Manila Bistro

Very disappointing. The spring rolls were not fresh (the rice wrapper was hard as hell) and had no shrimp! The chicken adobo just tasted like vinegar and even our cokes were flat (i am not even sure how this is possible). And when the bill came, our dishes listed at $ 7.50 on the menu were billed at $ 10!!!
I am giving 2 stars because the waitresses were nice but do not expect good food and double check your bill if you decide to eat there.

I liked it. First time experience was positive. Good service, tasty food, and nice quiet atmosphere for a late lunch. Menu was small, but that’s probably a good thing so I wouldn’t be overwhelmed in making a choice. Manok Sa Gata was my entrée. Sorta mild (some might say bland) but you can add spice table-​side or have the cook do it.

Been wanting to try Manila bistro for a while, but never make it out this west. Came here for lunch… upon 1^st walking in I feel like I’m at my moms house w/​all the large plants by the front door (old school Filipinos love their house plants) & the smell of Filipino food in the air. The food was decent… ordered the Manila egg rolls (pretty good & authentic), crab Rangoon (though not considered a Filipino appetizer I still love me some crab Rangoon) teriyaki chicken & chicken adobo. Teriyaki was good, the adobo I can make better at home rightfully so because I’d have more time to marinate. Still this place hits the mark & seeing that I can only make about 3 Filipino dishes at home & all my Filipino relatives are several states away, I can def come here when I have a hankering for pancit. Salamat!

Upon arriving at this quaint little bistro, I was greeted by the hostess and seated. From here on, my stay at the bistro was excellent. The bistro during the evening is prime for couples. The lighting is dim and the musical selection is great. I ordered the Sinigang Na Hipon along with the Spring Rolls. The spring rolls were very fresh and moist. The Sinigang was the best Sinigang I’ve had yet. The shrimp was very robust and the broth embraced my palette. After my meal, I enjoyed Halo Halo, a sweet bean mixture with jack fruit and vanilla ice cream. This place is spectacular. I also really admired the chef for his personal visits to each table. I will definitely be a regular.

I haven’t had this type of food in 20 something years. I just kind of stumbled across this place at lunch time and decided to give it a try. So glad I did! The lunch menu was pretty small but so worth it it! The lumpia was very good but smaller than I remember having in the past… but still very very good. I had the Manok Sa Gata with rice… spicy…not spicy enough for me but very very good.
I can’t wait to go back for dinner for the full menu.

Once again, thanks Unilocal!I was looking for an economical international food experience, and that was what I got. I’d never had Filipino food.
We had the sweetest server — she really helped us decide which dishes we’d like and
I have to say, I give it 5 stars for the dessert alone.
We ordered the Manok At Tokwa, which had a really interesting temperature contrast in that the dish, which had tofu and a vinegar based sauce.
I ordered the Manok curry, which was nice– I love my curry SPICY (with a capital ‘S’), so I wasn’t used to it being quite so mellow. But, the ingredients were fresh and it was an interesting curry.
And now the most important thing: the halo halo is a gelatin and ice cream dish served with jackfruit, beans, plantains and some other stuff. With this description I was confused and had to try it. It was amazing! I scooped out a whole bunch of the ice, ate the shaved coconut, kidney beans and gelatin. It was SO delicious, and I don’t know how-​considering the hodgepodge of stuff it contained, but I will be back and I will be ordering dessert.

Good Pinoy food!

I have to say that I was hesitant at first but when I finally got to try this place out, I was glad I did. The food tasted fairly authentic for something that is a fusion restaurant. I had the manok sa gata (chicken in coconut milk with mushrooms) in spicy hot just like my grandpa used to make and I was actually impressed with the flavor. It was really spot on with how I remember it to be. The only thing that I thought it was missing was that I remembered this certain dish to have a strong ginger flavor and theirs didn’t but I guess not too many people are fond of ginger. The manila delights came with rice and lumpia as well but the lumpia I thought was a bit on the disappointing side. The wrapper was more like an egg roll wrapper and lumpias are supposed to be on a much thinner wrapper with a bit more filling (maybe this is where the asian fusion comes in… I wasn’t sure cause that reminded me more of a tiny version of egg roll.)
Anyway, they have great, more to the authentic-​side dessert selection. I had the halo-​halo because it was my favorite when I was little and yes, I was reassured that it still is. It was flavorful and delicious and I felt bad that I couldn’t finish the whole thing!
I saved the best for last, the restaurant service. Coming in for lunch, I didn’t know what to expect and how busy they are going to be but it nice. The atmosphere was peaceful and cozy, the server was very pleasant and like a few of the reviews have already mentioned, they always keep a smile on their faces! That was very refreshing and if I could rate the service separately, I would give it a 5-​star. Coming here made my day and I would definitely come back both for the food and for the terrific service.

