MBKRS Awards - Manila's Best Kept Restaurant Secrets

Location :

Suite 702 Syjuco Bel-Air Building, 46 Polaris Street, 1209 Makati

These judges (renowned chefs, restaurant owners, educators, food critics, bloggers, lifestyle publication editors, and celebrity foodies) vote using a secure online ballot system to collectively decide which restaurants would be the nominees in each of the 30 award categories.

The judges go on then to vote again in a second ballot, this time choosing the winner in each category. These results and the integrity of the voting system are reviewed by top accounting firm SGV & Co.

The entire restaurant industry--nominees, judges, presenters, sponsors, and supporters--then gathers bi-annually to crown the best among us at Enderun Colleges' Alain Ducasse Culinary Center. As each proud winner accepts his well-earned award to thunderous applause, the cameras of 7 TV networks, 6 radio stations, 8 broadsheets, and countless magazines and food blogs swarm them to get their reaction.

“It’s a really good thing to have in the Philippines because it brings all the restaurateurs together," says multi-award winner Chef Colin MacKay of People's Palace and Sala. "We get a chance to see what’s going on in the industry, see the competition, see what’s happening and get feedback from the public. It’s a great accolade to the scene!”

Manila's Best Kept Restaurant Secrets, the bi-annual awarding ceremony, takes place again this year in November and is by invitation only.

Think getting involved is a good idea? Send us a personal message.

• Anynomous

  03 October 2023

  Restaurant launch alert: #BondiandBourkeBGC ! ;)

• Anynomous

  03 October 2023

  Resto launch alert! Bondi & Bourke at Burgos Circle ;)

  #BondiandBourkeBGC

• Anynomous

  29 March 2023

  MANILA'S BEST (MBKRS) Would like to congratulate Margarita Fores, our 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award winner, for being named the Asia's Best Female Chef! Mabuhay Ms. Fores! You deserve it!!! :D

• Anynomous

  02 November 2023

  Congratulations to the KTG Gang and Our Awesome Planet for the successful Choice Awards held today at SMX! Awards for the people, by the people!

  We are so honored to have been named as one of your inspirations, and we look forward to working together to recognize excellence in the Manila food scene in the years to come!

  Cheers!!! :D

• Anynomous

  04 September 2023

  Thank you team Net25 TV!!

• Anynomous

  04 September 2023

  Another terrific report by Net25 TV, broadcasting nationally and globally in HD, a member of the Eagle Broadcasting Corporation. Thanks to everyone there for your continued support of Manila's Best!

  MANILA’S BEST® 2014 is made possible by Nestlé Professional. Special thanks to Zing Rewards, City Delivery, Great Food Solutions, and Zomato

• Anynomous

  31 July 2023

  Sharing another great report with Manila foodies!

• Anynomous

  31 July 2023

  Many thanks to the Food Network Asia and the Asian Food Channel (Official) for their coverage of the awards!

  MANILA’S BEST® 2014 is made possible by Nestlé Professional. Special thanks to Zing Rewards, City Delivery, Great Food Solutions, and Zomato

  For winners, nominees, judges, and other sponsors, please browse our photo albums.

• Anynomous

  20 July 2023

  Manila's Best® judge Chef Adrian Cuenca testifies to the speaker's ability to read the customer

• Anynomous

  20 July 2023

  Manila's Best® Emerging Talent Chef Bruce Ricketts demonstrates techniques developed in his restaurant Mecha Uma

• Anynomous

  20 July 2023

  One of the world's top chefs Paco Roncero experiments with olive oil

• Anynomous

  20 July 2023

  Manila's Best® judges David Celdran and Claude Tayag share the stage at Madrid Fusión

• Anynomous

  20 July 2023

  Madrid Fusión. Say it right

• Anynomous

  11 July 2023

  MANILA'S BEST proudly supports the upcoming MADRID FUSION event! Some of the world's greatest chefs from Spain will be paying us a visit and collaborating with our own culinary superstars in a 3 day gastronomic extravaganza!

  The Philippines and Spain share a deep and colorful history and what better way to celebrate these two cultures than through their vibrant and intertwined culinary traditions. This April, the world’s most anticipated epicurean event will celebrate the two...

  Continue reading

• Anynomous

  08 June 2023

  Big thanks to Aksana and Lord Ancheta for their in depth report on HourPhilippines TV, one of the country's top lifestyle YouTube channels. They are also part-owners of restaurant Lulu and Manila's Best Bar nominee Hooch.

  We again extend our gratitude to all the Manila's Best 2014 sponsors, judges, and participants who made the spectacular bi-annual awarding event possible, and who at some point make an appearance here in the well edited video.

  --... MANY are called but FEW are chosen

  Celebrate the best in Manila's dining scene. 150 restaurants nominated for 30 awards in the following groups:

  .Cuisine .Specialty .Hotel Restaurants .Individual Achievement

  An academy of judges made up of over 150 individuals distinguished in the restaurant industry and other related fields decides the nominees and the winners.

  Organized and hosted by Inés Cabarrus-Habayeb and Elian Habayeb

  Keynote Nestlé Philippines CEO John Miller

  Special guest presenter Janice De Belen

  Music The Jireh Calo Project Kevin Ruiz Wendell Garcia Reintamm

  Made possible by Nestlé Professional

  Special thanks to Zing Rewards City Delivery Great Food Solutions Zomato

  Media Partners Asian Food Channel BusinessMirror Circuit Magazine Food Network Asia FOOD Magazine Juice Lifestyle Network Net 25 Radar Manila 96.3 Easy Rock When In Manila Yummy.ph

  Food & Beverage A'Toda Madre ArroZeria Azuthai BRGR The Burger Project Best World Beverages Chihuahua Mexican Grill Don Papa Rum Draft Gastropub Future Trade Int'l Inc. My kitchen by Chef Chris Lechon Degustacion at Pepita's Kitchen Sarsa Kitchen+Bar Simple Lang - Ayala Triangle SUGI Japanese Restaurant Tabaqueria de Filipinas, Inc. Va Bene Pasta Deli

  Blogs Between Bites Chuvaness Frannywanny Heart2heart heygarch.com (Beta) ManEatManila Manila Reviews One Big Bite Our Awesome Planet Pinoy Eats World Primed for your Life Rina's Rainbow Table For Three, Please Tales From The Tummy The Gypsetters The Pickiest Eater In The World The Tummy Traveler Tongue Travelling Trip or Treats YedyLicious Food Blog

  Other sponsors B+C Design SATB

  The independent auditing firm SGV & Company witnesses the announcement of the winners. SGV checks whether the results from the survey tool, QuestionPro for Ballot 2 or final voting are consistent with the winners announced based on the rules provided by the MBKRS organisers.

  "The Oscars of Manila's Restaurant Industry" held bi-annually since 2008. MBKRS Awards - Manila's Best Kept Restaurant Secrets inspired by the bestselling coffee-table book © 2007

  See more

• Anynomous

  04 June 2023

  MANILA'S BEST congratulates Chef Antonio Escalante (our 2010 and 2014 winner for Manila's Best Chef and Manila's Best Continental Cuisine) for his groundbreaking restaurant Antonio's -Tagaytay being #48 in Asia's 50 Best Restaurants last night in Singapore!

  Thank you Chef Tony-Boy for putting our country on the world culinary map! Cheers!

• Anynomous

  12 March 2024

  Rappler reports

  #ManilasBest2014 Made possible by Nestlé Professional Thanks to Zing Rewards, City Delivery, Great Food Solutions, and Zomato