Great dining experience. Prompt service with well-informed staff. The saag chicken tikka was flavourful. Clean interior is tastefully decorated and lends itself well to creating a pleasant, intimate atmosphere.
This is a rad hidden gem in Legaspi Village for those with an Indian food hankering.
Went for lunch with a friend. Really loved the food. Service was excellent. The server was very knowledgeable about all the ingredients and made sure that my food didn't have any dairy. �
Heard many good things about Mantra so Sol and I decided to drive down from Alabang last night.
Enjoyed it very much! I definitely had my Indian food fix and will come back soon.
Keep it up! And while you're at it, pls open another one in Alabang!
I am seriously addicted to what ever that peanut appetizer is!!! Super delish. I love the chill atmosphere of the restaurant, the staff are always sweet to me and the food is highly addictive.
All the dishes we've tried so far- Masala Pappad, Naan Bread, Gosht Rogan Josh, Tandoori Platter non veg and Sweet Lassi
made our tummies very happy! Great Indian cuisine with the right amount of spices and flavors. The place has a relaxed vibe, simple yet classy not to mention the soft Indian music playing in the background that adds delight to the whole dining experience. The service is awesome too. We'll definitely come back for more!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tonichi Achurra-Parekh
+5
My new favorite Indian restaurant � we tried this last weekend because they had the papdi chaat and dahi Bhalla for their weekend special and it was awesome! I hope they keep it on their menu. Anyway, the rest of the vegetarian food we ate was delicious. We will definitely be back.
Loved the food. Very nice cozy place. Will definitely come back.
elegant and cozy place with flavourful indian food
Great food . Must try tandoori chicken and peas tiki something which keeps me going back to the place
Taste wise, its the best Indian Restaurant in Manila. �
We love taking our guests to Mantra.
I loved the papdi chat, bharta, dal makhani & jeera rice. Be back very soon
Nice ambience, great food. Recommended for weekend brunch :)
Tried out the place upon hearing about it being compared to my fave indian resto, RICH.
Didn't try many dishes but I'd say food quality is comparable to New Bombay's not RICH... Although the ambience is nice and cozy, i felt the food presentation needs some improvement.
Ate here last night as suggested by a friend. Me and my gf were surprised by the very nice ambient lighting. It is a very classy restaurant perfect for dinner dates.
Food wise - the portions were really good! Ordered much more than we should have since I was expecting smaller sized dishes.
Flavor- this is personal but I seem to prefer stronger flavored dishes. Ordered chicken makhani, palak paneer and dal makhani, I seem to prefer stronger flavors and spices from the other Indian place. Regardless I enjoyed my dinner and would bring a group back due to the portions they have.
Had their paneer Tikka, chicken makhani, an order or regular naan and butter naan, and their mango lassi. First and foremost, the comparison is of course always going to be against the other big name Indian restaurant in the Makati area. And I would say that in comparison, Mantra would offer you better value for money. Their servings are bigger I think, and cost less at the same time. Quality-wise I say it doesn't reach the same heights, but if you're looking for better value for money this is the place to go.
Their chicken makhani is good, the curry sauce is just okay to me, but the chicken itself was fantastic, very tender. Their naan is much more filling than you'd expect, it's almost like pizza dough rather than the flatter pita like texture that others have. One person probably can't eat more than two naans, so one order of naan can be shared. Their mango lassi was great, I'm not sure if it's fresh mango but it tasted nice all the same.
The place is both a restaurant and a bar. It has a good taste of interior with homey aura specially on the lounge area. You can also eat or drink alfresco as there tables and chairs outside . Started with spicy peanut masala as appetizer, the blending of the nuts with its oil and herbs comes in great to start and loosen up a discriminating palate. The buttered
chicken with garlic naan was the saucy star, best one I tasted so far. Then it gets better with their mixed chicken and mutton tikka , both tender and tempered to meet flavor that is expected. The bar concocts good mixed drinks in their own style and of course the fried okra as a cocktail food is a must. Lovely place , good food , friendly as well as attentive staffs including the owner . Not to mention parking was not a problem . My friend just earned his bragging rights over which is the Best indian resto all over the country;)
We’re always happy with our dining experience here! Food is consistently delicious and the staff are friendly and accommodating. Our go to dishes are the cheese naan, vegetable samosa, chicken makhani, chicken tikka w/ the mixed raita yogurt. I love to order the fresh lemonade w/ soda—so refreshing! Will always come back here!
It's a respite in a foreign land for Indians. Loved their food and ambience. Pricing a little on the higher end but worth every penny.
Ordered Malai Kofta, Kadhai Chicken, Rice and Butter Naan, Butter Rotis
While the Tandooris are their specialties, the dals, curries and the Rogan Josh do not disappoint. There is a finesse hand behind the kitchen making sure there is the right balance of the many spices in their sauces. Even their naan is of excellent quality. Softess just right and not rubbery.
One of my favorite Indian restaurants to date. Ordered non vegetarian platter and fish curry. Tandoori Prawns were the best! Chicken Seekh Kebab was a surprise. Definitely recommending Mantra Bistro.
