Best 15 Dining Spots at the Domestic Manila Airport, is a blog that is going to give you knowledge. These will be much-needed insights if you’re having an interconnecting flight from an international to some domestic location, and you have a multi-hour layover. Let’s just say the Domestic Manila Airport at Terminal 3 is old, the oldest of the four airports. Let’s be kind and call it Filipino Retro. There really is not a great deal to do, including places to dine in proper sit-down restaurants. I would describe the dining experiences as more ‘street food’ by nature, from kiosks.
Table of Contents
These restaurants offer a variety of cuisines ranging from fast food to coffee, breakfast, and snack options. Additionally, there are other facilities and food stores located throughout the airport terminals, providing passengers with diverse dining choices. But, of course, you will need to make that decision to go through those ‘no-return’ gates to your actual terminal. Good luck finding somewhere to sit to enjoy your dining choices though.
Welcome to the Domestic Manila Airport. We were flying in from Singapore, via Manila to Bohol. A 4-hour layover awaits us. We have hungry and impatient kids. Kids need entertainment for the forthcoming airport boredom. Well here’s a fun start for my nine-year-old.
Manila Airport Terminal 3 primarily serves domestic aircraft. It is also known as Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3, pronounced na-ee-ya, and is a major hub for air travel in the Philippines. It is, by far, the oldest of the Terminals, and has millions of passengers passing through each year. It’s no surprise, therefore, that there are a wide variety of dining spots to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite to eat or a leisurely local Filipino cuisine meal, you’re sure to find something to your taste at the Domestic Manila Airport.
I love a pun folks so: are you ready for a culinary adventure that will take your taste buds soaring to new heights? Look no further than the bustling dining scene at the Domestic Manila Airport! Whether you’re a frequent flyer or a curious traveler that’s just passing through, this blog is your passport to discovering the delectable delights that await you in this gastronomic melting pot. From sizzling Filipino street food to local eateries and cafes, the Domestic Manila Airport has it all. So fasten your seatbelts and prepare for a mouth-watering journey through the Best 15 Dining Spots at the Domestic Manila Airport that will make your layovers unforgettable!
Ready for take-off? Here are the Best 15 restaurants at the Domestic Manila Airport.
Airport Café: #1 of the dining options at Manila Airport (on purpose)
Airport layovers can frequently be boring and exhausting, but Manila Airport Terminal 3’s lovely Airport Café offers a welcome surprise. This modern rustic café offers guests a warm, comfortable, and stylish sanctuary. The moment you enter Airport Café, you are met by a welcoming and friendly ambiance. A tranquil atmosphere is produced by the café’s design, which is attractively decorated with wooden furnishings and soft lighting. Both solo and group visitors will find it to be a comfortable and private location thanks to the thoughtful seating arrangements. It’s our favorite. It’s probably the most comfortable locale in the Manila Airport Domestic Terminal.
The menu at Airport Café Manila Airport is comprehensive and offers a decent selection of dishes to satisfy a variety of tastes and preferences. The café can accommodate a filling meal, a quick snack, or a big breakfast. Their menu offers a blend of dishes from around the world and the area, all cooked and presented really nicely. Savory sandwiches, salads, and irresistible desserts are all available at Airport Café.
This is our family favorite at this specific Manila Airport Terminal. Snacky foods, cold drinks (including beers), comfy seats, free WIFI, and background music, and they turn a blind eye to you bringing in food from other vendors (well, they have done so far for us…). It’s also a great place for people-watching if that’s your gig. It’s super-reasonable and I can highly recommend the toasted paninis with an icy cold San Miguel Pilsen.
Details for Airport Café at NAIA
Hours: 07:30 AM to 10:00 PM seven days a week
Phone: +63 917 705 0446
Cinnabon
Cinnabon is a huge global franchise with outlets in every corner of the planet, including the domestic Manila Airport Terminal 3. This outlet has a very small fast-food seating area, AKA uncomfortable seats to get you in and out quickly. Just do a takeaway, walk 10m and sit at Airport Café and order a beer. Hey presto.
Our recommendation is their infamous Cinnamon Roll, made from warm dough, famed Makara cinnamon, and distinctive cream cheese topping. These all come together to create the world-famous Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll, which is prepared fresh daily. I dare you to try and walk past this shop without stopping to buy one: they are irresistible.
The cassia tree, which grows in Indonesia’s tropical woods, creates the sweet, decadent flavor that is known only as Cinnabon Makara Cinnamon. It produces a singular sensory experience that you can taste and smell at the same time, quite incredible: especially with a San Miguel, or coffee if that’s your gig.
