Homebound: An OFW Holiday Guide
The arrival of the Michelin Guide in the Philippines has marked a major milestone, casting a spotlight on the country’s dynamic culinary identity and enhancing its stature on the international food stage. Many international tourists plan trips specifically around Michelin dining.
For balikbayans home for the holidays, dining in newly-minted Michelin spots could be a way to celebrate milestones, treat loved ones, and experience a taste of home surrounded by family and friends.
The 2026 Michelin Guide for Manila and Environs and Cebu officially recognized a total of 108 establishments in its debut year. So where should you start among the fine dining restaurants, family-run eateries, and modern bistros?
Here’s a quick look at cities with the most Michelin recognition in Metro Manila and restaurants that offer a taste of home for your celebrations.
Makati
In terms of Michelin-star recognition, Makati offers the most dining options. Helm, the only 2-Michelin Star restaurant in the country so far, and several 1-star restaurants are all located in Makati.
Many of the top-rated Makati restaurants, namely Hapag, Inato, Kasa Palma, and Toyo Eatery, all offer Filipino-centric cuisine. Here, local dishes and ingredients are reimagined with a global flair and techniques, making them worthy of the balikbayan experience.
Many selected restaurants and mid-range restaurants under the Selected and Bib Gourmand categories also offer a festive dining experience with familiar flavors for group gatherings. Clusters of Michelin-recognized restaurants can be found in specific areas, like Karrivin Plaza, Ayala Triangle, Rockwell, and Poblacion.
Manam at the Triangle offers value-for-money Filipino comfort food, with exclusive dishes and a bibingka bar available only at the flagship branch in Ayala Triangle. Other spots that offer Filipino cuisine in Makati include Aya, Lampara, and Sarsa.
For humble hometown flavors ideal for takeout, there’s Aida’s Chicken, known for their Bacolod-style chicken inasal, and Chie Chie’s Pancit Batil Patung, a roadside stall that serves miki noodles and crispy pork belly.
Taguig
The Bonifacio Global City (BGC) area of Taguig is another major hub for Michelin-recognized dining, with Gallery by Chele being awarded a 1-Michelin star and a Green Star for offering creative/farm-to-table cuisine.
BGC is a top choice for international travelers and expats to base themselves, with dining options all within walking distance of each other. For balikbayans planning to host celebrations, BGC is a convenient and central spot for meet-ups.
The central business district (CBD) has a number of Michelin-selected restaurants focusing on Filipino cuisine, such as Lore by Chef Tatung and Locavore, which offers Filipino home-style cooking (like sizzling sinigang and oyster sisig) and street food with a modern twist. You can also find several inclusions in the Bib Gourmand list, including COCHI, with its signature dish, cochinillo.
Pasay, Manila, and Paranaque
For those who have limited time in Manila before flights to other provinces, Pasay is an option, with a few premium Michelin-Selected restaurants near major malls and hotels offering international flavors. Cities near the airport, like Parañaque and Manila, are also options.
Linamnam, a hidden gem in Parañaque, was awarded a 1-Michelin star for serving contemporary Filipino cuisine deeply rooted in regional traditions.
Cabel, housed in an elegant 1930s building in the Malacañang complex, specializes in southern Mindanao cuisine, with unique, flavorful dishes like piyanggang manok and crispy ukoy.
Quezon City
As a contrast to the high-end dining scene in other cities, Quezon City has several selected and value spots that provide “everyday dining,” affordable options, and unique local experiences for diners that balikbayans must have missed.
Morning Sun Eatery, a humble neighborhood carinderia in Project 4, offers the most affordable options, with their bestselling barbecue, liempo, and dinakdakan sure to be a hit during parties at home.
For more refined dining, there’s Esmeralda Kitchen in Santa Mesa, which serves home-cooked Filipino classics (like dinuguan and puto and kare-kare) in flexible portions, ideal for solo diners or groups in a lovely setting.
For balikbayans hailing from Mindanao, Palm Grill in Tomas Morato offers classic Zambasulta cuisine, with generous portions of tiyula itum, dulang, and satti, meant for sharing.
For a fun, food adventure, families can even embark on food crawls combining several restaurants in Morato and Banawe’s Chinatown and environs for variety.
While dining at Michelin-recognized restaurants offers an experience of Manila’s evolving dining scene, for most OFWs, the true luxury is the chance to gather, reconnect, and celebrate family around the table.
Holiday season booking tips for Michelin dining in Manila
• Book as early as possible. Some Michelin restaurants may require reservations to dine, especially for large groups. VIP days (December 20 to 25 and December 30 to January 1) tend to fill up first.
• Have a list of alternative restaurants ready in case your first choice is fully booked.
• Follow the restaurant’s social media accounts for special menus and promos. Be aware of their holiday closures and private events.
• Expect to line up. If you’re dining in places that don’t allow reservations, expect longer than usual waiting times. Be patient.
• Take into account the holiday traffic, parking situation, and travel time when planning meals out.
• Try weekday lunches. Dining during lunchtime or mid-afternoon is often easier and offers less waiting time than dining during dinner time, especially during December.
• Have alternative dates and group sizes ready. Some places require special advance notice for large groups, private dining, or long tasting menus. Parties of 2-4 are easiest to book (if you don’t mind sitting at different tables).
• Prepare for non-refundable deposits or prepayment. Have alternative payment options and cash on hand in case credit cards or cashless payments are not accepted.
• Arrive on time. During peak season, restaurants strictly enforce grace periods, and late arrivals could risk losing their table.
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