So you and your significant other love to eat out, or both of you are always ready to try something new to partake of. Well, here’s an idea: Ditch the restaurant in the meantime and go instead on a food crawl around Metro Manila’s hottest food trip spots.
Bonding hack: Don’t bring a car; commute, this way you’ll have a chance to get to know what kind of commuter/adventurer you both are while squeezing in a few hours of workout.
Dim sum date in Binondo
Take your sweetheart to the busy streets of the world’s oldest Chinatown for no frills but highly recommended eats. Top destinations are Dong Bei Dumplings, Sincerity Cafe & Restaurant, and Masuki Noodlehouse. While you’re in the area, drop by historical places like Binondo Church, Escolta, and the Kuang Kong Temple.
How to commute: Take the LRT-1 and get off at Carriedo Station.
Restaurant hopping on Maginhawa
If you guys are looking for cozy, artsy restaurants, this is the place to be. You and your SO will have fun visiting a lot of family-owned, independent restos here, and snapping a few Instagrammable fares. Check out The Lost Bread HQ for specialty french toast, Ahi Hawaii for poke bowls, or Flip Guys for good ol’ burgers and nachos.
How to commute: (From South) From EDSA, take any Northbound bus going to PHILCOA. Get down at PHILCOA and take a trike to Maginhawa. (From North) From EDSA, ride a bus going to Quezon Avenue (ilalim), get down at Mcdonald’s Quezon Avenue and cross to the other side. Ride a jeep going to PHILCOA, get down at the last stop, then take a trike to Maginhawa.
Discover hidden gems along Lilac Street
Get that homey, small town vibe on this street in Marikina. Lilac has a lot of underrated hole-in-the-wall restaurants that you will surely enjoy discovering. Try Breakfast Brothers, Singlish for Singaporean fare, and Manila Wings.
How to commute: Ride the MRT going to Araneta Center-Cubao station. From there, walk to Aurora Boulevard and look for an FX or jeep going to SSS village. Ask the driver to drop you off on Lilac Street.
Tour the Hole in the Wall
Did you know that Century City Mall hosts a stretch of unique, quirky, and Instagram-worthy restaurants? Located on the fourth floor, this air-conditioned area is the perfect chill out place for you and your loved one while you guys partake of mouth-watering burgers, egg waffles, chicken wings, and more.
How to commute: Take the MRT to Buendia station. From there, ride a jeep with the signboard “LRT Buendia/Washington”. Get down at Gil Puyat Ave. corner Makati Ave. where the Petron gas station is. Walk towards Pasig River (past 4 streets: Jupiter, Juno, Hercules, and Neptune), and then turn left at Neptune Street/Durban (when you see Pizza Hut and Shakey’s). Finally, cross the pedestrian lane at Kalayaan Avenue going to Century City Mall.
Oh, and don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes, like Skechers Go Walk 4, to make your commute more enjoyable and less exhausting.