A date is no longer just about two people who have or might have romantic feelings for one another. People now also go out for family dates, for barkada dates, and even for solo dates.
Regardless of relationship status, anyone can take themselves out whenever they like and however they want to spend their time. A solo date is basically about having a breather from everyday life and discovering more about oneself.
There are tons of fun activities to do on a solo date, but eating good food will never be out of the list. However, while people can always eat alone in restaurants, some individuals may find it a bit awkward.
But don’t worry, republicasia has got your back! Here are five restaurants around Metro Manila that are perfect for your next solo dining experience:
Yakiniku Like!
You don’t always need to align your schedule with someone if you want to enjoy grilled meat. But if you still feel uncomfortable doing it all by yourself in a restaurant full of groups of people, this first-ever solo-dining Yakiniku restaurant is the place for you.
In Yakiniku Like!, solo diners will have their own mini-smokeless grills where they will be served with either beef, pork, or chicken. These can be served ala carte or in set menus that include rice, soup, and kimchi or salad.
The best way to enjoy these quality meats is to mix it with the Japanese chain’s signature sauces: spicy miso sauce, garlic soy sauce, sea salt sauce, and like original BBQ sauce.
Locations:
- 2nd Floor, South Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City.
- 3rd Floor, Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.
Ramen Wave
Another restaurant that you won’t hesitate to visit if you’re alone is Ramen Wave.
Ramen Wave used to be a small eight-seater Ramen house with partitions to comply with social distancing protocols. But many netizens took interest in this solo dining setup, which made Ramen Wave viral and led it to expand.
The restaurant has retained its shared-focus dining cubicles where customers can enjoy their food in peace and in private. Ramen Wave offers authentic yet budget-friendly Japanese food such as katsu, gyudon, pork pun, and its famous ramen.
It offers miso ramen, tantanmen, yokai ramen, and tonkotsu ramen. The ramen broth is freshly made every day.
Locations:
- 1 Brixton St., Kapitolyo, Pasig City.
- 240 NW Narra St., Marikina Heights, Marikina City.
- 999 J. P. Rizal St., Marikina City.
Moon Hey Hotpot & Grill
Hotpots are usually for sharing, but you can have it on your own at Moon Hey Hotpot & Grill.
This Quezon City-based restaurant offers unlimited hotpot and barbeque to its customers. It is the perfect spot for lone diners who want to immerse themselves into their own hotpot world, as the restaurant has single electric grills and pots.
Moon Hey Hotpot & Grill has four soup options that customers can pair with their choices of meats, seafood, or vegetables: mala spice (spicy), suan la (hot sour), tomato, and plain broth.
There’s also no need for customers to leave their seats or call a service crew once they run out of hotpot ingredients, because the restaurant has a large conveyor belt that delivers these straight to them.
It has concocted special sauces — sesame sauce, sate paste, black vinegar, and red oil — to add extra flavor to their hotpots.
Location: 848 Banawe St., Sienna, Quezon City.
Yoki Buffet MNL
There is also another unlimited hotpot and grill for solo diners in the capital.
Yoki Buffet MNL also has a conveyor belt for hotpot ingredients and individual hotpot stations for diners.
You will surely get your stomach full in this restaurant with its unlimited choices of meats (pork, beef, and chicken), hotpot broths (beef and seafood), drinks, desserts (fresh fruits and ice cream), and side dishes.
Since Yoki Buffet MNL is located near universities, it offers affordable student meals inclusive of unlimited rice, soup, and drinks.
Location: 2119 Recto Ave., Youniversity Suites, Manila City.
Patchimon Ookini
Do you need more ramen houses with solo booths? There is one in Makati City.
Patchimon Ookini is not your typical Japanese restaurant that can be found in the city. It is located at the very end of the penthouse floor inside the Creekside Building.
Customers have their own “focus counters” where they will be directly served their orders from a wide selection of set meals. The set meals menu includes patchimon, ookini, ramen-gyoza, tonkatsu, karaage, grilled fish, and curry rice.
The set meals are inclusive of unlimited soup and rice but only for dinner.
It also has appetizers such as tuna sashimi, salmon sashimi, ookini tofu, edamame, yaki edamame, cheese sticks, chikuwa cheese, shell chanja, ume suishou, pork shabu salad, chawan mushi, french fries, veggie sticks, and sesame cucumber.
Location: Amorsolo street, corner V.A. Rufino Street, Makati City.