Manila Bistro is, from what I can tell, the only full service Filipino restaurant in the St. Louis area. I was kind of bummed that I didn’t find the exotic sounding balut, which is a boiled egg with a developed duck embryo in it, but that’s probably not the best way for me to be introduced to Filipino cuisine anyway. I actually find it hard to rate this place. I haven’t been to the Philippines… YET, and my experience in eating Filipino food is limited to just a handful of times. If you are also new to this cuisine, then my review is probably better suited for you. If you are a pro, then pay no attention to my review.
The restaurant itself is a cozy and quiet place located in a strip mall type setting. There were no distinguishing characteristics that made me feel that I was in Manila, but this bistro focuses more on preparing sophisticated Filipino food as opposed being a theme restaurant. I tried a variety of dishes on my visit, but overall I found the food to be somewhat bland compared to other regional cuisines that I’m more familiar with. That’s not really a good way of comparing or rating the food, but I don’t know how else to compare it. My goal now is to become more familiar with Filipino food and of course also make a trip to the Philippines.
I won’t really get into the details of everything I tried, but there were two items worth noting. The Lumpia Sariwa for $ 4.95 was an interesting dish, and one of the better ones that I tried, but it was nothing phenomenal. I felt like I needed to throw some hot sauce or something on it to spice it up. The Tinolang Manok was a ginger based soup with chicken & vegetable for $ 8.95. It was probably the most flavorful of the items I tried with large chunks of eggplant and vegetables. I hope to return to this place soon, but I’d be sure to try all different menu items to see if I can find one that does really wow me.
If you are coming with a large group, then service might be a concern for you. The staff was friendly and really tried hard on my visit, but they just weren’t used to serving a group of 12+ people. I’d like to go back and experience this place again in a different setting. It’s a great option for a foodie adventurer who isn’t familiar with this cuisine. 3 stars for A-​OK!

I liked the place, but did not know what to order because I never ate Philipino.
I ordered Lumpia Manila– fried appetizer wrap with pork, shrimp & carrots with spicy banana sauce
I really liked the sauce, but between the pork & fried wrap I could taste little shrimp or veggies
I also tried the Lumpia Sariwa and thought it tasted fresh and with a good balence of strong flavors with the peanut sauce.
I ordered the seafood Paella as the main course. I liked the flavor. However, they do not shell the shrimp or mussels. Being around people that I not comfortable getting messy with… this was akward. I still ate it.
For dessert I ordered the Turron and found the fried dessert made me want something creamy. I coveted the Halo-​halo exept for the coconut.

My experience of MB might be compared to visiting my dear ethnic grandmother (were she still alive) in her new condo (if she could have afforded one). The good flavor of fresh ingredients lovingly prepared in her new kitchen would be there, like in my seafood paella, one of the evening specials. There would be a little anxiety about the gathering and the serving, because there are so many people, and each dish needs a little different twist of preparation for each person. A drink might be forgotten here, a plate might come out late there, but a correction would be made when pointed out, and never a first name forgotten.

I knew this was a perfect place for our international supper club because it’s so one of a kind for STL. It was easy to make a reservation for 12 people here. It’s small but we fit just fine with extra tables to share.
Service was friendly the whole time and I actually thought it was pretty fast — especially getting our split bills. Having a lot of experience with big groups for supper club, I thought that getting our bills and closing them out was much faster than most places.
I started with the lumpia sariwa, which is vegetarian. It’s not fried and comes with some sauce on top. Kind of looks like a burrito. I LOVED it. it was perfectly flavored with a satisfying crunch from the jicama. I actually considered getting one to go for my lunch the next day. It was that good!
I continued with the Pancit Bihon Guisado, which is noodles with veggies (and usually chicken, but I got it without). This was just ok for me. It was a good portion though.
They have a lot of interesting desserts, and I couldn’t decide on whether to get the plantain, caramel flan, or something interesting called Halo Halo. Others got the flan and plantains, and the waitress suggested the Halo Halo, which is described as «From Tagalog word halo, „mix“, this popular dessert is a mixture of sweet preserved red beans, soft coconut, jackfruit, sugar palm fruit with crushed ice topped with ice-​cream & purple yam.» Ok. yam? Beans? In a dessert? Sounds odd but I was feeling adventurous. And this was AWESOME!!! The fruit tasted so good and even the yams and beans were sweet. There was this crushed ice and ice cream making it creamy too. It’s hard to describe, but get it for something different.
I really want to go back SOON! And I will.