It was surprisingly good! The platter satiated the 4 of us. The serving size is not small. Good for groups. Price is fair. Parking though can be difficult at times. 😊
Definitely one of my favorite indian restaurant ever. All is tasty. We enjoyed their platters which gives you a taste of everything. Nice lassi. They even have expresso (not very indian indeed but I like)
Perfect decor service and atmosphere...
Enjoyed the food. Husband is not a fan of Indian food but he was game to indulge my craving. Service was great — we got a table reserved right away and reminder was sent via mobile. We got the mixed platter - it looked light but it was heavy (but not in the too full way). Portions were generous. Lassi was also really good.
Undoubtedly, the best Indian restaurant in Metro Manila. The food is delectable, the service is awesome and the ambiance is great, despite the place being small. For me, consistency is key, especially in an Indian restaurant, and Mantra has always been above par. Keep it up, Ranjit and team.
The food was pretty good and the servings were huge. There were three of us and we ordered Samosas, Palak Paneer, Roghan Josh, and of course the Garlic Naan! We also ordered sweet lassi.
But our FAVORITE part of this dining experience was the AMBIANCE! It was really cozy and intimate.
Definitely highly recommended!
Excellent food. Great ambiance. One of the best Indian food place, if you are a foodie and like Indian cuisines. If I am in manila and get an opportunity- never miss a meal at Mantra Bistro.
food are quite on the expensive side. one good thing about them is that they do not hold off on the spices. a lot of indian restaurants, as i've noticed, cut down on spices esp if the customer is not an indian. food is tasty, must try their other dishes.
Manila is a place with few Indian restaurants and one of them is Mantra Bistro. It's definitely paradise for Indians. Food will not disappoint you but the price can ;-)
Service i found it not upto the mark. Have scope of improvement there.
Missing Indian food in Manila - go for it...
Good food, good service and i find it very convenient to either pop in or order out when in Makati. the prices are a bit on the higher side but portions are good and the taste's always been authentic.
Taste is very authentic...service is great. im a very crtitical foodie but after visiting the place several times its a five for me. Chef is Indian and that adds to the taste and flavour. i would rate it the same if it was in Delhi.
The food presentation was very appealing and opens up your taste bud with satisfaction uncovers once it hits your palate. Started out with the peanut masala in which the lime and chili stands out. The prawn tandori is always my favorite in this place as you can taste the marination process blended in the firm size prawns grilled bursting in flavor. The fresh Cheese and Garlic Naan with combi of Kadai Chicken was delightful as you can taste the tolerable spice in every bite. Finishing off with the Kulfi dessert is a MUST! Quality has its price.
I went here for my mom’s birthday and the owner was very prompt and courteous in greeting us and making us feel comfortable. The place is cozy, clean with soft Hindi music playing in the background. The chicken tikka was spot on, so was the Handi chicken. The mutton rogan josh could have been better. Although it was very tender, it could have done with a little more flavor and spice. The gulab jamuns were hot and flavourful and the pistachio kulfi that the owner sent for us was absolutely mind blowing! One of he best deserts i have had definitely!
This restaurant is small - about 10 tables, so if you are expecting big real estate this place is not for you. However, the ambience and coziness makes up for the lack of space. Also, the price is on the higher side as compared to most Indian restaurants around.
Overall, i would rate this amongst the top 2-3 Indian restaurants in Manila and a must-visit!
Really nice food, have only had takeout from here but I've had a lot of it, and it's always been good and big serves. Really reminds me of what I used to eat in Australia. My favourite Indian place in manila thus far
It's the best place to have authentic North Indian food. The tandoori prawns were excellent here. I just loved every bit of it. The tandoori roti was made out of wheat dough and the dal tadka was good too.
Annesha Bhattacharya
+3.5
Visited Mantra Bistro for lunch today. Ordered Masala Chai (Spiced Milk Tea served hot @ Php 85), Chicken Samosa (Chicken Stuffed Fried Triangles @ Php 250), Bhuna Gosht (Lamb / Mutton Curry @ Php 475) and Butter Naan (The famous Indian bread @ Php 100 each). Loved the naan and mutton. It was perfectly cooked! The samosa was served with tamarind sauce and tasted average hence won't recommend. The upside of Mantra Bistro is their decor and I really liked that they served the dishes piping hot. The downside was the service because it was really slow and tea was served last even though we told the waiter to serve it first. Overall, good for a visit for Indian food lovers :)
The restaurant is hidden in a one way street in the Salcedo Neighborhood. For the ambiance, the place feels relaxed and calm, a change from other Indian restaurants in the metro. Food-wise, one of the better Indian restaurants in the metro as well. Really good kebabs, paneer Tikka, and chicken karai. Would stay away from the Gulab Jamun as it's the store bought premade variety.
The best Indian food in town. Everything from the vegetarian tandoori platter to the naans to the chole bhature and the dal makhani was perfect. Excellent personal service from the owner Ranjit. Lovely soft fusion music and pleasant bistro ambience. Highly recommend this for a delicious authentic Indian meal.'
