With a handful of big universities at its doorstep, Maginhawa Street, Quezon City has become a haven of good food and drinks at student-friendly prices. It’s one of the go-to places for foodies in Metro Manila, especially for those who are looking to score amazing meals with limited cash.
If it’s your first time exploring the so-called Eat Street, here are some of the best Maginhawa restaurants—and in the adjacent Malingap Street—to give you an idea of where to start.
Friuli Trattoria
One of the well-established Maginhawa restaurants, Friuli Trattoria has long been a favorite of Italian aficionados. Stepping into the two-story establishment feels like visiting a beloved relative with its homey vibe and the aroma of freshly baked pizza pies in the air. Enjoy authentic Italian cuisine at a relatively affordable price in Friuli with dishes like the Margherita pizza and Spaghetti con Salsa di Manzo.
79A Maginhawa, Diliman, Quezon City
Open from 9:00 AM to 1:00 AM
Provenciano Restaurant
Instead of limiting itself to just one type of Filipino cuisine, Provenciano serves favorites from a variety of provinces: Sisig and Bringhe from Pampanga, Kansi from Iloilo, Laing from Bicol, and more. Spacious and tastefully designed, Provenciano Restaurant is a wonderful place to take the family for a meal out together.
110 Maginhawa, Diliman, Quezon City
Open from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Indonyaki
Indonesian food in the Philippines isn’t very common, so it’s a treat to find Indonyaki in Maginhawa Street, Quezon City. A new addition to what’s now known as Eat Street, the hole-in-the-wall restaurant proves it can hang with more established joints by offering quality Indonesian fare like Indonyaki Lumpia, Ayam Goreng, and Sate Ayam.
54 Maginhawa, U.P. Village, Quezon City
Open from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Pipino Vegetarian
It’s not easy being vegetarian and vegan when eating out in the Philippines, but fortunately for those who are near Teacher’s Village, there’s Pipino Veg. The 100% plant-based restaurant serves yummy no-meat selections, including best-sellers like Cold Soba Buckwheat Noodles and Vegan Lasagna. Even carnivores will fall in love with Pipino’s fresh and well-prepared dishes—and the warm, tasteful interiors are a bonus!
39 Malingap, Diliman, Quezon City
Open from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Snack Shack
Near Maginhawa, the best place for a good, well-made burger is Snack Shack. The diner-style joint is quite small, but their food is fantastic. While there are other menu items like chicken wings and hotdogs available, people visit Snack Shack for mouthwatering 100% beef grilled burgers.
1 Luna Ext, Diliman, Quezon City
Open from 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM, except on Sundays when it closes at 8:00 PM
Cool Beans Library Café
For sleepy students on a midday break and night owls, a caffeine fix in Maginhawa is a must. Cool Beans Library Café is a cozy and quiet spot for a cup of coffee with a selection of brews from local sources such as Sagada and Benguet. Bookworms are drawn to the café’s free library, while students appreciate the peaceful interiors for studying and writing.
67A Maginhawa, UP Village, Quezon City
Open from 2:00 PM to 12:00 AM
Tomato Kick
Another iconic Maginhawa restaurant is Tomato Kick, a laid-back pub that students and music lovers frequent for good food, drinks, and live music. Many of the regulars come here for the Tomato Kick experience, but hungry diners also rave about the joint’s finger food and hearty meals, such as quesadillas, nachos, and pasta.
4 Maginhawa, Diliman, Lungsod Quezon, Kalakhang Maynila
Open from 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM Mondays to Thursdays; 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM Friday to Sundays; 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM daily
Grape Escape
Wine, anyone? Grape Escape is a wine bar that lets students and residents around Maginhawa enjoy fantastic food and wine without breaking the bank. It’s a bit more upscale than other Maginhawa restaurants but makes for a great treat to end a busy week. Ask the staff for recommendations or order some of the house favorites, like the Salpicao or the Tapas Trio.
99 Maginhawa, Diliman, Quezon City
Open from 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM every day, except Mondays
Papa Diddi’s Handcrafted Ice Cream
Great ice cream parlors like Papa Diddi never goes out of style. This local sweet shop only creates small batches of its hand-mixed ice cream with flavors ranging from Double Chocolate to Tamarind. All ingredients are sourced from local farms all over the Philippines.
168 Maginhawa, Diliman, Quezon City
Open from 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Van Gogh is Bipolar
The quirky restaurant Van Gogh is Bipolar rounds out our list of best Maginhawa restaurants—and this one offers a true one-of-a-kind experience. Like Van Gogh, the restaurant owner Jetro also suffers from bipolar disorder and his search for natural treatments led him to discover ingredients with mood-altering properties, such as mood-healing tea, honey to relieve anxiety and black mountain rice for happiness.
Note that its menu and even the décor of the house-cum-restaurant are constantly shifting, making every visit to Van Gogh is Bipolar unique. Reservations are recommended.
154 Maginhawa, Diliman, Quezon City
Open from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM, 6:00 PM to 11:30 PM every day except Tuesdays
Ready for a food trip in the heart of Manila? Sign up for a guided food tasting tour of Manila’s Chinatown and discover more amazing cuisines in the Philippines. On the other hand, if you like to experience a nighttime food trip in Metro Manila, then you should check out Poblacion, Makati.
