We love Chinese Food! Here’s a wrap-up of our favorite Chinese Restaurants in Manila where you can have the most awesome Chinese experience for your family celebrations :
1. GLORIA MARIS
GLORIA MARIS Restaurant, specifically the one in Greenhills, is our all-time favorite go-to place for authentic Cantonese food in Manila since 1995. My wife’s family likes holding their special celebrations here, and I love the yummy consistency of their food every single time.
Last year, Gloria Maris moved to a new location with an impressive fine dining ambiance and an introduction of modern Cantonese cuisine to take the dining experience to a whole different level.
Here’s our modern fine dining experience at Gloria Maris Greenhills:
Verdict
Overall, I love the home-grown Cantonese yumminess of Gloria Maris and how it has been consistent with the same Hong Kong chefs over the years. I love the new Gloria Maris ambiance and the modern Cantonese dining menu.
We usually eat lauriat-style everytime there’s a family celebration, and Gloria Maris still tops the list of Chinese Restaurants we have tried over the years in the metro.
Make sure to reserve one of the VIP rooms, to assemble your own lauriat menu, and to select the dishes with the cool presentation.
They are open all year round — even on Christmas Day and Holy Week — but don’t forget to make reservations because they get FULL, especially during peak special occasions.
Gloria Maris Shark’s Fin Restaurant
Located at Greenhills Shopping Center, Ortigas Ave.,
Missouri Street Corner Connecticut San Juan, Metro Manila
Telephone: +632 570-0921, 570-0923, 570-0924
Email: gloriamaris_gh@yahoo.com
2. MABUHAY PALACE
MABUHAY PALACE is the Chinese fine-dining restaurant of Manila Hotel that serves authentic Cantonese Chinese cuisine, with an elegant modern Chinese ambiance.
It’s one of the yummiest Chinese food restos in Manila with a well-curated menu, and innovative food that are usually off the menu list. It’s the best choice for celebrating Chinese special occasions (Chinese New Year, Moon Cake Festival, Birthdays, Engagement parties) for the discriminating Chinese foodie families.
Here are our favorites and some tips to have an awesome dining experience at Mabuhay Palace:
Read More:
MABUHAY PALACE: Our Favorite Cantonese Fine Dining and Chinese New Year @ Manila Hotel
Verdict
Overall, if you are looking for the best Cantonese Cuisine in Manila in a fine dining setting, Mabuhay Palace is the place to be 🙂 It’s one of the best places to celebrate special Chinese occasions in Manila like Chinese New Year. Budget P1,000/head and special set menus P3,000/head.
The only thing that bugs us: service is slow and one server is assigned to you (typically, you are ignored by other servers). They are not familiar with the menu, so we wish you good luck in getting good recommendations. Better to know what to order in advance, and do a bit of research.
What’s your favorite in Mabuhay Palace? Tell us your experience in the comments portion.
MABUHAY PALACE
Ground Floor, Manila Hotel, One Rizal Park, Manila, Philippines.
For Reservations: +632 527-9469
Telephone: +632 527-0011, local 1346, 1347, 1348
Website: www.manila-hotel.com.ph
Operating Hours:
Open for lunch daily: 11.00am to 3.00pm
Open for dinner daily: 6.00pm to 10.00pm
3. PEKING GARDEN
Peking Garden undoubtedly serves the BEST Peking Duck in Manila. The crispiness of the skin and the way the duck is served are details that even Chinese restaurants in 5-star hotels cannot match. It is not a franchise but it is owned by the Maxim’s Group of Chinese Restaurants based in Hongkong (they also own the Starbucks franchise in HK).
Eating a Peking Duck is usually reserved for special occasions. Here is a suggestion on how best to enjoy the Peking Duck at Peking Garden. 🙂
Read More: Why Peking Garden serves the BEST Peking Duck in Manila?
PEKING GARDEN
Northern Chinese Cuisine at its Finest!
GREENBELT 5:
4th Level Greenbelt 5 Phase 2, Makati City
Telephone: +632 729-0567, 729-0719
Business hours: Monday to Sunday
11.30am to 2.00pm / 6pm – 10.00pm
4. SHANG PALACE / SUMMER PALACE
The Shangri-la Chinese Restaurants – Shang Palace and Summer Palace are our first Chinese Restaurant love 🙂 This is where we had our engagement dinner with my wife’s family. When I was in P&G, we would often spend memorable dimsum lunch to celebrate special milestones 🙂
Note: I’ll do an updated blog post feature on Shang Palace and Summer Palace this 2014.
