Txoko - Asador Restaurante — Restaurant in Makati

Visited in March Philippines - Manila. Makati

This was the first restaurant we visited upon arriving in Makati, and we were pleasantly surprised by the high quality of the food. Previously, we weren't fans of Spanish cuisine, but this restaurant completely changed our minds. If we're undecided where to go, we choose this place, knowing we'll be treated to a delicious meal.

Food: We tried a variety of dishes, with a focus on tapas and small bites. One standout for me was the crab cannelloni from the hot appetizers. The pasta was perfectly cooked, filled just right, and complemented by the incredibly flavorful Bisque sauce, making it a dish we order without fail each visit. My husband, a big fan of foie gras, particularly enjoyed the tapas with fried foie gras wrapped in crispy chicken skin. The dish had a rich, fatty taste, with a perfect balance between the tender foie gras and the crispy skin. The paella, prepared with lobster tails in a traditional pan, was also commendable. The rice was well-infused with flavors and sauces, and I especially appreciated the crispy texture of the rice. Their signature dish, Ibérico jamon with tomato foam inside, offered an intriguing taste experience—a burst of flavors in every bite, with the salty jamon complementing the tomato essence. Among the dishes we sampled, the octopus was my least favorite, although it still maintained a good standard. I personally prefer a softer, creamier texture for octopus, which I understand is quite challenging to achieve.

Service: The service was excellent. The waitstaff were attentive and responsive, always addressing our queries and orders promptly. Dirty dishes were cleared in a timely manner, and the staff was consistently welcoming and friendly. It was also reassuring to see the manager taking an active interest in the quality of the dishes and our overall dining experience.

Conclusion: I highly recommend this restaurant—arguably the best Spanish dining spot in Makati. A visit here guarantees a satisfying and filling meal of the highest culinary standard. It has become our go-to place for casual...

Full disclosure: the owner is a friend but I didn't know this until we were nearly done with our greatly satisfying dinner. Every dish was delicious, especially their arrozes. Service is refined and attentive. The arrozes and cochinillo take time to prepare (30 minutes) but you can while away the time with their pintxos and cocktails. The second time I went was at lunch and we ordered the arroz butifarra and fideua de pato. Both did not disappoint but the fideua was truly outstanding. Think of a paella/arroz but with a duck confit as a topping with baked noodles instead of rice. It comes with a clove of roasted garlic and the server expertly debones the confit, squeezes out the garlic and tosses the dish so everyone gets an equal share of the duck with their fideua. This is officially one of my new favorite dishes of all time.

Lunch wasn't busy but reservations are...

Disappointed, had high hopes as a Tatler recommended but sadly they weren’t getting much right. Arrived and were seated only to be ignored by the waiting staff. Multiple items not available on the menu. Appetisers tasty and novel but the paella average. Cold air blowing from above meant the food was chilled almost immediately. After mains, we discovered a high chair enroute to the bathroom that had not previously been offered. THEN THE PAYMENT - THEY TOOK OUR CARD TO THEIR MACHINE AND THEN WE SAW IT TAKEN WITH OUR CARD IN IT TO ANOTHER TABLE. A dubious receipt for well over our bill was printed from the machine. They assured us this wasn’t from our card but very concerning that this incident even happened. To top it off, our clothes and hair stank of pork fat after leaving. Overall a...