Details for Cinnabon at NAIA
Hours: 03:00 AM to 9:00 PM seven days a week
Fiesta 7107
Fiesta 7107 is situated on the ground floor of NAIA T3. There are many options of wonderful Filipino food to choose from at an amazing prices. You’re going to spend something like PHP160, equivalent to USD ~$3, per person for a good feed. The food tastes wonderful and the service is quick. Very fast-food style.
Like Wendy’s, Fiesta 7107 is on the ground floor just as you exit International arrivals, and before you go to Level 3 to the domestic terminal. Again, I am counting it as a dining option for the domestic terminal, as it will give you an opportunity to dine before you go through those immigration gates of no return.
There is ample seating, that is quite comfortable for a fast-food joint and akin to what we have in our hawkers in Singapore. It’s good grub, and well worth a go next time you fly through Manila. It depends on what time you’re walking past, but I’d recommend the breakfast options like Longsilog and Poksilog at PHP130, USD $2.30, each, or if later in the day, go for the Beef Steak with Rice at the crazy cheap price of PHP120, USD $2.10.
Details for Fiesta 7107 at NAIA
Hours: 07:30 AM to 11:00 PM seven days a week
Fruitas
Like most of the dining establishments in the Manila Airport domestic terminal 3, this is more of a ‘stall’, where you buy a takeaway and go sit to consume. Again, don’t forget, comfy seats at Airport Café, and they’ll let you get away with outside food as long as you’re buying something from them. Comfy seating is a biggie for long layovers.
In the Philippines, Fruitas is a very popular brand that sells a range of fresh fruit smoothies, juices, and sweets. Fruitas has numerous locations across the nation, including several in Metro Manila, including a kiosk in the domestic departure terminal 3 at Manila Airport.
Fruitas offers you a variety of healthy snacks and drinks that are created there and then from fresh fruit. They are well-known for their fruit shakes, which are produced by combining fresh fruits, and milk, with ice, and other ingredients to produce delectable and nutritious drinks.
But I suggest you try their Fruit Yogurt Blends, and choose the Mango flavor. At PHP89, USD $1.50, for a large, you’ll get a stunning cup of fresh fruit and probiotics. Simply delicious.
Details for Fruitas at NAIA
Hours: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM seven days a week
Hen Lin
I have not eaten at Hen Lin so can’t give a personal experience or recommendation. Hen Lin provides a selection of dim sum meals and is a practical choice for people who want to get a fast bite before their flight. According to 17 reviews on Foursquare, the restaurant has a rating of 5.6/10, so average at best, and is well-known for its reasonable costs.
They have a small seating area, mainly booth-style seating, but I would say the expectation is one of eat and exit, not linger and graze. When I walked past it you could sense the fast-food vibe.
You can savor a variety of delicious dishes at Hen Lin that highlight the true flavors of Chinese cuisine. They offer up steaming dumplings, flavourful noodles, and delicious roasted meats. One recommendation that I see coming up a few times is their Siomai, which is cooked to perfection and brimming with savory goodness and is one of their signature dishes that you should give a try. For those that don’t know: Siomai is a traditional Chinese dumpling. This popular dumpling has made its way to the heart of the Filipinos as evidenced by the hundreds of stalls selling it, including Hen Lin.
Details for Hen Lin at NAIA
Hours: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM seven days a week
Phone: +63 998 583 2649
De Original Jamaican Pattie Shop and Juice Bar
To my amazement, I came across a Jamaican pattie shop while meandering the Domestic Manila Airport dining spots. They have a variety of offerings of these delicious pastry pastries, with chicken, spicy beef, and beef with cheese. They’re kind of like Jamaican versions of the English Cornish Pasty. These guys are now a major global franchise chain and were founded in 1975.
In the Manila Airport domestic terminal, they have a kiosk only, so this is absolutely a grab-and-go food style. There’s nowhere to sit. Perhaps you could buy a few patties, to get the variety, and then order a cold Pilsen from that other comfy seating café I mentioned before, and much away.
Sadly I can only give you public domain ratings for De Original Jamaican Pattie Shop, but boy they are up there with an average of 7-8 out of 10. I am kicking myself now that I didn’t try a couple of these myself. I would have been all over that beef and cheese offering. I even walked up close to take the photo and saw the beautiful golden brown patties all lined up in the kiosk display.