Perfect. When I had their Tandoori chicken, I couldn't help exclaming Oh My God outloud! The food is incredible. Just absolutely authentic. Even their naan has subtle flavour, it's not plain bread. And it is goes well with everything. Biryani is usually dry yellow rice but their is slightly saucy which adds to its overall taste as a standalone dish. Wowowowow. Must try!
Came to this relatively new Indian restaurant to try out snacks and desserts.
Got a plate of cocktail samosas and a salted lassi. Both were quite good.
Next we got Paneer Tikka. The paneer (cottage cheese) was fresh and light and marinated with spices and grilled just right. Afghani Tangri Kabab - chicken drumsticks- were also very good. We had their Strawberry Mojito in between bites - quite yummy with strawberry pieces and good quantity of white rum.
Finally, the desserts- gulab jamun was very good and Rasgolla was ok.
This may as well be the finest Indian fare I've had in the metro for quite some time. Practically everything we ordered was very good. The eggplant bharta and the paneer tikka were excellent. The rogan josh was also good but a tad salty for us. And we've had better garlic naan done in a tandoor elsewhere but it wasn't bad at all.
The owner Mr Ranjit was always around to make sure everything was alright with our meal. He even offered to replace the rogan josh which was almost finished so we declined. He instead favored us with a free pistachio kulfi dessert which was excellent. Even their complimentary papadum masala was great.
Overall, a wonderful dining experience for Indian fare lovers like us. Prices are somewhat on the high side (menu prices are not yet VAT-inclusive so keep this in mind if you have a budget to stick to) but the plus side is that their servings are quite generous and definitely good for sharing. This resto is definitely recommended.
Mantra Bistro is a cut above the rest, its the best authentic Indian restaurant i've ever been to here in Manila. This cozy and elegantly decorated Indian restaurant is located at Bolanos st. Legaspi Village Makati. The food is simply mouthwatering, the chicken kebab was tender and grilled to perfection, chicken curry was simply to die for (as in really tasty), their garlic naan simply transported me back to India (its this authentic) and the ice cream dessert was heavenly. The price is affordable, staff very friendly and the owner Mr Ranjit Chimni is very helpful. Highly recommended and would definitely go back again.
Loved it... Although we are leaving Philippines for good, it is nice to see a good Indian restaurant open. Liked the ambience, enjoyed the hospitality and relished the food. Thanks. All the best. Cheers.
There are a few options for Indian food but if you want to eat food from India mantra is your destination. To begin with the affable owner ranjit with his endearing smile greatly enhances your meal experience. The kebabs are exquisite and the breads are the perfect melt in your mouth dough. What sets mantra apart is the magic blend of spices....not chilli but aromatic authentic Indian spices. Average per person is a great value for money 700. Go there NOW! 😊😊😊
My husband and I ordered take-out from Mantra Bistro tonight and everything was fantastic! We were a bit bored by our 'typical' Indian take-out spot and had been looking for something new. I found a recommendation on one of the expat facebook pages and figured if Indians in Manila said it was the best in Manila - then it must be! We love tandoori and that seems to be Mantra's specialty so the toughest thing about the menu was choosing what to order (one of everything seemed a bit excessive...). We ordered the Murg Malai Tikka, the Tandoori Vegetarian Platter (although neither of us are vegetarian - the idea of tandoori veggies sounded amazing and they were surpisingly so!), Dal Makhani (fabulously rich) and my husband's favorite, the Bhuna Gosht. We'll be back!
Good food... Nice cosy ambience... Perfect place for a family dinner... The menu needs to be expanded... May be since it's a soft opening hence they have limited options right now.
Intimate and cozy space. Chill music and comfortable seating.
They made the most delicious vegan dishes for me including vegetable samosa, vegetable curry, garlic naan and a unique crispy flavorful fried broccoli. Incredibly accommodating staff. Will come back soon!
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Been visiting Manila for a while and each time I come here stay for a couple of weeks at least .. Now as much as I like global cuisines I do miss Indian food after a few days and Mantra bistro is like the oasis in the middle of a desert as far as india food goes in manila .. Had tried a couple of other we'll know places in manila for Indian food and found them to be either not authentic or too commercial to be real and true to the Indian cuisine.. Mantra bistro is a breath of fresh air in the Indian scene in manila and is undoubtedly the best Indian restaurant in the Philippines. I tried the malai tikka, tandoori shrimps , hara kebab, butter chicken and rogan josh and all of these were delicately flavoured and reminded me of back home . So if you are in manila and have a tandoori or Indian food craving , close your eyes and head to mantra bistro . The specially flow on in master chef from delhi , india is a true master of his art .You won't be disappointed and the ever smiling owner and host Ranjit will be by your side to recommend you the best treats he has in store .
I've been in Manila for almost eight years now. I've been to a lot of Indians restaurants, a lot of which shut down soon after opening. Mantra Bistro is hands down the best Indian food I've had in The Philippines. The food was fresh and delicious. We ordered a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes and they were all excellent. Definite standouts were the murg malai tikka, the vegetarian platter and the rogan josh. Amazing food, will keep coming back for more!
Very good ambience and authentic Indian food. Tandoor items are best in town.
Vegetarian dishes specially Kadhai Paneer is a must go for item along with Green Peas Cutlet.
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