10 Great Delis and Specialty Food Stores in Manila

(SPOT.ph) Delis—deli being the short form of delicatessen—are essentially food stores, but they’re also so much more than that. Whereas supermarkets cater to our most essential of essentials, delis are where you can browse a more diverse, well-thought out range of foods from all around the world. They’re a fantastic resource if you’re into cooking as they’re likely to carry specialty ingredients that’ll elevate your humble home-cooked fare—and if you’re looking to give gifts to the discerning gourmand in your life, well, this is the place to go. Really, pretty much any food enthusiast open to going beyond convention is bound to be in for a treat at these specialty shops—so we round up 10 standout delicatessens in this list.

Also read: Best of Manila + More: 50 Great Restaurants of 2022

Shop one-of-a-kind, high-quality food finds at these delis in Manila:

Dough & Grocer

This online-turned-physical specialty food shop stocks one-of-a-kind food finds from around the world—some of which you might not even know ever existed, or even needed. We’re talking the likes of Coombe Castle Saxonshires cheese (with layers—yes, layers—of five regional cheeses from England); Hedene Chestnut Honey (hailed for its woody flavor); canned Burgundy snails (you never know when it might come in handy); the famed Michel Cluizel chocolate bars from Normandy, using cacao from all over the world; and more. And though they don’t necessarily market themselves as a Japanese food store, they’ve got a superb Japanese selection ranging with everything from A5 Wagyu to specialty variants of rice.

Dough & Grocer is at 86 Scout Gandia Street, Quezon City. For delivery orders, visit their website.

One World Deli

Located along Jupiter Street, One World Deli is a haven for food enthusiasts—in no small part for their diverse, but curated, selection of products on offer. Both foreign and local brands are represented here; think Saltverk sea salt, Fiscalini cheese, A Buzz From The Bees honey, Malagos cheeses, Risa Chocolate, Saint C condiments, and so on. Perhaps most impressive here is their range of fresh produce, meat, and seafood as they stock options from ethical and/or sustainable sources—making for vibrant colors on their Pedro Farms veggies, clean taste on the Dingley Dell pork; and full-flavored character on their Jack’s Creek Wagyu beef. Pro tip: you can have these cooked in-store, too.

One World Deli is at 11 Jupiter Street, Bel-Air, Makati City. For delivery orders, visit One World Deli’s website.

The Bow Tie Duck

Made for the fine food fans among us, online food store Bow Tie Duck presents a wide, eye-opening array of specialty foods from all around the world. You’ll find some of the world’s best food brands here—Fage greek yogurt, Bordier butter (note that this sells out fast), Casa Rinaldi olive oils, Angelina Paris confections—and it’s worth noting they stock hard-to-find imported fresh produce from time to time, such as Japanese musk melon, white truffles from Alba, and figs from Solliès-Pont in France. Really feel like splurging? Take your pick from their selection of premium caviar, truffles, foie gras, oysters, and so on—just be prepared to shell out accordingly.

For orders, visit Bow Tie Duck’s website.

Bacchus Epicerie

Bacchus International, Inc. was established by brothers Alex and Clifford Lichaytoo—both of whom were passionate about wine—in 1995. Fast-forward to 2023, Bacchus Epicerie remains a top-of-mind store for those who appreciate fine food and drink. And no wonder; this epicerie stocks products from some of the world’s most renowned food brands (some you might recognize being used at top restaurants!), from Lavazza coffee to De Cecco pasta, Caputo 00 Pizza flour, and more.

See a list of Bacchus Epicerie locations. For delivery orders, visit their website.

Terry’s Selection

Terry’s is more than just a Spanish restaurant with sublime paella and mains; at their core they are a specialty food shop peddling high-quality food finds from Spain. As you can expect, their selections of Spanish cheese, canned goods, and cold cuts are extensive; from different grades of jamon to high-quality canned and jarred seafood to relatively obscure Spanish cheeses, they’ve got you covered. They’re also a fantastic spot to pick up Spanish wines, liquors, and Sidra (cider).

See a list of Terry’s Selection branches. For delivery orders, visit their website.

Santis Delicatessen

OG deli Santis has long been a go-to for cheese, charcuterie, wine, and other provisions from around Europe—primarily Switzerland,  France, and Italy. It’s almost impossible not to be tempted by their famous cheese display case, which houses a fair selection of fromage—everything from your essential parmigiano-reggiano and brie to more one-of-a-kind finds like Pont-l'Évêque from France and Dutch coconut milk cheese. Ditto with their charcuterie selection—great-quality European hams, sausages, what have you. Go ahead and pick up a bottle or two of wine while you’re at it, as they’ve got both Old World and New World options in their cabinets.

See a list of Santis Delicatessen branches. 

Delidrop

Gourmet online grocer Delidrop brings you the best of local brands as well as international purveyors. Your inner epicure’s bound to be starry-eyed with products like Frantoi Cutrera Lemon Blossom Honey from Italy, Kaviari sardines and Ernest Soulard patés from France, wine gummies (the kind actually made of wine!) from local brand Googie Gummies, and more. Plus points for their ample vegan selection, with everything from Alt Scoops oat milk ice cream to Good & Honest savory snacks to Mighty Mindful Indulgence vegan peanut butter cups.

For delivery orders, visit Delidrop’s website.

Txanton

At Txanton, you can explore the art of jamon—the Spanish cured pork that’s more than cured pork, really, but an important facet of tradition and testament to the power of time. Their range of jamon and other cold cuts is extensive, spanning Jamón Serrano, Jamón Iberico, and Jamón Iberico de Bellota of different pig breeds from acclaimed brands like Castro y Gonzalez, Belloterra, Flor Sierra de Jabugo, and Arturo Sanchez; they can, of course, carve it on your behalf as well. Also available at their shop are specialty brands of olive oils, vinegars, cheeses, tinned seafood, and chocolate.

Txanton is at 2/F Alegria Alta, 2294 Chino Roces Avenue Extension, Makati City. For delivery orders, visit their website.

Deli by Chele

This shop by chefs Chele Gonzalez and Carlos Villaflor—which started just online, but opened brick-and-mortar shops with small eatery areas in 2022—might have a smaller selection compared to the others, but that selection is a truly special one you likely wouldn’t find anywhere else. We’re talking cheeses, charcuterie, breads, condiments, beverages, and so on, the majority of which are from scratch by their own team using local ingredients. Stock up on jarred provisions like their Dalandan & Lemongrass Jam (P155) and Mackarel in Garlic, Paprika, and Chili (P350), both excellent with toasted slices of their Original Sourdough (P295). Their charcuterie, which has the likes of Smoked Duck Pastrami (P450) and Chorizo Iberico (P380) also shouldn’t be missed.

See a list of Deli by Chele branches. For delivery orders, visit their website.

GERALD.ph

This online shop is a haven for cooks as they’ve got a great range of rare meats and seafood—think duck, veal, and snow crabs apart from your essential chicken, beef, and fish. They’ve got an ample cheese selection with classic varieties (roquefort, raclette, and so on) and more hard-to-find numbers (vegan “goat cheese,” anyone?). It’s also well worth stocking your freezers with their ready-to-heat breads, of the likes of the Cereal Loaf (P250) and Butter Croissants (P390/six pieces).

For delivery orders, visit GERALD.ph’s website.

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