SHANG PALACE
2nd Floor Makati Shangri-la Hotel
Ayala Avenue corner Makati Avenue, Makati City, 1200, Philippines
Telephone: (+632) 813-8888
Operating Hours:
Dim Sum Plus: 11.30am – 2.30pm (Monday to Saturday)
Lunch: 11.30am – 2.30pm (Monday to Saturday) , 10.30am – 2.30pm (Sunday)
Dinner: 6.30pm – 10.30pm (Monday to Sunday)
Website: Shang Palace
Note:
– Dress Code: Smart Casual, long trousers for men
– Smoking Policy: Shang Palace accommodates both smoking and non-smoking guests.
SUMMER PALACE
Second Floor, Tower Wing Edsa Shangri-La Hotel
1 Garden Way, Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City, 1650, Philippines
Telephone: (+632) 633-8888 ext. 2777 and 2739
Operating Hours:
Breakfast: 9am – 11.30am (Sundays only)
Lunch: 11.30am – 2.30pm
Dinner: 6.30pm – 10pm
Website: Summer Palace
Note:
– Dress Code: Smart Casual
– Smoking Policy: Smoking is not permitted in Summer Palace.
5. UNO Seafood Wharf Palace
We just love Chinese food. 🙂 One of the advantages of marrying into a Chinese family is getting to always enjoy a Chinese lauriat celebration every time there is a birthday or special event.
We celebrated Ahiya Pierre’s 41st birthday in one of the best Chinese seafood restaurants along Escolta — Uno Seafood Wharf Palace. I was happy to learn that it is owned by the same people behind our favorite comfort Chinese restaurant, Lutong Macao, along Jupiter St.
The Lauriat Set Menu starts from P4,800 to P9,900 with 9 to 11 courses (including dessert). But we preferred to order the dishes on an ala carte basis, served lauriat-style.
Read More: UNO Seafood Wharf Palace Birthday Lauriat
Verdict
Highly recommended for fresh seafood dishes, for birthday lauriats, and for discriminating Chinese taste buds. 🙂
UNO Seafood Wharf Palace
270 Escolta St., Calvo Bldg., Binondo, Manila
Telephone: +632 232-1054, 232-1059, 232-1060
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11.00am-2.30pm, 5.30pm to 10.00pm
6. LUGANG CAFE
LUGANG CAFE is the best contemporary Taiwanese restaurant in Manila. They were able to beat their rivals in this category and continue to expand with the same yummy consistency in the Metro.
They have a huge menu, and I’ve often asked what the best food to order on the list is. We had one of our mastermind meetings at the SM Aura branch and each one ordered their favorites.
Check out our Lugang Cafe Experience…
Read More:
LUGANG CAFE: What to Order in the Best Contemporary Taiwanese Restaurant in Manila?
Verdict
LUGANG CAFE continues to be the best Taiwanese Restaurant in Manila.
For starters, order the Steamed Pork Xiao Long Bao and Steamed Shrimp and Pork Shiao Mai.
For meat, I recommend the Three-Cup Chicken, Taiwanese Fried Pork Chop, Smoked Cumin Spare Ribs, or the Stewed Beef, Tendon, and Turnip in Clay Pot.
For seafood, go with the Steamed Fresh Clams with Silk Melon and Steamed Fish Fillet with Crispy Taoso.
Make sure to also get one steamed vegetable dish of Kangkong, Kale, or Spinach.
For for carbs, order the Pineapple Fried Rice and Stir-Fried Beef Noodle with Taiwanese Barbecue Sauce.
Skip the dessert but don’t forget to try the Traditional Arabian Coffee or the Traditional Brewed Tea.
Budget is about P800-P1,000/head for a full course meal with drinks and dessert.
LUGANG CAFE
5F Sky Park, SM Aura Premier, McKinley Parkway cor. 26th St., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Operating Hours: Daily 10:00am to 10:00pm
Telephone: +63 (2) 570 – 9011
Email Address: lugangcafe88@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.lugangcafe.com.ph/
Facebook: Lugang Cafe
7. MODERN SICHUAN
Manila is crazy about spicy food these days, and it’s just the right time to introduce MODERN SICHUAN, the first modern Sichuan-themed restaurant in Manila. Sichuan is my favorite among all the Chinese cuisines because of its unique hotness and distinctive flavors.
Sichuan usually refers to the cuisines from Chengdu, Chongqing, Leshan, Neijang, and Zigong in China. Sichuan uses three peppers: red chili peppers, black peppercorns, and hua jian (Sichuan Peppers) vs. Hunan cuisine which just uses chili. Hua jian peppers provide the malasensation-anaesthetic effect experienced when the peppercorn flavor makes contact with the saliva feeling your tongue numb to the chili.
Modern Sichuan also carries the Modern China menu for those who don’t like svpicy food. The menu is overwhelming and offers unique dishes that you can’t find in any Chinese restaurant.
Here are the dishes that we love and recommend in Modern Sichuan:
Read More: MODERN SICHUAN: A Taste of Sichuan Cuisine in BGC!
