreigner visiting Manila and want to try the local cuisine.
Recovery Food
True to its name, Recovery Food specializes in Filipino comfort food that brings back memories of home. Some of their bestsellers include rice bowls with Lechon Kawali (crispy deep-fried pork belly), Tapsilog (sweet-salty peppery beef, crunchy garlic rice, and a runny fried egg, a famous Filipino breakfast), and Arroz Caldo (rice and chicken soup gruel infused with ginger and garnished with toasted garlic, scallions, and black pepper).
- Price: ₱₱
- Taste: ✰✰✰✰
- Available on: GrabFood, foodpanda
Ka Pedro’s Food House
Ka Pedro’s Food House specializes in rich and savory Filipino dishes. Try their Pork Adobo (arguably the national dish of the Philippines), Sisig (chopped pig parts and chicken livers with a spicy and sour dressing), and Liempo (grilled pork belly). They are open 24 hours.
- Price: ₱
- Taste: ✰✰✰✰
- Available on: GrabFood
Chinese Cuisine
Jus and Jerrys
Another affordable spot for delicious Chinese food! My faves: Wonton, Chicken Poppers, and Fish Tenders.
- Price: ₱
- Taste: ✰✰✰✰
- Available on: GrabFood, foodpanda
Greyson’s Dimsum and Noodles
If you’re looking for generous portions of affordable dimsum and noodles, then try Greyson’s. My favorites include their Lumpia (spring rolls) and Pansit (Filipino noodle dish). Their Beef Wonton is also a must-try.
- Price: ₱
- Taste: ✰✰✰
- Available on: GrabFood, foodpanda
Thai Cuisine
Thai Mango by Chef Kim
I love Thai food, so pretty much any Thai restaurant is a win for me. But Thai Mango on GrabFood stands out. If you’re in the mood for Pad Thai, Sticky Mango Rice, or Thai Roti, you’ve got to try it.
- Price: ₱₱
- Taste: ✰✰✰✰
- Available on: GrabFood, foodpanda
Mexican Cuisine
Casa Crawford
Casa Crawford is a Modern Mexican cloud kitchen owned by celebrity couple Billy Crawford and Coleen Garcia. It features their personal favorite dishes. My top picks are the Three-Cheese Quesadilla, Carnitas Rice Bowl, and Sesame Chicken.
- Price: ₱₱₱
- Taste: ✰✰✰✰
- Available on: GrabFood, foodpanda
Fusion Cuisine
Blessed Bhiestro
Blessed Bhiestro specializes in fried chicken loaded with a variety of sauces, but my favorites are actually their Balsamic Chicken Wrap and Truffle Pasta.
- Price: ₱₱₱
- Taste: ✰✰✰✰
- Available on: GrabFood, foodpanda
Milk Tea
With milk tea stalls popping up everywhere, it’s clear that milk tea has become one of the most popular drinks in the Philippines. Here are five of my favorite spots and the drinks I love from each one.
Tealive
Tealive’s Ube Palamig Ni Bru drinks, featuring local Filipino flavors like Halo-Halo and Iskrambul, are a must-try! Don’t forget to also try their Toastea sandwiches!
- Price: ₱₱
- Taste: ✰✰✰✰
- Available on: GrabFood, foodpanda
Serenitea
I like their Fruit Juice, Wintermelon Milk Tea, and Lychee drinks. Also try their Chicken Chops!
- Price: ₱₱
- Taste: ✰✰✰✰
- Available on: GrabFood, foodpanda
Tiger Sugar
My favorite is their Mango Milk Tea, but I believe their signature drink is the Brown Sugar Milk Tea.
- Price: ₱₱
- Taste: ✰✰✰
- Available on: GrabFood, foodpanda
Coco
I’m in love with their Passion Fruit Tea Burst! But their most ordered drinks are 3 Buddies (milk tea with pearl, pudding, and grass jelly) and White Pearl Milk Tea.
- Price: ₱₱
- Taste: ✰✰✰✰
- Available on: GrabFood, foodpanda
Lucky Boba Milk Tea
This is my go-to spot for chocolate-flavored milk teas. Try their Belgian Chocolate, Dark Chocolate, and Hershey’s Chocolate milk tea drinks! I believe they also have one of the widest selections of milk tea flavors among milk tea shops here.
- Price: ₱₱
- Taste: ✰✰✰✰✰
- Available on: GrabFood, foodpanda
Bookmark this page—I’ll keep it updated with more food delivery recommendations!
Ron Lao is an engineering graduate with a passion for writing informative content and exploring new places, cultures, and food. He loves science, cats, badminton, and anything wellness-related.
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