Everyone in their 20s and 30s knows it: getting the gang together gets harder the older you get—but the holiday season is perhaps the best excuse to finally have that reunion with your besties or fave family members. Plus, who can say no when the food is just that good? When it comes to holiday gatherings, we know you’re looking for good vibes and large servings for a hungry bunch—well, trust that this list has you covered.
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7 Restaurants In Manila Where You Can Get Together For Your Next Group Gathering
Borro
Location: 10 Scout Borromeo corner Scout Tobias, Quezon City
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Boasting three floors of modern-chic yet homey dining areas, Borro is a pretty enormous restaurant, so you don't have to worry about finding space for a big group. Their servings of comfort food classics are massive, too, so make sure to let everyone know to come hungry. While their menu is pretty extensive, we already have a few favorites. You get free rolls to start at Borro but if you can't get enough of their bread, the Toasted Baguette which comes with your choice of sundried tomato dip or spinach cream cheese dip is a must-order. You'll also get more of their bread in the form of pillowy-soft, buttery rolls with the Boneless Fried Chicken served with an addictive gravy. Finish off the order with a Creamy Truffle Pasta, luxuriously rich crowd-pleaser. One more plus about Borro? They have lots of Instagram-worthy corners for your group pics.
Ricksha Streetside Tandoor
Location: 6 Missouri Street. Greenhills, San Juan City
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Indian food can reliably feed and please a crowd, and one of the best places in the Metro for Indian cuisine is Ricksha Streetside Tandoor. Their menu covers a lot of the classics, perfect whether you're already familiar with the food or are in the mood to try something new. Ricksha is proud of their tandoor or traditional vase-shaped oven made out of clay, so you'll be remiss not to order anything from their Tandoori Specialties like the Kashmiri Lamb Chops with Bombay potatoes and mint coriander chutney or Chicken Tandoori, marinated with their signature tandoor masala and slow cooked until fall-off-the-bone tender. Pair your tandoori with a Bread Platter that has garlic naan, paratha, and chapati (all different kinds of Indian flatbread), and end on a sweet note with Chai Tea Cheesecake or the classic Indian dessert, Gulab Jamun.
Union Square Greek Cafe
Location: 3/F Central Square, 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City
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Some things we learned from Mamma Mia the musical: You don't have to choose one hot dad when life (or Meryl Streep) gives you three; life would be better if it came with an ABBA soundtrack; and the Greeks definitely know how to throw a party. So what better place to host your next reunion than in a Greek resto? Union Square Greek Cafe is by the folks behind Mad Mark's so you can be sure that they know how to do comfort food—this time with a Greek twist. For seafood lovers, the Greek Mixed Seafood Pasta, which comes in a massive Large portion, has squid, clams, and fettuccine in a marsala-wine sauce. Throw in Mussel Gratin & Frites or stuffed and baked mussels with bechamel and cheese, served with thick-cut fries, and the show-stopping Certified Angus Beef Rib-Eye, all in portions perfect for sharing, and you'll be exclaiming opa! in no time.
Qui Manila
Location: 14 Castillas Street, Valencia, Quezon City
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If the friend group enjoys fusion food or just loves anything unexpected, then Qui is worth a visit. Qui plays fast and loose with Asian food, and we reckon you'll enjoy the ride. After all, it doesn't get more interesting than Teppan Salpicao or Enoki Tempura & Asian Hummus. Qui takes barbecue seriously so be sure to have the Asian BBQ Platter with grilled pork belly, Thai-style grilled chicken fillet, grilled scallion prawns, and a variety of side salads and dips. Make it a party with the massive Crispy Pan Laksa that's good for five to six persons and comes with a coconut-shrimp bisque that’s poured over crispy noodles. The Stone Pots are must-tries, too—and they're good for sharing.
Rumba
Location: G/F The Shops at Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati City
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You can't deny it—the Spanish know how to feed a crowd, and when you need to do the same, you can take them to Rumba. Start the feast off with any of the shareable starters like Pulpo a la Brasa or grilled octopus with potatoes and a “bagna cauda” sauce or the Camembert which has the aforementioned cheese baked plus pesto, almonds, and bread. Of course what is a Spanish spread without paella: There's five to choose from here, but you can't go wrong with a classic Negras con Gambas or shrimp and squid ink rice, or the Del Señorito with shrimp, squid, mussels, and clams. If everyone doesn't mind splurging, treat yourselves to crisp and juicy Cochinillo Segoviano or roasted suckling pig, golden-brown and cooked Segovian-style.
Lola Ote
Location: 24 Scout Esguerra, South Triangle, Quezon City
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When you need a venue for the next intimate family reunion, it always helps to have reliable Filipino restaurants in your back pocket—and Lola Ote should be one of them. With rattan-backed chairs, bright, patterned tables and a pastel color scheme, Lola Ote's interiors feel like home, though perhaps more snap-worthy. The homey vibes extends to their menu of Filipino favorites. The star here is their signature 18-inch Lola Ole BBQ (XL)—just a few sticks of this on the table, and it'll start to feel like a fiesta. Pair their barbecue with other Pinoy classics like Crispy Pata, Lola Ote's Authentic Pampanga’s Crispy Sisig, and Lola Ote's House Fried Chicken. Don't forget the rice! In case everyone has their own carb preference, Lola Ote offers Aligue, Tinapa, Garlic, Java, Bagoong, and, of course, regular Plain Rice.
Grand House Dining
Location: G/F Wilson Park Square, San Juan City
Whether you grew up having Chinese banquet feasts or are just a sucker for good Chinese and Chinoy food, you should host your next group hangout-slash-dinner at Grand House Dining. Established in 1960 in Binondo, this Chinese restaurant now sports a brand new, more youthful look and creative takes on classic Chinese fare at its new location in San Juan. The Seafood Fried Noodles is a feast both for the eyes and the palate, thanks to its unique floating-chopsticks serving style, and massive amounts of shrimp, fish fillet, scallops, squid, and more on top of crispy noodles. The Hong Kong Peking Chicken is just as delectable as its more famous duck counterpart especially with the house-made gravy and hoisin sauce. And if you have room to splurge, why not go for the Fried Lapu-Lapu in Sweet Chili Mango Sauce which will get a whole fish? End on a sweet note with a classic Mango Sago, Almond Pudding, or Fried Mantou with Yema Sauce.
