Foodie’s Favorite Restaurants in Manila! And the Winners of 2015 The Choice Awards are…

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We had a total of 2,075 respondents from Our Awesome Planet, K.T.G. Collective Food Blogs, and Zomato readers to determine The Choice 2015 Restaurant Awards!

This settled the foodie debate on the favorite buffet, favorite ramen, favorite specialty restaurants, and a total of 45 favorite award categories in Manila.  Thank you for participating in the survey and for making the first Choice Awards a success!

Watch the video wrap-up of Blosomex and The Choice 2015!

Here are winners of the first The Choice 2015 Awards co-presented by Zomato, the #1 Restaurant Portal in Manila:

About the Choice 2015 

Every month, every week, and almost every day it seems, there’s a new restaurant opening in Metro Manila. There are a lot of great new dining choices, side by side with the perennials, the classics that we grew up with.

As food bloggers, writers, and members of the F&B industry, we’re always very curious about the crowd favorites. The popular vote, if you will. So, Our Awesome Planet and the Blogger Collective known as the KTG have partnered to conduct the first ever People’s Choice for their Favorite Food, Restaurants, Bars, and more~ or simply, “The Choice“.

We conducted an intense first round of voting among ourselves, and our resulting Top Tens have made us very pleased:  we feel it’s a very diverse and fair representation of all our MMLA favorites. The categories are very broad, as they should be in a democratic vote. However, we’d like to emphasize that this is NOT a “Best of…” list. Our good friends and respected colleagues from The MBKRS are doing an excellent job of recognizing the restaurants and restaurateurs in their prestigious bi-annual awards.

The MBKRS are rightly regarded as the Oscars of our ever growing foodie community. So we’d like “The Choice” to be the Golden Globes~ a bit more irreverent, surely less formal, and yes, it ought to be greatly biased. After all, YOU will be voting for your favorites, this is YOUR CHOICE!!!

Note:
1. For the Favorite New Restaurant category, our coverage period includes restaurants that opened between May 1, 2014 to April 30, 2015.

2. For the Favorite Out-of-Town Destination, the restaurants must be reached by land in 5 hours; thanks to the TPLex, that includes Baguio!

3. There are 45 questions in The Choice 2015 survey.

 

The KTG Blogs include:

And The Choice 2015 Winners are…

1. What is your favorite Fast Food Burger?

• Army Navy
• Brother’s Burger
• Burger Company
• Burger Joint
• Burger King – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Jollibee
• Mc Donald’s
• Tropical Hut
• Wendy’s
• Zarks

2. What is your favorite Gourmet Burger?

• 8 Cuts – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• BRGR Project
• Burger Avenue
• Burgers & Brewskies
• Charlie’s
• Chili’s
• Lusso
• Sweet Ecstacy
• Teddy’s Bigger Burger
• Village Tavern

3. What is your favorite Pizza?

• Gino’s
• Mama Lou’s
• Motorino
• Nolita
• Pizza Hut
• Project Pie
• S&R
• Shakeys
• Torch 
• Yellow Cab – The Choice 2015 Winner!

4. What is your favorite Fried Chicken?

• Backyard
• Bad Bird
• Jollibee
• Kettle
• KFC – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Max’s
• McDo
• Pancake House
• Savory
• Sincerity

5. What is your favorite Crispy Pata?

• Abe
• Barrio Fiesta – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Livestock
• Manam
• Milky Way

6. What is your favorite Lechon?

• Diplahan
• Elar’s – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• ElarZ
• General’s
• Mesa
• Mr. Cochinillo
• Pepita’s Kitchen
• Sabroso
• Tatang’s
• Ulcing’s 

7. What is your favorite Steak?

• 22 Prime
• Cru
• Elbert’s
• Highlands
• House of Wagyu – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Mamou
• Melo’s
• Prime 101
• Stockton Place
• Tapenade

8. What is your favorite Sisig?

• Aling Lucing
• Aysees
• Buddy’s
• Dencio’s
• Dennis the Grill Boy
• Franco’s
• Gerry’s Grill – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Grilla
• Manam
• Sisig Society

9. What is your favorite BBQ?

• Aling Nene
• Amber’s
• Aristocrat – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Countryside
• Heaven’s
• Ineng’s
• Mang Inasal
• Rub Ribs
• Tambai
• Three Sister’s

10. What is your favorite Hotdog/ Sausage?

• Brotzeit
• Frank’s
• Lazy Bastard
• Mad Mustard
• Munchtown
• Poco Deli
• S&R – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Schmidt’s
• Treffpunkt
• World Bangers

11. What is your favorite Ramen?

 

• Butamaru
• Hanamaruken
• Ikoryu
• Ippudo
• Kitchitora
• MedokoroRamenba
• Mitsuyado
• Ramen Nagi – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Ramen Yushoken
• Ukkokei

