Manam's Mama Nams — Restaurant in Makati

We've been curious with this establishment since we passed by here last December. Initial theory was that it was a cloud kitchen or an entirely new concept by Manam. Upon entry we realized that it's not an entirely new concept but more of a reimagined JT's Manukan if Manam did it.

We ordered take out with the assumption that it will be quicker since they service mostly food delivery apps (see parking description). We were dead wrong - it took 45 minutes for our food to arrive and they seemed to priotize the food delivery apps over other customers. We even made 3 follow-ups just to check the status but we kept receiving that "on the way". Needless to say we were not impressed with their painfully slow service.

The atmosphere was off brand to Manam's so it's confusing what concept they're trying to establish here. Upon arrival - there's the continuous cycle of food delivery app drivers coming and going, there are groups of blue and white collar people enjoying an after office dinner, and there's a young couple on what seems to be their first date (they were looking for plastic gloves for their Chicken Inasal). The location and size further obscures the target market. What was Manam's aim with this?

The food was expectedly cold as we waited too long though it's still Manam quality in terms of taste. The Pecho (Inasal) was still juicy and the size was just enough for my wife. The Leimpo (Inihaw) was quite small compared to the rice it came with and was mostly fat.

Overall the experience was disappointing and we hope Manam gradually improves...

IMPRESSION: I was honestly expecting a typical Manam sized restaurant for families of 4 and above but to my surprise found a bite sized restaurant with 3x 2-seater tables with a HUGE kitchen! Like wow is this their cloud kitchen?

FOOD: We got the dobol-trobol set which had 2 kinds of barbecue chicken options. My partner and I chose 1 paa (leg) and 1 petso (breast); soup; option of white, garlic or yellow rice. You can have it inasal style or inihaw style, we chose inasal and the taste was awesome! A big downside though was the portion size. It's so freaking small for almost 300 pesos of petso.

ATSMOSPHERE: It was very tense, you would see atleast 4-5 food delivery riders/bikers waiting outside (some complaining of the wait time for their order), another of a food app self-pick up customer screaming at the staff due to the same issue.

I honestly hope these are just birth pains from a newly opened concept. I give this restaurant 3 stars. Minus 1 star from the dish size to price ratio (not sulit for the price), and minus another star due to the atmosphere (screaming customers in a tiny space can definitely turn a nice date into a questionable dinner)

Mama Nam's still keep the rest of the stars because the staff are great people who seem to really be trying to improve and acknowledge that...

I tried the grilled chicken with garlic rice and pickled vegetables. The chicken was flavorful and juicy, with a nice char on the outside,though for my personal taste, it bordered on being a little too charred in some parts. The garlic rice was simple but satisfying, with a light garlic aroma that didn’t overpower the meal. The pickled vegetables added a fresh and tangy contrast, though the portion was very small,more like a garnish than a real side.

The place itself is quite small, so don’t expect a spacious dining area, but it’s clean and nicely decorated with a casual vibe.

What really stood out, though, was the excellent service,the staff were very friendly, welcoming, and quick to help, which made the overall experience enjoyable despite the limited space.

Would I go back? Maybe, mostly for the service. The food is okay, not mind-blowing, but decent enough for a quick...