Manila Kantina Buffet — Restaurant in Miami

Ive been very curious about Filipino cuisine, so I took it upon myself to drive from Kendall to downtown Miami, deal with the heavy traffic and no parking situation that seems to plague downtown Miami, just to find the road in front of the restaurant is closed, so next was a two minute walk from where I parked. Once I arrived to the restaurant, I was greeted by a very warm and welcoming “hello” by whom appeared to be the cook, a woman who is about half my height but about the same age as my mother, she seemed like she just poured her soul into her last dish and was ready to serve me her next customer. She asked me what was I having today so I replied with “surprise me”. She proceeded to fill my plate sky high with chicken adobo, sausage, white rice, pork chunks, panset (Filipino noodles)and vegetable. My mouth was watering and I couldn’t wait until I made it back to the car to chow down on this magnificent meal. Once in my car the aroma from the clamshell plate filled my car as soon as I placed it on the passenger seat. I couldn’t wait any longer as I tore through the plastic back that had the most complex knot that I’ve ever seen, first this was sausages that looked so magandang (good) they were very juicy, cooked thoroughly, seasoned perfectly and a bit on the sweet side, the chicken adobo was flavor packed caught me off guard that it too was a bit sweet, next up the noodles that are very thin and a bit weird for the first time trying them, very aromatic and very interesting but did not fall short in the flavor category, the white rice had the right amount of salt to the point you can eat it solo, last was the pork chunks, ive never been a fan of pork skin as they tend to get too crunchy and too fatty for my taste, and that exactly what I received but with much more flavor then expected. Overall this is a pretty good restaurant for some harty home cooked Filipino cuisine, 100% will fight traffic to...

Probably one of my favorite places on the planet right now. I loved everything about. Admittedly, they have the home team advantage because I'm Filipino. But there was just so much about the place that made me happy.

To start, the food was absolutely phenomenal. It was exactly like everything I grew up eating. Just like the scene in Ratatouille, when the food touched my tongue, I flashed back through my entire life. It literally made me tear up recalling all those memories.

The fact that it's an old school little shop right in the heart of Miami absolutely makes me smile. Around the corner are the signs for a new restaurant opening in a few months. Pictures of supermodels in swimsuits eating high end meals in the desert for some reason. Just lots of "douchy" vibe in that area. And right I'm the middle of it, is Manila Kantina with their wonderful buffet using foam plates. I'd take this spot any day over that DustMiami place.

And let's talk about the staff. Sweet little Nanay (Grandma) literally hands you a tray with plates and utensils and says, "KAIN NA!" And she's the cook.

I kind of don't want anyone else to go there because I don't want to ruin this perfect little place. But I'd be doing it a disservice if I didn't say how much I loved everything about it. So go try it out. But don't bring too many...

Manila Kantina is a true haven for Asian treats, especially Filipino favorites. They offer a Filipino buffet for around $17 (with drinks included)—a great deal considering the quality and variety of the food.

The service is incredibly warm and welcoming—the staff treat you like family, even calling you “anak” (which means “child” or “my child” in English). It adds a really homey touch, and they’ll happily encourage you to eat more since it’s a buffet!

The bathroom is clean, and aside from the buffet, they also sell Filipino grocery products, which is a nice bonus if you’re craving a taste of home.

The restaurant is conveniently located in the heart of Downtown Miami, though parking can be tricky given the area. The dining area is simple and functional, but could be improved to match the aesthetics of other nearby restaurants.

Overall, it’s a great spot for Filipino food lovers or anyone curious to try hearty, authentic Filipino cuisine with a side of genuine...