📍 University Belt Food Strip (last updated: January 17, 2025)
The UST and University Belt food scene is thriving, with small and medium food businesses offering budget-friendly meals and satisfying food cravings, appealing to both students and the surrounding mass community.
Recommendations:
- Banana Rhuma at Mang Tootz Foodhouse – A must-try to kickstart your UBelt food adventure with its sweet, caramelized mini banana cue rolls.
- James and Che’s Isaw and Chicken Skin – Perfect for a sunset happy hour with friends, savoring smoky street food.
- La Cocina Mama’s Homemade Lasagna – Just as good as advertised, a comforting classic to enjoy.
- Hungarian and Cheesy Spicy German Sausages – Satisfy your cravings at Cow-Wow Sausage Haus with these flavorful sausages.
- Tinapayan Ensaymada and Cream Puffs – Ideal for merienda, offering a delicious, old-school treat.
- Premium Pork & Shrimp Siomai by Dimsum Treats
#Ubelt Best
@mangtootzfoodhouse
Banana Rhuma by Mang Tootz Foodhouse is an iconic street food featuring mini banana cue rolls coated in caramelized rum sweetness, inspired by the rich coating of Bicol pili nuts.
#JamesandChesBBQHouse
James and Che’s BBQ House is a legendary street food spot where, as the sun sets, the air fills with the smoky aroma of barbecue, isaw, bulaklak, tenga, and chicken skin, enjoyed by people celebrating with occasional street karaoke.
@tinapayan.festival
Tinapayan, a Cuenca Batangas bakery by Lucito “Chito” Chavez, is famous for its old-school ensaymada, cheese rolls, ube loaf, cream puffs, silvans, napoleons, and chocolate eclairs.
@lacocinademama.ph
Special mention to La Cocina Mama’s homemade Lasagna, which has established its quaint store in Pacific Icon 2, bringing delicious La Sagna goodness to all the colleges in the University Belt area.
Independent Cafes
@manilacafeph
For a unique Manila vibe, Manila Cafe offers essential espresso, lattes, cold brew, frio, and milk tea, perfect for fueling study dates or casual meetups in the University Belt area.
@midnightcoffee.ph
Midnight Coffee is your go-to spot for specialty coffee, featuring signature drinks like Cafe con Leche, Dirty Match, and Coffee Float.
@chaptercoffeeph
Chapter Coffee Roastery & Cafe is the coffee aficionado’s hangout, known for iced lattes and horchata, as well as all-day breakfast and sandwiches.
@aljograts
Just beside Chapter, Al Jograts Persian serves affordable Beef Kebab or Shawarma to satisfy your Middle Eastern cravings.
Nostalgic Favorites
Cheap treats for every student budget are where foodies begin to appreciate good food, fueling their drive to succeed in school and eventually graduate to a higher quality of dining.
@angkongdimsum
Many Thomasian alumni fondly remember enjoying Angkong’s Dimsum,
@dimsumtreats_original
Dimsum Treats’ Siomai,
@sausagehauscowwow
Cow-Wow Sausage Haus Barkada sausage platters,
#WingsinaBasket
Chicken Wings from Wings in a Basket
@tigerwinx
or Tiger Winx,
#Santorini
Santorini’s Korean meals,
@srthaicuisine
SR Thai’s Filipino-Thai favorites and
#Lovelite
hanging out with a special someone at Lovelite’s combo meals and the best shakes in the area.
ABOUT THIRD CULTURE PLACES SERIES:
We’re excited to launch a new series on Our Awesome Planet featuring Third Culture Places in Metro Manila! This project began in partnership with Asec. Sharlene Batin of DOT-NCR, who collaborated with us to curate the city’s top food strips for a free Food Strip Map aimed at promoting small and medium food businesses. Through our visits, we discovered that the most memorable spots go beyond great food—they serve as community hubs, bringing people together and creating a distinct sense of place.
In The Great Good Place (1989), Ray Oldenburg defines first places as homes, where personal life happens, and second places as workplaces or, for students, schools where learning takes place. He introduces third places as informal social hubs, such as cafés, pubs, and community centers, where people gather to build relationships and foster a sense of belonging. Unlike public spaces that serve practical functions, third places prioritize social interaction, offering a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere that strengthens community connections and its own food culture.
Live an Awesome Life with Christ,
Founder & Digital Creator, Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: This article was written entirely by 100% human, with my own biases, opinions, and insights. This series is in partnership with Department of Tourism – National Capital Region.
P.S. Let me know if you have more cool spots to recommend around the UST and University Belt area.