(SPOT.ph) Picture this: It’s past midnight and you’re out and about in the city, chilling at a cool new bar you just discovered or partying at a friend of a friend’s house. Despite the ungodly hour, cravings start to kick in—a luscious burger, greasy Korean barbecue, a bowl of piping hot soup—you’d eat anything that could save you from falling into that black hole of drunkenness. Probably the best thing to happen during these crucial times is the abundance of 24-hour restaurants around the Metro. We’ve narrowed down the choices to reveal the best places you can go to, whether you’re still out in the wee hours of the morning or are just a really, really early riser. These restaurants are open all day—or all night, for that matter, and you can count on them for your late-night food run.
Here are our picks for the best restaurants in Metro Manila that are open 24 hours:
Recovery Food
The idea behind Recovery Food was to provide night owls a great, feels-home-cooked “recovery” meal, post-drinks. Created by the same people behind Mamou, they definitely have more menu options now than when they first opened almost a decade ago. Their dishes come in two sizes: Depending on your hangover, you can go Regular or Full Recovery. Warm your belly with the Rau Men (P240), noodle soup that has a mildly spiced peanut-based broth, or get any of their Rice-A-Bowls for filling and and protein-packed rice bowls. The Happy Beef Rice (P160/regular; P290/full recovery) is their best-selling rice bowl, which will remind you of a good and hearty pares.
See a list of Recovery Food branches.
Goto Monster
You won’t get run-of-the-mill goto at Goto Monster—instead, you’ll get a glammed-up version of it, with bagnet, chicharon bulaklak, or even sautéed shiitake mushrooms. This street-side eatery attracts folks from all walks of life (even professional chefs) with their special toppings. Start (or end) your day with a generous serving of hot Goto Beef Tripe (P95), or satisfy those late-night cravings with the heart-stopping Chicharon Bulaklak (P95). Just sprinkle with some calamansi and a dash of their signature chili sauce (add P15) and you’re good to go. Besides Pinoy-style rice porridge, they also have –silog meals and uniquely flavored homemade ice-cream pops (P60) such as Mango Sticky Rice, Ube Halaya, and the crowd-favorite Banana Chocnut.
Goto Monster has branches at Primo de Rivera Street corner Pablo Ocampo Sr. Extension, La Paz, Makati City; and Salo Park, 562 J. Nakpil Street, Malate, Manila City.
Whistlestop
In case you didn’t know, Whistlestop is the first 24-hour restaurant in the Metro. Built in 1977, it closed for a few years—from 2005 to 2009—but it has made a successful comeback since then. Their menu features a mix of international dishes and local flavors. You can order the cult-favorite Goto Arroz Caldo (P110) or the classic Morning Lightweight (P165), which is corned-beef hash with rice and eggs. You can pair your meals with a drink, from wine and beer, to handcrafted cocktails—whatever time it is, we won’t judge.
Whistlestop has branches at Milady Square Building, 28 Jupiter Street, Bel-Air, Makati City; The Fort Strip, Bonifacio Global City; Westgate Center, Filinvest City, Muntinlupa City; and 263 Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes, Parañaque City.
Denny’s
Denny’s has been serving up classic American-diner food since they opened their first branch at Uptown Parade in 2016. Popular for their generous servings, the 24-hour restaurant offers pancakes and waffles with different toppings and side. The Original Grand Slam (P395) is a sure winner whether you have it early in the morning or as a midnight snack. Nothing beats the classic combo of buttermilk pancakes, bacon, sausages, and eggs. Their extensive menu also includes omelettes, salads, burgers, sandwiches, steak, and Pinoy rice meals like tapsilog and adobo.
See a list of Denny’s branches.
Angus Tapa Centrale
With only two locations in Metro Manila (both in Quezon City), Angus Tapa Centrale whips up traditional tapsilog that hits all the right spots, especially when you’re craving something meaty and savory. The secret lies in their beef—they use high-quality and certified natural and organic U.S. Angus beef. You can’t go wrong with the Original (P185), their version of tapsilog with beef marinated in a savory-sweet sauce. You can enjoy their fork-tender beef strips any time of the day since they’re open 24 hours, and you can even opt for leaner or less fatty cuts. They even offer other tapa variants like Tropical, Hot & Spicy, Tropical Spicy, and Korean BBQ. If you want something light minus rice, you can also try any of their sandwiches made with the same U.S. Angus beef.
