Amazing concept, a bar, a great cooking show in front of you, a small menu with always amazing food, often adding new and surprising dishes. The atmosphere is fantastic, good music, great staff, they always manage to make your visit an experience!!!
Best place in town! You’ll absolutely love it!
The vision of Chef Christine Zarandin realized. Excellent food at very reasonable price point. People are friendly and there seems to be a camaraderie while you are in Wantusawa as all of you are enjoying the experience. Come back as there are additional items in the menu after a couple of weeks.
Raymund Ramirez Seranillo
+5
First time to try Tawilis and it is unforgettable. One thing i have enjoyed is watching the food being prepared infront of me and the chef is amazing! The Siracha Fried Chicken is divine and you can’t get enough of the oysters! Great music and very comfortable ambience, it is one of the best places you can chill out in Makati.
Love at first bite. The oysters are to die for!! I always come back here and today, I'm devastated to know that you have a closure order from the city government. Hope you fix this soon and give us oysters...wantusawa ���
Their baked oysters are the bomb! So good that you wont be able to forget its taste and will get you back on their doorstep before long
Didn’t think i’d like oysters but fell in love with the baked oysters!! It was so fresh and not fishy at all! Would definitely come back for more!
Despite their minimal beer options, Wantusawa is a quaint, awesome speakeasy. The crowd is lively, environment decorated with old vinyl records, a few of their strong alcoholic beverages, and food are great! The baked oysters in cheese, bacon-wrapped quail eggs, and beef kebab skewers were fantastic!
I’m definitely returning!
Celebrated my birthday here with close friends. I got the fresh and baked oysters for appetizers, and wooow! I could really taste that they had good quality oysters. We even got a few extra pieces as complimentary so thank you to the wonderful staff!
Since we decided to eat here for dinner, we got the prawn laksa and miso braised beef. Both tasted really delicious but I am biased towards laksa. Hehe. Soup was thick and creamy, but it was not cloying. Noodles and prawn serving was also generous.
All in all, we enjoyed our dining experience here. Take note though that the place is small but I heard that you can dine in the joint beside it because owner is just the same.
I've heard a lot of great things about their food for a while and I can't believe it took me this long to eat there. Better late than never! The grilled oysters were already pretty good but I fell in love with the baked oysters. The cheese went so well with the fresh flavor of the oysters I went to order 3 more after that. A perfect thing to eat while on a night out
EDIT: OK IT'S NOT CHEESE. It's their own special concoction of miso mayo. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING
been seeing this place for quite sometime now, never knew they had oysters. and it was good since they have fresh oysters. i will definitely come back to this place
Fresh Oysters for Php 50 (per piece) in the heart of Makati!
You can have it in 3 ways: fresh, grilled or baked (which they use miso for that salty creamy topping). But nothing beats having it fresh with a squeeze of calamansi 👌🏻
I've been here twice and the oysters have always been fresh so far! It's a hole in the wall, thus the space is small, however, they have a 2nd floor where it is more comfortable if you want to try their other offerings & cocktails.
I love this place, it is like a hidden gem in Makati. Oysters are fresh. Grilled and baked oysters are my favorites. Fried chicken curry bowl is also delicious.
When it comes to the place, it is not spacious but they have a unique interior. Also, waiters are very accommodating. Would definitely come back and try other dishes. Love it!!! ❤️
A must go places in poblacion in makati there is no parking but you can park in the street at night.
One of the fresh oysters in town.
Food and service was good and staff was very friendly.
Price is affordable see menu board i took a photo :)
Love the bake and cheese oysters one of my favorite dishes in there menu super yummy!
Will definitely come back soon!
How anyone could NOT give this place 100% is beyond me. Fantastic atmosphere the food is exceptional and the staff are great.
I often drop in for a few baked oysters on the way home.
