Manam - Gateway Mall 2 — Restaurant in Quezon City

I chose this place because of its high ratings, hoping to see if it would live up to the hype. My family, particularly my parents, had dined at their SM Fairview branch before, but they weren’t impressed. This time, I was meeting my foster mother, who prefers Filipino cuisine, so I was eager to find out if this location could prove my parents wrong.

Overall, the food was a solid 4/5 for me. We ordered sisig, camaron rebosado, lumpiang ubod, tinapa rice, palabok, champorado, calamares, tokwat baboy and halo-halo for dessert. The flavors were decent—nothing extraordinary, but they captured the essence of Filipino comfort food well. However, my biggest concern was the portion sizes. For the price point, the servings felt quite underwhelming, leaving me feeling like they could offer better value. I highly recommend their fresh lumpiang ubod.. to me that’s the highlight of my dining experience… that’s my favorite of all we ordered…

While it wasn’t an outstanding experience, it wasn’t bad either. They do a good job of delivering familiar Filipino flavors, making it a nice spot for balikbayans craving a taste of home. With a little improvement in their serving portions, this place could be truly exceptional.

Another review April 26 2025 dining experience

This was our second time visiting Manam at Gateway Mall 2. As before, the food was excellent, and the atmosphere had a relaxed, classic vibe — something I’d say caters more to a senior crowd. My foster mother had arranged to meet her grade school classmates who are now based here in Manila, and she chose this branch for their get-together.

This time, we tried their signature Melon Sinigang with beef ribs. It’s a unique twist on the classic sinigang, leaning more on the sweet side. While it’s an interesting take, I personally still prefer the traditional sour flavor.

We sat indoors, and although the restaurant is air-conditioned, it didn’t quite meet my personal standards for cooling. Still, it was comfortable enough for everyone else, and they had a wonderful time sharing great food and reliving...

My recent dining experience at Manam was filled with delightful flavors and culinary wonders. The food truly exceeded our expectations, leaving us craving for more. If you're planning to visit this popular restaurant, be prepared for a waitlist. However, fret not, as they have an abundance of seats, ensuring that you'll find a place to enjoy your meal in no time.

The highlight of our visit was undoubtedly the incredible variety of dishes we sampled. Each order we tried was a mouthwatering masterpiece, packed with flavor and expertly prepared. From their crispy sisig to the kare kare, every bite was a delightful treat for our taste buds. We couldn't help but be impressed by the remarkable culinary skills of the chefs at Manam.

Despite the fantastic food, there were a couple of areas where Manam could improve. Firstly, the comfort rooms could benefit from additional attention and deodorizers. It would enhance the overall experience if the facilities were more well-maintained and fragrant. Secondly, the billing process took considerably longer than expected, and this wasn't the first time we encountered such a delay. It would be great if they could streamline their billing system to ensure a more efficient and timely checkout process.

Nonetheless, these minor hiccups did not overshadow the outstanding flavors and dining experience we had at Manam. The waitlist, though present, was manageable, and the restaurant had ample seating to accommodate all guests. The attentive and friendly staff made sure we were well taken care of throughout our meal.

Manam is a haven for food enthusiasts seeking a delightful culinary adventure. With their exceptional dishes, it's no wonder the restaurant is always bustling with eager diners. Just be prepared for the occasional inconvenience with the comfort rooms and the billing process. Despite these small areas for improvement, Manam's delectable menu and warm atmosphere make it a must-visit destination for...

First time eating at Manam. Ordered Beef Sinigang with Watermelon (small) for my Mom, Fresh Lumpiang Ubod (medium), and their signature House Crispy Pork Sisig (medium).

They were also actively asking if we have any food allergies so I think that's a plus. Our orders arrived early than we expected.

If you like a sweet twist to your sour sinigang, this is for you. Sadly I don't. Also I personally prefer my sinigang thick with gabi and this was not it. The soup base is added on the table from a thermos Mang Inasal style. Also since we only ordered the small one, expect little meat.

Their sisig, on the other hand, lives up to its name. It's crispy, it's porky, savory and acidic just like what you want in a sisig. Don't expect an egg though. For me, it just lacks those usual aromatics of onions and green long peppers for the kick. But overall, we enjoyed it.

The fresh lumpia was good but nothing special. We ordered medium so it's good for two since the small only has one piece.

Aside from the usual white rice, they also offer brown rice, and garlic rice.

For drinks, my Mom had Buko Pandan Sago shake while I had the Iced Coffee with Pearl. The iced coffee tasted just like freshly brewed coffee. I wasn't just sure if it was an espresso since it's also a bit warm at the bottom. Expect a creamy foam with ice shavings on top. I didn't expect it to be overly sweet though, so I hadn't requested for less sugar. I think I added over half a glass of water just to tame down the sweetness.

One thing I noticed, at least when we ate there, was that they're actively cleaning our table little by little. Every time they see an empty plate, they take it. Though I generally don't mind, it's just unsual to me. The waiter even took my unfinished plate and I was just too stunned to speak so I...