I came to Manila Bistro for the International Supper Club event. My meal consisted of water to drink, beef caldereta as the main dish, and then halo-​halo for dessert. It is a fairly small restaurant, so our group of 11 or 12 people (four or so small tables scooted together) is about the maximum this place can accommodate.
To me, the beef caldereta tasted a lot like a beef stew except with less liquid and is served with white rice. The green beans were somewhat cold by the time my dish reached me. The flavor was not especially distinguished although I did have a bit of a cold at the time.
My dessert, halo-​halo, was a much more memorable experience. There is a scoop of vanilla ice cream surrounded by crushed ice and shredded coconut. Purple yam sits atop the ice cream, and then various fruits are underneath and mixed into the ice. It was like a really awesome snow cone with a rainbow of textures and flavors.
Overall, I’d say, if I came back, I’d try another dish but definitely get the halo-​halo or another dessert again.

I always enjoy trying a new place, and I was excited to join a group here for a new Filipino Fusian dining experience. Honestly, I have mixed feelings about the evening… I think they’re a work in progress…
What I liked:
— Clean, modern room
— The chef cooks in an open kitchen area that you can see
— They use very fresh ingredients — really good quality
— My server was friendly and kept using my first name while interacting with me
What I wasn’t so fond of:
— Small dining tables — probably not the best spot for a group
— It took quite a while for water to arrive — I think because we had people trickling in for our group, I just got missed — and timing of food service for the group was inconsisstent
— The food was ok — I had Chicken in Coconut with Mushrooms, called Mantok Gata (sp?) and Plantain in special wrapper — it wasn’t something I would order again… not bad, but not memorable
I might go back to try again, but I wouldn’t go out of my way. I hope they’re able to work out some of their kinks, because I think they have some good potential!

When International Supper Club decided to meet at Manila Bistro, I was pretty excited. I love trying new types of food and checking out great local spots, and Manila proved to be a great new experience! I’m not sure I’ll be back anytime soon, but it was fun to see what they had to offer.
The service was A-​OK, a little tricky since we had a large group, but the servers never lost their smiles or friendly attitudes. I have to say that somehow they gave me one of the best cups of coffee I’ve had in a long time, and I would have had more had it not been in the evening. It took a while to get a glass of water, but it showed up eventually. For an appetizer I had the Lumpia Sariwa (sauteed fresh jicama, green beans & carrots wrapped in lumpia wrapper with peanut garlic sauce for $ 4.95.) This was hands down the best part of my meal! It was filling but still light, and the flavors were wonderful. I tried Sandy’s Manok At Tokwa, and wow, that is something worth ordering as well. Great, great flavor with sugarcane vinegar… yum!
My entrée left a lot to be desired. I was looking forward to a bunch of spices and something unique, but the Chicken Afritada basically tasted like a pot roast, which isn’t at all how it was described on the menu. Not saying that’s a bad thing, but it didn’t seem all that special. Regardless, it tasted fresh which I appreciated.
My dessert was ridiculously awesome. I ordered the mango mousse (the daily special) and it almost looked like cheesecake when it arrived. It tasted like it a little, too, but with a strong mango flavor. Light, fluffy, perfect ending to the meal.
I’m not sure if I’d come back, but I wouldn’t object to it! I’ll just make a different entrée choice next time. Cool little spot in Kirkwood!

I cannot believe St. Louis has a Filipino restaurant. When I saw the reviews on Unilocal and the fact that the reviews were overwhelming good, I had to try it. So, I arrived at Manila Bistro, and I was takin back. Got in, and got immediately seated. I could tell this was going to be a nom nom nom moment cause the chef was Filipino! Yes.
I ordered this dish called Kare-​Kare (its usually ox tail but beef is what they had, beef in peanuty sauce with vegetables served with rice), its not on the menu, but it might’ve been a special or a special resquest. But anyway, the chef cooked and it was history from there on out. Reminded me of my moms. Its been almost a year since the last time I had legit Filipino food.
It was soooo good that I decided to get some more food on the way back home. Haha. So, thats what I did. They hooked me up big time on the second round. I ordered Their Pancit Bihon Guisado squeezed a little lemon juice BOMB! That wasn’t enough for me so I got the Pork adobo, it was excellent as well.
I told them, that I lived pretty far away and that I haven’t eaten Filipino in ages thinking nothing of it, and when my food came out they hooked me up with Halo Halo (gotta try it) cassava cake (to die for) and the flan.
Basically, if I lived in Kirkwood I would probable eat there everyday. No Joke! Try this place out!

Ok, so we’ve been back here a couple of times, and the place is a work in progress.
First, they need a good ventilation system. Last time, we went home and had to air our clothes out for 2 weeks before they were ok to wear again.
Two, their portions are just too damn small for the price. Especially the pancit. C’mon, give us a good value for our money.
Three, potatoes in adobo? Put more meat in it and cut out the potatoes.
In my original review, I was so happy that we finally had an authentic Filipino restaurant in the Lou, that I was not critical enough. Now it’s time to get serious.

