The best of Food Tourism: Eat like a tourist in Araneta City
Araneta City, a crossroads for lifestyle and culture in metro Manila is brimming with food choices and offerings. The city comprises malls and properties that promote farm-to-table dining and the usage of fresh and local products from authentic Filipino cuisines to International fares. This made Araneta City a hub for culinary excellence and a melting pot of a diversity of flavors.
As the celebration of World Tourism Day (or World Tourism Month) across the globe continues from September 27 until October, the City of Firsts will take us to the local and foreign cuisine destination that catches our appetite for the best gastronomic experience we will ever have on a budget.
Let Araneta City tour us in the following ways to our every heart and tummy:
Palenque
Upper Ground Floor B, Gateway Mall 2
This collective section at Gateway Mall 2 is a tribute to our well-prized Filipino tourism, featuring five gastropubs and various native shops inspired by the diversity of provinces in the Philippines.
From the signature Pork Sisig by Nasi by Bale Dutung of Chef Claude Tayag (Pampanga) to the Chicken Galantine by Chef Myke Tatung Sarthou of Tindeli (Cebu). From the juiciest empanadas by B.E.L. Iloco of Chef Al Purungganan (Ilocos) to the Fried Oyster Cake by the Original Chicken Fandian (Binondo) of Chef Albert Uy to the Pianggang Manok by Chef Miguel Moreno of Palm Grill (Mindanao). Palenque is a perfect spot for everybody longing to taste the best of the respective hometown they have been wanting to visit in their lifetime.
In addition, Palenque also hosts a souvenir shop featuring wooden goods, abaca-made essentials, flowers, and other Filipino-identified items. Organically grown fruits, local sweets, and sorbetes are also available in this section.
Taco Bell
Gateway Mall 1 & 2 and Cyberpark 1
Hola! From the Mexican delicacies inspired by the late Glen William Bell, Jr. to the world, Taco Bell is the most successful brand in delivering the best tacos and burritos at our tables. Born in 1962 in Southern California, this brand has grown into 7,000 branches worldwide, and six of them are in the Philippines, operated by PPI Holdings, Inc.
The crispiness in every bite of Taco Bell’s best bets will make us linger for more servings of the meatiest and cheesiest fillings our mouth has ever encountered. The mild softness of their burrito will make us more comfortable in the fusion of Mexican and American cuisine of Taco Bell. Indeed, one of the Filipinos’ ever-love tacos and burritos!
Tong Yang
Upper Ground Floor A, Gateway Mall 2
A grand Far East buffet awaits everyone at Tong Yang with its wide range of barbeque and shabu-shabu picks that draw inspiration from Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Filipino cuisines like they are taking us on a gastronomic tour to four or more countries in one sitting. Through its distinctive ingredients, one might find themselves making its customised version of Sinigang, Ramen Nagi, or Samgyupsal.
Akimitsu Tendon
Upper Ground Floor B, Gateway Mall 2
One of the new additions to the sprawling dining spots in Gateway Mall 2, Akimitsu Tendon traces its roots back to the Asakusa district in Tokyo, Japan. A brainchild of Chef Akimitsu Tanihara, this restaurant continued the legacy of over 126-year-old Dote No Iseya, serving people traditional tempura since the near-end of the 19th century.
Known for its carefully fried tiger prawns over rice meals, Akimitsu Tendon is committed to bringing the umami taste of its dishes closer to the Filipino heart.
Eataewon
Level 2, Gateway Mall 2
Annyeong! Eataewon is lighting your craving up like a dynamite.
Amidst the unstoppable rise of everything Korean into global pop culture and world tourism, Eataewon is ready to bring out our “daebak” love for K-Chicken and its K-wings together with ramyeon, bulgogi, and their catchy menu sounding like your favourite K-series like KLOY (Kimbap Landing on You), Descendants of the Noodles, Japchae from the Stars, and many more witty choices.
Mango Tree Cafe
Ground Floor, Gateway Mall 2
Sawadee Kap! Turn your daily cravings like you’re travelling to Bangkok or Phuket with their Thai Vegetable Spring Rolls, Chicken Satay, and Tom Yum Chicken Wings, alongside their most popular Mango Sticky Rice and Pad Thai with Soft Shell Crab.
Surprisingly, it serves Thai Pasta, like Drunken Seafood Pasta, Green Cury Seafood Pasta, Salted Egg Pasta, Tom Yum Pasta, and Chicken Grapow Pasta. After dining with them, you might say, “Khob Kun Kap.”
Che Buono
Ground Floor, Gateway Mall 2
Italian cravings are not just limited to the strings of pasta or slices of pizza. It also extends to our sweet tooth through ice cream or gelato, as they call it.
