Don’t you love it when you are scrolling on TikTok or Instagram reels and then suddenly, you hear, “OMG, you should try this! ”. Surprise! It’s another food trend from another place that probably isn’t that easy to find here in the Philippines. Manila is a vibrant city and inside it are competitive food spots, making food from other places already available for us to experience. From Asian to European food, here is a guide that showcases our food spot picks in Manila for you to indulge your food trend cravings.

Hotteok

The Korean Food Fever is still maintaining its heat, and there is no other way to get into this food fever than to start it simple with Hotteok. Hotteok, also known as Korean Sweet Pancake, is a popular street food in Korea. What separates this from normal pancakes is that it is mainly filled with brown sugar, cinnamon, and walnuts. Thankfully, Hwang-geum Hotteok in San Juan City, Manila, is serving it hot and fresh, just like it is in Korea.

Malatang

Speaking of heat, this food will definitely make you go for ice cream later. Malatang is a spicy Chinese food that originated in Sichuan, and if you are down for something spicy and soupy, Sichu Malatang in UPTC is the way to go. Just beware of this food, as malatang literally means “spicy” or “numbing.” It really is an experience to eat a dish that spicy!

Mochi Ice Cream

When craving something sweet, ice cream is a no-brainer option. Aichi Cafe in 779 Banawe Avenue, Quezon City, serves it with a twist, wrapping the ice cream in mochi and making it into one of Japan’s famous desserts, Mochi Ice Cream, a chewy, sweet, and cold treat that will definitely satisfy that sweet tooth of yours.

Kaya Toast

Kaya Toast is a tasty snack from Singapore made with two slices of toast, butter, and kaya, and we don’t even need to travel to Singapore to get this snack. Singapore’s very own Ya Kun Kaya Toast is now at One Ayala Mall, Makati, where they serve authentic Kaya Toast fresh and toasty.

Supreme

Once this hit the internet and became a food trend, people from New York were already willing to wait in an hour-long queue just to get their hands on this pastry, and now it is here in the Philippines. In Aperitif, SM North Edsa, the Supreme can be spotted—a big flakey circular croissant filled with any flavored cream filling ranging from strawberry to matcha—and guess what? There isn’t even an hour-long waiting time for you to get this spiral deliciousness!

Turkish Kebabs

Renowned for their succulent meats and spices with a smoky flavor, Turkish kebabs have captured many people’s taste buds. In the neighborhood of Mandaluyong City, you can find a small business called Bricks and Copper, where you can eat tasty kebabs that feel like the cook made them with care. A chill neighborhood spot with affordable prices, all while serving amazing food—now that is a deal you can’t pass on.

Poutine

French Fries, Gravy, and Cheese—we all love this food, but isn’t it better if we combined all of these 3 ingredients together? Now that is a poutine. Originating from Canada, poutine is a tasty snack that might just satisfy your savory craving, and a neighborhood spot in Kapitolyo, Pasig, called Main Street Kapitolyo sells a tasty poutine and other sorts of comfort food that you can eat with your friends.

Whether you are craving some super spicy Chinese food or some sweet dessert from New York City, strolling around Manila and discovering as many food spots as you can while satisfying your cravings is an adventure in itself. With this guide, we hope you explore the deep cuts of food spots in the streets of Manila and taste what it can offer.