Here are the 10 Most Awesome New Homegrown Restaurants in Manila, Philippines:
#1 HELM
Chef Josh Boutwood’s Helm offers one of the best degustation experiences that’s certainly not to be missed in Manila. After the successful opening of Test Kitchen and Savage, Helm’s 10-seater theatre dining experience is his best one yet. It’s like Chef Josh’s culinary playground where he unleashes his creativity after managing Bistro Group’s culinary empire. At Helm, he is in charge, and it’s awesome to see the chef having fun and to have a taste of it with every plate.
HELM by Chef Josh Boutwood
G/F The Plaza, Arya Residences, Mckinley Parkway, Bonifacio Global City
(Just below Savage also in Arya Residences)
Facebook: helmmnl
Telephone: +63 906 234 1900
Website: https://www.joshboutwood.com.ph/
#2 THE PEAK
The Peak is a multi-level bar, music lounge and grill roof deck restaurant in Grand Hyatt in Manila. The concept is inspired by Penthouse Living with different homey rooms, set against the Manila Skyline backdrop, to discover. This is the landmark restaurant Manila is waiting for, ushering us to 2019 and beyond.
THE PEAK
60th-62nd Floor, Grand Hyatt Manila, 8th Avenue corner 35th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Telephone: +632 838 1234
Operating Hours: Dinner (6:00 -10:00 PM) (Note: Kids are allowed at the grill but are not allowed at the bar.)
Email: thepeak.manila.grand@hyatt.com
Instagram: @grandhyattmanilaph
Facebook: Grand Hyatt Manila PH
Website: www.hyatt.com/grand-hyatt-manila/
#3 THE GRID
The Grid is the latest venture of Charles Paw, founder and CEO of the Tasteless Group, the same brains behind Century City Mall’s Hole in the Wall. Food halls and food parks have burgeoned over the last few years, all with their aggressive branding and marketing. But for the majority, their over-the-top ideas took the front seat; and quality, the back seat. The Grid focuses less on trendy and experimental food concepts, but more on familiar cuisine done with expertise. That being said, this food hall brings together some of Manila’s culinary industry’s most prominent names.
The Grid
R2 Level Expansion, Power Plant Mall, Makati
Operating Hours: Monday-Friday 11:00am – 10:00pm, Saturday-Sunday 11:00am – 11:00pm Facebook: The Grid Food Market
Instagram: @thegridfoodmarketph
#4 BCN
Manila is known to have some of the best Spanish restaurants in Asia. Thanks to the Bistronomia Team, the people behind Las Flores, Rambla, Tomatito and now BCN by Rambla. BCN is a continuation of the Rambla story—the latter is like the restaurant you would go to in Las Ramblas in Barcelona, the former would be the restaurant you’ll find in El Born or Gracias where the locals would hang out for drinks with friends and family.
BCN by Rambla Unit G10, Bolanos St., Makati City
Mobile: +63 966 331-1352
Email: info@bistromania.ph
Facebook: @BCNbyRambla
Instagram: @BCNbyRambla
Website: www.bistronomia.ph
#5 SAVAGE
By doing away with the pretentiousness one would typically expect from Fort Bonifacio’s higher-end restaurants, Savage is a breath of fresh air that is as familiar as it is—in its own way—innovative. No gas or electric stoves, no foams, no spherification. Here you’ll find a rustic menu with hearty servings made the good old-fashioned way. Wood, fire and a grill. A testament to humankind’s ongoing attempts at making Mother Nature taste delicious. Savage takes humanity’s most basic culinary premise and delivers great tasting food that not only looks amazing, but tastes amazing as well.
SAVAGE
G/F The Plaza, Arya Residences, McKinley Pkwy, Taguig, Metro Manila
Hours: 11am–3pm, 6pm–10pm
Daily Phone: +63 915 333-9546
Facebook: Savage MNL
#6 FRIENDS & FAMILY
Friends & Family is a tasty tribute to Filipino comfort food classics that we grew up with and a throwback to our Filipino Eateries by the Raintree group. It’s very Filipino, comforting to our palate with a focus on Filipino BBQ & Pugon cooking. This is the latest addition to our favorite Filipino Restaurants in Manila which include Abe, Kanin Club, Cafe Juanita, Aristocrat, Locavore, Sarsa and Manam.
