It’s an exciting time to be in Manila — our economy is growing, Filipinos are being recognized as world-class talents and Filipino cuisine is coming into the limelight.
I’m happy that the top Filipino chefs in the country are opening Filipino restaurants (instead of serving continental cuisine) that we can be proud of. Hopefully, we can soon export the authentic Filipino Food experience in every corner of the world.
Here’s what we think of Chef Fernando’s ARACAMA Filipino Cuisine…
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Aracama combines traditional Filipino interiors with classy, modern aesthetics. The wooden chairs, tables and flooring, and the accent plants give it a cozy atmosphere. The bar and DJ booth provide a contemporary touch.
Who would have imagined that the former Embassy would be transformed into a high-end Filipino restaurant?
ARACAMA Menu: Sumsuman . Appetizers, Sopas & Ensaladas, Baboy . Pork | Karne . Beef, Manok . Chicken, Isda . Fish, Gulay . Vegetables, Kanin . Rice | Postre . Desserts, Cafe . Coffee
I like the Visayan focus of the menu with highlights of Negrense and Ilonggo cuisine.
There are three VIP rooms that can accommodate around 10-12 people each, and can be joined together to create a big function room for 30-40 people.
Laswa (P250 +10% service charge). Visayan vegetable & shrimp soup ~ simple, fat free, delicious.
My mom liked this healthy Visayan dish called Laswa, a humble probinsyano soup given a classy focus. It tasted really clean and was a good starter in lieu of the salad.
★ Salpicao de la Casa (P290 +10% service charge). 24-hour Sous Vide beef riblets in black pepper sauce & garlic chips.
We loved the sous vide Salpicao cuts — very soft and full of flavor. Although, pairing it with crostinis seemed slightly off.
★ KKK (P120 +10% service charge). Kalkag Kalo Kalo with dried baby shrimps, garlic & green onions.
We recommend that you order the buttery Kalkag rice to go with the Salpicao instead.
Tambo (P195 +10% service charge). Ilonggo-style bamboo shoots with shrimps, coconut milk & saluyot.
I personally can’t take the smell of bamboo so I’m withholding judgment on this one. I guess this hard-core Filipino dish is an acquired taste.
Kare Kare (P395 +10% service charge). Ox tail & tripe stew with ground peanuts, vegetables & chicharon loaded bagoong.
Unlike in other restos, Aracama’s Kare Kare was served deconstructed. Its sauce was on the watery side (not thick) and it had a more butter-y than peanut-y taste. Good to share for 2-3 people.
The roasted eggplants and the steamed banana heart were delicious. But what made the Kare Kare awesome was the sweet home-made bagoong fish sauce. Although it had a slight malansa taste, it complemented the entire dish (and did not overpower it).
Dulce Gatas + Bunuelos (P200 +10% service charge). Caramelized gooey dulce de leche with warm fried pastries.
The best part in Aracama? The desserts. 🙂
We loved this big serving of cream puff-like balls, which were nice and crisp outside while soft and tasty inside.
The fried treats were served with a can of sweet condensada for our dipping pleasure. 🙂
Tip: This dessert is best paired with the chocnut ice cream. 🙂 This is how we like it — no holds barred on dessert. Hehehe!
Chocnut Ice Cream (P120 +10% service charge). Fernando’s Famous Sari Sari Store treat flavored ice cream.
You can now satisfy your Chocnut Ice Cream craving in Aracama!
Congrats to Chef Fernando Aracama for creating a classy Filipino resto with flavorful Filipino dishes! It certainly is a good place for a weekend lunch celebration (like for Father’s Day) or a cool dessert/bar ending for your weekend gimik.
ARACAMA Filipino Cuisine
Unit C, The Fort Entertainment Center, Global City, Taguig, Philippines 1634
Telephone: +632 519-6815
Mobile: +63917 861-2702
Email: info@aracamamanila.com
Operating Hours:
Monday to Sunday, 11am to 2pm (Lunch) and 5pm to 2am (Dinner)
Related Blog Posts:
- Órale! Ole!