Their offerings are also super-cheap. A Cheezy Beef PinaTubo will cost you quite an incredible PHP59, USD $1.05. I am now kicking myself again. I will absolutely be going to this kiosk next time we fly through Manila, and will be looking for a franchise kiosk in Bohol so I can try some, and I suggest you do too.
Details for Jamaican Pattie Shop at NAIA
No details could be found for this specific kiosk
Ka Tunying’s
If you want local Filipino food in the Manila Airport domestic terminal, look no further than Ka Tunying’s. I am going to pepper this with the traditional Filipino Tagalog words to ‘keep it real’. This restaurant is a casual Filipino Tambayan (hangout; haunt; stomping ground), and restaurant all-in-one. That gives the restaurant an ‘at home feel’. They serve Filipino cuisine, both traditional and Pambihirang (extraordinary) home-cooked dishes, and all-day Merienda (snacks).
They’re constantly serving up their renowned Ka Tunyings bespoke blend of black coffee, it’s infamous. The place offers a cozy atmosphere and is pleasant, bearing in mind it is only a kiosk. One thing to note is that all the meals are pre-cooked in advance and then warmed when served. But, items like their egg pie are truly delicious, not very sweet, with a perfect crust. Despite this being a kiosk I am kind of blown away by the wide variety, but simplicity and homey vibe of the menu.
This is a perfect place to dine for families, and tourists wanting that local Filipino cuisine experience. I caveat this is more of a kiosk-style establishment, with no done-in. It’s all takeaway, so grab, go, sit down, and graze. Tara, kain tayo (Let’s go eat)!
Details for Ka Tunying’s at NAIA
Hours: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM seven days a week
Kape Manila
As you’ll see from the photo it is, again, very basic with a small seating area for diners. Despite this being a domestic terminal it gets mobbed so you might need to queue somewhat. Funny though as I type this and I look at my photo and the place is completely empty, apart from that lone traveler.
This is a cafe inside Manila Airport NAIA Terminal 3 that I would recommend if you want to grab refreshments from a local coffee establishment. The setting is rather cozy, making it a great location to unwind while you wait for your flight to take off, and do some people-watching at the same time.
One of the top sellers is their ice-blended mocha, that gets coined by Kape Manila, the Mocha Frizzino. I like that. Now to the sizing and a little translation or two to help you: a Tangkad: medium-size, Kyut: small-size, and Damulag: large-size. I hope that helped removed the glazed eyes as you stare at the menu in bewilderment. But for the flavors, I just can’t help you translate: Choc-Nut, Frozen Bliss, or Cream-O-ffee.
Here’s my recommendation for you. Try this combo and you will not be disappointed. Their black coffee is truly awesome partnered with corned beef pandesal. This most incredible and popular yeast-raised bread in the Philippines is called pandesal. The dough is formed into long logs (bastón, Spanish for “stick”) and then rolled in fine bread crumbs to create individual loaves. They’re quite salty, so imagine that with corned beef, and then the bitter notes of a black coffee. A must at Kape Manila.
Details for Kape Manila at NAIA
Hours: 08:00 AM to 09:00 PM seven days a week
Mulach Ensaymada
Another kiosk, in fact, is more like a street-food cart. 100% takeaway options only. This is always the go-to place for my wife, who grabs a selection box so we have snacks available for when we get to the house. I have to say these are very more-ish, once you have had one you really can’t stop chomping on them.
The Mulach Bakery in the Philippines is where this classic Filipino dessert was first created. It’s a seriously sweet and fluffy bread resembling the classic brioche. But, then it gets topped with butter cream, and grated cheese (Edam). The Mulach Ensaymada franchise is renowned for its rather generous topping of cheese, which gives it a rich and savory flavor balancing out all that butter.
At this kiosk, they have many varieties to choose from, such as traditional cheese, ube (purple yam), chocolate, custard, salted egg, peanut, strawberry, and mango. You can create your own jamboree box of assorted fillings. I have to admit these are seriously good snack attacks. For a box of 12 of these bad boys, it will set you back, the staggering, PHP350, USD ~$6.
You may not know but Filipino cuisine, due to occupation, is massively influenced by Spain and Portugal. So these Ensaymada have an origin not from the Philippines, but Spain. Different ingredients and the size of the pastry are the key distinctions between Filipino and Spanish Ensaymada. Filipino Ensaymada is smaller and prepared with butter, whereas Spanish Ensaymada is larger and made with pork lard. Now I’m torn…
Details for Mulach Ensaymada at NAIA
Hours: 08:00 AM to 10:00 PM seven days a week
Rajah Maynila
I have not been or eaten at this restaurant, apart from a fly-by to get a photo of the place. So, the commentary and observation below are from our research into this small restaurant in NAIA Terminal 3. It’s local Filipino cuisine again, so they’ll have a lot of competition. There is a small seating area for diners, that is actually quite cool as it overlooks the busy terminal below.
