(SPOT.ph) Some folks are blessed with a well-stocked office pantry, full of tasty lunch options at budget-friendly prices. Others—not so much. But, treating yourself to a delicious meal out doesn’t have to mean going broke afterward. From Asian-inspired fare to one of the best sisig choices in the Metro, Makati has a lot of budget-friendly lunch options to offer. So go on and have that lunch out; you need a break from your office cubicle anyway.
Salcedo Village
For your next roast-duck fix, you don’t need to fly to Hong Kong or brave the streets of Binondo. You can solve your hankerings on your next lunch break right in Makati at Tai Koo HK Roast. With roasted pork, chicken, and duck hanging from metal skewers behind a glass window, this restaurant channels Hong Kong holes-in-the-wall, minus the chaos. With their emphasis on serving only fresh, quality food—the poultry are imported from Hong Kong, and the dim sum is handmade—you’re getting more for your buck.
Must-tries: Char Siu Pork Rice (P158), Roast Duck Rice (P228), HK Roast Duck and Wonton Tossed Noodles (P258)
Tai Koo HK Roast is at G/F V Corporate Centre, L.P. Leviste Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City.
Berde
Healthy eating seems impossible sometimes, especially when you don’t have time to prep your own meals, and options when you eat out are limited. Lucky for Makati folks, Berde is making things easier with their salad bowls. Aside from their five signature bowls, you can also build your own bowl and fill it up with your choice from four kinds of bases (white rice, red rice, salad, or rice and salad), five kinds of protein, six vegetable sides, and twelve toppings. Plus, Berde partners up with local farms and growers for their produce so you’re getting fresh, organic produce, and helping farmers, too. Win-win!
Must-tries: Mushroom Monggo Kare-Kare (P250), Baboy Oh Boy (P280), The Manok-Out (P280)
Berde is at Ayala Triangle Gardens, Salcedo Village, Makati City.
Step inside Takashi with their fun playlist of “Japanized” pop songs, and know that you’re up for a fun time. Their food is just as playful, like an IG-worthy Ebi Katsu Panda Curry, with rice shaped into an adorable panda. But, to get the most value for your money, order their special bento boxes that are only available at their Makati branch. Choose from 15 different sets, with mains like Chicken Teriyaki, Beef Yakiniku, and tempura. Each box comes with tamago, a sushi roll, veggie noodles, and rice topped with nori.
Must-tries: Ebi Katsu Panda Curry (P250), Chicken Teriyaki (P195), Beef Yakiniku (P225)
Takashi Makati is at 332 H.V. Dela Costa Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City.
Ramen Kuroda
This underrated ramen joint is proof that you don’t need to shell out big bucks for quality ramen. At Ramen Kuroda, noodles are handmade in-house so they’re flavorful and firm with a satisfying bite. You can’t go wrong with their classic Shiro Ramen with a tonkotsu base, or its leveled up version, the Kuro Ramen, with a tonkotsu broth that’s infused with roasted garlic for a rich and smoky flavor. Ramen Kuroda also carries a sizeable selection of donburi or rice bowls.
Must-tries: Shiro Ramen (P180), Kuro Ramen (P180), Gyudon (P200)
Ramen Kuroda Makati is at 3/F RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Salcedo Village, Makati City.
Legazpi Village
Sisig Sa Rada
Any Makati regular knows that some of the best home-style fare can be found at the Jolli Jeeps, or the steel carts that line the sidewalks. Most will tell you that one of the best sisig in the Metro can be found at Sisig Sa Rada. We heartily agree; in fact, their addicting sisig currently sits at third place on our top 10 sisig list. For less than P100, you get a paper bag with a folded paper plate, and a plastic bag full of savory pork bits coated with scrambled egg. Hearty, with an enjoyable heat and the perfect balance between crunch and chewiness, this sisig might just become your new lunchtime addiction.
Must-try: Sisig (P53)
Sisig sa Rada is at Metrochef Stall 002, Rada Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City.
