10 Most Awesome NEW (Franchised) Restaurants in Manila 2016!

(Check out: 10 Most Awesome NEW Homegrown Restaurants That Matter in Manila 2016!)

Here are the 10 Most Awesome NEW Franchised Restaurants that opened and made a difference in Manila this 2016 …

1. MAKANSUTRA

MAKANSUTRA, the famous Singaporean Hawker Market by K.F. Seetoh, has finally re-opened in Manila together with local partners J.J. Yulo and Chef Him Uy de Baron.

It first launched in Manila Ocean park in 2009 and re-opened after the successful 2016 World Street Food Congress held in Manila.

Verdict::

We enjoyed our Makansutra experience. The place is especially great if you miss the hawker food culture in Singapore.

Our favorites are Donald & Lily’s Laksa, Geylang Claypot Rice Pots, Bak Kuh Teh, and the Hong Kong Street Old Chun Kee’s Salted Egg Prawns. Some may perceive the pricing to be expensive at P250-P300 per dish. Budget about P500/head.

Best to order from the Singaporean stalls to ensure what you’re getting is authentic and the best that you can get in Manila.

The exhaust was already fixed when we visited so you don’t have to worry about smelling like a hawker afterward. I like that they implemented the hawker system of one person specializing in cooking one dish throughout the day.

Best to go here with a group of friends or with the family so that you can order and try many dishes. But if you are going on a date, make sure to know and do your research so you can be confident of what to order.

Congratulations to the whole Makansutra Team! Wishing you great success in 2017 and beyond! 🙂

MAKANSUTRA MANILA
Unit 209 AB, 2nd floor, Building A, SM Megamall Mandaluyong City
Operating Hours: 11am to 11 pm daily
Email: contact@makansutra.com
Website: http://www.makansutra.com/

Related Blog Posts:

• 10 Most Awesome NEW Homegrown Restaurants That Matter in Manila 2016!
• 10 Most Awesome NEW (Franchised) Restaurants in Manila 2016!
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2. SALVATORE CUOMO

SALVATORE CUOMO is a premium casual Italian restaurant with Japanese influences by its namesake, Italian-Japanese Chef Salvatore Cuomo, specializing in Neapolitan pizza.

The Manila branch is a franchise of this popular restaurant by the Chili’s Group, who always aims to introduce the finest food with a beautiful casual ambiance.

Verdict:

This is sure to be the place to eat and be seen for a good Italian meal or Neapolitan Pizza in Manila.

I love the ambiance–a fine dining feel but you can still go casually in shorts. It feels communal but private at the same time, since you can find you own separate nook when needed.

I recommend starting with the Tsukune or Sasami Yakitori and the Caprese con Mozzarella di Bufala, then order the World Champion Winner Pizza “DOC” or Quattro Formaggi for your Neopolitan Pizza. You Must try the Florentina T-Bone steak paired with Chianti Classico Fontodi DOCG Sangiovese. End with Tiramisu served with Pistachio Gelato and the World Champion Paul Bassett Coffee!

Congratulations to the Chef Salvatore Cuomo and the Chili’s Group for the successful opening of Salvatore Cuomo and Bar in Manila!

SALVATORE CUOMO PHILIPPINES
Uptown Parade Mall, 9th Avenue corner 38th St. (in front of The Palace Pool Club)
Telephone: +632 946-3072
Facebook: Salvatore Cuomo Philippines
Twitter: @salvatore_cuomo
Instagram: @salvatore_cuomo11
Website: https://salvatorecuomo.com/

3. TOMATITO

Tomatito Manila-28.jpg

TOMATITO MANILA is an 80’s-inspired Spanish Tapas and Paella restaurant by Shanghai-based El Willy Fun F&B Group (by Chef Willy Trullas Moreno) in partnership with the Rambla/Las Flores/La Lola group (by the Barcelona trio of Uri Singla, Dani Aliaga, and Sergi Rostoll).

