Top 5 Recommended Restaurants in Greenbelt, Makati (2026 Edition)

I've been working in Makati for collectively more than a decade now, and I've always been near the Greenbelt malls. I know this should sound really convenient because I have options right on my finger tips. However, the saying "Familiarity breeds contempt" found its way to me. I’ve tried almost all the restaurants within the vicinity, but whenever my friends and I choose to meet up in Greenbelt, we still often find ourselves undecided on where to eat. 

Now, as I ponder on this matter, I decided to come up with 5 restaurants to which we normally go for when we find ourselves "undecided". These restaurants are usually the deal breaker wherein most, if not all of us, will finally say "Let's go!" and arrive at a consensus.

1. Dillinger's 1903

When I first created this list back in 2018, Dillinger's placed #1. Fast forward to 2026, and it still is #1. Why? Well, it’s one of the only two restaurants from that original list that survived. All the other three closed down. This means that Dillinger's stood the test of time, and therefore is worth retaining its position in this list.

This restaurant was underrated, an underdog even, back in 2018. People used to think that this place was just a regular bar that either [1] didn’t offer any food or [2] didn’t offer any good food. However, it started to rise in fame post-pandemic, and people realized how much they were missing out. Dillinger’s offers relatively affordable and delicious steaks, and the truffle pasta is really something you'll love!

The ambiance also took a major level up after their renovation, and everything really looks so cozy in here.

Location: 2/F of Greenbelt 3 near Gerry's Grill and Red Box
Budget Range: P750+ per person
What to order? Truffle Pasta, Beef Salpicao and Buffalo Wings

2. Kenji Tei

Keni Tei is the second restaurant from the original list that survived. It has been in Greenbelt, since my first job back in 2015. 

If I'm craving for light and easy Japanese dishes, I can rely on Kenji Tei. The prices may not be as friendly, but the sashimi options here are really top-notch. They melt in your mouth. The curry meals also are dreamy, especially with how the Japanese rice blends with the spices of the curry. On the contrary, their ramen dishes may not be as noteworthy, but most other dishes are reliable.

Location: 3/F Greenbelt 5 near the stair center (where you can sit) or what I refer to as amphitheater
Budget Range: P550+ per person
What to order? Curry Rice Meals, Salmon (or Tuna) Sashimi, Maki Rolls

3. Fely J's

Fely J's perhaps is the only Filipino restaurant I'd recommend for you to try in Greenbelt area. They've also been around for quite a while now, and similar to the two restaurants above, Fely J's survived the test of time. When I originally created this list, Fely J's did not make the cut. Back then, Manam was still a rising star (unlike its popularity nowadays), and during that time I preferred it over Fely J's.

Now that it’s 2026, I'd say that Fely J's deserves the spot here. They offer homey ornate ambiance that goes well with their innovative take on Filipino dishes. There are a few recipes that are traditional (staying true to the original way of cooking), but there are also a handful that blend in modern twists to dishes we’ve grown up with. This makes Fely J’s unique and interesting.

Location: 2/F of Greenbelt 5 near Ganso Shabuway
Budget Range: P600+ per person
What to order? Lengua Rendang, Tilapia with Sweet Plum Sauce

4. Ganso-Shabuway

With the rise in popularity of hotpot, I think it’s relevant to include Ganso-Shabuway in this list. They offer great “set meals”, and they use high quality meat which really satisfy the hotpot cravings. They also have a wonderful selection of soup bases ranging from clearer ones (i.e. Garlic, or Plain) to flavored ones (i.e. Yakiniku, Spicy Miso, etc.). 

Although you'll be spending almost the same when you go for an unlimited hotpot elsewhere, Ganso provides a generally better experience given the higher quality of ingredients and tastier soup bases.

Location: 2/F Greenbelt 5 near Tsokolateria or Pepper Lunch
Budget Range: P750+ each if you are going for a solo set (or split the double set into two)
What to order? Hotpot Sets

5. Paradise Dynasty

Whenever I'd go looking for some comfort Chinese food, I used to visit Shi Lin in Greenbelt 3. However, that has been long gone now, and it's a good thing that there is Paradise Dynasty to save the day. Fairly a newcomer in the area, Paradise Dynasty opened around 2023 or 2024, and despite being in a relatively obscured location at the third floor, there is still an ample crowd in there.

Also, I really love how they have various collections of Xiao Long Bao (each featuring a different flavor). Other Chinese dishes are also very interesting here, including the Sweetened Shredded Pork. These are the ones I normally order when I go here.

Location: 3/F of Greenbelt 5 near BLK APT
Budget Range: P600+ per person
What to order? Sweetened Shredded Pork, Xiao Long Bao

Final Notes

You may notice that 4 out of the 5 restaurants in this list are in Greenbelt 5. That’s no coincidence. Other parts of Greenbelt are still under renovation, so there aren't many options unlike before. However, as they open up new restaurants in the coming years, I'll be jumping ahead and give them a try. Hopefully, I'd get to add more to this list, and challenge the existing ones.

There you go! These are the restaurants that are on top of my mind whenever you ask for recommendations in Greenbelt area. I’d love to hear whether you agree or disagree, so feel free to drop a comment. Also, I will eventually grow this list this 2026, so please stay tuned, and bookmark this page. Thank you!