Healthy food doesn’t necessarily translate to boring food, and these seven restaurants and cafes prove it with their dynamic menus
Making the switch to healthier food can be tough. However, don’t let the misconception that vegan food, for example, is automatically blander than the “real stuff” deter you from making the switch. So long as you season your protein well, your plant-based alternatives to meat can taste just as good—if not better—than the real thing. With that said, here are seven examples of restaurants and cafes that serve great-tasting diet-friendly food in Metro Manila.
Souv! By Cyma
Souv! By Cyma is a modern Greek restaurant with branches in BGC, Ortigas, and Alabang. In addition to traditional meat-based dishes, Souv! By Cyma has many pescetarian, vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. In particular, we recommend the Cyma Roka Salata, which is an arugula and romaine salad with sundried tomatoes, candied walnuts, and parmigiano-reggiano as toppings, and the Konoupidi, which is a cauliflower dish that comes with different gluten-free or vegan side options.
Green Bar
The next place we recommend is Green Bar, a cafe in Makati, and its entire menu is plant-based, made in-house, and delicious. We particularly liked the Buffalo Cauliflower Wings, Quinoa Bowl, and Barbacoa Street Tacos. Notably, the street tacos are composed of seitan meat—a high-protein wheat gluten substitute—cooked in chipotle sauce with onion, cilantro, and calamansi.
The Wholesome Table
Our third recommendation is The Wholesome Table, which has branches in Greenbelt, Salcedo, and BGC. The best thing about this restaurant is that it has an expansive menu that is conscious of the various dietary restrictions. For example, there are notes on whether a dish is vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, or refined sugar-free. What we recommend from this restaurant is the Wholesome Veggie Burger, Vegetarian Pizza, and Moroccan Chicken Bowl. The first recommendation is vegan with a gluten-free option, the second is nut-free, vegetarian, and refined sugar-free, and the third is gluten-free and refined sugar-free.
The Fat Seed
Our fourth recommendation is The Fat Seed, which can be found in UP Town Center, BGC, and Greenbelt 3. From their menu, we recommend the Chia Bowl, Kale Pesto Pasta, and Seafood Cauliflower Rice Bowl—the seafood being shrimp and squid. The Fat Seed also has great-tasting soups, which can all be made vegan or vegetarian upon request, except for the Clam Chowder.
Little Flour Cafe
Next up is Little Flour Cafe, which can be found in BGC, Salcedo, and SM Mega Fashion Hall. Aside from pastries, you can also find lots of Filipino food here. While not marked on their menus as friendly to any particular dietary restriction, you can eat their food without guilt. At this cafe, we recommend the Ginataang Pusit and Fried Bangus, especially if you’re a pescetarian. We also highly recommend their juices, specifically the Green Juice, which is composed of moringa, cucumber, green apple, pineapple, celery, and ginger; as well as the Red Juice, which is made from red beets, carrots, ginger juice, and apple.
Green Pastures
At number six is Green Pastures in Shangri-La, which is a restaurant that serves only fresh and organic food. Here, we recommend the Broccoli Rabe & Arugula pasta, Duck Yang Chow Cauli Rice, and Pan Roasted Sea Bass Fillet with Romesco. Notably, the shallow-water sea bass in the third dish is sustainably farmed.
Juju Eats
Last but not least is Juju Eats in Makati and Mandaluyong. Known for their wraps, we recommend from them the Pesto Salad Wrap, Nicoise Salad Wrap, as well as the Bibimbap Bowl. The third dish is composed of red rice, kimchi, egg, shiitake mushrooms, pickled onions, carrots, greens, cilantro, sesame seeds, and Korean dressing. We also recommend their bottled green juices and fruit smoothies.
