8 (Relatively) Obscure Restaurants in Hipsterville, Makati that You’d Want to Know About

Kapitolyo, Teacher’s Village and BF are so 2014.

Tacos Chingones is an unpretentious food cart that’s right outside SOMS Noodle House in Bel-Air. They serve carne asada, carnitas, barbacoa and al pastor  tacos for P50 each. Order two because the tacos are tiny (the photo’s almost life-size) and you’ll definitely want more.

For days you want your food good, simple and straightforward. Their no-nonsense menu looks like your dad’s shopping list. The best part/s–it’s cheap (P320 for one dish at the most), it’s quiet and it’s tucked away outside busy CBD (like all the restaurants on this list hehe).

Now if you want something fancy–like a secret dress-up date place, we found Fig. Not to be confused with Salcedo Village’s Fig & Olive, this Poblacion restaurant has a menu made up of 90% farmer-sourced organic food.

Trivia: there are three Mulligan’s-es in BF Homes Paranaque and they are all on the same street (even right next to each other). If that’s not a good sign then what is? So go now, hurry! Before this Irish Pub needs to branch out in Makati.

Tat, a charmingly homey restaurant on the quiet end of Kalayaan, lets you enjoy good Japanese food in peace. We love it because (not a lot of people go, so) the service is great.

Big Mama is your friendly neighborhood, beer and soju-serving, smoker-friendly hideout. They have offer standard Korean bar chow but we swear by the Korean friend chicken and the pickled radish. It’s great for large groups of people, late night drinking, monopoly deal-playing, and if you want your food fast. They’re open everyday and they close at about 3 or 4am.

Yep! There’s a place for your wee-hour Mediterranean cravings in Makati. Argos Minibar is easy to spot with its signature Greek blue and white interiors.

Protip: people are scared of Burgos because of the place’s reputation but it’s actually a fun, vivacious area. It is, after all, the part of Makati that doesn’t sleep.

El Chupacabra’s so 2013. Everyone you know hangs out there. Obscurists, on the other hand, now go to Tambai. The quaint, neo-food kiosk is always full, too, but only because there are but a few tables and the food (from the yakitori to the kimchi/Japanese rice) is really good. They’re also one of the few establishments that serve One Cup Ozeki, and Brew Kettle, the faux-craft beer.