Quick Guide
Where's the best buffet in Manila? Many will say that if you want to eat all you can in Manila go to a hotel buffet and you won't be disappointed. Indeed the restaurant buffets Manila 5-star hotels offer are generally very good with some providing a spread that is likely to be more than one can comfortably sample entirely and expect to stay healthy.
Many reviews often tout the Sofitel Philippine Plaza's Spiral buffet as the top buffet in Metro Manila for its impressive array of choices and quality. But it is certainly not the only game in town. Speculating if there is another international buffet that is even better can be fun. If Spiral's vaunted 21 food stations—er,
ateliers—covering a gamut of popular global cuisine and the accompanying premium price tag it commands sound like overkill you can try the five-star hotel buffets at Spectrum, Heat, and Market Cafe in Makati's Fairmont, the Ortigas CBD's Edsa Shangri-La and Manila's AG New World (formerly Hyatt Regency) hotels respectively which offer respectable alternatives. For dimsum lovers, Red Lantern at Solaire offers a slightly more interesting selection than others offering unlimited dimsum. If a
Japanese buffet in a hotel restaurant is sought Inagiku's utage buffet at the Makati Shangri-La is a leading contender. Among the non-hotel buffet options the spread at Buffet 101 and the Vikings buffet can be overwhelming too while also being more budget-friendly.
Things to Consider
Of course a wide assortment of food isn't the only thing that makes for a good buffet. Taste, consistency, ambiance, service and intangibles that are weighed uniquely by each individual are factors too. It can be disappointing for example that hotel buffets tend to focus on international, not local, cuisine. One might need to order á la carte if one wants to sample local fare and the one or two offered by the buffet are not enough. Then there are those places that do not layout all their food out as a proper buffet at all but serve their food a la minute, a practice that has both its advantages and disadvantages. One might also prefer to seek out a more intimate less busy atmosphere, especially if one finds the din of "Happy Birthday" sung for the umpteenth time, the
crush of people storming the buffet area, or simply the long line to get
in the door of the restaurant in the first place too much to endure.
Pricing and Themes
Of course there's also price to consider. Non-hotel buffet restaurants in Manila usually cost less with the best of them making a stronger showing in terms of value. But while there may be exceptions—both positive and negative—the general expectation that you get what you pay for usually holds. Certain theme-oriented buffets or formats because of their focus tend to be less expensive. Popular more affordable eat-all-you-can themes include the smokeless grill, hot pot, the barbecue buffet, the Mongolian buffet, the dim sum buffet, the sushi buffet, the breakfast buffet and the merienda buffet. A rule of thumb one can use is to expect a buffet under 500 pesos to be restricted in some way while a full international buffet costs more. Ultra-cheap buffets that impose time limits on seating on top of the almost standard no-leftover restriction for non-hotel buffets may cost less but will be a no-no for the more leisurely inclined or those entertaining guests.
Location
It helps if the buffet is located nearby and not over an hour's drive away through traffic. The Mall of Asia (MoA) area, Roxas Boulevard from Malate to Ermita, the Makati central business district, the Ortigas CBD, and areas surrounding the Quezon Memorial Circle seem to be hotspots for buffet restaurants in Metro Manila.
Hotel Restaurant Buffet or Eat-All-You-Can in Metro Manila
- 9 Spoons at the Bayleaf
- Acaci at the Acacia Hotel
- Ace Coffee Lounge at Ace Hotel & Suites
- Alfred at Manila Diamond Residences
- Brasserie on 3 at the Conrad Manila
- Cucina at the Marco Polo Ortigas
- El Prado at the Berjaya Makati Hotel
- Escolta at the Peninsula
- F Cafe at the F1 Hotel
- Flavors at the Holiday Inn & Suites Makati
- Food Exchange Manila at the Novotel Manila Araneta Center
- Fresh at Solaire Resort and Casino
- Garden Cafe at the Luxent Hotel
- Greenstone buffet at the Greenstone Serviced Residences
- Grand Kitchen at the Grand Hyatt
- Heat at Edsa Shangri-La
- High Street Café at Shangri-La at the Fort
- Impressions at Maxims
- Kusina at Hilton Manila
- Latitude at Hotel Jen
- The Lobby at Hotel Rembrandt
- Lola Maria at Legend Villas
- The Lounge at the Eastwood Richmonde Hotel
- Market Cafe at the New World Manila (formerly Hyatt)
- Marriott Cafe at the Marriott
- Medley at Okada Manila
- Midas Café at the Midas Hotel
- Spice Café at the City Garden Grand Makati
- Spiral at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza
- Strand Café at One Pacific Place
- The Terrace at Maxims
Mainly Serving Breakfast Buffet in Manila
- 1166 Bistro at the Best Western La Corona
- 1572 at Fernandina 88 Suites
- Atrium Lounge at Atrium Hotel
- Bayview Coffee Shop at Bayview Park Hotel
- Bistro del Cielo at Parque España
- Elan Cafe at the Greenhills Élan Hotel Modern
- Fab at the Holiday Inn Galleria Manila
Chinese Buffet / Dimsum All-You-Can
- Jasmine at the New World Makati
- Li Li at the New World Manila (formerly Hyatt)
- Passion at Maxims
- Phoenix Court at the Bellevue
- Red Lantern at Solaire Resort and Casino
- Shang Palace at Makati Shangri-La
- Xin Tian Di at the Crowne Plaza
Japanese Buffet / Eat-All-You-Can
- Inagiku at Makati Shangri-La
- Nobu at Nobu City of Dreams
- Senju at Edsa Shangri-La
- Yanagi at the Midas Hotel
For other options see the list for non-hotel buffets.
Notes
Caveats
This directory of places where you can eat-all-you-can in Manila was composed to give a brief overview and some ideas. The dining scene in the city is dynamic and changes occur frequently. Check with the restaurant itself ahead of time before going to make sure a buffet is still being served and when it is available. Many offer buffets only at selected times or days of the week or at particular branches. Some of the places listed above do not have a buffet per se but an all-you-can-eat offer.
Reservations
Although placing a reservation is usually unnecessary for most places, a reservation is a very good idea for some of the very popular ones to ensure being seated—especially on a weekend or holiday when prices are higher. Even with a reservation seats may be reserved for only a limited time. If one wants guaranteed seating but not the hassle of being at the mercy of the clock, one may wish to go to the restaurant at an earlier date and pay in advance.
Time and Price
In regards to price, breakfast buffets cost less than lunch buffets and lunch buffets usually cost less than dinner buffets. Smaller hotels are more likely to offer only a breakfast buffet and not one for lunch or dinner. Of course the more expensive holiday weekend lunch and dinner buffets are also when the more decadent dishes are brought out. Unlimited foie gras, uni or lobster when offered is usually available during dinner or Sunday brunch which is also when high-end buffets bring out the option for free-flowing champagne.
Discounts and Promotions
One may wish to look up special promotions with daily deal sites like MetroDeal and Cash Cash Pinoy or inquire about credit card discounts. Hotels and restaurants occasionally have limited time discount coupons and vouchers available as well as providing loyalty cards and programs. Birthday buffet promos and group discounts are sometimes offered and something to look for. Older patrons should not forget about the senior citizen discount. As with all promos pay attention to the restrictions.
Related
Do you know of other buffets in Metro Manila that are not yet listed? Have you learned that a listed buffet or all-you-can-eat offer is no longer available? Post a comment below.