Fresh oysters were a palate party(also plus points they ship it from Aklan everyday).It’s so good with hot sauce and super dry beer(trust me!). The baked oysters did not seem to match my expectation though. It tastes like salted egg which is kinda weird. But all in all, I recommend this place for oyster seekers. Quite pricey cos 50php per piece for the oysters but worth it. The place is just a little bit congested especially dinner time so you can come early or have it delivered in tambay(same owners) or vice versa.
The "babalik-balikan" place in Poblacion! The baked ones are the best that would always leave you craving for more! Scallops are delicious too and gives a sweet/cheesy after taste. Fresh served hot!
The only legit oyster bar in Manila, place is located in Tambai alley which is like a mini version of the Shinjuku golden gai of Japan, this is the best place to get really fresh Aklan oysters. Simple, nothing too complex but really good food.
look how yummy the oysters 😍😍😍 not so pricey. will back soon to try the laksa and more oysters. curious also with their menu. you can order while you're in tambay or ebeten.
OMG P50 for Aklan oysters! So off we went and it didn’t disappoint. I like eating oysters in their natural state sprinkled with calamansi or vinegar. It was fresh and good. I had the laksa that was simply good and my spouse had crab fat yaki udon and the sirachi chicken. The dishes were all delicious. The prices for the drinks were quite reasonable
The staff are really friendly and prompt, and the oysters are brought in fresh from Aklan. At 50 a pop, they're worth every bit. Plump, briny-sweet morsels that easily make this place my new favorite in Poblacion.
Try the baked ones. That miso-egg sauce on top is so delicious that it's one of the few times I would say a baked oyster as good as a fresh oyster. A couple of beers and a platter of these? Yes please.
We went to Wantusawa on a Monday night, the place was kind if crowded but we were asked to have our orders taken at Panaginip - it is kind of an extension of Wantusawa, I guess. The waiting time was around 20-30 minutes but the food was worth the wait. The oysters are a must-try (try both baked and fresh) and their braised beef also!! Will definitely be back.
Taste? The best! Their oysters and shrimps were so fresh and cooked to perfection. One thing though, the place is very small so you have to be patient. It's a bar sooooo, don't expect a nice quiet dinner (like me).
The servers were also nice and very attentive. Great find!
One of the best hole in the wall resto in Poblacion. I love their baked oyster, heavenly delicious and rich in umami flavors. I've never tasted good oysters like this before and we will surely come back!
Wantusawa has excellent oysters. We got 10 baked oysters via Zomato delivery. Absolutely delicious oysters laden with cheese.
Sriracha Boneless Chicken Wings look scrawny, but they're pretty tasty with the sriracha spice.
Grilled Prawn Laksa is superb. Big prawns in yummy thick laksa sauce.
The place which is right beside Tambai is truly the place to be if you want oysters. 50 pesos per oyster is not bad in Makati. The place is an apartment compound turned into a resto block, so expect the place to be tiny. There’s a not a lot of space for tables and chairs and it’s always packed. You’d probably wait a bit longer to get seated and get your oysters. But, so far the food is good, basta willing to wait ka!
Tip: Don’t go on a weekend night
Hidden at the busy Felipe St, this gem is worth the travel from Fairview to Makati.
Everything is great! Ambiance, food, music and service! Eating oysters will never be the same after trying theirs :)
This place has almost-good service but I understand, there are a lot of people and the place is small. But the whole thing can be compensated by how good the oysters are. Went here twice now and it does not disappoint.
A 20 seater spot. Think Osaka. Love this place. It’s my new favorite. The vibe, the music ... and of course the food!!! Good quality oysters - and I really expected that but the other menu items were also superb! I enjoyed the miso braised beef - beef was so tender YUM! Asked the Chef for something off the menu and he created this “unnamed pasta” - explosion of flavors!! For me anything cooked with XO sauce is the bomb - it had scallops bonito flakes and so much more!
Promoting this place!!
Service is tops!!!!!
Our go-to place at night! Serves great food, cozy ambiance and plays relaxing music! Must visit if you want oysters overload!!! Each cost Php50 only!