 

12. What is your favorite Donut?

• Cello’s
• Dunkin’ Donuts
• J. Co
• Krispy Kreme – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Scarsdale

13. What is your favorite Ensaymada? 

 

• 7 Flavors
• Baby Pat’s
• Cunanan
• Diamond Hotel
• Hizon’s
• Homemade Treasures
• Imang Salud
• Mary Grace – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Must Be Mom’s
• Peninsula Manila

14. What is your favorite Frozen Treats?

• Baskin Robbins
• Bono
• Carmen’s Best
• Coldstone Creamery
• Dairy Queen – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Farmacy
• Jamba Juice
• Razon’s
• Rita’s Italian Ice
• Sebastian’s

15. What is your favorite Cakes & Cupcakes?

• Bizu
• Brown Butter
• Conti’s – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Cupcakes by Sonja’s
• Estrell’s
• Indulgence by Irene
• Karen’s Kitchen
• Larcy’s
• Nikko’s Baking Studio
• Yulo’s

16. What is your favorite Cafe?

• Cafe Shibuya
• Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
• Figaro
• Kuppa
• Refinery
• Seattle’s Best
• Starbucks – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Toby’s Estate
• UCC
• Yardstick

17. What is your favorite Cocktail Bar?

• 71 Gramercy – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• ABV
• Blind Pig
• Exit Bar
• Gilami Lounge
• Hooch
• Long Bar
• Niner Ichi Nana
• Sage
• The Curator

 

18. What is your favorite Filipino Restaurant?

• Abe – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Kanin Club
• Locavore
• Manam
• Mesa
• Neil’s Kitchen
• Recipes
• Romulo
• Sarsa
• Sentro 1771

19. What is your favorite American restaurant?

• Bowery
• Chelsea
• Chili’s
• Fireside
• Kettle
• Racks
• TGI Friday’s – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Tipple & Slaw
• Village Tavern
• Wildflour

 

20. What is your favorite Chinese Restaurant?

• Choi Garden
• Crystal Jade
• Gloria Maris – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• King Chef
• Li Li
• Modern Shanghai
• Peking Garden
• Phoenix Court
• Shang Palace
• Summer Palace

21. What is your favorite Thai restaurant?

• Azuthai
• Benjarong
• Coca
• Just Thai
• Mango Tree
• Nav
• People’s Palace – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Soi
• Som
• Thai Bistro

22. What is your favorite Korean restaurant?

• Bulgogi Brothers – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Korea Garden
• Korean Village
• K-Pub
• MinSok
• Sariwon
• Sodam
• Top Dish
• Ye Dang
• Yoree

23. What is your favorite Japanese restaurant?

• Inagiku
• Izakaya Kikufuji
• Kimpura
• Magosaburo
• Nihonbashi-Tei
• Nobu
• Osaka Ohsho
• Sugi
• Yabu – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Yumi

24. What is your favorite Mexican restaurant?

• A Toda Madre
• B&T
• Baja
• Chihuahua
• El Chupacabra – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• El Pollo Loco
• Hermano’s
• Mexicali
• Orale

25. What is your favorite Spanish restaurant?

• Alba’s
• Arrozeria
• Calderon
• Casa Armas
• Dulcinea – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Las Flores
• Rambla
• Tapella
• Terry’s
• Vask

26. What is your favorite Italian restaurant?

• Amici – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Cibo
• Galileo Enoteca
• Gino’s
• Il Ponticello
• Italianni’s
• L’Opera
• Mama Lou’s
• Paparazzi
• Va Bene

27. What is your favorite Hotel Buffet?

• Circles
• Corniche
• F Cafe F1
• Fresh by Solaire
• Heat
• Hyatt Cafe
• Ilang Ilang
• Marriott Cafe
• Spectrum
• Spiral – The Choice 2015 Winner!

28. What is your favorite Restaurant Buffet?

• Buffet 101
• Dads-Saisaki-Kamayan
• Four Seasons
• Guevarra’s
• Niu by Vikings
• Sambo Kojin
• Something Fishy
• Tong Yang
• Vikings – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Yakimix

 

29. What is your favorite restaurant best for Fine Dining?

• Antonio’s – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Blackbird
• Chef Jessie
• Cru
• Goose Station
• Impressions
• Le Jardin
• Lemuria
• Tasting Room
• Vask

30. What is your favorite restaurant best for a Romantic Date?

• 100 Revolving
• 22 Prime
• 71 Gramercy
• Antonio’s – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Cru
• Goose Station
• Le Jardin
• Lemuria
• NInyo Fusion Cafe
• Vieux Chalet

31. What is your favorite restaurant best for Family with Kids?

• Chili’s– The Choice 2015 Winner!
• CiCou
• Kettle
• Nom Nom Happy Food
• Outback
• Project Pie
• Rack’s
• Slappycakes
• TGI Friday’s
• Torch