- KASBAH’s Moroccan Cuisine from Boracay to BGC!
- BHS Central: A Foodie’s Guide to the BEST Eats at Bonifacio High Street Central 🙂
- The Best of Chef Laudico’s Bistro Filipino (with Lara Day)
- Chef’s Table by Chef Bruce Lim
- LAS FLORES: Modern Spanish Resto by Barcino + Andilana (Spain) Group
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Full Disclosure: Nothing to disclose. We paid for our meals. We are not connected with the establishment or any organization marketing the restaurant.
P.S. The English slang-speaking bartenders and servers were a bit off — maybe a holdover from the Embassy days?
P.P.S. The three leading Modern Filipino Restaurants are located in BGC: Chef Laudico’s Filipino Bistro, Chef Bruce’s Chef’s Table and Chef Fernando’s Aracama Filipino Cuisine. Which one is the most awesome for you that you think we can export out of Manila?
Chef Fern was my chef-instructor in culinary school and I couldn’t be happier that he’s opened his eponymous restaurant. Can’t wait to try it!
Can’t wait to try! I used to eat at Uva all the time.
Hi Anton! Would you know if majority of the main dishes are good for sharing? And where would be the best spot to reserve a table? Thank you!
Good for sharing for 2 people generally. In the main dining area, the best spot is in the booth tables but if you are a group of 10 better reserve the VIP room.
We went on a lunch time, we will be back for dinner time to feel the evening ambiance.
Anton
Yes UVA, I was trying to remember that restaurant name just a while ago…
Anton
Yeah I heard stories about how great Chef Aracama is… I haven't met him, hopefully one of these days.
Anton
Is Abe not considered a leader in Filipino cuisine?
the desserts!! WOW!!
I disagree with this statement:
“The three leading Modern Filipino Restaurants are located in BGC: Chef Laudico’s Filipino Bistro, Chef Bruce’s Chef’s Table and Chef Fernando’s Aracama Filipino Cuisine.”
How about Sentro Restaurant in Serendra? That place is always full kaya. Even Abe is far better than Aracama and Laudico.
Anton how can you say that this is one of the best “modern” Filipino restaurants in the Metro? When it has just recently opened?? have you been there more than a few times and has it been established for a long enough period to claim this…please explain further?
Abe and Sentro are good and we often eat there.
Filipino food, ambiance and experience needs to be presented well to be better appreciated by the world’s foodies and I like how these three restaurants are presenting Filipino cuisine.
Chef Aracama is a legend in the food scene and most people know him for the Chocnut Ice Cream innovation but I like his take on Filipino Cuisine — presenting Visayan Food with a modern touch.
Abe was the last resto opened when Larry Cruz was alive. Abe’s farm in Pampanga was a disappointment and the new restos opened by LGC’s need to be at par with Abe.
Well, these are just my preference and I can go on and on about the differences of all these Filipino restos.
Anton
I tried it was awesome!
i want to go the uva and eat some delicious dish.
Where is it exactly located? I wanna try. Everything looks so good, especially the desserts!! 😉
nice place and the price of their food is not so expensive.
i want try this looks delicous. 🙂
The food at Aracama was very disappointing. Of all the dishes we tried, nothing stood out as great. The pork binagoongan was tough and the bagoong they used was not the best. The callos, pinakbet, tambo, etc were all so-so. Only the crispy pata was good but then i can name a good many restaurants that can serve it just as well. Too bad we did not order the salpicao..Maybe next time IF someone can convince me to try it again…and that’s a big IF
nice place and nice foods and i cant wait to try to eat at this place.hmm i super miss filipino foods! 🙂
You have the most comprehensive blog about restaurants! Kudos to you! You just provided me all the information I need. Thank you!
do they have a buffet day or another location with buffet?tx