Ann Marjorie Garcia Constantino
+4
Fried oyster is 💯 I dont really eat oyster so I dont expect that I will liked it. But Wantusawa's oyster is an exemption. The grilled oyster was eaten by my boyfriend. Small place. The staffs are nice. Overall its okay.
We came for the oysters - fresh, grilled, baked - but managed to eat a lot more. Food tasted fresh, the beers cold. It’s a good place for drinks with good bar food, but not comfy for serious eaters. Well, it’s a bar after all. Only stayed in the bar so I don’t know the setup on the 2nd floor. As for the oysters, I prefer mine fresh and had several orders which were served not too quickly. But it was easy to dismiss the delay because of the food quality and friendly staff. I’d go back again for those oysters and more. The prawns laksa and scallops were delish!
My first time here and focused on the popular oysters. We opted for the baked ones and for php50 a piece so heavenly and lovely. Definitely worth it on any trip to poblacion.
Loved their baked oysters! Must try and it’s only P50 each! Looking forward to going back ‘cause it’s been a while. I heard the oyster shot is good, too!
Who could ever say no to oyster and beer?
I'm always coming back here for their Sake Bomb beer and baked oysters- it's soooo cheesy and delicious! The rice plates are terrific as well! We ordered the curry rice and the braised beef with red rice- both with a healthful twist!
Got grilled and baked oysters for a change (I always go for raw). For 50 pesos a pop, I’d say these are worth it. The oysters are always fresh, the place is accessible, and the crew are friendly. They give out extras if the piece tends to be small.
Don’t forget to ask for hot sauce (for raw) and vinegar (for grilled) to enhance the flavor!
I've visited this place last night and I must say that it was surprisingly good. I've ordered their oyster's three styles. I must say, I would always prefer the raw while SO was raving about the baked variety.
We've ordered laksa with grilled shrimps; it was good but the serving was small. Chicken Sriracha was nothing out of the ordinary. Anyway, I will definitely come back here soon!
The place is a hidden gem in Makati. We were only able to order the fresh oyster since their burners weren’t working when we went here.
Oysters are indeed fresh and does not have the “malansa” taste to it.
Looking forward to try their baked oysters the next time we’ll come here.
Ambiance: Really cozy perfect for a date.
Food: I can't believe you can buy oysters for 50 pesos, I really love the baked ones really worth trying. They recently added Octopus with horizon and potatoes also a must try
Service: Amazing
One of my favorite places in Poblacion! The place is small, as with the rest of the Tambai Alley residents, but that's part of the appeal. Their staff is really really nice and friendly. The crowd here is diverse too. From locals to foreigners of all ages.
Oysters - it's fresh and can be served however you want. Of course this is what you're here for.
Tawilis - one of the few places in Metro Manila with tawilis. Although last time I was there, it wasn't available.
Baked Scallops - oh hell yes! They're so good. But quite pricey though. Would definitely get more of these if they lowered the price.
Shiro Butter Garlic Prawns - I felt that there's too much butter here.
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Oysters for dessert?! Well, that is exactly what I had for my birthday dinner.
September 10 was the date in which this happened. Some people say that it's bad to eat oysters on an empty stomach. Since I was craving for some Japanese cuisine, I opted to eat at the restaurant next door. Right after, I chose to stuff myself full of some oysters at Wantusawa and had 7 of them. 😋😁👍
I love oysters! They aren't something that I eat a lot of as the quality of them can be a hit and miss around the metro. But at Wantusawa, I read numerous times from many reviews and food articles that their oysters were fresh and had some pure ocean flavor. So, Wantusawa has been bookmarked here on Zomato for awhile, and I finally got to try their oysters.
