The must-try secret menu items from the Tatler Dining Guide 2024

Offering home-style Thai cuisine since 2008, Azuthai continues to surprise its regulars with exciting secret menu dishes. On your next visit, ask about the soft shell crab with yellow curry, snow crab claws with yellow curry, or glass noodle salad for a change of pace.

Helmed by chef Tina Legarda, this neighbourhood favourite in the Metro’s south serves indulgent comfort food with creative twists. While Legarda is known to release new and exciting menus throughout the year, her secret menu items remain a popular pick among regulars. Try the steak stroganoff, shrimp truck (their take on garlic butter shrimps), or the lockdown burger with mushrooms, onion jam, and camembert sauce.

Related: What dish reminds you of Mum? Chefs JP Anglo, Tina Legarda, and more share their memories

Looking for a sophisticated yet decadent mouthful? Treat yourself to the foie con caña de Cabra at Bar Pintxos: torched goats cheese, truffle honey, and a generous slice of seared foie gras on toast.

Linamnam’s chef Don Baldosano has crafted a playful Filipino “bistronomy” menu for Bombvinos Bodega, complementing their selection of natural wines (plus mezcal and tequila) with dishes that are quirky yet comforting. The keso chichirya is a well-kept secret that lives off the menu, with local burrata, double-fried potatoes, keso de bola, garlic, chilli oil, and even ikura upon request.

“It’s inspired by a classic chichirya I was able to try when I was a kid, which consisted of a classic potato chip and a cheese dip included inside the bag already,” shares Tatler Dining’s Rising Star Chef 2024. “We wanted to give it a little refinement while of course making sure it’s still fun to eat, using local burrata and local potatoes fried with different textures.”

Read more: Young and restless: Get to know Don Baldosano, Tatler Dining’s Rising Star Chef 2024

Bondi & Bourke is one of the few Australian restaurants in Manila, committed to championing this unfussy, produce-driven, cuisine through timeless plates. Fans of seafood will surely enjoy their steamed Boston lobster (at a hefty 1kg) with classic cocktail sauce, Marie rose sauce, tartare sauce, and citrus wedges. Meanwhile, the 6kg whole roasted US Turkey makes an ideal centrepiece for any gathering, featuring French butter, fresh thyme, lemon, cranberry compote, herbed turkey craving, and traditional stuffing. Last but not least, the 4kg roasted Aussie pork belly roll is sure to impress, with roasted apples, rosemary gravy, and thyme butter.

Located in BGC, Brasserie Sagana is known for its timeless, honest French cuisine. Chef Marc Aubry is known to refresh its à la carte menu twice a year, so you can expect new and exciting dishes on your next visit. Be sure to ask about off-menu specialities as well, like the pan-seared duck foie gras salad with honey balsamic sauce, grilled seafood trio with beurre blanc, and blue cheese carbonara.

Since opening its doors in 2019, Bungalow Café & Bakery has quickly become one of the most popular restaurants in Alabang, known for its brunch fare, fan-favourite doughnuts, and generous milkshakes. After a hearty meal? Try out their seafood pistachio pesto squid ink pasta from the secret menu, with shrimp, scallops, squid, basil, bread crumbs, and lemon.

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Cirkulo is often hailed as the institution that brought tapas culture to Manila back in 1995. Today, you can continue to expect tasty surprises from chef J Gamboa and his team, including the off-menu gazpacho and paella de calamares y espinacas.

Specialising in regional Chinese cuisines, Crystal Dragon offers an exciting breadth of contemporary dishes crafted with sustainability in mind. Impress your guests by ordering secret menu specialities such as the steamed sea grouper with assorted root vegetables and Szechuan sauce, or the deep-fried golden crab shell stuffed with seafood and wild morels served with truffle dip.

See also: The best Chinese restaurants from the Tatler Dining Guide 2024

Home to authentic Catalan cuisine and what many consider to be the best cheesecake in town, El Born by chef David Amoros offers a number of secret menu items for those in the know. Opt for the carabineros del Mediterrano, grilled on the Josper with olive oil and Maldon salt for a simple yet indulgent treat, or the arroz de bacalao a “la llauna” for a filling, hearty meal with grilled vegetables and gratin aioli. Finally, the cecina de vaca vieja shines a light on cecina or cured and smoked beef, a lesser-known Spanish delicacy, served with aged Mahón cheese, tomato, olive oil, and bread.

