Best Restaurants in Quezon City
The Complete 2026 Guide
Metro Manila's largest city and its most underrated dining destination — from Tomas Morato's storied restaurant row to the bohemian creativity of Maginhawa Street. Here's every table worth knowing.
Quezon City: Manila's Most Authentic Dining Story
Quezon City — QC — is Metro Manila's most populous city and its most varied dining landscape. While BGC and Makati have earned global recognition for luxury dining, QC holds something rarer: authentic character. Tomas Morato Avenue, established as Manila's restaurant row in the 1970s, still anchors some of the city's most beloved dining institutions.
This is the city where Romulo Café preserves the ancestral recipes of a Philippine foreign minister. Where Maginhawa Street's artist-led dining scene has produced some of the most experimental food in the country. Where Koreatown on Timog feeds the genuine Korean expat community, not just the curious tourist.
QC dining sits at a compelling price-quality intersection: in many cases, you'll eat as well as BGC or Makati at 20–40% less. For Filipino heritage dining in particular, Quezon City has no equal anywhere in Metro Manila.
Neighborhood Quick Guide
QC's original fine dining corridor — Romulo Café, Cyma, and dozens of established restaurants line this strip. The beating heart of Quezon City dining.
UP-adjacent street of chef-driven independent concepts, craft beer bars, and eclectic cuisines. Where Manila's experimental dining scene lives.
Premium lifestyle mall with curated dining options including Botanika, single-origin coffee, and international restaurant groups. QC's fastest-growing dining district.
Corporate-facing dining anchored by hotel restaurants, Japanese dining, and modern Filipino-fusion concepts. The most polished face of QC dining.
Top Restaurants in Quezon City
Romulo Café
General Romulo's ancestral recipes revived by his granddaughter — crispy pata, kare-kare, and classic Filipino flavors at their most dignified.
Sky Experience by Crown Regency
The highest dining destination in Metro Manila — 360° city views, premium cocktails, and a full dining menu elevated to the 38th floor.
Cyma Greek Taverna
Manila's definitive Greek restaurant — Santorini-inspired whitewashed interiors, whole sea bass, and the finest saganaki in Southeast Asia.
Sentro 1771
Sentro's creative take on Filipino cuisine — the corned beef sinigang is legendary, alongside a sophisticated wine and cocktail program.
Kamameshi House
QC's hidden gem for traditional Japanese kamameshi rice pots, grilled ayu, and a sake selection rarely found this side of BGC.
Eastwood Richmonde Hotel Dining
Eastwood's prestige hotel dining room — corporate entertainment, private rooms, and a broad international menu covering Filipino, Japanese, and continental fare.
Dining by Category in Quezon City
Filipino Fine Dining
Romulo Café and Sentro 1771 — heritage Filipino cuisine at its most refined.
Rooftop & Views
Sky Experience at Crown Regency — Metro Manila's highest open-air dining platform.
Japanese & Sushi
A growing number of serious sushi counters now operate north of EDSA in QC.
Korean BBQ
Quezon City's Koreatown on Timog Avenue is one of Manila's densest K-dining clusters.
International Cuisine
Cyma Greek Taverna, Casa Buenas, and international hotel dining all within reach.
Casual Fine Dining
UP Town Center's premium casual scene delivers quality without the Makati price tag.
Tomas Morato Avenue
Established as Manila's restaurant corridor in the late 1970s, Tomas Morato Avenue has more concentrated dining variety per city block than anywhere in the Philippines. Walk the entire stretch from Scout Borromeo to the Quezon Avenue intersection and you'll pass Filipino heritage institutions, Greek tavernas, Korean BBQ houses, and Japanese casual counters — all within a single kilometer.
Where Romulo Café, Cyma, and the Philippine heritage dining cluster begins.
Korean BBQ density peaks here — 8+ Korean restaurants within a 2-minute walk.
Hotel dining (Crown Regency), newer international concepts, and Sky Experience access point.