When they said fresh, they meant FRESH! I cannot remember the last time I had a raw oyster and was awed at the taste, that I ended up asking for more. It was so damn good, I forgot about my hypertension and got a little more than I originally planned. 😁😁😁
Aside from raw, I had the grilled and baked ones too. Grilled was okay, think it's just there for people that don't like them raw--but I loved it raw. 😋💗 As for baked, it wasn't the usual Rockafeller style, or the one with cheese and butter. I cannot exactly pinpoint what the oyster was crusted with. I asked the lady there, the one that was standing in front of me (not sure if she was the owner/manager), but she said there was some miso. Whatever mixture it was topped with, it was HELLA AWESOME GOOD! It had a salty flavor, but had a smokiness to it too from its charred bits. The baked was my fave from all--I had myself 4 pieces. 😋👍😋👍
Food: 5.0 - FRESH! Best oysters I have had in the longest time.
Price: 5.0 - @ P50 per piece any style, I would say that it's quite a steal.
Service: 5.0 - Friendly staff. Every oyster is cooked to order. Quite quick.
Ambience: 5.0- It is a bar hidden within Tambai Alley. Dark and has laid back vibes.
With Wantusawa being a walk away from work (I recently got transferred to the Makati office just before my birthday), I can see myself going their regularly, maybe getting 2 oysters, after all, it is mainly known to be an oyster bar. It wouldn't hurt to try their other dishes too.
Pub crawl that ended up as a hunt for good food led us to this P50 goodness. Yes, Wantusawa sells Oysters for P50 regardless if it’s baked, fried, or served fresh. Pair your plate of Aklan oysters with alcohol or shooters for a hundred bucks. This seafood bar is tucked inside the Tambai Alley in Poblacion.
Great Oysters! Happy with the size and freshness. Also enjoyed the Laksa, which appears to be a popular dish item here - so much so that i wish the size was bigger. Also ordered the Crab Fat udon which, was ok for me, and spiciness was just right. The kinilawin Oyster was beautifully prepared and presented, and was OK in taste, as the vinegar was overwhelming - the generous 4 pcs of raw oysters were swimming in it. The cold tofu appetizer/salad was refreshing with a great, sweet sauce. Price was not heavy on the wallet as well.
Atmosphere was intimate, where u can watch each dish being prepared in arms length, open kitchen. Bar seating all around. Small, limited seating venue. Behind Tambai, which is a sister company of theirs.
We had their baked oysters and their oyster and crab fat yakiudon. You're here of course for the oysters, and they do not disappoint. They're large, and you really get that fresh briny taste, they're not overdone with the topping. Definitely good enough value at 50 per piece. The yakiudon was okay, if you're planning to eat at the neighboring places, you could skip it but if you're just staying here then it's something I'd have again.
I love everything on the menu! Minsan lang ako magbigay ng five stars, truly worth it. Solid concept, affordable, and friendly crew. Malayo, pero i don't mind dayuhin. I wish naisama ko si love dito sobrang mahilig sa oysters at seafood yun e. For 50pesos each, you can have your oysters fresh, baked and fried. Man, 1 dosena lagi nauubos ko. :)
AKLAN OYSTERS IN ALL ITS GLORY
You can have your oysters fresh, baked, or grilled for 50php per pop. Their oysters are ultra fresh, clean to the taste, delicate in natural texture which leaves a subtle sweetness to your palate.
WHY GO?
Come for their oysters and scallops. You’ll see the number of oysters available for the night written on the board by the wall as supplies of oysters are limited. Come early as Wantusawa is already packed by 7-8pm.
A pretty solid concept, product output, customer service was excellent and awesome quaint ambiance.
Stumbled upon this small place and very glad I did. the prawn dish was brilliant. The fried oysters were also good, as was the tuna collar. The kitchen is behind bar, so great to watch them cooking it up. Staff were very friendly and the small bill at the end was a nice surprise!
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Wantusawa is the quintessential millennial food joint. It is the very representation of the current food culture in the metro.