When stuck deciding between Elbert’s pizzas, pasta, sandwiches, and hearty mains, do consider the off-menu pizza fritta a Napolitana: a fried pizza stuffed with scamorza (smoked cheese), ricotta, sausage, and cherry tomatoes.

Before launching into their signature steaks, treat yourself to the steak tartare from the secret menu at Elbert’s Steak Room. Prepared with tenderloin, Dijon mustard, anchovy, capers, shallots, horseradish, garlic, soy sauce, and organic egg yolk, their take on the classic bistro dish is seasoned with an Asian touch for a homegrown feel.

Read more: The best steakhouses in the Philippines from the Tatler Dining Guide 2024

Can’t get enough of the málà craze? Head to The Empress Dining Palace and order their Szechuan chicken, cooked with fresh and dried chillies, cashews, and Szechuan peppercorns.

While The Fatted Calf Farmhouse Kitchen is known for dishes like the roast leg of beef or crackling pork belly, chef JJ Sycip does offer some off-menu vegan dishes for pre-order. Try the faux scallops (made with mushrooms) served with edamame purée, shoestring potatoes, and a side salad, or their adlai risottos available with your choice of squash or mushroom. Alternatively, order the chickpea patty with pomodoro sauce and a side salad for a high-protein plant-based option.

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Contemporary Filipino cuisine is the name of the game at Haliya, offering modern twists on familiar dishes. Haliya’s secret menu features a hardinera Wellington (a tomato and pork casserole with taro root fondant and micro greens), as well as a Don Papa crème brûlée with spiced pineapple, basil, mint, mango, banana, and adlai pops.

Located in Davao, Hey Monday! Deli is home to unique and exciting flavours inspired by chefs Louise Plasencia and Nikki del Mundo’s time in New York. Show them you’re in the know by ordering their grilled napa cabbage with Malagos Ystilo Pecorino goat cheese, candied walnuts, and chilli garlic sauce, or the grilled oysters with herb oil and Parmigiano Reggiano served with hoagie bread.

More from Tatler: These are the most iconic Filipino dishes from Negros, Ilocos, Pampanga, and more

Another Davao favourite, Huckleberry specialises in the hearty, comforting cuisine of America’s South. Order off the secret menu and try the Cajun shrimp eéttouffée (spicy shrimp stew over mashed potatoes) or jambalaya (rice with andouille sausage, shrimp, and aromatics) for a classic Louisiana dish, or opt for the pig ears with Alabama white barbecue sauce for a more unique dining experience. Not quite what you’re looking for? They’ve got other off-menu surprises in store—just ask!

Since the ‘80s, Jade Garden has been a go-to for family dinners with Cantonese cuisine at its heart. In addition to their signature dishes like the roasted suckling pig or barbecue Peking duck, consider calling in advance to order from their secret menu, which includes the eight treasure chicken (chicken stuffed with glutinous rice, Chinese sausage, Japanese mushroom, and dried shrimp), and the diced chicken in egg white wraps with shiitake mushroom, bamboo shoots, turnips, and celery. 

Tucked away along Burgos Circle in BGC, Keizo Restaurant is one of the city’s best-kept secrets when it comes to Japanese cuisine. Once you’ve ticked off the essentials like the spicy tuna sashimi (with crispy tempura flakes) or gyudon, try their secret menu items like the indulgent miso gindara, uni ikura maki, and Wagyu A3 donburi sautéed with crispy garlic and a touch of wasabi.

See also: The best Japanese restaurants from the Tatler Dining Guide 2024

For many families, Kimpura has grown synonymous with Sunday lunch. Switch things up by ordering from their secret menu, which features shiromi sakana (steamed white fish with mushrooms and onions in lemon butter sauce) and tonsai (steamed Chinese cabbage layered with lean pork).

