As you enter Swagat, it felt like entering into a dining room in a suburban Indian home with Indian decorations and matching indian music to complete the ambiance. How would you know that it is Indian? It felt like it, and Komal with husband Sanjay Khanchandani would make you feel welcome to their home. Swagat means welcome in Hindi.
This place should be called Indian Gourmet because of the fresh and home made ingredients Komal used for the dishes. She makes her own masalas which is “an intricate combination of freshly ground spices and herbs, each combination devised to suit a particular dish.” (source: About Swagat). She makes her own yogurt, paneer (cheese) and bakes her own breads. She cooks all the meal herself in Swagat where you can feel how “clean” the food is. Clean in the sense that it is not greasy, the ingredients are not overpowering one another, and you can taste the spices without any unwanted flavorings like MSG.
Swagat deserves the reputation it earned from the foodie community that it is the best authentic Indian Restaurant in Makati today. The best part is, it is affordable with most dishes in the less than P200 range not to mention it is situated at the heart of Legaspi Village in Makati.
If you have not eaten in Swagat, you should try it because it serves the type of Indian food that Filipinos would love.
Bhel Puri (P90) An extremely popular mix of puffed rice and sev with various chutney.
We’ve never eaten this anywhere and my wife (who does not appreciate Indian food right now) loves this appetizer this. The best description I can provide is that it taste like Rice Crispies with the Indian spicy hot touch. It is the first time I’ve tasted sev and it was a wonderful surprise. We will definitely order this one the next time. We actually ask if there was Hummus but apparently, it is not Indian in origin so they don’t have it in the menu.
Swagat Menu:
Hot Appetizers
Rice Biryani and Shrimps Specialties
Veg Rice and Indian Bread Specialties
Paneer and Mushroom Specialties
Vegetarian Dish and Yogurt Specialites
Fish and Egg Specialties
Vegetarian Specialties
For clearer descriptions, here is the menu from the official swagat site.
Sangam Biryani (P200). Lean, tender pieces of chicken, lamb, cooked with freshly ground herbs and spices in cream mughlai sauce with Indian Rice, garnished with nuts and raisins.
The best thing about this is that it does not feel heavy when you eat it. But it feels a complete meal with each of the ingredients carefully selected and the sauce is absorbed by the rice.
Roghan Josh. Goat Meat cooked with cream & butter & flavored spices.
You can taste the freshness of the sauce and it did not feel that they reheat this from the freezer. You cannot see the ingredients used but you can taste the mixed herbs and spices blended intimately with the goat meat. The meat was tender and soft and very tasty. There was not greasy or malansa feeling when you eat this. We finished it even the sauce as if we licked the plate clean because the sauce alone can be a meal with the rice.
Chai (Milk Tea) and Kulfi Homemade Indian Ice Cream with nuts & pistas.
The Indian Ice Cream was interesting and something different. It is not something that I would crave for and order again next time. There has no greasy or cream taste to it and maybe that’s why we wouldn’t rave about this.
Swagat Indian Cuisine
119 FCC Building, Rada Street,
Legaspi Village, Makati City
Phone: (632) 752-5669
Open from 9:00 a.m to 11:00 p.m.
(Monday to Sunday)
Email: kkhanchandani2000@yahoo.com
Official Website: Swagat Indian Cuisine
Komal and Sanjay Khanchandani with Aidan. Meeting and talking with Komal and Sanjay is part of the overall experience in Swagat. Don’t be intimidated by them because they are extremely friendly. Thanks Komal!
I love swagat! 🙂 My friends and I can’t get enough of their Chicken Korma… Mmmmm… Yummy!
One of my most favorite restaurants in the country! The bhel puri is a non-negotiable for me, I have to have it everytime I go. I was so addicted to it at one point that I would order take home, until Assad’s opened in Makati. Now I buy packed bhel puri and then boil some potatoes to add to it.
Yes! Finally Indian. Thanks. I read their menu on the net and thought they looked good. Yehey. Anlapit pa sa amin. Naku saya saya ko, masabihan ko nga si sister para tuloy na kami.
I love Swagat too!!! (Not sure it’s the *best* Indian resto in Makati, though; I think Queens is better, though for value, Swagat wins hands down.)
Bhel Puri and Sangam Biryani are also some of my favorites, along with their dhokle, paneer korma, and murgh badami, ending with chai masala.
The Khanchandanis used to live in my building and had the restaurant downstairs. People — even expats — would come here just to eat in their tiny, canteen-looking place! For those around Legazpi Village, they also deliver. I miss being able to order the food any time and have it delivered to my unit, but if I’m willing to wait and can meet the minimum, they’ll still deliver to my building for old times’ sake. 🙂
I love Swagat as well. Can’t get enough of their flavored yogurt drinks!
Hi! Which is better, Swagat or New Bombay? Thanks
unfortunately I did not enjoy my eating experience at Swagat…we waited so long..the food is not that good (for me and my friends ha) but i still believe that trying it out for yourself will give you your own point of view.
This place gives off a feeling that you’re in a different but you’re home, like a welcome guest in an old friend’s living room. This place is as homey as can be. I’m glad we ate here for my dad’s birthday last year. I loved the paneers. Thanks for reminding me to come back here. =)
i love SWAGAT! i especially love their Kulfi. 🙂
i bet you’ve tried New Bombay. they have a new branch in the new Columns in Makati.
christine: there’s an assad in makati? where?
Thats it..thats it!..Okay I’m sold….
Yesterday I walked by the place wondering if it would be worth a try…then I read this…
the universe is telling me I must ;>
Both New Bombay and Swagat are good, though I have to admit I’ve eaten at New Bombay more. At New Bombay, we like the chicken tikka masala, the mushroom biryani, the palak paneer, the mutton roghan josh, the plain and flavored lassi…Hard to find anything NOT to recommend actually.
Deepa, it’s on Jupiter next to Red Ribbon. 🙂 You can call them at 8972543.
I do love Swagat Indian Cuisine! I especialy love the kulfi. I celebrated my first Diwali Festival there and I know that I would come back to this place again and again. 🙂
i’m filipino in canada. over here, i always crave for indian food. was back in manila in ’08 unfortunately though i didn’t have time to go to makati. i would have tried swagat or bombay for sure. indian food for real food lovers and adventurers is a “must-taste”.
The servings are too small, thus it doesnto come cheap at all.
No big deal, really.