The name is inspired by Spanish Flamenco guitarist José Fernández Torres, also known as Tomatito. It also means “little tomato“–a fun brand name since it easily rolls off the tongue. The concept is a mix of Spanish popular culture, the 80’s bar, and a seductive red theme.

Verdict:

I like TOMATITO‘s overall sexy vibe with funky colors, vintage 80’s design, and contemporary tapas. It’s a good place to meet with friends because the acoustics and the music are nice with a youthful aura.

Order the Salmon TNT, Filete con Airbag, and Montaditos de Gambas signature tapas. The paella is good and just like how they serve it in Spain. Order the Paella Valenciana or the Paella del Txiringuito. Don’t order the Arroz Negro Paella.

The meat dishes we tried were unfortunately hit or miss in terms of the quality of the meat itself. Let me know if you can recommend any other meat dishes from their menu.

Budget about P1,500/head for a full experience, which includes a varied selection of tapas, paella, and a bottle of wine.

Congrats to the Rambla and El Willy group for bringing a fun Spanish concept to BGC!

TOMATITO Sexy Tapas Bar
G/F BGC Corporate Center, 30th St. cor 11th Ave, BGC, Taguig City
Telephone: +632 805-7840
Mobile: +63 915 588-4803
Instagram: @tomatitomanila
Facebook: @tomatitomanila
Website: http://www.elwillygroup.com/venues/tomatito/

4. WOLFGANG STEAKHOUSE

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Arguably one of the best steakhouses in New York, Wolfgang’s Steakhouse by Wolfgang Zwiener opened its first branch in the Philippines, in partnership with Raymund Magdaluyo and Marvin Agustin.

Mr. Zwiener, through his restaurant, aims to impart his knowledge of the dry-aging process and cooking preparations after decades of experience at the famed Peter Luger’s in New York. While the restaurant is celebrated for its USDA Prime New York Sirloin, Ribeye, and Fillet Mignon, the signature steak is the Porterhouse.

Verdict:

The Zwieners live to serve only the highest quality steaks you can buy. This is the best place in Manila to have steaks where you can really taste the beef flavor, using only USDA Prime beef.

We recommend the Porterhouse Steak cooked rare to medium and served with the T-bone and salted butter dripping. The Porterhouse for Two is already good for 3-4 persons. Order the creamed spinach and mashed potatoes on the side and pair the steak with a Napa Valley red, like the Freemark Abbey Merlot 2011.

Congratulations to everyone involved on the successful opening of Wolfgang’s Steakhouse in Manila!

WOLFGANG’S STEAKHOUSE
2F Newport Mall, Resorts World Manila, Pasay City
Operating Hours:
Monday – Friday: 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Saturday – Sunday: 10:00 am – 12:00 am
Email: wolfgangssteakhouseph@gmail.com
Website: www.wolfgangssteakhouse.ph
Facebook: WolfgangsSteakhousePH
Instagram: @WolfgangsSteakhousePH

5. FOO’D

FOO'D

FooDee Global Concepts (the same people behind the successful Tim Ho Wan, Todd English, Mesa, and Sunnies Cafe) has brought Michelin Star Chef Davide Oldani‘s pop cuisine concept FOO’D (/fú-dō/) to Manila.

Chef Oldani defines “pop cuisine” as accessible luxury cuisine with Italian roots, taking the simplest ingredients and turning these into a beautiful dish.

FOO’D’s unique selling point is that they offer Michelin-grade food, fine ambiance, and quality service at a reasonable price, from their P800 three-course menu to their P1,200 four-course menu. And because everything is upgradeable, you can start at P800 then work your way up (you can even go crazy with a P3000 menu and load up on the experience).

Verdict:

Thanks to FOO’D, Filipinos can now experience and taste exciting gastronomic dishes at an affordable price point.

We recommend ordering the Cipolla Caramelata, Beef “All’Ollio” and Dark Chocolate Mousse. Budget: P800-P2000/person.

I honestly wouldn’t mind spending P1,600 for two for this crash course in fine dining. It’s also a great way to impress a date. 🙂

It’s best to order different set menus so you can try different dishes. Note that there’s no a la carte menu.