The location of Che Bueno inside Gateway Mall 2 offers more convenience for every spectator coming from any event at Smart Araneta Coliseum while heading towards the mall to shop and dine – it gives us a vibe of making Napoli or Rome nearer to our appetite. Its wide range of mouthwatering flavours of Italian gelato will catch our taste buds and our mood to become sweet and gentle with everyone.
Barrio Fiesta
Ground Floor, Ali Mall Times Square corner General McArthur Avenue
Of course, the Bayanihan spirit lives on at Barrio Fiesta!
The all-Filipino atmosphere at this casual dining chain never failed us in uplifting the best of our household delicacies enjoyed by many generations in various parts of the Philippines. Apart from its iconic shrimp paste or Bagoong, available in all grocery stores nationwide, its menu resembles everything we could think about our folk anthem, “Bahay Kubo.”
Blackbeard’s Seafood Island
Fiesta Carnival Arcade, Times Square corner General McArthur Avenue
Celebrating its 20th Anniversary this year, this “island” located at the corner near the UV Express Bus terminal takes its pride in its boodle-type menu featuring curated picks inspired by destinations like Elyu Roadtrip (La Union), Davao Hangover, Mount Arayat, Dapitan’s Pride, Ronda Visayas, and many more.
Dive into the seafood delights available at its Fresh Catch Saltwater Paluto, including crabs, tuna, pampano, lapu-lapu, and other good finds under the sea. Of course, aside from seafood delights, they also offer meaty ones like Sisig and Pica, Meat and Ribs, Tusok-Tusok sa Beach, etc.
Dampa sa Farmers Market
Farmers Market, General McArthur Avenue
One of the signature staples of the City of Firsts, Dampa sa Farmers Market is the best eating spot for those looking for a comfortable kitchen at the corners of a thriving market of fruits, vegetables, meats, and good catches from the seashores countryside.
Located at the heart of Farmers Market, Dampa sa Farmers remains an iconic dining space for those missing childhood dishes in their hometowns, encouraging them to live a balanced and greener diet as they grow. Through its traditional way of letting the diners pick the ingredients or recipe they would like to request for cooking, called paluto, this spot has inspired similar Dampas anywhere in the country while contributing to food tourism by supporting local agricultural products made by various provinces.
Whether it’s Sinigang of any variant or Inihaw with fillings, Dampa sa Farmers is a must-be-visited spot in Araneta City at least once in a lifetime.
Prana Indian Cuisine
Ground Floor, Novotel Manila, Araneta City
This food corner is a spin-off from the Food Exchange Manila at the Novotel Manila Araneta City that comes with an exceptional Indian buffet experience, bringing the spices of South Asian delicacies straight to our cravings.
Prana is the Sanskrit word for breath or life force, which means this cuisine aims to bring the force of life to every diner’s palate. Prana Indian Cuisine takes the palates on a flavorful journey to experience signature dishes full of flavours and mouthful bursts of spicy, sweet, smokey, and savoury tastes. Some noteworthy dishes are Pani Puri, Murgh Makhani (Butter Chicken Masala), Hyderabadi Lamb Dum Biryani, and Lamb Seekh Kebab. Prana Indian Cuisine has a la carte choices and a set menu with 4-course or 7-course options.
It is open from Wednesday to Sunday, with lunch (11 AM to 2:30 PM) and dinner (6 PM to 10 PM). For more information, visit bit.ly/NMACPrana.
Le Bistro Restaurant
5th Level, iBis Styles Hotel Manila, Araneta City
Sensory Garden, Gateway Mall 2
Taste a glimpse of France on top of the most decorated mall at the heart of the City of Firsts. This restaurant aims to showcase exquisite French flavours that celebrate fine seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, served in a warm and welcoming setting by offering Niçoise salad to bouillabaisse, pâté de campagne to crêpes aux champignons, escargots to dry-aged sirloin steak. Under the baton of Chef Rhenner Alair, its menu offers an exquisite selection of French classics crafted from the freshest regional and seasonal ingredients.
Le Bistro also features spirits and wines from Italy and France, in addition to its wider choices of gourmet coffee, signature cocktails, and fine teas.
—
Embracing the vibrant diversity of culture and flavours, mixed with a fusion of modern and traditional takes on local and foreign cuisines, makes tourism magical, particularly in our cravings in the comfort of our hard-earned budget. Maybe some of us are looking forward to travelling to our preferred destination to unwind and feel the serenity of reality someday, but in the meantime, let us enjoy the moment of looking for something deliciously interesting at the City of Firsts.
Let us make every time a special day for local and world tourism! Join the fun and share the love!
Follow the Araneta City by liking its Facebook page and downloading the Araneta City app on Android and iOS to get a golden bunch of exclusive rewards and perks from the City of Firsts.