They say that people now is more into the experience - and experience is what wantusawa will give you. At first, you might even miss the location since it’s practically hidden. Once you enter the hall of Tambai, it might remind you of the typical Manila household setting. A townhouse converted into small food joints. Once you see the blinding blue neon light, then you know you’re in the right place.
It is unassuming. It has a very short menu and focused on the star of the joint: the aklan oysters. You either have it fresh, baked or fried. It is best to down it with alcohol or soda.
The freshness of the oysters are almost guaranteed. It is supple and sweet, like it came straight from the sea. One order costs 50 pesos. An okay price point especially considering the freight costs to bring it here in Manila.
Wantusawa highlights the produce of Aklan and elevates it into something that is attractive to a very critical crowd. The overall concept of the stall is a winner and I would like to commend those who gave birth to this concept.
This is for those who fancy an oyster for the night - and for the rest who just wants to enjoy what other parts of the country has to offer.
Wantusawa is my fave bar chow destination in Poblacion. Apart from their epic prawn laksa, their fresh and baked oysters are the BEST. Other offerings also have oyster shooters and other surprises for the mouth (newcomer Pulpo is just yum!). Good food, chill music, good ambience. Also love their toilet door handle and bag holders along the wall :)
We start our Pob-crawl in Wantusawa and had an order of their Baked Oysters. It was fantastic! We all loved the vibe of their place and the open kitchen was very nice. We actually arrived very hungry so we didn't think we were going to eat much but we couldn't resist the yummy smell. We were right after all, the baked oysters was so good, such a shame we didn't try all the other items on the menu. Will definitely be back!
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Craved for Oysters for days and finally we get to try the speciaty of this small restaurant. It is like a treasure hunt cause the location of Wantusawa is hidden in the alley of Tambai, in front of El Chupacabra. Oysters by the way is an 'Aphrodisiac'.
They open at 7pm but good thing, when we arrived there at 6:30, they are already serving food.
Ambience is quiant and cozy. Only few patrons can be seated inside and you can see very well how they prepare your food and how they open the Oysters.
Price is reasonable; Oyster cost 50php per piece l, you can choose to have it fresh, baked or fried. We also ordered Shiro-Butter Prawns (7pcs) for 320php and Japanese rice for 50php.
Service is quick and they cook the food fast. So the turn-around time for people who just came to eat and sip some wine or drinks is fast as well. Unless you stay and chill while chitchatting with friends. (Came in to eat at 6:45, finished at 7:15). A glass with ice is already given and service water is already in front of you.
Better if you come here early as they get to be jampacked easily.
One of the newer entrants in the Poblacion bar and food scene. They specialize in oysters and scallops, and they are excellent (especially the baked variety). A great place to hang out with friends as long as you don’t mind the tight space and loud atmosphere.
The oysters are extremely addictive. And good value at 50 pesos per piece.
The menu is constantly evolving, so I am looking forward to what they will serve when I return.
Points for improvement: service needs a little work, as I had to remind the staff more than once that we were still missing a few orders. Also they ran out of beer. Both easy fixes.
I will definitely come back!
Went here on a Friday night and woah it was packed! To begin with, the place can actually only accommodate at most 15 people inside and the sheer volume of the people afterwork can make the small place quite chaotic. loved the oysters tho especially the baked ones. They serve the fresh ones quite fast but it can take while for the baked ones especially on a packed night. will definitely go back tho. it is nice tho that there is this common bar upstairs that accomodates orders for all 3 restos of the Tambai Alley. altho i dont recommend it if you are starving as food orders reallyyyyy take a while. the upstairs bar is more for drinking
Some of the freshest oysters in Manila and no need to go to BGC anymore! :) And these are offered in 3 ways - fresh, baked or fried. I loved the fresh and baked ones and would gladly sit down and devour more. :) The place easily gets full so be sure to be there early to get a good seat. :) The owner, cooks and servers very friendly and accommodating. :) I didn't know there was the resto as it was hidden inside the alley of Tambai. :)
Love the baked oysters which is 50 pesos each and Sriracha Fried Chicken! It’s a small place but I love the vibe!