Friends & Family PH
Bonifacio High Street Central, BGC, Taguig
Telephone: +632 621.3222
Mobile: +63 917 891 7053
Operating Hours: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Facebook: Friends & Family PH
Instagram: @friendsandfamilyph
Website: http://www.raintreerestaurants.com
#7 AGIMAT
Agimat is the flagship foraging bar concept of Liquido Maestro by Kalel Demetrio x Modern Filipino Tapas by Chef Niño Laus in the heart of Brgy. Poblacion. The name and concept are inspired by Filipino folklore: the mysterious amulet known for warding off evil or the mythical charm noted for developing an instant attraction to the bearer. Agimat promises a magical experience for those looking for mystical ambiance, otherworldly cocktails and spellbinding food that celebrate everything indigenously Filipino.
#8 GALLERY BY CHELE
Gallery by Chele is a new restaurant concept by Chef Chele Gonzales and Carlo Villaflor based on the learnings from Vask Gallery and Tapas Bar. It’s flavor-forward; celebrating local ingredients in the Philippines refined by Spanish culinary techniques. I like the casual, open ambiance with inviting wood and nature-inspired interiors. You can order a la carte and even dine in the bar area without a reservation. Best of all, the tasting menus are priced reasonably.
Gallery by Chele
5F Clipp Center, Bonifacio Global City, Manila, Philippines
Operating Hours: 5 pm to 1 am, Tuesday to Saturday (Dinner seatings begin at 6 pm with last call at 10:30 pm.)
Telephone: +63 2 218-3895
Mobile: +63 917 546-1673
Email: reservations@gallerybychele.com
Facebook: @gallerybychele
Instagram: @gallerybychele
Website: gallerybychele.com
#9 CICCHETTI
Cicchetti, which is Italian for “small bites”, is a hidden Italian restaurant in BGC by Chef Alec Santos with the Belle & Dragon group. It’s a quaint escape from the busy restaurant scene in BGC where you can relax with your date and appreciate good food.
CICCHETTI
8th Floor, MDI Corporate Center, 10th Avenue 39th St., BGC, Taguig
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday Lunch 11:30am – 2:30pm Dinner: 6:30pm – First Seating, 8:30pm – Second Seating
Telephone: +632 987 4756
Mobile: +63 917 321 4756
Facebook: CicchettiPh
Instagram: @CicchettiPh
Website: www.cicchetti.ph
#10 MOTTO MOTTO
https://flic.kr/p/2dDQ8JR
Motto Motto, meaning “more more” in Japanese, is a Japanese comfort food restaurant with an extensive menu to cater to both locals and Japanese ex-pats alike. It’s another winning concept by the Raintree group after Friends & Family to replace the Chelsea concept in Serendra. They also partnered with a homegrown Tokyo bakery concept from Salcedo to provide Japanese pastries. I like how it still gets that younger Chelsea ambiance conducive to conversation while offering more affordable or unique Japanese food options.
Motto Motto
Ground Floor, Serendra Piazza, Bonifacio Global City.
Opening Hours: 8.00 am to 11.00 pm
Live an Awesome Life, 
Founder, www.OurAwesomePlanet.com
Disclosure: I wrote this article with my biases, opinions and insights for our Annual Best New Restaurants List. P.S. Let me know if you have a favorite restaurant that should have been included in the list.
Pin it! If you like this post and you have a Pinterest account, please share and pin it for later! 
Nice review. I think the title should be best restau in bgc, not manila. Or best restau I’ve been in .___. 5 out of 10 restau are from bgc. The rest are tguig and makati. True, manila is a ‘generic’ name for PH pero sana you added more locations outside bgc. No bashing intended. Kinda misleading lang.
Hi George, yes thank you for the comment. We tried to include the ones in Quezon City or in the north or the ones in BF all the way to the south. Maybe, you can suggest if there was a best one for you outside BGC or Makati aside from a Korean Buffet?
Title should be Best Restos in BGC. Try exploring restos outside BGC like in Marikina or Valenzuela. I read your blog for your recommendations but lately I find that you are concentrating at a certain market. Thanks!
Yes you are right. Thanks for the suggestion
I went through your article and it’s totally awesome. I am searching for a blog about the Best Restaurants in Manila!, and my search ends with your blog. Keep on updating your blog with such awesome information.
Thanks