Lunch Time: Hapag Now Serves a Tasting Menu at Noon

(SPOT.ph) Over the better part of six years, Hapag has been regaling the Metro with its unique but thoughtful takes on Filipino food. Since their relocation from Quezon City to the Balmori Suites in Rockwell, chefs Thirdy Dolatre and Kevin "Nav" Navoa have only picked up speed and expanded both their audience and their range, encompassing delicacies from Western Visayas as well as Western Mindanao, which is their current tasting menu offering.

Also read: Western Mindanao's Soulful, Aromatic Cuisine Inspires Hapag's Brilliant New Tasting Menu

Can't seem to book a table for dinner? As of October 2, an evening meal is no longer your only option. The Lunch menu (P4,500) version, available every Thursday to Sunday, provides the same punch and immersive experience as dinner does, without the social weight of a fancy dinner. (It is, in fact, somehow easier in the light of day.)

Hapag's lunch offering is a comprehensive preview of their popular tasting menu experience

For the uninitiated, they open with Tiyula Itum, a dark broth cooked with lemongrass, ginger, and charred coconut meat; its intense flavor mellows out by the time you get to the Agal-Agal (seaweed). This dish is as much of a tribute to the underrated abundance in Mindanao as anything could be; Hapag pays homage to the traditional preparation with their housemade shoyu, juicy tomatoes, sour green mangoes, and sharp red onion, on top of generous slabs of yellowfin tuna.

The Mee Goreng is also a nod to the waves of culture that have crashed over the Philippines in ways that the Metro has largely ignored; this savory-sweet noodle dish usually associated with Malaysia and Indonesia is also a common treat in areas of Mindanao. The quail egg yolk on top adds that extra umami-richness.

Salu salo, Hapag's nod to the unspoken Filipino tradition of 'everything, everywhere, all at once' eating, features the crunchy exterior and pillowy-tender meat of Camaron Alavar, plus that punchy Pomelo Salad. And whether you opt for the wine pairing (P2,000) or the non-alcoholic pairing (P1,500), you're in for refreshing flavors that contrast without clashing.

Erin Ganuelas-Recto, Hapag’s front-of-house director and co-owner, emphasizes that it's more than just a showcase of good research: “For us, hospitality isn’t only about food—it’s about context and connection. Western Mindanao’s cuisine reflects centuries of trade, resilience, and faith. We want guests to feel that sense of history and humanity in every course.”

Also read: UPDATED: These Chefs in the PH Are Named Among the World's Best

Hapag is located at 7F Balmori Suites, Hidalgo Drive, Rockwell Center, Makati. For reservations, visit their website or call 0917 888 5757.