You can actually order Wantusawa foods if you’re in Tambai or Ebi10 or Kampai. (tambai alley in poblacion makati)
Food didn’t disappoint. We ordered oysters - baked, fried, and fresh. They’re all yummy. The chicken, miso ribs, and shrimps were also good. Only thing was food took so loong to arrive. But all in all going to this place was a fun experience.
Sprouted from Makati’s hidden gem and sexy neighborhood Poblacion or P. Burgos. Traditionally, it was known for years as a red-light district, Poblacion is trading its spunky reputation for seediness and skewing itself to be a place where cool is redefined. Heavily wheeled by white-collar Filipinos and expats, they infiltrate the mushrooming dining and drinking scene. Burgos is humid, has sketchy roads, one to none parking space yet its community kept on growing progressively. Wantusawa Oyster Bar is a relatively new kid on the block. A down to earth nook along the Tambai Alley in Felipe Street. The main premise of this establishment are its glorious fresh oysters being flown in daily from Aklan.
My husband indulged my curiosity for a date night here. We're glad we did! The baked and fried oysters, buttered shrimp were delicious, the laksa so rich and tasty! Curry chicken was comforting. I hope that they can all serve it together next time as they were given one at a time. Customer service was awesome. Be prepared with cash as they don't accept credit cards for the moment. And come early, 7pm lest you run out of seats. We shall return!
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Wantusawa is a resto bar with amazing food and staff. I enjoyed their baked scallops with mushrooms and the baked oysters the most. While most of the food are actually bar chow or small plates, they do make a mean crab fat laksa noodles with scallops (You may ask the chef to tone down the spicy level if you’re not too fond of hot stuff like me.)
The space was packed by 7PM so if you want to secure seats (there are very limited seats), come early. We got seats right in front of the kitchen bar which had its pros and cons. We got to watch the yummy food being prepared and we ended up ordering so much because we wanted to try all that we saw. I guess those seats are not for people with low EQ. 😉
Do come and try their scallops and oysters. Supplies are limited too. You’ll see the number of oysters available for the night written on the board by the wall. I spied a tender looking mouthwatering beef short ribs but I was just too full already. I’ll reserve that one the next time we go.
I hope eventually they will serve cocktails too and credit card payment be accepted.
Great food. Great chef. Great staff. 👍
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1st, you need to know how to get there. The resto is hidden from sight, you can find it in a small alley on an entrance beside Tambai. You will also probably find yourself in trouble not knowing how to enter the resto, its a sliding door- look for the locks.
The house was packed during my visit. A warning, this is not a kid friendly store. You should have realized it due to opening times. I left my kid in century mall just 10min walk from there.
I haven't got the chance to check all the items in the menu. But atleast this review is for the oysters that they are marketing. I ordered 8 pieces (400 worth) 50 per piece. It says that these oysters came from Aklan, a place I've known and been a resident for a year. (side note: 50 PHP will give you 1kg of oysters in Aklan, depending on the size will be a good 15-20 shells). I haven't gone to any other oyster place in the city so I can't compare prices.
Did not order the fresh one, since if it came from Aklan probably will taste the same. I tried the baked ones, too much cheese. You won't be able to taste the oyster itself. The crunchy tawilis is good and not salty. However, prepare to wait to be served. Since this place is most of the time full packed (which is I think too much of a hype). My order took a good 45 min, since they need to pry the shells as you order. They were courteous though, including the owner who takes order herself. The oysters were gone in less than 5 min.
All in all, worth a try. Especially if you are a resident of Manila and love oysters- not much options in terms of places that cater this. Probably I will comeback to check the prawns, but for the oyster no. Bataan is near Manila if you really want "wantusawa".
Really cute little place with surprisingly amazing food, they have a small menu but anything you order is fresh, delicious and really well presented.
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