Maginhawa Street in Quezon City is one of the top go-to places for a food trip around the metro. However, the turnover rate in the area has become really high lately. I’m having a hard time keeping this list updated every time a new restaurant opens or closes in the area. To make my life easier, I’ve decided to just narrow down this list to 10 places to eat in the Maginhawa area (which are still open as of January 2019).

These are the tried-and-tested restaurants in the Maginhawa area (including Malingap street and nearby side-streets) which I personally recommend and frequent a lot. I picked these places because of the quality of their food and not just their “Instagram-worthiness” or novelty/gimmicky factor. Frankly, I think the over-saturation of restaurants in the area, particularly the food parks (there are just too many) caused many smaller businesses to close down. Anyway, here are my favorites.

Friuli Trattoria

Neighborhood pizza joint that serves really great pizzas, pasta dishes and desserts. They deliver to our area, so this is our pizza of choice when we have friends over. Hands down, the best place for pizza.

Recommendations: Tre Formaggi Pizza (mozzarella, cheddar & blue cheese), Margherita pizza, Pasta Putanesca, After Eight chocolate mint cake, Root beer float, Italian Soda.

Facebook: Friuli Trattoria, Tel. No: 434.1416. #79-A Maginhawa Street

Roberta Flavors of Asia

Homey and pleasant resto that serves Asian fusion dishes. The menu has an interesting mix of Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean and Thai cuisine with a twist. Seafood, vegan and vegetarian options are also available.

Recommendations: Appetizer plate Trio (Fried Tawilis, Crispy Isaw & Chicken Skin), Pad Thai, Lechon Kawali, Tinola sa Pakwan,  Vietnamese Grilled Pork.

Facebook Page: Roberta Seafood Cantina, Tel. no: 3941505. 45b Maginhawa Street

Tomato Kick

Still one of my favorite watering holes that serves pretty good appetizers, filling pasta and rice meals and a variety of local beers (San Miguel, Red Horse, Cerveza Negra, Manila Beer) though food has become a lot more expensive.

Recommendations: Pesto marinara (seafood pesto pasta), Salsa pork, Beef fajitas, Seafood salpicao, Gising-gising, Cheesy bacon potato wedges, Pita Pizza, Skewers, Cerveza Negra.

Facebook: Tomato Kick, Tel. No: 0917-8250338. #19 Malingap Street

Caution Hot! Spicy Noodle House 

A noodle house that specializes in spicy Chinese noodles. You can customize different elements of your order. Servings are pretty generous and they don’t scrimp on the toppings. Best ramen / noodles in the area.

Recommendations: Beef Szechuan Egg Noodles, Seafood Assam Laksa Wheat Noodles; Pork Classic Egg/Wheat Noodles, Kuchay Pork Dumplings, Tsingtao Beer.

Facebook: Caution Hot!  – Magiting cor. Maginhawa (across Mini-Stop) 

Griddle: Steak x Wings

A travel-themed cafe that serves really good steaks and chicken wings. This has my current vote as the best-tasting value for money steak in the area. Their generous-sized steak comes with rice and sides (mashed potatoes and corn and carrots). Cute interiors with travel photos on the wall and model airplanes hanging from the ceiling.

Recommendations: Chef’s Pick T-Bone steak, Grilled Lime Pork Belly, Kare-Kare Lechon Rice, Beef Kimchi Rice Toppings.

Instagram: GriddleMNL. #106-B Maginhawa St.

Pino Resto Bar / Pipino Vegan

One of the original restaurants along Maginhawa, Pino Resto Bar serves a creative take on Filipino comfort food. The owners behind Pino also manage other food concepts like Pi Breakfast and Pies (all-day breakfast), Pipino (Vegan / Vegetarian), Burger Project (burgers) and Malingap Central Food Hall right across the street.

Recommendations: Kare-Kareng Bagnet, Sisig Rice, Fried Kesong Puti Salad w/ Mango Vinaigrette, Bagnet Tofu Stack-O, Vegan Lechon Kawali, Homemade Ice creams

Facebook: Pino Resto Bar. Tel. no. 4411773.- #39 Malingap Street

Fat Cousins’ Diner

A casual American-style diner that serves comfort food like steaks and burgers. Budget-friendly option for students. Not the best quality, but portions are very generous and meals come with unli-rice and unli-drinks.

Recommendations: Home Style Roast Beef, T-Bone Steak, 1/3 Pound Beef Burger.

Facebook: Fat Cousins’; Tel. No: 0917-8477769. #114 Maginhawa Street

Crazy Katsu

Japanese restaurant specializing in katsu, rice toppings ang gyoza. The fiery chicken katsu topped with chili is a bestseller. One of the older and more consistent restos in the area serving katsu and Japanese dishes.

Recommendations: Chicken Katsu, Pork Ginger, Japanese iced tea, Gyoza.

Facebook: Crazy Katsu. #79-C Maginhawa Street

Provenciano

If you’re dining out with the family or balikbayans, Provenciano would be the most popular choice. The Filipiniana restuarant that pays tribute to the owner’s “promdi” roots by serving heirloom and original Filipino cuisine. The resto is big and 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.

Facebook: Provenciano Restaurant. #110 Maginhawa Street

Van Gogh is Bipolar

Bohemian restaurant owned by travel photographer Jetro Rafael that serves “mood-altering” food. Good for special occasions and a visit just to see the quirky interiors and ambiance alone. They’ve expanded into two separate spaces: light / shadow and have a lot of healthy and vegan options.

Recommendations: Pres. Clinton’s Meal (Van Gogh rice with grilled Aussie lamb chop), Courtney Love’s Drink of the Day.

Facebook: Van Gogh is Bipolar, Tel. No: 434.9417.  Unit H, #154 Maginhawa Street (inner courtyard)

BONUS: Food Parks & Stalls

Streat: Maginhawa Food Park

Frankly, most of the food parks that have mushroomed around the metro have become copycats of each other following a specific formula. Stalls and dishes seem to have been designed around their perceived “IG-worthiness” and pun-filled names but the gimmicky food (usually nachos, burgers, wings, skewers, silog meals etc.) are hit or miss. Of the many food parks in the area, StrEAT: Maginhawa Food Park seems to have the best food options lately. Ok for drinks and appetizers, snacks and desserts.

Facebook: Streat Maginhawa Food Park. #91 Maginhawa Street.

Buen Comer Poquellas

Buen Comer (meaning ‘good eat’) is a quick service street food stand that serves interesting Fil-Mex dishes. Really good Chicken Peri-Peri with Dirty Rice and house sauces. From a small stall on the corner, they’ve since expanded with more tables inside a garage area to accommodate customers. You can also take out food. Best burritos you can get in the area.

Bestsellers: Peri-Peri Chicken with Dirty Rice, Kare-Kare Burrito, Longganisa Soft Taco w/ Mango Salsa, Chicken Quesadilla.

Facebook: Buen Comer Poquellas. Mapagkawanggawa corner Mahabagin Street

READ MORE: How to Get to Maginhawa Street