Where to eat when...in Poblacion, Makati  

Poblacion has done a complete 180 in the past three years. It’s changed its reputation from being the dodgy red light district in Makati to one of the coolest, Instagram-friendly foodie destinations in Metro Manila.

With a thriving community of artisans, expats, hoteliers, and foodies, as well as the growing number of tourists that explore the area when the sun goes down, you can expect Poblacion to have a little something for everybody. The old favorites are still there and still thriving — people still flock to Tambai, Señor Pollo, and El Chupacabra — but there are always new concepts popping up that are totally worth looking into when you find yourself in the neighborhood.

 

WOKby 4900. This casual spot looks will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a dive bar in Hanoi sometime after the Vietnam war. Along with its inviting white walls and the wooden monkey statue by the doorway are the mismatched tiles on the bar, and a slew of decorative elements — a surfboard up on the wall, a TV that looks like it belongs in the ‘70s, and wooden floor panels up on the ceiling – all lending a dated and comfortable look to the space.

The food is inspired from popular street food all over Asia. There are rice and noodle bowls you can order as a full or half bowl. A must-try is their Bangkok aka Currybowl (P300/ Full Bowl; P170/ Half Bowl) made with a mix of fried rice, mushrooms, tofu, broccoli, cucumber pickle, and chicken and/or shrimp in a mild curry sauce served with a dash of cilantro and sesame seeds with a lime wedge on the side.

Noodle lovers will enjoy the simple Hong Kong or Wokmien (P250/FUll Bowl; P135/Half Bowl), which uses egg noodles tossed with vegetables in tausi sauce, served with chicken and/or siomai and prawn crackers.

Aside from a great place to get filling grub on the cheap, WOKby also serves up affordable cocktails, as well as a co-working space for guests who want to get a bit of work done or catch up with family and friends on Skype.  4900 Durban St., Makati, 5pm-3am, +639176759964.

Holy Smokes. Partially hidden on the corner of Matilde and Jacobo Streets, its black, glossy signage is the only thing giving Holy Smokes away. The popular joint serves up some pretty banging platters of smoked meats!

The night at the Smokes go something like this: Walk up to the counter, have a short chat with the staff about what you’re craving, and they can give you a pretty good guesstimate of how much meat you can handle.

The fall-off-the-bone Pork Ribs (P180/100 grams) definitely tops that list, but you shouldn’t shy away from the Beef Brisket (P270/100 grams) either. If it‘s white meat you’re looking for, their beautifully golden roasted Chicken (P270/half; P500/whole) might be more your type. The smoking has been perfected down to a science, with owner Juano Gutierrez using locally sourced wood like kaimito and santol instead of applewood (although they deliver a similar flavor). The meat is then smoked for 14 to 16 hours.

The sides can definitely be enjoyed on their own – like their bacon-ridden Potato Salad (P85 to P160), creamy Mac and Cheese (P70 to 130), and flavorful Cajun Rice (P65 to P90) - but why would you want to do that? They work so well with the meat! 5834 Matilde St., Makati. 5pm-12am. +639175036544

 

Cu Chi Bar. Above Señor Pollo on Ebro Street is Cu Chi Bar, a no frills Asian joint that offers Vietnamese fare. Chef Tung "Ryan" Pham came to the Philippines on vacation and end up liking it so much he decided to stay.

Wanting to offer food that is both healthy and doesn't break the bank, the menu features traditional Vietnamese dishes like BBQ Skewers (P170/chicken; P180/pork; P180/seafood) served with a tongue-scorching spicy sauce.

A big hot bowl of Pho (P200) is just the thing one needs with the rains coming and going, and the savory yet delicate beef noodle soup has thinly sliced beef that almost melts into the broth. Perhaps you’d like to pair them with a few cocktails to keep you warm? 5767 Ebro St., Makati. 5pm-2am. +639065260256

Crying Tiger Street Kitchen. On Guazon Street stands this little joint that looks like a hawker stand meets karinderya. Plastic tablecloths, moorish glass lanterns and bright pink and turquoise walls might be a wee bit overwhelming, but don’t be deterred. Its menu short is nothing but shiok lah.

A favorite on its seven-item menu is their Mee Goreng (P199), saucy egg noodles covered in spicy, thick sauce, with squid balls, shrimp, tofu, spring onions, and bok choy. Stay a while and enjoy a few bottles of cold beers paired with Thai Pork BBQ (P25/stick) or spicy Malaysian Wings (P199) before heading out for a night on the town. 4986 Guanzon St., Makati. 5pm-2am. +632 8941769

Hummus Elijah. Let the bright green and orange logo opposite Century City on Makati Avenue draw you in to find the always bustling restaurant on the second floor. The Israeli café caters to everyone’s hummus and falafel cravings until 3am, seven days a week.

Named after one of the most popular things on the menu, the Hummus Elijah (P250) uses a special blend of chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, herbs, and spices that are ground up until they reach a thick, creamy consistency, served with two pieces of pita bread that’s best shared.

If hummus doesn’t tickle your fancy, Labane (P190) is an exciting alternative, a creamy sour cheese with olive oil, herbs, and zaatar spices. To fill you up, this vegetarian restaurant can serve up a big Falafel Sandwich (P180) which never disappoints, and their Burekas (P210) - a puffed pastry filled with cheese, spinach, or potatoes, that comes with a hard boiled egg and pickles- makes for a quick lunch before winding down with a cup of Turkish Coffee (P80) and sweet Baklava (P90). 7850 Makati Ave, Makati. 9am-3am. +632 8021885

 

Tilde Hand Craft Café. Named after the street that bears its name, Matilde Street, Tilde Hand Craft Cafe is a quiet hideaway owned by the people behind Gustàre Kitchen. The menu is ever changing, making the most of whatever is fresh and in season, but they do have their staples such as their deliciously creamy Roasted Pumpkin Soup (P225) or Bacon Bolognese (P390) that uses home-smoked bacon in a delicious tomato sauce on housemade fettuccine noodles. At the end of your meal, treat your sweet tooth to their plethora of desserts, their Black Samurai (P170) teasing chocoholics with layers of red velvet, chocolate mousse, and meringue covered in chocolate ganache.

If you only plan on passing by, I highly recommend getting their crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside Tilde Sourdough Bread (P120) to go to enjoy lightly toasted with butter, salt, and a cup of tea, as they make it from scratch, taking two whole days to prove. 5417 Tilde St., Makati. Monday-Saturday 8am-7pm, Sunday 9am-4pm. +632 7712764

The Social on Ebro. Poblacion’s newest food park is very hard to miss, what with the two-storey colorful container vans transformed into food stalls, spray painted with an urban jungle theme. This al fresco dining sweet spot serves up Indian street food from Makati legend Kashmir, with offerings that range from Samosas (P200/4 pieces) to Fuk Na (P150), bite-sized popadum-like balls filled with potatoes and a blend of Indian spices, drizzled with yogurt to cut through the cloying oil.

New to the food scene is Crosta, which showcases the owners’ passion for a good Italian pie. Their slogan, "Make pizza great again," stays true to its word, getting customers excited about their chewy dough and perfectly rustic crust. To keep things interesting, they change their menu every now and again, like the creative Leeking Goat, whose toppings include Malagos chèvre, garlic confit, and leeks, but The Basic Bitch (P200) is a staple - their take on a pizza Margherita. 5770 Ebro St., Makati. 5pm-onwards. +63917 7270072. 

Where to eat in Bacolod, according to a local — LA, GMA News