Verdict
Overall, we like Modern Sichuan for its unique dishes as curated by George Pua himself.
Make sure to try the following – Appetizers: Pork Slices in Chili Sauce, Meat: Pan Fried Short Rib Beef Steak, Rice: Uni Fried Rice, Fish: Braised Garoupa with Green Pepper,Crab: Crab Salted Egg, Pancit: Lobster Cheese Noodle and Dessert: Fried Sweet Potato with Cheese. Budget about P700/head.
The presentation of the food is just OK. The design and look of the resto is typical Chinese resto with emphasis on big open windows for good luck.
So far, this is the best Chinese resto in BGC for us. Try it!
MODERN SICHUAN RESTAURANT
5th Avenue, The Fort Entertainment Center, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Philippines
Telephone: +632 829-8352 / 856-0470
Mobile: +63 917 595-1515
Email: info@modernsichuan.com
Facebook: Modern Sichuan Restaurant
Website: http://www.modernsichuan.com/
Operating Hours:
Lunch: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Dinner: 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm
8. TAO YUAN
I received a lot of raves from the Chinese community about this popular restaurant in Malate called Tao Yuan. Originally, they were only serving Hong Kong Cantonese dishes but when they brought in the Singaporean chefs, the word of mouth about their Hainanese Chicken spread like wildfire among the Chinese foodie community. A few days ago, I received a Facebook message from our foodie friends from the Singapore Embassy that Tao Yuan serves the Best Singaporean Food in Manila. I definitely agree!
Read More: TAO YUAN – Best Singaporean Food in Manila as Attested by the Singaporean Embassy
Tao Yuan Restaurant
508-512 General Malvar Street, corner A. Mabini Street, Malate, Manila
(below Reyna Isabelle Mansion and across Pan Pacific Hotel, beside Music 21 Plaza)
Telephone: +632 5227009 and 5227010
9. JADE GARDEN
JADE GARDEN is a local branch of one of our favorite Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong. It recently re-opened in Glorietta — just in time for Chinese New Year — and is operated by the same owners of Peking Garden.
Here’s our Jade Garden experience…
Read More: JADE GARDEN Chinese Restaurant in Manila 🙂 (First Look)
Verdict
Overall, I like the clean taste of the dishes at JADE GARDEN, even though some got mixed reviews. We love the Hakaw, Chiuchow Dumplings, Assorted Seafood & Vegetables in Fish Soup Hot Casserole, and Pan-fried Sliced Beef in Lingnan Sauce.
It’s set up as a fine dining restaurant, so they don’t have dimsum carts. But the small serving size of their dishes is already good for sharing with 5-6 people, so best to eat with a big group.
Budget is about P600-P800/head.
Maybe we didn’t order the right dishes during our visit. Any tips on what to get next time?
JADE GARDEN
2nd Level Glorietta 2, Palm Drive Corner, West Drive, Ayala Center, Makati City
Telephone: +632 843-1361, 955-1728, 955-1808
Operating Hours:
Lunch 11.30am to 2.00pm
Dinner – 6.00pm to 10.00pm
10. CHOI GARDEN
Our family loves chinese food. On my father’s birthday, I reserved this special chinese restaurant — Choi Garden in Annapolis Greenhills. It is seldom that you hear a buzz on Chinese restaurants. Most people rave about Choi Garden because of the food prepared by their Hongkong Chef and the interesting interiors.
Choi Garden occupies the hole left by Country Waffles in Greenhills. It has two floors — the first floor is for shabu shabu, while the second floor is for fine dining. For special occasions, better reserve the rooms on the 2nd floor. The first floor is for casual meetings and romantic dates. Better reserve to get the best seats in the house. I love the dramatic tunnel entrance, and the interesting chandelier lighting effects. The word “opium den” comes to mind (I don’t know why) when I entered the first floor because of its bloody motif.
The specialties of the house are usually not found in the menu. Choi Garden is famous for their Pigeons (which you have to order in advance) and 3-way Lapu Lapu.
Read More: Choi Garden – A Chinese Restaurant Worth Raving About
Choi Garden Seafood and Shark’s Fin Restaurant, Annapolis
# 12 Annapolis St. cor. Purdue St. San Juan, Metro Manila
Telephone: (+632) 727-6042 , 727-7489, 726-8987
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May you have a blessed and profitable new year! Happy Chinese New Year of the Horse!
Live an Awesome Life,
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
P.S. I can’t wait for Tim Ho Wan to open in Manila soon!
Can u feature some indian and korean resto in manila…tnks more power
Try Luk Foo cantonese food. Same quality as Gloria Maris but at a very affordable price.
Causeway, affordable + great food!
seems that they dot have any real Chinese food in Manila, All Cantonese or Filipino equivalents. Where are all the wonderful mainland regional variants.