Had dinner here with a group. These are pinoy dishes with a very modern take. I have to applaud the staff for being creative with the Filipino dishes!
Had the sea bass adlai. Was good. Friends swore by the binagoongan. Was able to try the bistek and it was good!
Patrick Violago Arcellana
+5
Great food! Superb service! Chefs are very welcoming and passionate. + solid OPM playlist!
Hapag Manila is definitely one of the most creative Filipino dining concepts out there. Space is modern but small. Can only sit a few people so make sure to reserve in advance. They offer tasting menus as well as a la carte dishes. We opted to pick from the a la carte menu as there were some dishes there that we wanted to try that weren’t included in the degustacion set. Also, we felt that you don’t really save much by ordering the tasting menu unlike in other restaurants. Presentation was A+ but food won’t blow you away. My favorite was the laing balls but the other dishes were so so for me. Still a great attempt overall. There were other interesting specialties that we didn’t get to try.
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
Traditional lutong bahay reimagined: the familiar flavour profile of Filipino food, but presented in a unique and refined manner. The 8-course set was enjoyable and had me dancing in my seat to the classic OPM (80s to 00s) playing in the background.
Highlights:
Alimasag - think chawanmushi but with crabmeat and coconut pumpkin puree
Oyster bonete - The bonete was closer to brioche than the bonete I grew up with in Laguna, which had a subtle anise-y flavour
Mangga't suman - If the Catholic Church gave Hapag's meringue as the communion wafer, I would willingly go to church again.
We were seated at the counter and the attention to detail they give to each dish was very impressive.
Other comments:
The apahap was juicy and perfectly seared, but I think it needed a stronger tangy kick (i.e. something like mojo or salmoriglio) to balance the richness of the squid ink rice. The mayonesa was equally rich so my palate (and arteries) felt a bit overwhelmed.
I would have also preferred if it were possible to opt out of the tasting menu. I wanted to get all the dishes in the tasting menu in ala carte portions (I have a bigger appetite than my companions). Unfortunately, the tasting menu was an all-or-nothing type of thing. I'm used to Australian portions so I was still hungry after. Oh well. All is forgiven because the staff were very accommodating to the laundry list of dietary restrictions and preferences my friends and I had.
Each dish has its own twist to it. The concept of modernized traditional filipino dishes seems like it has been done time and again to a fault but Hapag’s execution is well done and definitely does not disappoint. The portions are unexpected and the taste is unique.
We had
Oyster bonete
Ginataang alimasag
Laing stones
Kare Kare ni Lola V
Chicken Inasal
Apahap Mayonesa
EVERYTHING IS A MUST-TRY!
Food is very good and well presented
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
I don’t usually eat Filipino Food when eating out as homecooked meals are still the best and most especially for my birthday but I was surprisingly treated to sumptuous meal at Hapag. Since it is only open at night and the venue is small but intimate I made sure to reserve and got a seat near the prep area.
The staff were very accommodating and even asked if I had any food allergies as most of the ingredients they have traces of seafood & fish.
Now moving on to the food, what I ordered was the Oyster Bonete, which tasted so fresh and the adobo aioli was just enough to balance out the flavor of this bite-sized dish. Hoping they come up with a slider in the future.
The main highlight of my meal Pato (Duck) with Adlai. I am lost for words as to how perfectly tender and crisp the skin was. Finally, a restaurant that does Duck right! The Adlai was a great accompaniment to the duck and props for serving this gluten-free and uncommonly used grain.
Other notable dishes to try are the Laing Stones, Hapag’s most creative dish IMO, and their modern take on the bistek.
Overall, it was a satisfying experience and will surely comeback. May they continue
“to El Bulli” dishes that will elevate Filipino Cusine to the world.
P.S. You may want to request a off-the-menu dish, the Warek-Warek Sampler, an Ilocano take on Sisig.
The Laing balls are divine. The banana heart granola is also suuuper amazing. I highly recommend ordering the Bistek as your main. The desserts are also a whole other experience unto themselves. Can't wait to go back!
This restaurant makes you proud of Filipino food! I can be picky with kare-kare but their kare-kare ni lola V Just hits the spot. I will definitely come back for it. Each dish has an interesting concept. Love the ambiance too!
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes