Manam's New Café Has Incredibly Addictive Filipino-Inspired Pastries

Manam Café
3/F SM Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

(SPOT.ph) With five branches under their belt and a solid reputation for serving up excellently done Filipino fare, both classics and with their own creative twist, Manam can rest on their hard-earned laurels and simply continue opening more branches. We, for one, wouldn’t mind! But The Moment Group is never one to settle, and if Manam has always been known for shaking up Filipino staples, it was high time they shook up their own concept, too.

Manam Café is the latest iteration of the Filipino restaurant, with the first branch now open at SM Mega Fashion Hall. It’s as chic as any other Manam branch, but it also feels a little more laid-back, with fun pop art that combines vintage Filipino ads and a few Manam favorites. “It’s a café for the younger set,” says Group PR Head for The Moment Group, Maita Quesada. “But at the same time, it’s still open for groups, for moms, for families. Pretty much for everyone.”

If you fell in love with Manam’s breakfast menu, you’d be happy to know that they serve it at Manam Café all day. Your favorites, like the House Crispy Sisig and the Sinigang na Short Rib and Watermelon are also still around. But with the new name and space, Manam Café is also adding lots of fresh things to their menu that could give you something new to obsess over.

There’s the new pastries section or Tinapay & Kakanin—it comes in its own booklet, which lets you know this is pretty major. The Three Cheese Ensaymada ‘Wich (P200) is a strong contender for best ensaymada in town in our book—the soft, buttery roll comes topped with local cheddar and Parmesan and has kesong puti sandwiched in its center for a rich and ultra-cheesy treat. Pro tip: Have your ensaymada topped with shaved raclette—you’ll thank us later.

A cross between a cinnamon roll and an ensaymada, the thick yet fluffy Sticky Rolls pair well with a cup of Hot Tsokolate (P90). Yes, even the Tsokolate Sticky Roll (P115), with generous layers of tsokolate spread. But if that’s too much chocolate for you, you can opt for the Ube Sticky Roll (P115), with delectable, mildly nutty ube layers.

Manam Café also boasts a mean Buko Pie (P235), with a delightfully crunchy crust and a tender, fresh coconut center. But when it comes to the pastries, the real showstopper is the Calamansi Tart (P220)—the almost delicately crisp crust giving way to a creamy calamansi-cream center, with just the right acidity to tease and excite the palate. The brûléed top is just the metaphorical icing on this cake.

Hearty Filipino fare is still the soul of Manam Café—you wouldn’t want to miss the new Crispy Beef Tadyang (P355/small, P665/medium, P1,130/large) with addictively crisp bits you can’t help but gnaw on and the Pork Belly Bicol Express (P205/small, P360/medium, P645/large)—but their new pastry selection makes a good case for stopping by here for a quick cup of coffee or tsokolate and an ensaymada. You might have just found the perfect excuse to drop by Manam beyond lunch or dinnertime.

Photos by Majoy Siason