Thursday, May 29, 2014

Kain Manila’s 15 Up Late Restaurants




Late Dinner? Early Breakfast? Post-party cravings?
Here are some tried and tested places to sober up or just get a meal in the middle of the night. Although not all places are open 24 hours. These are guaranteed to satisfy hunger pangs after a long night of partying or overtime. From small budget to a bitpricey we’ve got you covered. Oh, and we also tried to cover more locations as well.

1)  Whistlestop
Location: Jupiter St Makati (near the old Fiamma and Starbucks)
Budget: About 200- 300 per head

Who can forget Whistlestop? The go-to-place after-a-night of-partying during the 90’s.
After all these years, they have closed and reopened, this time for good at the other side of Jupiter, where you can order staples like Hainanese Chicken Rice, Goto Lugaw, Satay Babi and more. The menu still rocks all these years, we just miss the swinging doors ala Western saloon back then.

Satay Babi


Image from spot.ph
     2)      North Park
Location: Makati Ave, Banawe, QC, Macapagal Boulevard Pasay
Budget: About 110 to 250 per head

North Park lorded it over the 24/7 restos when Whistlestop closed. From a restaurant in Binondo, the chain has expanded to different locations all over the metro. But the one in Makati Ave is simply unforgettable. Rice, noodles, congee, dimsum - all is filling at North Park. Favorites include the Crispy Chow Mein Noodles, Fukien Fried Rice and Fried Wanton.  Noodles start at 110 for the snack size.

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      3)      Filling Station
Location: Burgos, Makati Avenue
Budget: About 200 – 400 per head
This diner is a veteran that housed night owls, insomniacs, tourists, party animals and those who simply want to have their fill of breakfast in the middle of the night. Started in the 50’s by an ex Navy Cook, the repertoire from burgers, fries and shakes expanded to Filipino favorites like Crispy Pata, Pancit and Tapsilog more. Just don’t be surprised by the location because it’s in the middle of the Makati red light district.  
Croque Madame (image from Filling Station website)



4)      Suzhou Dimsum*
Location: Mabini Street
Budget:  About P 80 – 200 per head
(open til 2 am)
Talk about getting comfort food in the middle of Manila’s red light district. Suzhou Dimsum’s Malate branch is located between two girly bars. However, come here hungry, leave satisfied. Suzhou has great Taiwanese comfort food that will get your appetite going. Must order – Taiwanese Beef Noodle, Pan Fried Oil Shallot Cake, Fried Noodles and most of all don’t forget the Xiaolungpao!

Pan Fried Oil Shallot Cake

Xialoung Pao

Hot and Sour Soup
      5)      Cable Car
Location: Arnaiz Avenue, Makati (formerly Pasay Road)
Budget: P 250++ per head

Talk about legendary, Cable Car has been around for decades satisfying countless tummies of people who need another drink or simply a burger to get them through the night. Signature dish: Cable Car Rice, which is adobo rice with egg on top.

Cable Car favorites (image from their FB page)
Cable Car's Sisig Rice P 120 (image from their FB page)
 6)      Sinangag Express
Location: BF Paranaque and various locations around Metro Manila
Budget: P 100 up
Sinangag Express or SEx is the go to place for the hungry guy. The famous Tapang Tapat, has Sirloin tapa, rice and 2 fried eggs, now that’s an honest name for filling midnight meal.

Photo: Ilocos Bagnet with atsara and unlimited rice for only P120!
Ilocos Bagnet, image from SEx's Fb page
Photo: Our very own Tapsilog!
Tapsilog (image from their FB page)
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      7)      Causeway Seafood Restaurant*
Locations: Timog Avenue, Banawe QC, Eastwood
Budget: P 48 up (if promo)
There’s nothing like quick Chinese to get you going. Causeway offers an after dinner promo offering dimsum and noodles starting at P48 except Hakaw 9:00 pm onwards. And these are served to you HK style- with a trolley.

Causeway (image from their FB page)

Causeway Dimsum (image from their FB page)
8)     The Aristocrat
Location: Roxas Boulevard
Budget: P 150 up

Talk about the restaurant that never sleeps.  Aristocrat has been an institution for late night patrons who can’t get enough of their famous chicken barbecue, pork barbecue, chicken honey and halo-halo. Roxas Boulevard is not complete without the Aristocrat, it's the crown jewel for the past 75 years.


