GUIDE: Cubao Expo Restaurants, Cafés + Drinking Spots

(SPOT.ph) Cubao Expo—also called Cubao X—is always evolving, seemingly presenting a new personality through its establishments every five or so years. Currently, it seems to have mostly settled into a fine balance of cafés, bars, and restaurants that suit the eclectic collection of stores in the area. It is inevitably going to change again, but for now, here is a guide to what one may consume at the legendary tambayan.

Also read: 
A Love Letter to Cubao 
Cubao Is Now a Fine Spot to Have Crafty Cocktails—Here Are 4 Bars We Recommend 

Cubao Expo dining and drinking spots to visit:

Brewman

Brewman is a well-lit coffee shop where you will see several people working on their laptops. It is the hip third wave coffee joint that is noticeably missing in Araneta City, drawing professionals who want to get some work done in a more interesting space. At night, this place can transform, holding all manner of events, from Powerpoint parties to readings of new plays.

What to get: A variety of cold brew coffees, single origin pourovers, and pastries await people who visit this shop.

Café Andromede by Katha Lifestyle Store

The electic interiors reflect the general vibe of this coffee shop, which will regularly hold workshops for candle making, or bring in a Thai Sak Yant Tattoo master to give people protective tattoos. They sell various things, like candles, bamboo coffee paraphernalia, perfumes, and a whole load of other things that might make your life a little better. But you can also stop by their café for a quick caffeine boost.

What to get: Among their specials is the wonderful lavender espresso. But also, they regularly bring in specialty beans that you can have as a pourover, and these tend to be very special single origin varietals that will expand your palate.

Silingan Coffee

This coffee shop was conceived as a memorial to victims of extrajudicial killings. The walls are covered with posters of events that features protest art, and there are shelves lined with publications that document the killings.

What to get: Coffee. The Pride over Ice is an ube and espresso concoction that is pretty tasty. There are also two rice meals of offer: sisig and Hainanese chicken.

Imagine Art Bar Café

"Cozy" is a word often used to describe Imagine Art Bar Cafe. The interior is dominated by the counter, and the shelves of various bottles on display. There is an airconditioned second floor that one may access with a consumable fee. This is a very relaxed place with a dedicated regular cilentele.

What to get: Imagine will tout their Fil-Mex menu. The nachos are popular. The tinapa rolls are very good. And if one is drinking wine, and the grazing platter feels appropriate.

Int Bar/Ext Café

The establishment is separated into two pieces. There is a dimly-lit cocktail bar behind a photo booth entrance, and a cafe across a narrow alley, with large windows bringing in natural light. The two parts are connected on the second floor, where they screen movies weekly, or bring in DJs.

What to get: Int is one of the better cocktail bars in Quezon City, and their cinephiles will get a kick out of their movie themed menu, with drink names like Dogtooth and Parasite. From the food, try the signature grilled chicken or the trio tacos.

Bellini's

Bellini's is Cubao X's oldest and most famous tenant, having shown up in the movie One More Chance. The inside is a somewhat kitschy affair, with its crudely muraled walls depicting Italy. Framed photos from owner Roberto's career as a paparazzo also hang on these walls.

What to get: The ravioli are pretty good, as is the risotto. Don't sleep on their desserts: the orange cake is wonderful, and the panna cotta is a welcome treat.

Caffè Bellini/Bad Habits/The Burger Shop/Chef's Garage

The success of Bellini's led to the creation of these other ventures, expanding on the culinary vocabulary of the Bellini family. Bad Habits serves bomboloni and milkshakes. Burgershop serves a mean burger, and Caffè Bellini serves porchetta and pizza alongside sizzling dishes.

What to get: The OG Burger from the Burgershop is really solid. The dulce de leche bomboloni is a decadent treat. And porchetta is generally a good time.

Habanero

Arguably Cubao X's biggest success story. The wait time for a table at prime hours may be up to two hours at this modernist Filipino bistro, even though they've done everything they can to add as much seating that they can to the place. The first floor is open to the elements, the tables spilling out on to the sidewalk, but there is also an air conditioned second floor.

What to get: Habanero made its name on the Lechon Habanero, a spicy, sous vide kilo of pork belly that will easily feed four to five people. Chef Ryan made his name in Boracay at Two Seasons with the oyster sisig, and he brought it here as well. The lengua spring rolls are a great snack, if you're not looking to really fill up.

Best of Luck

The most recent addition to Cubao X is this casual Chinese restaurant. Like many of the area's establishments, there are two floors. The first is a white tiled space that resembles a corner eatery in Hong Kong. The second floor is a cocktail, and has more upscale interiors.

What to get: The siomai are big and plump. The noodles are very fun. The fried squid is just excellent.

Roo's Café

Roo's bills itself as offering 'a taste of Oz.' They serve Australian pub classics like fish and chips and bangers and mash right alongside Filipino bar standards like sizzling tofu and sisig. Roo's used to be completely air conditioned, but their first floor has been converted in a more open-air space, with tables on the sidewalk. This place offers free Wi-Fi, too.

What to get: Their fish and chips is made with mahi mahi, making it an instant upgrade to most versions of the dish you can get in Metro Manila. People also swear by their crispy pata.

Fred's Revolucion

A Cubao X institution, Fred's is a dive bar split between two structures with a road in between them. It didn't start out that way, but as the bar gained popularity, it started taking over other empty spaces in the Expo. Both sides have a ground floor exposed to the street. But the southern side of Fred's has an enclosed second floor that gets pretty crowded as well.

What to get: Bar chow, basically. Their fish and chips, served with dilis, is really fun. Fried chicken skin. Sometimes, they have tapang usa.

Miyagi Sushi and Japanese Bistro

This is one of those more casual sushi restaurants that feature a lot of specialty rolls that don't really have any raw fish in them. Instead, they're big, savory, saucy treats that have tempure or cheese or fried shredded potato in or on top of them.

What to get: Miyagi's various maki rolls are the focus, and it's what one ought to try.

Ichiban Takoyaki

Ichiban started as a Yakitori space, but would gradually transform as the modest Takoyaki setup they placed on the sidewalk just outside gained popularity. Now the grilled skewers are gone, completely overtaken by the humble Osakan street food.

What to get: Takoyaki, of course. They also serve reasonably affordable ramen.

Sunny and Scramble/Papak Sarap

Sunny and Scramble sells chicken, eggs, and other poultry-related products, such as frozen chicken siomai or empanadas. But they have an adjoining stall called Papak Sarap that will cook many of those frozen goods for you, as well as generous servings of fried chicken.

What to get: at just 135 pesos, the two piece chicken with rice may be the best deal in the area.

Cubao X Brewery

This brewpub doesn't actually serve any food, but you'll still find plenty of people dining within its space, which resembles an old Filipino house with its Capiz window shutters. The brewery doesn't charge corkage, so many treat it as an overflow space for the other eateries in the area. In particular, many take advantage of the Brewery when the wait for a table at Habanero becomes untenable. As a bonus, they've got good beer that is brewed on premises, ensuring its freshness.

What to get: Craft beer. If you've never had craft beer before, they'd be happy to let you taste anything on their board. 

Bonus: Jeongwon

Jeongwon is actually part of Art in Island, the specialty gallery attraction behind Cubao X. But most of its diners come from Cubao X. It is one of the more spacious places to eat at in the area, with a really airy, high ceilinged indoor space, plus an outdoor garden area for those who wish to be dining in the elements.

What to get: Jeongwan really sells itself as a bingsu cafe, so any of those snow ice desserts would be a great choice, especially on a hot day. Korean standards like bibimbap and fried chicken wings are present as well.

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