32. What is your favorite restaurant best for Student Hangout?

• Backyard
• Dyce & Dyne
• Hole in the Wall
• McDo
• Rufo’s
• Shakey’s
• Skull & Bones
• Starbucks – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Tapa King
• TGI Friday’s

33. What is your favorite restaurant best for Office Parties?

• Black Olive
• Borough
• Buffalo Wild Wings
• Bugsy’s
• Chili’s
• Dencio’s
• Draft
• Gerry’s Grill – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Perfect Pint
• Tipple & Slaw

34. What is your favorite New Resto opened 2014-2015?

• Arrozeria
• Frangos
• Hole in the Wall
• I Am Kim
• Ippudo
• Le Petit Souffle
• Locavore
• Tambai
• Tapenade
• Tim Ho Wan – The Choice 2015 Winner!

35. What is your favorite #1 Fast Food Restaurant?

• Burger King
• Jollibee – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Kenny Rogers
• KFC
• Mang Inasal
• McDo
• Pepper Lunch
• Tapa King
• Tom Sawyer
• Wendy’s

36. Who is your favorite Chef?

• Bruce Ricketts
• Cyrille Soenen – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Ed Bugia
• Gaita Fores
• Him Uy de Baron
• JP Anglo
• Miko Aspiras
• Rob Pengson
• Robby Goco
• Tonyboy Escalante

37. What is your favorite Out of Town Restaurant?

• Antonio’s, Tagaytay – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Bale Dutung, Pampanga
• Binulo, Pampanga
• Breakfast at Antonio’s, Tagaytay
• Downtown 1956, Pampanga
• Forest House, Baguio
• Hill Station, Baguio
• Kamayan sa Palaisdaan, Quezon
• Marcia Adams, Tagaytay
• Meat Plus, Subic

 

38. What is your favorite restaurant with the Best Ambiance?

• 71 Gramercy
• Cru
• Antonio’s – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Le Jardin
• Lemuria
• Ninyo Fusion
• Vask
• Gilami Lounge
• Impressions
• Cafe Ysabel

39. What is your favorite restaurant with the Best Service?

• Cowrie Grill
• Cru
• House of Wagyu – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• La Cocina de Tita Moning
• Le Petit Souffle
• L’Opera
• Mecha Uma
• Nobu
• Outback
• Tasting Room

40. Who is the Hottest Male Chef?

• Bruce Ricketts
• Carlo Miguel
• Cuit Kaufman
• Cyrille Soenen
• Erwan Heusaff – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Him Uy de Baron
• Jonas Ng
• Josh Boutwood
• JP Anglo
• Rob Pengson

41. Who is the Hottest Female Chef?

• Aileen Anastacio
• Cecile Chang
• Erica Curry
• Gaita Fores
• Jackie Ang Po
• Katrina Alcantara
• Kittin Constantino
• Nikko Buendia
• Sunshine Pengson – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Zarah Manikan

42. What is your favorite restaurant with the Best Restroom?

• Antonio’s – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Black Bird (Nielson Tower)
• Buddha Bar
• Karen’s Kitchen
• Le Jardin
• Sonya’s Garden
• Todd English
• Vikings

43. What is your favorite restaurant with the Best Smoking Area?

• 12 Monkeys
• 71 Gramercy – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Le Jardin
• Tapenade

44. What is the Best Hangover Restaurant?

• Burger Machine
• Behrouz
• Goodah!
• Goto Monster
• Rufo’s – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Shawarma Brothers
• Shawarma Snack Center
• Suzhou Malate

45. What is the Best 24/7 Restaurant?

• Borough
• Bowery
• Goodah
• Kanto
• Next Door
• North Park Noodles – The Choice 2015 Winner!
• Old Swiss Inn
• Recovery Food
• Sinangag Express
• Whistle Stop

 

Thank you to all who voted for the first ever The Choice 2015 Awards!

Related Blog Posts:

• Manila Foodie’s Favorite Restaurants! And the Winners of the 2015 The Choice Awards are…
• BLOSOMEX: “2015 is the Year of Online Video!” – Mark Wiens (Don’t miss on Aug. 8)
• Announcing… THE CHOICE: People’s Choice Restaurant Awards in Manila 2015! (Vote Now!)
• Announcing… BLOSOMEX: Blogging and Social Media Expo Manila! OAP x KTG x WOFEX

 

Live an Awesome Life,

Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com 

Disclosure: Our Awesome Planet is a co-founder of BLOSOMEX and The Choice 2015. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights. Read Our Awesome Planet Complete Disclosure Policy here.  

P.S. The Choice Awards is held annually during the Blosomex Summit at the World Food Expo every first weekend of August.