Gringo: Chicken, Ribs, and Friends
Latin American joint Gringo offers tasty plates that’ll fill you up without emptying your pocket, and their semi-hidden location feels like an escape away from the busy vibe of the district. For less than P200, you can get a quarter portion of Gringo’s signature grilled chicken, which comes in two tasty flavors: The herby and tangy Gringo Original, or the spicier Gringo Southern Spice. Staying away from carbs? Opt for the Crispy Pork Belly With Mango Salsa, with a crunchy pork belly that’ll remind you of chicharon, and a fresh mango salsa.
Must-tries: Gringo Original Chicken (P148), Gringo Southern Spice Chicken (P158), Crispy Pork Belly With Mango Salsa (P265)
Gringo: Chicken, Ribs, and Friends is at G/F OPL Building, C. Palanca corner De la Rosa Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City.
Up for a gastronomic adventure on your next lunch break? Discover the spice-filled and wonderfully tasty world of Indonesian cuisine at Restoran Garuda. Come with your buddies and share a platter of their best-selling skewers, the Ayam Sate, which are grilled to a perfect subtle smokiness, and blanketed with their signature peanut sauce. For a hefty bowl that’s sure to give you energy for the rest of the day, have the Nasi Goreng or Indonesia’s traditional fried rice with prawns, ground shrimp paste, veggies, and a perfectly fried egg.
Must-tries: Nasi Goreng (P280), Ikan Packet (P295), Ayam Sate (P290/meat, P280/vegetarian)
Restoran Garuda is at 166 G/F Beneficial Life Building, Salcedo Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City.
Poblacion
For affordable yet reliable lunch options in Poblacion, Hole In The Wall is your best bet. One of their newest food stalls is Famry, with a façade patterned after Taiwanese street-side eateries, and an eye-catching bun-shaped sign you’ll want to capture for your IG feed. Their Taiwanese rice bowls come in generous portions, and are chock-full of flavor, covering the spectrum from rich and savory to wonderfully spicy.
Must-tries: Crispy Duck Rice (P290/Famry size), Minced Pork Rice (P140/regular, P240/Famry size, includes pickled vegetables), Bunplings A.K.A. Shenjianbao (P220)
Famry is at Hole In The Wall, 4/F Century City Mall, Kalayaan Avenue, Poblacion, Makati City.
The brainchild of Chef Nicco Santos of Your Local and Hey Handsome fame, Any Any keeps its menu compact, offering only roti prata and nasi lemak. That doesn’t mean you won’t be spoiled for choices though—Chef Nicco’s prata comes out in all kinds of flavors from the classic Roti Prata served with an orange zest-infused condensed milk or curry sauce (or both), to the beef rendang-stuffed Beef. If you’re feeling extra hungry, have the Nasi Lemak, which comes with your choice of protein, coconut milk-infused rice, sweet-salty anchovies, crunchy peanuts, and a hardboiled egg.
Must-tries: Beef Nasi Lemak (P200), Prawns Nasi Lemak (P230), Cheese Roti Prata (P110), Beef Roti Prata (P200)
Any Any is at Hole In The Wall, 4/F Century City Mall, Kalayaan Avenue, Poblacion, Makati City.
While WOKby 4900’s Asian-inspired rice bowls make for great hangover cures, they’re also hearty lunch meals. In fact, this eatery is one of the few establishments at Poblacion that open for lunch. Their Asian Built Bowls can be had in half or full portions, all for less than P200—and they’re piled high with all the tasty stuff, from chicken, beef, or pork, to veggies, all on top of rice and smothered with different kinds of lip-smacking sauces. They even carry vegetarian options! Plus, if you really can’t log off from work, they also offer fast, free WiFi.
Must-tries: Hong Kong Asian Built Bowl (P140/half, P250/full), Seoul Asian Built Bowl (P170/half, P290/full, no-meat option: P140/half, P240/full), Taipei Asian Built Bowl (P160/half, P280/full)
WOKby 4900 is at 4900 Durban Street, Poblacion, Makati City.
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