Transport Options
Quezon Avenue Station (MRT-3) is central for Tomas Morato. Short 5–10 min ride to the dining strip. Araneta–Cubao Station reaches Eastwood easily.
₱150–₱300 from BGC (30–50 min). ₱120–₱250 from Makati. ₱400–₱600 from Manila Airport.
Street parking on Tomas Morato side streets. Major malls (UP Town Center, SM North, Eastwood) have multi-storey carparks.
Tomas Morato is compact and walkable. Maginhawa Street is best explored on foot. UP campus area is highly pedestrian friendly.
Maginhawa Street
Manila's most experimental dining street. Independent chefs, art cafes, and concept restaurants at accessible prices.
- Independent chef-driven concepts
- Craft beer and natural wine bars
- 30–50% lower prices than BGC
- Weekend food market events
UP Town Center
QC's most polished dining destination — curated restaurant groups, open-air terraces, and quality premium casual dining.
- Sentro 1771, Manam, Botanika
- Al-fresco terraces and walkways
- Craft coffee and artisan food
- Easy weekend parking
Quezon City vs. BGC vs. Makati
| Category | Quezon City | BGC | Makati |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filipino Heritage Dining | ★★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
| Omakase / Sushi Counter | ★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★ |
| Korean BBQ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ |
| International Hotel Dining | ★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Price-Value Ratio | ★★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
| Walkability | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★ |
| Creative / Independent Dining | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ |
Complete Dining Guides for Quezon City & Metro Manila
Every cuisine, occasion, and budget — expert guides covering all aspects of Manila dining including QC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about dining in Quezon City.
Complete the Manila District Tour
BGC, Makati, and Rockwell — each district with its own luxury dining identity.
Compare Manila Dining Areas
Select up to 5 areas to compare — price, vibe, transport, and best-for occasions.
| Criteria | BGC | Makati | Ortigas |
|---|---|---|---|
Avg. Price Range Per person, fine dining | ₱4,500–12,500 Premium | ₱3,500–15,000 Premium | ₱2,500–9,000 Best value |
Atmosphere Area character & vibe | International & Ambitious Wide sidewalks, expat-heavy crowd, gallery-adjacent, modern. The most globally-m... | Corporate Power & Hotel Luxury International hotel dining rooms, Salcedo brunch culture, business-first atmosph... | Business & Emerging Luxury Shangri-La Plaza fine dining anchor, Capitol Commons lifestyle scene, corporate ... |
Omakase Scene Counter dining quality | Best in Manila — Mitsuru, Sushi Yoshii, Hanada Tei | Good — Nobu Manila, select hotel Japanese counters | Growing — Hanami at Shangri-La Plaza is Ortigas's dedicated counter |
Transport Getting there | BGC Bus from Ayala MRT · Grab 15 min from Makati | Ayala MRT Station central · Grab 10–20 min from BGC | Ortigas MRT Station · Grab 20 min from BGC · 15 min from Makati |
Walkability On-foot dining ease | Excellent — most restaurants within 10 min on foot | Good in Salcedo/Legazpi — less so across Ayala CBD | Good around Shangri-La Plaza and Capitol Commons cluster |
Best For Occasion types | Omakase & Counter DiningSpecial OccasionsBusiness DinnersFirst Fine Dining | Corporate EntertainmentHotel DiningWeekend BrunchAnniversary Celebrations | Corporate DinnersHotel OmakaseAccessible Fine DiningEast-side Manila Residents |
今月のおすすめ April recommended counter | Sakura 桜鯛 Mitsuru OmakaseCherry blossom sea bream — spring's most elegant opener. Brief April window, Mitsuru sources from Kyushu. Seasonal Calendar | Toro トロタルタル Nobu ManilaApril Nobu spring tuna program refreshes. Toro tartare with caviar is their spring signature piece. Seasonal Calendar | Sakura 桜鯛・タンバコール Hanami (Shangri-La)Hanami's signature spring pairing — Japanese cherry blossom bream alongside Palawan tambakol. Dual terroir. Seasonal Calendar |
Top Venues Signature restaurants |
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