These guys are way down the list in terms of customer service within the best 15 dining spots, with pretty much every review slating them for service: ‘busy looking at their respective cell phones’, ‘awful staff, poorest service’, ‘poor customer service’, and so on. I find this really surprising as Filipinos usually surpass all at customer service, and even more surprising when considering how many other local Filipino places they’re competing within the airport.
But, conversely, they’re getting great reviews for their food. Perhaps it’s a scenario of putting up with poor service and enjoying excellent Filipino cuisine once you finally get it. Major callouts for their Arroz Caldo: chicken congee, at PHP150, USD $2.70, Puto with Pastilyas De Leche: rice cake with a milk-based sweet: great with Baraku coffee, and finally, apparently they have a knock-out Bicol Express: a rich, creamy curry, and one of my personal favorite Filipino dishes.
One version of the origins of Bicol Express is a great story: it was created by the chef in the restaurant on the fast train between Naga City and Manila. Yes, that train line is called The Bicol Express.
Details for Rajah Maynila at NAIA
Hours: 09:00 AM to 10:00 PM seven days a week
Phone: +63 947 779 8590
Samurai Halal Express
Fancy a trip to Japan without leaving the airport terminal? Here you go then, Samurai, and it’s Halal to boot. In fact, Samurai Halal Express was the very first Japanese Halal restaurant in the Philippines. It’s a big chain, but again this location is one of those quirky little takeaway kiosks. I would highly recommend finding seating first, then purchasing your food. This is another place I cannot personally comment on, so I have reviewed this publicly for you.
They’re serving up a vast array of Japanese fare from such a small kiosk. Dishes such as Teriyaki Meatball Ramen at PHP220, USD $3.90, Beef Sukiyaki Hot Soup Pot at PHP860, USD $15.20, and Prawn Veg Donburi Meal at PHP290, USD $5.20. So, in summary, it’s not the cheapest dining option in the terminal, and reviews are quite varying it has to be said. But it does retain a 4.5/5 on Facebook if that’s anything to go by.
“Everything is made to order with the freshest ingredients, making sure that every dish is prepared from scratch, and is cooked separately with secret flavor,” claims the owner.
They’re open 24x7x365 so that makes them quite unique in the terminal, perhaps how they grab the captive audience of travelers when all the other stalls have closed the shutters down? Equally unique is that a Filipino sushi chef who has mastered the art of Japanese cuisine proudly runs the first Halal Japanese restaurant in the Philippines. The chain strictly uses imported Halal beef and poultry and halal-authenticated products.
Details for Samuari at NAIA
Hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Phone: +63 955 8936365
Tsim Sha Tsui
Another place in the terminal with ample seating for diners, albeit those rather hard, no-back seats designed to have you in, order, eat, and out ASAP, is Tsim Sha Tsui. This is a Sim Sum and Tea Bar. This is yet another I have not personally visited to share what I have found out in the public domain.
It’s a no-frills and quite enjoyable dim sum experience, with an exquisite assortment of teas, sodas, and mocktails. Tsim Sha Tsui Dimsum and Tea Bar, or TST for short, is a new-age concept restaurant that delivers delightful, light, and healthy dim sum. Eye-catching dim sum plates are all around.
This differs from the typical dim sum restaurants where waiters roll carts between crowded tables that are crammed from wall to wall in the dining room. The outcome is a young, trendy environment that serves dim sum and beverages every hour of every day. These guys are getting quite good public reviews, and hover around the average of 7.5/10.
One reviewer gave some great insight into the cost and wide variety of food offering a 5/5: ‘For just PHP380, USD $6.80, we enjoyed unlimited steamed fried rice, endless fried wonton, plain and quail egg siomai, shrimp toast, vegetable and pork spring roll, sweet and sour pork, 3 choices of desserts, wonton soup, some vegetables and so on…’
Details for Tsim Sha Tsui at NAIA
Hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Phone: +63 2 8834 8882
Waff-Wich
Yes, folks, Waff-Wich. What is that, I can hear you asking. Well, how about a sandwich made from a waffle? That is literally where this food concept comes from. Waff-Wich. Genius. Again, this is a takeaway-only kiosk and one kiosk my family loves. They have crazy ingredients in between toasted Belgian Waffles. We always do the naughty by grabbing the comfy seats at Airport Café, running over (almost opposite) to Waff-Wich, and returning to dine on these with drinks from the café. Heavenly.