While L’entrecôte specialises in its eponymous steak served complete with fries and herb-butter sauce, their off-menu lobster is not to be missed, either. Weighing roughly 800 grams, the Boston Lobsters are prepared to your liking: either grilled with lemon butter sauce or Thermidor-style. Whichever you choose, the luxurious crustacean is served with hand-cut fries by default, but guests are free to request other sides instead.

Tatler Tip: pre-order your Boston Lobsters ahead of time to ensure availability before you dine.

Flex your knowledge of Argentinian steaks and order the entraña or skirt steak when you dine at La Cabrera. This off-menu cut is difficult to find elsewhere and a favourite among their regulars, though available in limited quantities only.

Didn’t get to catch La Chinesca’s pop-up at The Balmori Suites? You’re in luck—three new items from the pop-up are now available off menu at The Grid. Try the Wagyu suadero taco (Wagyu cheek, La Chinesca tare, onion, cilantro) or the cabeza en escabeche (seared pork face with tomatillo and jalapeño, best enjoyed with a side of their corn tortillas) if you’re hankering for some meat. Alternatively, if you’re after some seafood, get the jaiba or soft shell crab tostada with local mud crab, mango, aligue-sofrito mayo, lime, and togarashi

Note: These off-menu specials are only available at La Chinesca, The Grid Food Market, Power Plant Mall.

See also: New Mexican-Filipino restaurant in Poblacion: Compañeros Taqueria x Carinderia

A time-tested favourite for Italian cuisine, La Nuova Pasteleria has charmed patrons since 1978, making it one of the oldest restaurants in the Tatler Dining Guide 2024—yet the neighbourhood haunt continues to keep things exciting with off-menu surprises. Start off your meal with the salmone bruschetta made with smoked salmon and ricotta, then find comfort in their hearty Italian-style tomato soup. After you indulge in your favourite pasta, treat yourself to the espresso affogato featuring Carmen’s Best ice cream and an optional shot of coffee liqueur.

Related: How Carmen’s Best went from a passion project to a near PHP 200-million acquisition

Whether for dinner or drinks, Lámpara is one of Poblacion’s best F&B establishments, serving neo-Filipino cuisine and tasty Filipino-inspired cocktails to go with it. Their off-menu vegan bagnet is great for those after a meat-free meal, prepared with jackfruit, coconut milk, okra, and banana heart.

Related: New Salcedo Village restaurant: Papillon by chefs RJ Ramos and Alphonse Sotero

Maisen’s signature tonkatsu gets a luxurious spin with their Ibérico pork loin katsu, a secret off-menu dish—order it on your next visit for a seriously delicious treat.

Rooted in Filipino, Spanish, and Chinese flavours, Mijo Comfort Food offers inventive dishes that marry the fun and the familiar. When dining with a large group, do consider pre-ordering chef Enrique Moreno’s off-menu specials, such as the whole roasted guava-infused duck with duck fat fried rice, Chinese broccoli, and pickled cucumbers, or the spiced whole Moroccan chicken with chermoula, preserved lemons, dried prunes, apricots, dates, and basmati-garbanzo pilaf.

Before diving into their famed halo-halo or ginumis ice cream, explore some of Milky Way Café’s lesser-known dishes from the secret menu. The garlic butter shrimps, garlic butter soft shell crab, and pesang apahap, though simple, promise to be satisfying crowd-pleasers for the whole family. 

Few restaurants do French food as well as Mirèio, and even less so for Provençal cuisine. The next time you dine, indulge in their Champagne and truffle soup with seared scallops for a sophisticated yet comforting meal.

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Chef Rhea Rizzo, perhaps best known by the moniker Mrs. Saldo, prepares creative dishes drawing from global cuisines at this stunning restaurant in Silang, Cavite—in fact, the dining destination became so popular that it had a months-long waitlist when it first opened. When you make your way down to Mrs. Saldo’s, make the most of your trip and try the off-menu steak and fries with Kampot peppercorn sauce: pan-seared tenderloin served with creamy Cambodian black Kampot peppercorn sauce and potato wedges.

Envisioned by the eponymous chef Nobu Matsuhisa, the renowned Nobu restaurant brand popularised Japanese-Peruvian cuisine worldwide with his sophisticated flair. At Nobu Manila, you’ll find a handful of secret menu dishes even their regulars may not be privy to. Order the chawanmushi with seasonal mushrooms, negi, and rock shrimp for a simple yet timeless Japanese dish. For a more luxurious bite, try the caviar tacos on squid in nori taco shell with avocado and uni. Hungry? The Chilean seabass with assorted mixed vegetables, ginger, truffle, sake, soy, and shiitake mushrooms is sure to satisfy. Be sure to ask the staff about their other off-menu specialities, too.

Olio is a long-loved fine-dining restaurant in Cebu specialising in timeless European staples. Change things up on your next visit by ordering secret menu items like the pan-seared duck breast with pine-herb potato and port-fig sauce, the creamy risotto with lobster and scallop, or their premium Japanese Wagyu steaks.

An institution in its own right, Peking Garden has been a reliable choice for Chinese cuisine since 1995. Contrary to its name, the beggar’s chicken, (whole chicken marinated in mushroom soy sauce and covered with dough, stuffed with mixed fresh mushrooms) is rich with flavour, and requires one day advanced notice to order. Meanwhile, the deep-fried prawns with peach plum sauce make a tasty starter before the heavy hitters.

Found in the breezy outskirts of Davao, Pilgrim is a relaxed dining destination where chef Jeramie Go shares all he’s learned from his time in Toronto. While their off-menu specialities rotate regularly, they all highlight one unique ingredient: rabbit. Ask your server to know whether it’s the rabbit confit, stuffed rabbit salad, or lapin à la moutarde (rabbit in mustard sauce) available when you visit.

See also: Tuny Resto Farm: A quirky destination restaurant in Silang, Cavite

They say you can’t visit Siargao without going for a surf—Siago’s surf and turf platter, designed for three to four persons, makes the perfect island feed. Take it to the next level with some gambas y chorizo and mahi mahi, served on a bed of mashed potatoes and green leeks for a serious feast.

Read more: The 24 best restaurants for al fresco dining from the Tatler Dining Guide 2024

Located in Silay City, Stephen’s at Balay Puti is a charming dining destination well-known to those who frequent Bacolod. Helmed by chef Stephen Escalante, the restaurant is situated in a historic heritage home and offers comfort food inspired by the world’s flavours. Emily’s bomb chicken pasta, an off-menu speciality, plates a boneless whole chicken stuffed with cheese, butter, garlic, and lemon on a bed of pasta—a generous and hearty dish, great for sharing.

Read more: Stephen’s at Balay Puti: A must-visit dining destination in Silay, Negros

As its name suggests, this 18-seater hole-in-the-wall in downtown Cebu tells emotive stories with its delicious food. When visiting Tales and Feelings, request their off-menu cured Hokkaido scallop ceviche: a flavourful medley of smoked avocado purée, kiwi, togarashi, homemade ponzu and herbal oil, pickled onions, dill and mulberries.

Often hailed as the gold standard for Japanese cuisine, Tsukiji has over three decades under its belt and continues to be top of mind for the freshest sushi, steaks, teriyaki, tempura, and more. On your next visit, change up your regular orders with these secret menu items: salmon sushi cake (requires 24 hours’ notice), spicy tuna roll, and soft shell crab maki.

While Txanton specialises in quality jamon and fine wine, the restaurant is a serious contender as one of the country’s best Spanish restaurants. Their secret menu boasts luxurious Spanish dishes such as the carabinero carpaccio, a 30-day dry-aged tenderloin from a 4 years old mature cow, and an indulgent burger that marries a 30-day dry-aged sirloin from a 4 years old mature cow with 100 per cent acorn-fed presa Ibérica.

Related: The best Spanish restaurants from the Tatler Dining Guide 2024

Txoko Asador is Bar Pintxos’s older, more refined older sister, offering contemporary twists on Spanish favourites. Since opening in the early months of 2020, this Legazpi Village haunt has become a favourite for family gatherings and special occasions, and even nabbed Tatler Dining’s Best New Restaurant award the following year. Think you’ve had everything on the menu? Order the pollo al ast from the secret menu: a rolled chicken roasted in the Josper with their very own spice rub.