Okay, so I’m pretty much an honorary Filipino… I practically grew up on Filipino food and cook it quite well myself. So when I heard that there was a Filipino restaurant in St. Louis, needless to say I was pretty intrigued. Mark my words… Filipino cuisine will be the next big culinary discovery… so glad the rest of the world is now beginning to catch on!
The moment I stepped into this restaurant I knew that they were doing something right… the smell wafting from the kitchen was right on!
Their Lumpia is a total hit! They even make their own Spicy Banana Ketchup Sauce! I could eat these wondrous fried bites all day, everyday!
Their Pancit Bihon Guisado was another great offering! Squeeze a little lemon juice and add a splash of Patis and you’ve got yourself a meal that you will continue to eat well past your fill point. The amount of food they give you is literally enough for three meals.
Also, tried their Chicken Adobo… Excellent job! A must try if this is your first visit.
For the most part you can’t go wrong with any choice you make… I certainly haven’t yet! For the price and the amount of food you get… this place is a keeper! So glad to have a local Filipino restaurant that I can rely on when I get a craving and don’t feel like cooking!

When you’re a Filipino American transplanted from CA, good authentic food is really hard to come by in the Midwest. I came here tonight not really knowing what to expect, but I recognized the owner immediately from Café Manila (from Kirkwood farmer’s market). The restaurant smelt heavenly. It’s quite small and dimly lit, and you can see the workers actually cook over the counter. The menu is pretty limited, but I believe it covered an overview of some of the more popular Filipino dishes.
I would rate the food a 3.5−4. Although nothing tastes better than home cooked food, it’s the convenience and the location that is a thumbs up from me. And now onto the food…
Lumpia Manila — ⁴⁄₅. The Filipino version of eggrolls, more commonly with pork and vegetables. The lumpia is bite size and they give you a spicy banana ketchup to dip them in, definitely a must-​order appetizer.
Pancit bihon — ⁵⁄₅. A rice noodle dish cooked with chicken and vegetables. Squeeze some lemon on it and you’ll never want to share!
Tinolong Manok ⁴⁄₅. A ginger based chicken soup. I LOVE this on a cold fall day, it truly hit the spot!
Adobong Pucit — ²⁄₅. Squid adobo. This dish was probably the only one I wasn’t impressed with. Perhaps it’s just made differently than what I’m used to (I’m from Cebu, a different part of the Philippines). But it seemed like the squid was just kind of thrown into the sauce and wasn’t «simmered» in it instead. Also the adobo base didn’t scream adobo to me either… if that made any sense. I like mine with a little more bay leaves and vinegar flavor.
Halo halo ⁴⁄₅ — A popular Filipino dessert that has shaved ice, condensed milk, mango ice cream (some put purple ice cream aka Ube), mung bean, jack fruit, and vanilla shavings. Loved it, of course! :)
Overall, a good experience. All the workers were welcoming, and it felt like I walked into my uncle’s house for a family reunion.

The pictures I reference in the review below are coming. I have to wait until this new business shows up on my phone so I can add the photos then.
A spinoff of Café Manila located at the Kirkwood Farmers Market down the street, this location is a nice indoor, sit-​down, table-​service version, located next to Starbucks in a strip mall across from the old Kirkwood Cinema and Einstein Bagels. I was told this was an old Qdoba.
We started with Lumpia Manila ($ 5.25, see photos), which is made slightly differently than the Lumpia Shanghai I grew up with, but boy, did it remind me of home! Lumpia are about the size of mini eggrolls, so you get several. It’s a thinner wrapping than your typical eggroll, delivering a crisper texture. This version of lumpia is stuffed with ground pork, turnips, and carrots and comes with a spicy banana sauce. Everyone really liked this!
My main course was Chicken Adobo with chicken breast cooked in sugarcane vinegar, peppercorns, and soy with a touch of bay leaves. This comes with white rice, drizzled with the brown sauce from the chicken and two Lumpia Manila ($ 7.50, see photo). I would come back over and over for this. It was sooooo good. This is not a spicy dish, more of a comfort-​food brown sauce — make sure to mix the white rice with the chicken and sauce. The leftover rice and sauce alone are delish! My mom didn’t put onions in my Chicken Adobo, so this version had a lot to what I’m used to. While I pushed ½ of it off to the side, my co-​diners enjoyed trying the onion, rice, and sauce by itself when I was done with the chicken.
Everyone enjoyed their meals, and service was quite nice, donning aprons that read «Got Pancit?». One friend enjoyed her Pancit Bihon (made of thin noodles, veggies, and chicken, another favorite from my childhood) while others enjoyed another dish (don’t recall name) with white rice, chicken, coconut milk, and could be made spicier with Sriracha at the diner’s request.
I’ve posted pictures of all of our meals, the restaurant hours posted on the front door, and the restaurant menu from last week (although it was slightly different from what we were given today). Enjoy! I’ll definitely be back!
We had a group of 6 people, and it may have helped that we called ahead to give them some advanced notice.