Famous Belgian Waffles owns Waff-Wich, which is a massively popular food establishment that serves these unique hot and fresh waffles. The franchise has over 500 locations nationwide in the Philippines and has even opened up internationally now in the USA. They offer a variety of waffle flavors, including options like Banana Fudge Brownie Waffle at PHP70, USD $1.25, and Brownie Fudge Mallows at PHP75, USD $1.35 if you like the sweet kind.
But, I always go savory with my son. These are killer good, especially with an icy cold San Miguel Pilsen. Corned Beef + Cream Cheese Spread Waffle at PHP95, USD $1.70, is my all-time favorite. Sounds mad, but they just work so well together: amazing food bedfellows. Also, try another lunatic assembly of ingredients that just work so well: I give you the Hawaiian Ham + Cream Cheese Spread Waffle at PHP85, USD $1.50. Bonkers, but bonkers good.
Expect a bit of a queue and wait, as these are all freshly made-to-order. Literally, you get them piping hot, straight from the Waffle press. If only there was such a thing as smell-o-blog. When you stand in the queue waiting for your order you constantly get slapped in the nostrils with the most amazing aromas of toasting waffles. It’s just awesome and well worth the wait. This gets a must-try for my family and me.
Details for Waff-Wich at NAIA: Manila Airport
No details could be found for this specific kiosk
Wendy’s: our final offering for this dining at Manila Airport blog
This is actually outside the Domestic Manila Airport Terminal, but you have to walk past it as you exit the International Terminals to get to the Domestic Terminal. Therefore it is in for the dining options, and in fact, is where we dined on this most recent trip to Bohol from Singapore. I think that decision occurred because we knew what is available on the other side of that immigration counter, or rather not available. I like Wendy’s, it’s probably the one choice of fast food I’d go for, having experienced it a few times in the USA. The infamous and unique square burger patty.
When in the Philippines I always ignore the Clown and the big red Bee. I don’t rate them at all, unlike my family and clearly all of the Philippines.
Wendy’s is cheap. You can sit down comfortably as a family, and enjoy the free WIFI. The food is good, it really is. You might have to wait a little because everything is made fresh-to-order unlike the Clown and the Bee, which is sitting there drying out under warming lamps.
My son and I both had the same. We chose the Wendy’s WhattaBox Baconator Single at PHP269, USD $4.80. That is a bargain for this meal box, which includes a 100% large beef patty, bacon, cheese, 3 chicken nuggets, fries, ice cream, and a drink. Wowser!!! WhattaBox indeed.
Details for Wendy’s at NAIA
Address: 1st Floor, NAIA Terminal 3, Arrivals Rd.
Hours: 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Phone: +63 2 8835 9374
Other useful snippets about Manila Airport Terminal 3
There is a massage parlor at the very far end of the terminal. They offer back massages, full body massages, and leg and foot massages. If I remember rightly it was PHP500, USD $8.90, for an hour-long leg and foot massage. If you have a long layover, don’t want to spend on a lounge, and can find a comfy seat: look no further. Have a lay down for an hour in an aircon room, and have a lovely relaxing massage/sleep. That surely gets my vote.
I spotted two lounges, one on the ground floor and one on the first floor. The one on the ground floor accepts walk-ins and was PHP500, USD $8.90, per person. I had a look inside and we decided to decline that ‘financial investment’, and rather find some comfy seats at Airport Café: our family favorite at the airport.
You can always go to the official NAIA website for more information: HERE
Final thoughts on the 15 Best Dining Spots at the Domestic Manila Airport
I don’t reside in the Philippines, but I have a house in Bohol that I regard as my second home, and actually makes me a Boholano. We return and visit at least once every year. When we do, we always bounce through Manila Airport, and will always do so until there is a direct flight from Singapore to Bohol. I believe that makes me an authority on dining at the Manila Airport with a family on a long layover.
I’ll make sure to keep this dining guide up to date with any new locations or closures. I hope I provided you with enough to get by till then so you can savor some of the best Filipino food Manila Airport has to offer to you, the captive audience. I appreciate you reading, and have a wonderful time in the Philippines, wherever your trip is taking you!
