10 New Restaurants to Try in Makati This December

IMAGE Jericho San Miguel

(SPOT.ph) Makati City isn't just Metro Manila's financial district; it's also a bustling food destination, with restaurants popping up one after the other all the time. This means there's always something new to try in the city, from new hip bars in Poblacion to chill workday hangouts in Legazpi and Salcedo Villages. Planning those Christmas after-work get-togethers? We round up some of the new spots you should go for in the Makati neighborhood.

IMAGE Majoy Siason

IMAGE Majoy Siason

IKOMAI & TOCHI

What first started as a regular at Salcedo Market is now a cozy Japanese restaurant at Salcedo Village. Chef Hide Saeki serves up heirloom recipes that are inspired by Japanese street food, like an assorted kushikatsu set with perfectly crisp chicken karaage that’s a hit at the weekend market. Don’t miss their Ikomai Taco, which trades tortilla for a deep-fried nori—this sushi-taco mash-up is the fusion we never knew we needed until now.

IKOMAI & TOCHI is at G/F ACI Group Building, 147 H.V. Dela Costa Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City.

IMAGE Ian Santos

IMAGE Ian Santos

Kiss The Tiramisu

Why choose between cake and ice cream when you can have both? This dessert café from Seoul turns your classic tiramisu cake into a decadent soft-serve. Kiss The Tiramisu takes the elements of a tiramisu, like mocha and chocolate cookie crumble, coffee sauce, and dark chocolate shavings, and gives it new form as a sundae. But what sets this treat apart is the mascarpone cheese, which makes each spoonful richer and creamier, while adding a subtle note of saltiness that perfectly complements the sweetness.

Kiss The Tiramisu is at Three Central, Valero Street, Makati City.

IMAGE Jericho San Miguel

IMAGE Jericho San Miguel

Antidote

Antidote could possibly be one of the coolest bars in the Metro. Not only is it a rooftop bar that offers a fantastic view of the Makati skyline, it’s also the first jellyfish bar in the country. That means you can watch fluorescent jellyfish as you enjoy cocktails by master mixologist Christian Dominguez, who also mixes drinks at bar Mace, one of the World’s 50 Best Bars. The bar chow isn’t your ordinary greasy fare, too. Expect elegantly plated dishes with vibrant flavors like the Dragon Nigiri Brulée, Baby Squid, and an excellent cheese and ham board, with Jamon Iberico, Black Forest Ham, Red Wine Kesong Puti, and many more.

Antidote is at I’M Hotel, Roof Deck, 7862 Makati Avenue corner Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City.

IMAGE Majoy Siason

IMAGE Majoy Siason

GILT Burgers

If you’ve ever fancied having edible gold in your cheeseburger, then GILT Burgers is where you can go to fulfill that fantasy. Their namesake, the GILT Burger, is as luxe as it can get, with a hefty 200-gram Angus beef patty with a melted Colby Jack cheese center, red onions caramelized in red wine, caviar-speckled truffle mayonnaise, a sunny-side up quail egg, and, the real kicker, a brioche bun stamped with an edible gold leaf. If that sounds like too much of an indulgence, GILT Burgers still has your burger cravings covered with their out-of-the-box menu that includes peanut butter and bacon, and Mi Goreng burgers.

GILT Burgers is at 7615 Guijo Street, Makati City.

IMAGE Kai Huang

IMAGE Kai Huang

Whitebrass

While Whitebrass’ décor is elegantly minimalist, their menu is anything but. Restraint is furthest from Chef Rip David’s mind as he cooks up his sinfully rich Italian-inspired dishes, like the Porchetta with homemade sausage stuffing, or the deceptively simple but deliciously luxurious Potato Truffle Soup. Whitebrass is the perfect cheat day restaurant, and one whiff from the almost obscene amount of truffle mushrooms in the Risotto Parme Tartuffo will make you want to have more of those days.

Whitebrass is at 20 Jupiter Street, Bel-Air, Makati City.

IMAGE Majoy Siason

IMAGE Majoy Siason

Persephone – A Seasonal Kitchen

Aptly named after the goddess of the shifting of the seasons, Persephone is a “seasonal kitchen,” which means you can expect something new from their ever-changing menu with every visit. Their dishes are just as vibrant as their gorgeous murals, and offer a unique twist on classic Filipino and Asian-inspired comfort food. Their Fishballs, with melt-in-your-mouth fried balls of squid, cream dory, shrimp, and a special blend of herbs on a bed of vivid-blue edible butterfly pea flowers, is a leveled-up take on your usual tusok-tusok fish balls you shouldn’t miss.

Persephone – A Seasonal Kitchen is at 120 Jupiter Street, Barangay Bel-Air, Makati City.

IMAGE Ian Santos

IMAGE Ian Santos

Vengo

The latest concept from the team behind Taco Vengo combines a taqueria and café in one space—an unlikely, but genius pairing. Taco Vengo has always pushed the boundaries of what Mexican food should be, and the same goes for their menu at Vengo. The Shiitake Mushroom Tostada, with a blend of earthy shiitake mushrooms, sweet fried shallots, and the zest of lime is so tasty, you won’t even notice it’s meatless. Vengo also offers coffee and cocktails, making this chill spot the perfect hangout, any time of the day.

Vengo is at C. Palanca Jr. Street corner Dela Rosa Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City.

IMAGE Majoy Siason

IMAGE Majoy Siason

Damiana’s

Having some balikbayan friends over? Treat them at Damiana’s. This Boracay-based Filipino restaurant was created by owners Chef Peter and Christine San Diego to introduce Filipino cuisine to foreigners, but even Filipinos will fall in love with their home-style dishes created using heirloom recipes by their grandmother Damiana. With antique furniture, warm brick walls, and lots of family portraits, Damiana’s feels like your own grandma’s home.

Damiana’s is at 110 C. Palanca Jr. Street, Legazpi Village, Makati City.

IMAGE Jericho San Miguel

IMAGE Jericho San Miguel

Polilya

Engkanto Brewery’s Ian Paradies has finally built a home for his craft beer in Poblacion. With neon signs and décor so eccentric it crosses over to cool, Polilya has all you Instagram addicts covered. But it isn’t all aesthetics at this bar. They offer a menu of beer-based cocktails that are so slick, you might end up having one too many. But the tasty bar chow by Chef Luis de Terry is the type to leave a strong impression on you and your palate—you won’t forget the Zen Chicken Nuggets, or your classic, mildly gingery Hainanese chicken formed into golden-fried nuggets, even on the morning after.

Polilya is at 5658 Don Pedro Street, Poblacion, Makati City.

IMAGE Majoy Siason

IMAGE Majoy Siason

Tai Koo HK Roast

Craving no-frills classic roast duck and barbecue pork? You don’t have to head to Hong Kong or even Binondo to have your fix. Tai Koo HK Roast offers sumptuous rice and noodle bowls with different kinds of Chinese-style roasts, right smack at the center of Makati’s CBD. They’ve got you covered, from char siu (or roast pork belly) to roast duck and soy chicken, and the best part is their prices won’t blow a hole in your pocket.

Tai Koo HK Roast is at G/F V Corporate Centre, L.P. Leviste Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City.