It’s officially summer season! When you’re planning your barkada get-togethers and family reunions, why not try out someplace new rather than settle for your usual hangout spot? Here are just some of the newly opened restaurants around Metro Manila you can check out this April!

Friends & Family

Bonifacio High Street Central, 7th Ave corner 30th Street, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City
Open every day from 11 A.M. to 11 P.M.
(+632) 621 32 22 | Facebook, Instagram

This new restaurant under the Raintree Group pays tribute to the diners and eateries from our childhood by offering its customers a variety of traditional dishes and Pinoy comfort food like Arroz Caldo, Kare-kare, and Seafood Bicol Express. You can choose to dine indoors or alfresco. Just as its name suggests, this definitely will be your next favorite restaurant to bring friends and family to!

Alter Ego

41 1st Street corner Hemady, Quezon City
Open every day from 10:30 A.M. to 11 P.M.
(+632) 622 61 09, (+632) 717 80 33 | Facebook, Instagram

Alter Ego’s goal is to serve dishes we know and love, but with unique and surprising twists. Bringing together the tastes of European and Asian cuisines, it delights you with delicious fusions that you’d never imagine such as the Bibimbap Pasta, Chicken Pandan Paella, and French Onion Soup Dumpling (or french soup in gyoza form).

La Mère Poulard

GF, SM Aura Premier, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
Open every day from 10 A.M. to 10 P.M.
(+63) 917 580 0137 | Facebook, Instagram

Seeking an all-new fine dining location for your special occasions and celebrations? La Mère Poulard is worth being in your radar. This authentic French restaurant dates as far back as the late 1880s and is an icon in the culinary world that has drawn inspiration from French cooking techniques. It’s here where you can try the well-known omelette soufflé as well as a number of other lavish dishes such as the Jumbo Scallop, Salmon, and Cod in Copper Cocotte and the Beef Caldereta in Burgundy Style. Their meals don’t come cheap, but they’re definitely worth it!

Tongara Ramen

Lamp Quarters Marikina, Unit 7, GF, Gil Fernando Avenue, Centro Buenviaje, Sto. Niño
Facebook, Instagram

We can never have enough ramen shops in the metro. Hailing from Shinjuku, Tokyo, Tongara Ramen was brought first to Cebu City, captivating the hearts and taste buds of locals. Now that they’re finally expanding to Manila, we get to experience what makes its ramen bowls so special. (Hint: it’s in the broth, which is made using pork and chicken bones.)

Kamameshi Town Honten

Unit W-1F New Gloria Maris Building, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan City
Open every day from 11 A.M. to 10 P.M.
Facebook, Instagram

Kamameshi Town Honten offers its diners the tastes of a well-loved historic Japanese dish, the kamameshi or kettle-cooked rice. If you love Japanese food, this should be your next food trip adventure! Just remember to reserve a table in advance; this restaurant fills up fast!

Nara Thai

3F, Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Open every day from 10 A.M. to 10 P.M.
(+63) 945 476 9643 | Facebook, Instagram

One of Bangkok’s well-known Thai restos has found its way to our shores to satiate our craving for Thai food. What stands out the most about it is that it transforms traditional recipes and comfort food into dishes that utilize the freshest and highest quality ingredients fit for a fine dining family experience. Must-tries are the the Tom Yum Goong, Pad Thai Kai Krob, and Chu Chee Gong.

The Fat Seed Café and Roastery

GF, Phase 2, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Open every day from 10 A.M. to 10 P.M.
(+632) 936 21 13 | Facebook

Coffee lovers should make time to visit this new café in UP Town Center. Indulge in conversations with the baristas who will willingly tell you about various brewing methods, flavors of different beans from all over the world, and the proper way to sample coffee. Aside from drinks, The Fat Seed Café and Roastery’s dishes are worth a try. Order the Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Ube Waffles in Salted Egg Sauce for a uniquely gastronomic experience!

Oh My Korean Grill and Chimaek

139 Mother Ignacia Avenue, South Triangle, Quezon City
Open every day from 12 NN to 1 A.M.
(+632) 246 90 69 ext:220 | Facebook

It’s safe to assume that we Filipinos are crazy over samgyeopsal. No matter how many samgyeopsal joints pop up, we’re always game to try them all. This newest samgyeopsal restaurant is our next target, and although it doesn’t offer a daily unli-meat buffet like the rest of the KBBQs we know of (just on weekends), it promises a wide range of authentic, quality meats at affordable prices perfect for the meat-lovers with small appetites.

Feeling hungry? Tag your friends in the comments and plan your next dinner date!