Cover Jeeca Uy, the Gen.T honouree behind ‘The Foodie Takes Flight’, shares her favourite vegetarian eats in Metro Manila (Photo: courtesy of Jeeca Uy)
Jeeca Uy, the Gen.T honouree behind ‘The Foodie Takes Flight’, shares her favourite vegetarian eats in Metro Manila (Photo: courtesy of Jeeca Uy)
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Jeeca Uy, best known for her plant-based recipe platform ‘The Foodie Takes Flight’, shares her go-to vegetarian eats across Metro Manila
Welcome to Foodie Finds! This is a series by Tatler, chronicling where and what to order according to the food-obsessed.
There was once a time when dining out in Metro Manila as a vegetarian was extremely challenging—or at the very least, unpleasant. That is no longer the case.
Apart from dedicated plant-based restaurants leading the charge, plenty of others have enriched their menus with comprehensive meat-free selections. Now, choosing a place to eat with your vegan and vegetarian friends no longer necessitates that awkward conversation.
In this instalment of Foodie Finds, 2023 Gen. T honouree Jeeca Uy reveals her go-to vegetarian eats across Metro Manila—a compelling testament to the growth of the city’s vegetarian landscape. Through her platform ‘The Foodie Takes Flight’, Uy champions vegan cooking by sharing recipes that are approachable, flavourful and visually inspiring—a passion that led her to complete a plant-based culinary arts program at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York City. Today, Uy reaches hundreds of thousands of followers through Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube and her blog, building a community built on a shared love for food and travel.
Below, Jeeca Uy shares her favourite vegetarian Foodie Finds in Metro Manila, spanning Filipino comforts, spicy Sichuan eats and refreshing mango desserts.
Read more: Foodie Finds: where does Bea Ledesma like to eat and drink, and what does she order?
Above Through ‘The Foodie Takes Flight’, Uy shares not only vegan recipes but her favourite vegan and vegetarian finds as she travels around the world (Photo: courtesy of Jeeca Uy)
Above Uy completed a plant-based culinary arts program at the Institute of Culinary Education in 2025 (Photo: courtesy of Jeeca Uy)
Through ‘The Foodie Takes Flight’, Uy shares not only vegan recipes but her favourite vegan and vegetarian finds as she travels around the world (Photo: courtesy of Jeeca Uy)
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What are the restaurants you regularly visit on your day off?
Tomo in San Juan—this is actually really close to where I live, so it’s almost like a second kitchen! I love their hijiki fried rice and tofu steak.
Sichu Malatang—I love a good mala dry pot paired with a good sauce and lots of rice.
Hossein’s along Makati Ave—their naan paired with the vegetable masala is so good! They also have good hummus and other dips.
What is a new restaurant you’ve recently discovered and enjoy?
Yum Yum BBQ in Poblacion, Makati. It’s a great spot to go with friends, since it’s a fun experience too with the rotating grill. I love their beancurd rolls with onion and cilantro inside, plus their grilled enoki mushrooms—all with this super tasty sweet-spicy sauce.
Where do you get your favourite dessert?
The mango kakigori from Wabi-Sabi! Perfect in the summertime when it’s hot out and the mangoes are at their sweetest. It comes with really finely shaved ice, mochi balls, and a scoop of ice cream.
What is your favourite café, and what do you order when you visit?
I don’t drink coffee, so it’s a spot where I can get great matcha! My go-to is Matcha Super, and I just go for a matcha latte with less sweetness and an extra shot of matcha.
What is your go-to spot for a nightcap?
Tori-Tori in San Juan! My friends and I frequent that spot after climbing since they’re open til late. I love getting a few yakitori sticks (shiitake mushrooms, tofu, squash, eggplant) to pair with rice.
Related: Matcha is having a moment: 13 matcha cafés in Metro Manila you should visit
What is your favourite restaurant for breakfast or brunch?
My kitchen! Haha. I like whipping up breakfasts/brunches depending on my mood. Sometimes I’d make kimchi pancakes cause I’m a very big savoury breakfast person.
What is your favourite restaurant for late night eats?
Lagrima. I love their mushroom quesadillas! And their sauces (especially the green one) are so so good.
Where do you order your favourite Filipino food from?
Cosmic or Manam. I love Cosmic’s sisig and kare-kare. Manam has a really good crispy tofu sisig too. My default order there would be the tofu sisig, adobong kang kong, and garlic rice. Always hits the spot.
See also: Digámo, a new Filipino restaurant in Marikina, serves much more than a good story
What is your ultimate comfort food dish and where do you get it?
Hotpot! Especially when it’s rainy out. I love A1 Premium Shabu Shabu. I get the vegetarian set and whip up a good sauce to dip everything I cook into it! I also love that they have an unlimited sauce bar.
Where do you order your favourite bread from?
Yellow Bakery! It’s from a home baker named Peggy, and she makes the best sourdough. It’s crusty on the outside but still very chewy inside.
Where do you go if you want to dine solo?
The Grid Food Market in Rockwell! There are a lot of spots to choose from, but I personally love the noodles from Pilya’s Kitchen and vegan carnitas tacos from La Chinesca.
Related: What are the types of milk? A simple guide to dairy and plant-based options
Where do you go for date night?
Benjarong! I love Thai food, and they have a very extensive menu.
Where do you go for your favourite noodles (whether pasta, ramen, or otherwise)? What do you order?
Va Bene Pasta Deli in the Petron gas station along EDSA. Their eggplant tortellini is my favourite.
Where do you go when hosting guests from overseas?
Lampara in Makati, Poblacion. They serve modern Filipino dishes in a very intimate setting. They can make some dishes plant-based; you just have to call in advance to be sure. They have good cocktails too. P.S. Ask for the vegan bagnet and pair it with the curry sauce (they also have a citrus one, but I prefer the curry more).
What’s an underrated restaurant or bar that you think deserves more attention?
Lime & Basil in Tagaytay. The place is beautiful, and they have a dedicated plant-based menu too.
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About
Lauren’s love for food came much later in life than one would expect— an obsession awakened in the streets of Melbourne’s multicultural dining scene. Armed with this newfound passion, she returned to the Philippines determined to discover the best eats in her home country, with a personal advocacy to champion local cuisines and homegrown talent. Nothing is off-limits; if it’s delicious, it’s worth celebrating.
Work
As Tatler Dining associate editor, Lauren covers all things food and drink, from listing the latest openings in our monthly Dining Radar to interviewing chefs and bartenders about the biggest obstacles crippling the industry today. Beyond the digital space, she also organises Tatler Dining’s tentpole events, including Off Menu and Tatler Dining Kitchen, as well as the annual Tatler Best Philippines awards night and guide launch, detailing the best restaurants in the country.
For leads and event invites, contact her via lauren@tatlerphilippines.com or follow her on Instagram at @laurengolangco.
Photo: Ralph Mendo
