Doon Thai and Asian Fusion Cuisine (Malate) — Restaurant in Manila

I have been to quite a few restaurants in the Philippines and I can honestly say this is a hidden gem. One of the best restaurants in Manila and that's an understatement.

The very first thing I look for is the service with the atmosphere being a close second place. Immediately upon entering and looking through the menu, without even asking, we were presented with water, napkins, and a quick snack until our order arrived. This is a big deal to me since most restaurants fail on the basics. We usually have to ask for these things which is a crazy thought. The staff is very attentive to their customers and that's a big plus to me. I wish I got our server name because they did a fantastic job.

Secondly placing our order went smoothly, there weren't any complications with repeating anything and the server was knowledgeable about the dishes when we had a question about one. Immediately after ordering the server presented it to the kitchen and quickly returned with our utensils and plates. I expected the wait between placing our order and receiving the dishes would be a bit long however it was the opposite. The appetizer arrived rather quickly, which was enough time for them to prepare and deliver our mains. Whoever is in the kitchen cooking did a phenomenal job. They have their cooking time and routine down perfectly to the point where the food arrives just in time.

Third and probably the most important is the flavor and taste of the food. Compared to a lot of similar restaurants of this price range, atmosphere, and service there's a huge difference at this restaurant. I have been to a lot of places, some even multiple times but here the food is extremely consistent with its flavor. Everything is seasoned perfectly. Not only that you can taste the passion and effort that they put into each dish. They don't just cook and send your food out here. You can taste it in the food and drinks that they test and cook until they have their recipes perfect. The ingredients they use are fresh, and the process they use to prepare their food is nailed down perfectly, and it truly shows in their dishes.

I was a bit concerned with the prices especially compared with most restaurants in the area. However, tasting the food the price is well worth it. It's way more flavorful and delicious compared to most of the higher-end restaurants I visited. If you're on the fence give it a shot you won't be disappointed.

Fourth the atmosphere and the area are fairly peaceful and quiet. Other restaurants in the area usually have people entering asking for money or food while we're eating. Usually, I don't mind but some days I just want to enjoy a date with my wife without being bothered. That's not an issue here, you can peacefully eat without being disturbed. Which is also a big plus to me.

All in all, this is an excellent restaurant to try if you're in the area.

Edit:I been here on 3 different occasions and I honestly can say this is my favorite restaurant to visit. It always exceeds my...

Cons: The food is a little disappointing it's not savory, spicy, and flavorful like an authentic Thai cuisine. It tastes creamy and soft, like how an American would attempt authentic Thai food. I thought it would taste the same as the "upo sa labas" street food in thailand but its not. Maybe I'm just overly expectant of the resto. I ordered the fried rice with beef and the beef (350php) is SO gamey and hard. The onions were cut so big it's an effort to chew. I just asked them to put it in a takeout bag cuz I just wanted to go home at that point.

They also don't have debit cards and rely on cash and gcash which is weird for a contemporary casual restaurant that doubles as a café. Perhaps their focus target market are students.

Pros: I asked the table a few feet from me about their opinions and they also don't like the food that much and only come for the coffee. Redeemingly, their Thai tea is the only thing that was worth my 135php for.

The atmosphere is also very calm and place looks clean. The tables are little wobbly. But the open kitchen gives transparency as to how clean they are.

Service is ok they thought on their feet to just connect me with their personal data so I can pay using BPI since they don't have wifi either. A resto and coffee shop without wifi is an interesting combination knowing it's a...

It's a hidden gem in Taft! Their menu is a very interesting take on Thai food because as much as it tries to stay true and authentic, there are still some twists to the food! The staffs are also nice and approachable.

The only worry here is the size of the restaurant and the location. The place is quite small, so you better go early or avoid meal times. The location is also a bit tricky because it's not along the main road. But you may always ask people and consult a map.

Nonetheless, it's worth a visit! And the food is affordable. I personally love their Thai milk tea and pad thai.

Update: They have expanded their place. Now, they have bigger and cozier air-conditioned space inside. However, food are now more expensive, yet still delicious. Service was a bit slow lately, so make sure you don't have appointments after. Staffs...