After almost three years of socially distanced dining and making do with home delivery, this is the year to reconnect with family and friends for weekend food trips. While some well-loved establishments along Maginhawa, the “eat street” permanently closed, other restaurants adapted by providing more al fresco dining options or shifting to delivery. Others, which shut their doors, have reopened or branched out.
Here are a few new restaurants and old favorites around the Maginhawa and Malingap neighborhood of Teacher’s Village and nearby UP Diliman in Quezon City where you can go food tripping this 2023.
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Gubat QC
Gubat, the cozy zero-waste garden restaurant across UP Diliman’s Bonsai garden right along C.P. Garcia Avenue, has been one of our regular favorites in the area since they opened in 2018. Run by the same owners of Baler’s Kusina Luntian, this resto is known for their budget-friendly kamayan-style meals like fried chicken, lechon kawali and shrimps with pako salad. The food here is great, but the waiting time (especially on weekends) can be long because of the limited dining space and lack of parking.
To kick off January 2023, Gubat opened a second location on Mayaman Street, near the corner of Kalayaan Ave, still relatively near Maginhawa. This branch has a larger dining area and more space to bring in bikes in the garage. There’s also more space for cars to park on the street outside.
The second branch serves the same budget-friendly rice meals that the original branch is known for. ICYMI, Gubat was recently named one of the Top 38 Essential Manila restaurants by Eater along with a few other Maginhawa restos in this list.
Recommendations: Halabos na hipon + burong kanin, Piniritong Manok, Lechon Kawali Meal, Baler longaniza, Ensaladang Talong with buro, pako salad, Tagumpay Dragonfruit Ale
Gubat, Diliman Bonsai Society, C.P. Garcia Ave, Diliman, Quezon City / #43 Mayaman Street, Diliman, Quezon City
Gyud Food Market at UP Food Hub
Gyud Food is a new food court/park inside the UP Diliman campus located along E. Jacinto Street near the College of Fine Arts (along the same street as Mang Larry’s Isawan) that opened in mid-January 2023. This food hub aims to showcase heritage cuisine, home-based food entrepreneurs & Filipino Street Food.
Some of the food stalls here include: Little Rotti Indian Kitchen, Live Love Eat Cafe, Hungry Pita Shawarma, Ate Rica’s Bacsilog, Pure Nectar, Frut Juice, Cindy’s Bakeshop, Baithelem Pastry Bakery, Miss Sizz — Sizzling Concept, UP Student Canteen, Van Gogh is Bipolar, and Salmon HQ, with more stalls coming in the future.
The al fresco area next to the bike parking also has food trucks including the vegan-friendly Pizza Plant PH.
Gyud Food. University of the Philippines Diliman, Emilio Jacinto St, Diliman, Quezon City, 1101 Metro Manila
Van Gogh is Bipolar (VGIB)
The Maginhawa icon Van Gogh is Bipolar (which closed its doors during the pandemic) is back in its original location for those who want a romantic and exclusive dining experience. Dining at VGIB usually requires reservations, to ensure that there are enough tables available.
Last January 2023, VGIB also opened a “Mood Healing Sanctuary” stall inside UP Diliman Campus’ Gyud Food U.P Food Hub. This branch serves vegetarian and vegan-friendly meals, mood-healing tea, gatas ng kalabaw, desserts, and more.
Recommendations: VGIB UP: Yogurt Fruit Smoothies, Vegan rice meals, mood-healing tea, carrot cake
Van Gogh is Bipolar, 154 Maginhawa, Diliman, Quezon City / VGIB UP @ U.P. Food Hub, UP Diliman Campus, Quezon City
Nam Nam
Nam Nam is a new Vietnamese joint along Maginhawa that specializes in pho or Vietnamese soup and fresh spring rolls. The charming cafe opened in the last quarter of 2022.
The menu here is very limited, but if you’re in the mood for a taste of Vietnam and some hearty pho, spring rolls, and Vietnamese coffee, this is a pleasant new cafe you can try out.
Recommendations: Bun Bo Hue (beef broth noodle soup with pineapple and shrimp paste), Cha Gio (pork spring rolls, Goi Cuon (fresh summer rolls), Vietnamese coffee, Lemongrass Juice
Nam Nam, 20 Maginhawa Street, Quezon City
Garlic Kitchen
Garlic Kitchen is a casual garden restaurant that serves Asian-Western fusion with garlic-inspired dishes like burgers, lechon baka, chili wings, pasta, and even garlic ice cream. This has become one of our regular restos for weekend dining because of the good food and pleasant ambiance.
Everything we’ve ordered from here has been great. Garlic Kitchen can be booked as an event venue for small gatherings. Quality food and good service here. Good for families and dates.
Recommendations: Garlic-infused Lechon Baka, Piri-Piri Chicken, Beef Rendang, Truffle Carbonara, Shakshouka, Basque Burnt Cheesecake
Garlic Kitchen, 56 Maginhawa Street, Diliman, Quezon City
Friuli Trattoria
Neighborhood pizza joint Friuli continues to serve really great pizzas, pasta dishes and desserts. Considered a Maginhawa institution, Friuli Trattoria has long been our pizza place of choice since they first opened in 2006.
Friuli is best-known for its tasty thin-crust pizzas, which are made with whole wheat crust and a sauce made with fresh tomatoes, herbs, and spices. Our go-to orders include the Tre Formaggi and Buono Verdure though they also have new pizza flavors like Spinach Feta Pizza and Fajita Pizza and menu items like Chicken Picacata. The branch in Maginhawa now serves beer and wine as well as sodas.
Friuli also has a branch in U.P. Town Center for those who prefer to dine in the mall and are on GrabFood for convenient pizza delivery at home.
Recommendations: Tre Formaggi Pizza (mozzarella, cheddar & blue cheese), Buono Verdure, Margherita Pizza, Pasta Putanesca, Eggplant Parmigiana, After Eight chocolate mint cake, Root beer float, Italian Soda.
Facebook: Friuli Trattoria, Tel. No: 434.1416. #79-A Maginhawa Street
Pino Resto Bar / Pipino
If you’re in the mood for modern fusion Filipino dishes and want some health or vegetarian/vegan options, Pino Resto Bar and Pipino are a reliable choice. Pino serves coffee, all-day breakfast and brunch favorites, merienda fare and more.
The restaurant is best-known for the house specialty, Kare-Kareng Bagnet, which is a fusion of two classic Filipino dishes. Both traditional and vegan options for this dish are available.
Recommendations: Kare-Kareng Bagnet, Sisig Rice, Fried Kesong Puti Salad w/ Mango Vinaigrette, Bagnet Tofu Stack-O, Vegan Lechon Kawali, Homemade Ice creams.
Pino Resto Bar / Pipino. 39 Malingap Street. Open daily from 7am-9pm. Instagram: @pinorestoph
Ohayo Ramen and Maki Bar
For Japanese comfort food, one of the best options in the Maginhawa area is Ohayo Ramen and Maki Bar. This small Japanese Restaurant serves ramen, sushi and appetizers. Since the place is popular, it can get pretty crowded here, and the street side dining is very limited, but you can easily order for takeout or pickup. Their ramen is a bit on the pricey side, but you can really taste the premium quality. The Ebi Tonkotsu Ramen with shrimp bisque is amazing.
Recommendations: Ebi Tonkotsu Ramen, Tonkotsu Ramen, Salmon Aburi, Ebi Tempura, Chicken Karaage, Salmon Torch Maki, Salmon Sashimi, Gyoza
Ohayo Ramen and Maki Bar. 108 Maginhawa Street, Quezon City
Buen Comer Poquellas
One of Maginhawa’s best-kept secrets is Buen Comer Poquellas, a small homey dining spot hidden in one of the inner residential streets (corner of Mapagkawanggawa and Mahabagin streets). Previously just a stall for take-out food, Buen Comer has expanded their whole garage into a simple dine-in area where guests can enjoy quality comfort food bursting with flavor.
Recommendations: Kare-kare Burrito, Dirty Peri-Peri Chicken Rice, Chicken Caesar Salad Wrap, Quesadillas
Buen Comer Poquellas. 48 Mapagkawanggawa, Diliman
PotatoKick
While the well-loved TomatoKick shut down their doors for good, you can still get a taste of their classic dishes from the original menu at PotatoKick. The casual modern restaurant is owned and run by the former employees of TK. Sadly, the new location on top of PureGold is no longer as homey as the old house and watering hole in Malingap, but the food is still very good.
Recommendations: Seafood Pesto Pasta, Kebabs, Fajitas (chicken, beef or tofu), Fajita rice, Sisig Pasta, Crispy Bacon Liempo, Cheesy Bacon Potato Wedges, pita pizzas, cocktails, beer
PotatoKick, 19 Malingap, Diliman, Lungsod Quezon, Kalakhang Maynila
Talisay the Garden Cafe
Talisay the Garden Cafe is a modern Filipino restaurant that features elevated classic Filipino food and heirloom recipes. The whole space also doubles as a garden venue for small weddings, events and pre-nup shoots.
Recommendations: Chicken Pianggang, Talisay Garden Salad, Calamari Frito, Paella Mixta, Lengua con Setas, Crispy Pork Belly Adobo, Fried Chicken with Gravy
Talisay Garden Cafe, 44 Maginhawa, Diliman, Quezon City
Provenciano
Despite the limited parking (made worse by the ongoing construction of the barangay hall right across the restaurant), Provenciano continues to attract families and remains one of the most popular choices in the area.
The Filipiniana restaurant pays tribute to the owner’s “promdi” roots by serving heirloom and original Filipino cuisine. The resto serves regional specialties from Pampanga, Ilocos, Bicol, Batangas and other provinces as well as Spanish/Basque dishes.
Recommendations: Sisig ni Ima (Pampanga), Kulawo ng Quezon, Sugpo sa Alavar (Zamboanga), Adobong Bicolano, Turon with Malagos chocolate from Davao, Puto Bumbong, Bibingka
Facebook: Provenciano Restaurant. #110 Maginhawa Street