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Manila food tour
MANILA FOOD TOUR - Uncover the enigma of Filipino food, embarking on a culinary expedition for the ages. We'll be stopping by panciterias, hopia houses, and generations-old restaurants, seeking secret recipes and the next generation on the street food scene.
On your moveable feast, we'll understand the real city of Manila, Open a banana-leaf wrapped machang dumpling, slurp on thick pancit noodles in sauce, slide into sizzing sisig, and sink your teeth into roasted asado meats, all washed down with fresh sugarcane juice topped with calamansi. And that's just the start, there are 15+ tastings on the most generous Manila food tour in the capital.
Binondo is slap bang in the world's oldest Chinatown, where centuries of Spanish conquistador history mix with a millennia of Chinese traditions, blending a culinary marriage like no other.
Dragons cling onto lamp posts, and incense burns aside Christian crosses - evenings in Binondo are historic vs cyberpunk, where spaghetti wires hang over narrow streets and the jeepneys chug loudly along. It's a world apart from the steel and glass towers of modern Makati.
Zigzag through Ongpin Street and Santa Cruz, visiting family-owned eateries, and ending with a bellyful of memories (and newfound friends).
Why this tour is awesome
Hop in a taxi away from Makati, and into the real Manila, on this food adventure navigating historic eateries where locals chow down.
From sizzling sisig to flaky empanadas, thick stir-fried pancit noodles with crunchy lumpia spring rolls, to stewed beef kare-kare - Filipino food packs the punches as the unsung darling of the Southeast Asian menu.
Trust us, you won’t find dishes like these at the skyscrapers of downtown, and you’d be sorry to miss this food journey.
Your guide
Jace doesn't just guide food tours—he practically is the Manila food scene. A born-and-bred Manileño, he carries the warmth and hospitality of the Philippines in everything he does. This big-hearted local is your key to unlocking the city's culinary secrets, from generational recipes passed down in tiny shops to the freshest fusion innovations. Trust Jace to deliver not just a tour, but an epic, honest-to-goodness Filipino feast woven into the history of the city
Your guide
This isn't Mark's first rodeo—it's his homecoming! Born Filipino but raised in the USA, Mark traded highways for humid streets to dive deep into the city's unmatched food culture. He's the perfect guide to bridge the gap: he understands the curiosity of a tourist and delivers the unfiltered, mouthwatering authenticity of a true Manileño.
Your guide
Meet Hannah, your local Manila insider. Born and raised in the heart of the Binondo, she's obsessed with tracking down the most authentic, soul-satisfying flavors. Forget the tourist traps—Hannah navigates the bustling streets and hidden carinderias (local eateries) like it's her own kitchen. Hannah is knowledgeable, energetic and ready for a food adventure that is completely delicious!
The next generation of Manila's culinary rockstars
Thick pancit noodles and crunchy Shanghai spring rolls
Local food heroes plying their craft
Jeepneys chugging along by night
Banana leaf-wrapped machang dumpling
Fresh lumpia with a (closely guarded) recipe sauce
Steamy kare-kare stew and chilli peanut noodles
Dragon-clinging lamp-posts and spaghetti wires of Ongpin Street
Incense sticks and Christian crosses in world's oldest Chinatown
Try a fried chicken recipe that has been around for over a hundred years
Find out how the Spanish conquistadors invaded the Filippino menu
Visit local eateries loved by locals
History meets cyberpunk in Manila's most colourful district
Visit a family-owned teahouse with delicious dim sum
Includes
- Price US $45 per person
- Tastings 15+ food tastings included
- Drinks Bottled water included
- Small group tour Maximum of 8 guests (private tours or groups of 9+, please contact us)
- Start Time 4.00PM
- Duration Around 3.5 to 4 hours, depending on the pace of the group
- Guide Led by one of our superb Manila food hosts
- Transport Walking tour with 5-6 stops
- Child Policy Children aged 3-12 years: 50% discount. Infants 0-2 years: free
- Instant confirmation Book instantly on our live calendar. If your date is unavailable, please contact us
- Cancellation Policy Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
- Language English
- Pick up / Drop off Not included. Easy to find meeting point for all guests
Dietary information
- General Advice Many streetside vendors specialise in signature menus, and may not have alternatives. It is not always possible to cater for all dietary requests at every stop
- Vegetarian Unsuitable as meat and seafood is used in 4-5 tastings (out of 15 total).
- Vegan Unsuitable as meat, seafood and eggs are used in 5-6 tastings (out of 15 total)
- Pescatarian Possible, though meat is used in 3-4 tastings (out of 15 total)
- Pork Possible, though pork is used in 2-3 dishes (out of 15 total). Unsuitable for halal diets
- Halal Unsuitable, as there are no vendors on the tour route that hold halal certification
- Gluten intolerance / Celiac Possible, though gluten is used in 3-4 tastings (out of 15 total), and soy sauce in more tastings. Unsuitable for celiac disease.
- Lactose intolerance Suitable for lactose intolerances
- Tree nut / peanut allergy Possible for mild allergies, though peanuts are used in 1-2 tastings (out of 15 total). There are no other known tree nuts
- Seafood / Shellfish allergy Possible for mild allergies, though seafood is used in 2-3 tastings (out of 15 total)
- Severe allergies Due to the nature of street food cooking, we can never guarantee any dish to be 100% free from allergens, as there is always the risk of traces and cross-contamination. It is unsuitable for severe allergies. Contact us: info@achefstour.com
How to book
To join our Manila evening food tour, use the live booking calendar to select your date and secure your tour. If the date is unavailable, or for special requests and private bookings, please contact us. Safety and comfort of guests is our first priority, so if you have any questions on dietary information or food allergies, please contact us before booking.
What to expect
This tour is designed for adventurous eaters with an interest in discovering the food locals eat. It’s a walking tour, but the pace is gentle, the terrain flat and there are plenty of rest (eating) stops along the way. Join us on the best Manila food tour in the city, you won't regret it.
Meeting point
This Manila food tour starts inside 1919 Grand Cafe, a historic cafe in the heart of Binondo, your local guide will be waiting upstairs on the 1st floor. It's easily reachable by taxi from Makati and other parts of the city. At the end of the experience, your guide can help you find transport back if you wish. More details will be sent upon booking.
Cancellation Policy
Why you should book with us
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99% 5 star reviews across our tours -
Secure payments through provider Peek
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No hidden charges - all food tastings included in the price
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Authentic food experience, escape the tourist traps