Aristocrat Favorites (image from their website)

Gambas
  
Classic Chicken Barbeque
Chicken Barbecue (image from their website)
Flying Saucer (image from their website
      9)      Rufo’s
Locations: Shaw, Pasig; Eastwood; Pearl Drive,Ortigas;  McKinley, The Fort; Blue Wave, Pasay
Budget: P 80 up

We were depressed when Rufo’s had to move out of their landmark Makati location because it was going to turned to be mall. But Rufo’s has popped out of different locations. We are a fan of their famous Tapa, with semi-sweet glacy sauce and of course the Tokwa’t Baboy goes well with beer. Also try their Liempo, its fried and double fried. Yumm…
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Rufo's All Day Breakfast menu
Image from Rufo's website
1    10)   Golden Fortune*   
Locations: Soler, Ongpin and UN cor. Orosa St. near Manila Doctors Hospital
Budget: 120 up per head, about 300+ if shabu-shabu

Shabu-shabu this 11 pm? Its possible at Golden Fortune and its even discounted. There’s just too much good food on promo. Dimsum for Php 49? Go to Golden Fortune. The fun starts 9:00 pm.  The dimsum and shabu-shabu are good but the noodles on promo is often overcooked. Expect lines especially in the Un Avenue branch.
(Closes 12 am)

Golden fortune in Soler St.

Shabu-shabu set

Shabu-Shabu in Plain soup


Thai Shrimp Cakes

dimsum



Read more:
http://kainmanila.blogspot.com/2013/11/lucky-you-theres-golden-fortune-part-2.html 

11)   Army Navy Burger + Burrito
Locations: Jupiter Makati, Dela Rosa, Up Technohub, McKinley, Commerce Avenue Alabang
Budget: Php 200+ up per head

Army Navy stays true to its mission: Come in hungry, Walk out happy. From just burgers and burritos and the freakish slim Freedom Fries, the repertoire has expanded to Fearless Fried Chicken and Rice (very good chicken) Don’t miss the Starvin’ Sailor, their version of the Philly Cheesesteak. A bit pricey, but worth the trip.

An Army Navy branch (photo from their FB page)
Bully Boy Burger (image from their Fb page)
Freedom Fries (image from their FB page)
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The Starving Sailor may not look much, but it's a great sandwich

      12)   Ziggurat
Location: Sunette Tower, Durban Street cor Makati Avenue,
Poblacion, Makati
Budget: P 200 per head

So where to get Falafel, shisha and kebabs at the middle of the night? Ziggurat is there, like the structures it was named for but the problem is the very extensive menu especially for a first-timer. Exotic flavors, spices, Basmati rice and mysterious stews of Middle East to East Africa (Senegal) are represented in the menu. Nothing can be more authentic.

Ziggurat is an adventure worth exploring with Butter Beer in hand and a gyro in another.  Also try the moussaka, cheesy almost lasagna-like. Oh, some dishes are super spicy so please be prepared.

Beef Kebab from Ziggurat's FB page
Lamb Leg from Ziggurat's FB page
1   13)   Recovery Food
Location: Crossroads Building, Fort BGC near MC Home Depot
Budget: P 180 per head
Hangover? Stressed?  Recovery food is the perfect remedy for you.
Brought to you by the same group behind Mamou, Recovery Food is a very small restaurant in BGC with an open w1indow.  I suggest you take out the food. Bestseller is Tapa de Morning, homemade tender tapa, eggs and rice plus ensalada.  They also have the Spicy Sweet Tuyo (SST) and Happy Chicken Arroz Caldo.

Recovery Food is open 24/7 (image from their FB page)
SST or Sweet Spicy Tuyo (image from RF's FB page)
Raumen (image from RF's FB page)
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Tapa de Morning ( image from RF's FB page)
      14)   R and J Bulalohan
Location:  600 Bonifacio Avenue, Mandaluyong
Beside the Mandaluyong Petron Station
Budget: P 100 up

There’s one resto for “Kain Bitay” or the last meal as they call it and it’s here. If you don’t mind the Nipa and Sawali ambiance plus plastic chairs, cheesy autographed bilaos and wild karaoke, drop by R and J at Shaw, Mandaluyong  where the bulalo is good and comforting.  Parking is hard and the food is super cheap. Fried lumpia for P 50 pesos? Looking for live hito/ catfish? Our problem is also the very long menu on the walls. If you’re a group they have set meals for less than P 400. And by the way, the soup of the Bulalo is unlimited.  
   
R & J (image from their FB page)



1    15)   David’s Tea House
Locations: Near Malate Circle, Timog, Sta. Cruz, Manila
Budget: P 100 up

There’s like freshly, prepared food after a long day. David’s is open up late offering delicious Cantonese specialties and dimsum. Their Beef Hofan (fat noodles ) is very good. You also can’t go wrong with their Fried Rice and dimsum like Siomai and Chicken Feet. A great meal to cap your day.

David's Tea House in Sta. Cruz (image from tripadvisor.com
   

Dimsum is as low as Php 58 from 2:30 -5:00 pm