Related Blog Post: Pat & Pat: The best new restaurant in the Diliman/ Katipunan area?! 👀
What About COffee, or WACO, sits right in that sweet spot between a study café, co-working space, and comfort food hangout. We first encountered WACO at the UP University Hotel, but this was our first visit to their flagship Katipunan branch tucked inside the compound of sister brand JT’s Manukan franchise. We’re usually skeptical of cafés with great coffee but ho hum food, but after learning the same group is behind Pat & Pat, we had to find out: WAFO — What About the FOod?
about WACO
Love the homey vibe—entering What About COffee feels like hanging out at a friend’s house in Katipunan.
What About COffee?
📍B. Gonzales, Katipunan
🕐 Monday to Sunday 7:00am to 10:00pm (until 11pm on Friday and Saturday)
📸: @whataboutcoffeeph
Related Blog Post: Pat & Pat: The best new restaurant in the Diliman/ Katipunan area?! 👀
There’s also a private nook with lounge chairs you can reserve for groups, plus a selection of cakes and pastries on display.
Even the restroom is thoughtfully designed—surprisingly welcoming and adds to the overall experience.
It also features @thepinkloungeph, which you can reserve for private celebrations or cozy group meetings.
What About COffee?
Sea Salt Matcha (₱269)
I actually like their sea salt matcha, a matcha latte with sea salt foam—not too bitter or too sweet, with just the right matcha taste.
Biscoff Latte (₱289)
This can satisfy your Biscoff fix without being too sweet, with a clear cookie flavor and whipped cream for added creaminess.
Lychee Lemonade (₱229)
Citrusy and refreshing with a lychee twist, not too sweet, and won’t ruin your palate.
Strawberry Dream (₱229)
For those looking for a strawberry milky drink, it’s satisfying but better as a dessert.
What About FOod?
Grilled Cheese (₱349). Best paired with Tomato Soup!
This was our favorite—three layers of bread with melted cheese and a good cheese stretch, and quite satisfying to bite into. It’s even better when dunked in the tomato soup for added umami.
4 Cheese Pizza (₱529)
Love the thick layer of mixed cheeses melted together on the four-cheese pizza, served rectangular on a thick crust.
Kimchi Pasta (₱389)
Oooh—this is like Pinoy spaghetti with a spicy kimchi kick, served with egg. A good idea, but it actually tasted better when we took it out and ate it at home.
Creamy Beef Stroganoff (₱469)
This has the thick creaminess we like, with mushroom and beef flavors, and portions big enough to share.
Boneless Bangus Sisig (₱379). Served with garlic rice and two sunny-side up eggs
The bangus sisig comes highly recommended, but I prefer it with vinegar instead of soy sauce. The half bangus is served with bits of fried bangus. Ok lang, but a good healthier option.
Sirloin Beef Tapa (₱479). Served with garlic rice and two sunny-side up eggs
One of the best premium tapsilog in this side of Katipunan, I’d go back just for this at brunch. The meat is tender, well-marinated, pairs well with vinegar, and comes in generous portions. This was the first to get wiped out.
Salmon Salpicao (₱589) + Upgrade – Shirataki Rice +₱79
This is a better healthier option with marinated salmon and shirataki rice, which they know how to cook properly. Masarap.
WACo Pancake (₱279). Our signature 10-inch golden-brown pancake
The pancake is so big with a mamon-like texture. Spread the butter, pour the syrup, and cut it like pizza or just tear a piece to enjoy. It looks heavy but is good for sharing and pairs well with fried chicken strips.
Salted Caramel Banana Crumble (₱219) + Brown Butter Cookie (₱179)
We love the salted caramel banana crumble from Pat & Pat and ended the brunch with their signature cookie.
final thoughts
Surprisingly, their comfort food—silogs, pasta, sandwiches, pizza, and desserts—is quite good despite the limited kitchen space. Portions are generous, following the 1.5 people formula. Our favorites are the grilled cheese with tomato soup, four-cheese pizza, creamy beef stroganoff, and sirloin beef tapsilog.
We also like that the iced coffee concoctions are well done—balanced, not too sweet, with matcha options—making it a solid brunch spot where you can stay the whole day. It’s a cozy place to study or do remote work, with WiFi available, dim romantic morning lighting, and walls adorned with artwork. Get a corner table with plenty of power outlets for charging phones and laptops.
A bit pricey for students with JT’s nearby, but still a cool Katipunan hangout for coffee and good food.
Thank you to the WACO staff for the warm, attentive, homey service—they greet you with, “Welcome to WACO!”
What About COffee?
📍B. Gonzales, Katipunan
🕐 Monday to Sunday 7:00am to 10:00pm (until 11pm on Friday and Saturday)
📸: @whataboutcoffeeph
Related Blog Post: Pat & Pat: The best new restaurant in the Diliman/ Katipunan area?! 👀
Live an Awesome Life with Christ,
Founder & Digital Creator, Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: This article was written entirely by a human—reflecting my own biases, opinions, and insights—with grammar and clarity checked using AI assistance. Thank you to WACO for hosting us.
p.s. have you tried their cakes and pastries? any reco?