Angus Tapa Centrale has branches at 22 Malingap Street, Teachers Village, Quezon City; and 11th Jamboree Street corner Kamuning Road, Sacred Heart, Quezon City.
Tai Koo HK Roast*
No need to fly to Hong Kong or drive all the way to Binondo to get your roast-duck fix—Tai Koo HK Roast’s branches are conveniently located across the Metro, with a Makati outpost that’s open all day, every day. Don’t miss the Duck + Roast Pork Belly + Char Siu Pork Rice (P298) so you can try a little bit of everything. You can also make your meal more memorable by adding side dishes like Bok Choy (P88) and Hakaw (P148). Did we mention they offer free soup, too?
Tai Koo HK Roast’s 24-hour branch is at V-Corporate Centre, L.P. Leviste Street, Salcedo Village, Makati City.
The Aristocrat
The first thing that would most likely come to mind when you think of Filipino-style chicken barbecue is The Aristocrat’s version, served with an orange-tinged java rice and a dark, sweet, and nutty dipping sauce. The restaurant is one of the oldest food establishments in the Philippines and it has been whipping up old-time favorites since 1936. Today, you can find The Aristocrat branches scattered all over the Metro, but if you feel your hunger pangs at an unusual hour, head over to their only 24-hour outpost along Roxas Boulevard. People have been raving about their Three-Piece Chicken Barbecue (P210) for decades; it’s also the restaurant’s most popular dish. Their extensive menu also features regional cuisine, breakfast favorites like –silogs, as well as main entrées such as sinigang and kare-kare.
The Aristocrat is at 432 San Andres Street corner Roxas Boulevard, Malate, Manila City.
Makchang
Still not over Korean barbecue? Fortunately, there are lots of options around the Metro, but not all are open 24 hours. You can depend on Makchang in Malate to satisfy your obsession for grilled meats, whatever time you may be craving it. Their Samgyeopsal (P300) and Beef Galbi (P730) won’t disappoint since the restaurant uses thick-cut pork or beef, plus each order is good for sharing. Makchang’s side dishes are unlimited, so come hungry!
Makchang is at 1782 Adriatico Street, Malate, Manila City.
Mister Kabab
Mister Kabab has been a Quezon City go-to for casual Middle-Eastern eats for the past three decades—heck, it’s practically an institution now. Though their strong and herby flavors are a stark contrast to Filipino cuisine, locals have grown to love their mouthwatering kebabs served with the restaurant’s signature spicy garlic-yogurt sauce. Don’t leave without trying the Kabab Platter (P500), which has two sticks each of chicken, beef, and lamb, especially when you’re eating with a group. Cool down from the spice and have them with Mister Kabab’s refreshing sides such as tzatziki and hummus. Their Yoghurt Shake (P70) is another bestseller that's perfect for a hot day.
Mister Kabab is at 31 West Avenue, Del Monte, Quezon City.
Old Swiss Inn
There aren’t a lot of Swiss restaurants in the Metro, and definitely no long-standing ones—well, except for the Old Swiss Inn, which has been around since 1946. The restaurant practically introduced Manila to old-school European favorites such as Gnagi (P860), or cured pork knuckles with sauerkraut and traditionally boiled potatoes. Another must-try (and a cult fave) is the Fresh Corned Beef (P690), which highlights succulent beef brisket served with sautéed cabbage and boiled potatoes. It’s obviously all about meat and potatoes here, but if you have room for more, order any of their raclette grills—cheese fans will love it.
Old Swiss Inn is at G/F Somerset Olympia, Makati Avenue corner Santo Tomas Street, Urdaneta, Makati City.
*Update as of June 6, 3:21 p.m.: Tai Koo HK Roasts has changed their operating hours to 9 a.m. until 2 a.m. daily.