Congratulations to Eric Dee and the whole FooDee Global Concepts team for bringing FOO’D to the Philippines!

FOO’D by Davide Oldani
Ground Level, High Street Park, Shangri-la at the Fort, BGC Taguig
Operating Hours: 11.00 am to 10.00pm
Mobile: +63917 711-4469
Facebook: FOODbyDOManila
Website: http://www.cucinapop.do/

6. ATELIER VIVANDA

Atelier Vivanda Manila is an integrated steakhouse, bistro, and wine & cheese bar (BRVT) concept by two-Michelin-star Chef Akrame Benallal of Paris. They are best known for their 50-day dry-aged meats imported directly from Paris, as well as their artisanal French-style comfort food.

Atelier means “workshop of an artisan” while Vivanda comes from La Viende, which means “meat life“. The Manila branch is in partnership with Khristine Gabriel and Grace Lee, who loved their Chef Akrame experience in Paris so much that they decided to help bring it to the Philippines.

Verdict:

Overall, it’s a perfect foodie date place for steak lovers and those craving for good French cuisine.

Order the thinly sliced smoked 50-day aged beef, Mimolette cheese, and a Sauvignon Blanc to start your dinner. For your 3-course set menu, I recommend the cheese potato soup as the appetizer, the 50-day dry-aged rib-eye steak as the main, and the custard pie for dessert.

Budget about P3,500/head if you are ordering the aged beef and steaks, or P2,000/head for the standard 3-course set menu.

Congratulations to Khristine Gabriel and Grace Lee for successfully opening Atelier Vivanda in Manila!

ATELIER VIVANDA (at-l-yey • vee-vahn-dah)
U-A8 Forbes Town Center, Bonifacio Global City
Open 6.30pm to 10.00pm
Telephone: +632 VIVANDA (848 2632)
Mobile: +63 918 VIVANDA (848 2632)
Facebook: Atelier Vivanda Manila
Instagram: @ateliervivandamanila
Website: www.ateliervivanda.com

7. TEXAS ROADHOUSE

Texas Roadhouse Manila is the first Southeast Asian franchise (second next to Taiwan in Asia) of the popular western steak and ribs concept founded in Indiana in 1993.

They’re famous for their hand-cut steaks, fall-off-the-bone ribs, made-from-scratch sides, fresh-baked bread, and the legendary margarita.

Verdict:

We love that Texas Roadhouse makes everything from scratch starting from the bread, hand-cut steaks, delicious sides, home style dressings, and sauces.

Start with the rattlesnake bites, peanuts, and legendary margaritas while you wait for your order. The 22oz Bone-in Ribeye is recommended so that you can fully appreciate the flavor. Make sure to order the Sweet Potato with marshmallows and steak rice for your sides.

The meat of the ribs is tender and literally falls off the bones. I hope they have an option for a sweeter or spicy BBQ sauce.

Budget about P800/head. It’s a great place to celebrate special occasions with family or just hanging out with friends while you wait for the traffic to subside.

Congrats to The Bistro Group for a job well done in bringing this beloved American roadhouse franchise to Southeast Asia for the first time! 🙂

Texas Roadhouse
4th floor Uptown Mall, BGC
Email: trhuptown@bistro.com.ph
Phone: (02) 776-2654 / (02) 776-2656
Instagram: @TexasRoadhousePH
Facebook: @TexasRoadhousePH
Operating hours: Mon-Thu: 11am -12am,
Fri – Sat: 11am – 1:00am, Sun 11am -12am

8. DENNY’S

Denny's PH

Denny’s is America’s 24/7 diner famous for their affordable all-day breakfast menu.

Founded by Harold Butler, Denny’s opened it’s doors in 1953 with its first store in California and has grown into 1600 stores located in Canada, Mexico, Latin America, United Arab Emirates, and now for the first time, the Philippines via The Bistro Group.

Their hearty all-time menu items include the Original Grand Slam, pancakes, skillets, and burgers. The Manila branch, however, will be adding several Pinoy favorites on the menu designed by Chef Josh Boutwood.

Verdict:

We love that Denny’s famous Slam menu is finally here in Manila and available for hungry patrons 24/7. We also liked that they added some menu items to cater to the Pinoy taste.

For starters, we recommend the Chicken Cranberry Apple Salad, and for something that’s classic Denny’s, order the Original Grand Slam Breakfast, Grand Slamwich, or their Sriracha Burger. If you’re craving for Filipino fare, go for the Crispy Bangus Belly. Don’t forget to pair your meal with their fresh Apple Ginger Juice!

Budget about P500/head.

Congratulations to The Bistro Group for bringing Denny’s to Manila!

Denny’s
Ground Floor, Uptown Parade, 9th Avenue Corner 38th Street, Bonifacio Global City
Restaurant Hours: Monday- Sunday: 24/7
Facebook: DennysPhilippines

9. MIGHTHY QUINN

Mighty Quinn's

Finally, New Yorks’ famed barbecue joint is now open in Manila!

Mighty Quinn’s is iconic for their New York-style Barbecue cooked the old school way–with wood and time. While they aim to honor their Texas roots, they break away in their use of non-traditional meats such as pork ribs, burnt ends, and heritage livestock.

New Yorkers have raved over their tender and moist beef brisket, savory smokey pulled pork, and impressively massive ribs, all slow smoked to perfection!

What separates Mighty Quinn’s from all the regular barbecue joints is their focus on every part of the menu, from the side dishes down to the drinks. Of course, their meats are still the main attraction.

Verdict:

Overall, we loved Mighty Quinn’s! It’s certainly a Barbecue Haven for hardcore carnivore foodies.

I liked that there are only a few items to choose from. Everything on their New York menu is the same except for the dirty rice and the sweeter iced tea.

I recommend the beef brisket, spare ribs, and pulled pork. For the sides, I loved everything, but the baked beans, corn fritters, and broccoli salad won me over.

Congratulations to the Standard Hospitality Group (the same group that brought in Ipuddo and Yabu) for bringing Mighty Quinn’s to the Philippines!

MIGHTY QUINN’S MANILA
3rd Floor, Mega Fashion Hall, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila
Website: www.mightyquinnsbbq.com
Facebook: MightyQuinnsPH

10. UMA UMA

UMA UMA Philippines is a ramen franchise from Iki Concepts of Singapore of the Fukuoka Ramen Shop, “Wu Maru”. It was established in 1953 and was renamed to “Uma Uma” in 1994. The name is a play on the word that means tasty or with a lot of umami.

The flagship store in Manila is an Izakaya-Ramenya concept, offering affordable ramen, yakitori, and signature cocktails. Its claim to fame in Singapore is their “naturally rich in umami and 100% MSG-free” ramen!

Verdict:

I love these second wave ramen shops opening in Manila that offer affordable, good quality ramen and a combination of other Japanese ideas like this Izakaya-Ramenya concept from Uma Uma Philippines.

Our favorites are the Mazesoba, the Uma Uma Ramen, and the Tan Tan Mien (in Singapore). I recommend starting with the yakitori and their signature cocktails at The Bar. Budget about P500/head.

This is a great place to visit when you are attending events in SMX or MOA Arena. It’s also the best place to enjoy cocktails while watching the Manila Bay sunset.

Congratulations to Russell Yu for the successful opening of Uma Uma in the Philippines!

UMA UMA PHILIPPINES
Level 2, S Maison Marina Way (Mall below Conrad Manila)
Operating Hours: 11.00am to 10.00pm, The Bar opens 4.00pm to 1.00am.
Website: http://umaumaramen.com/
Instagram: @umaumaph

Related Blog Posts:

Live an Awesome Life,

Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com

Disclosure: We wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights.

P.S. Let me know if there are restaurants that opened in 2016 that should be included in this Most Awesome New Franchised Restaurants list.

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