Twists on Tradition at Manam
Tucked into the ever-buzzing arteries of Metro Manila's food scene, Manam doesn't just serve Filipino food. It plays with it, nudges it gently, and sometimes flips it on its head, all while keeping one foot firmly planted in the familiar. The result? A place where nostalgia and novelty sit at the same table.
At first glance, the menu reads like a greatest hits compilation of Filipino comfort food: sinigang, sisig, kare-kare. But look closer, and you'll find playful reinterpretations that somehow don't feel like gimmicks. Their Sinigang na Beef Short Rib & Watermelon, for example, is a curious kind of sorcery. The soup remains deeply sour, as any self-respecting sinigang should be, but the watermelon adds a whisper of summer sweetness, rounding the flavor rather than muting it. It's strange, then it's lovely, then you're reaching for another spoonful.
Then there's Gising-Gising, which arrives unceremoniously but packs a punch of creamy heat, coconut milk and chili tangled up with green beans and ground pork. It's comfort food with a backbone. The kind that makes you pause mid-bite, not out of surprise, but reverence.
Kare-kare with Oxtail, Sinigang na Beef Short Rib & Watermelon, Gising gising.
Manam splits its dishes into "Classics" and "Twists," and both hold their own. You can order a small plate of something familiar—like the House Crispy Sisig or the Sinigang na Baboy sa Sampaloc—or opt for something a little offbeat, like the Sinigang na Beef Short Rib & Watermelon or the Ube + Cheese Lumpia. It's a choose-your-own-adventure kind of meal, ideal for groups or the indecisive. Portions are generous, too—small sizes are good for one to two people, while medium serves about three to four. If you're ordering a spread, a little goes a long way.
Of course, word has gotten out. Manam is no longer a quiet secret. Come lunch or dinner, you're likely to encounter a queue curling out the door. The wait is rarely brutal, but it's there. If you can, go during off-peak hours. A late afternoon lull or early lunch makes all the difference.
Manam doesn’t scream for your attention. It doesn't need to. It serves the food your memory might mistake for your grandmother's, only to realize it never tasted quite like this before. And somehow, both truths can exist in the same bite.
