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Manila Cafe
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
6 reviews for Manila Cafe
I've passed by this area so many times. How can I have not noticed this place. As you can see from my other reviews I love Filipino food and eat at these restaurants religiously so as I accidentally Googled Manila and Seattle in the same sentence this place popped up. At first I thought it was maybe an old spot that's closed down years ago. Since I've never once heard it mentioned I thought my assumptions true. Well I guessed wrong. Out of all places, its in Georgetown, andindustrial hub, littered factories and werehouse, to truck stops and gas stations. Plenty of fast food, espresso stands and let me mention the famousTeriyaki slash burger joints. To come and have this place hit you unexpectedly was a big suprise. Well here is how it went.
First thing I've noticed is how small the establishment was. It did feel like a truck stop since there where plenty of local factory workers in here. Small tables and an open kitchen placed with a huge front glass window for the whole world to see was how it presented its place. Not going to judge it for its looks, it is Georgetown.
Let me first say that there was a good selection of food to choose from. From Chicken and Pork Adobo to different Inihaw (grilled) selections, to the many other Filipino favorites like Pancit and Lumpia plus a few American dishes like burgers and its likes, you should be able to find something to your liking. Your not going to get the more exotic Filipino Dishes that you see at most Filipino Restaurants since this in my book fast food. As I said before its Georgetown. No where else will you find Filipino served as Fast Food. At least not the way I see it. If you can have Teriyaki / Burger joints why not Filipino / Burger joints as well. Only fair :) An amusing and different prespective that does work here. Never thought I would ever say that.
Now let me add this: "The best Beef Inihaw I have ever eaten in my life!". My god I was very surprised. Its was soooo delicious. Had to ask the owner how they prepared it. All she said is that it was passed down from her father and is there best seller. Its that good! Usually dint rave to much over any one particular dish but once in a blue moon you will come across something special. This was one of them. Do order it.
The prices for lunch are very reasonable. You can order either a half size or a full size depending on how hungry you are but let me just say that the half size portion is plenty as it is. The staff is friendly and you do not have to wait to long to be served. Also by it being an open kitchen from the dining area you can see the chef prepare each dish fresh. There is no prepared made dishes already. At least not from what I saw.
I definitely recommend this place to anyone going out to lunch if in the area. Do order the Beef Inihaw. Why did it not get 5 stars. A few things. First let me mention that they had very small size tables. I cannot see myslef bring my family here. Also we actually had to bring over a second table to accomadate our meal. Not enough space. They actually only had 2 regular size table here and everything else was small round ones. Secondly, I cannot recommended this place to someone going out for a romantic dinner date. At least not that meets my standards. Just not that type of restaurant. You must give them credit for providing an amazingly wonderful meal for what little space they do have. Enjoy.
I've only been once and it was really disappointing, but I hate giving a bad rating after only one meal. That said, I don't know if I really care to go back.
Had a beef dish that was basically super salty beef and some dry rice. I'm inclined to give just one star based on how bad this dish was, but based on some other reviews I think I'll give it the benefit of the doubt and try giving it another chance sometime.
Much closer and more friendly than that Goldi-something chain restaurant across the border, Manila Cafe is a welcome find. Thanks to BB and JB for tuning my wife and me into this find. The food is reasonably-priced: $10 will get you a hefty pancit meal with drinks (not including tip).
New to Filipino food? Try noodle dishes like pancit, meat dishes such as adobo, or their lumpia (egg roll) appetizer. These aren't uniquely Filipino but think of them as warm ups to more native dishes (ask and you'll receive).
Like I said in my previous reviews about Filipino restaurants there are very few that are worth mentioning but this is my little gem of a place and I've been going here since even before I knew how to tie my shoes and I must admit that it's amazing how long this Filipino restaurant has been around (2 generations and counting) , and around it has been- because after four different locations to four different parts of the Seattle area, you never know where it's going to be next, but wherever it goes, I'm there.
It's their Beef Inihaw- the deliciously marinated, BBQd to perfection dish that's worth the "Where's Manila Cafe?" search. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
I must be very spoiled with the home made Filipino food that my co-workers bring in for potlucks. I was not very impressed here. First off, they only offer pancit on Wednesdays and on the Wednesday I went there they had run out. So I chose my next favorite, pork adobo. I will say that the adobo was pretty good, good flavor and the rice was also good. What I was most dissapointed with, however, were the lumpia. They were rather soggy, and the filling was pretty non-descript and flavorless. Reminded me of the frozen egg rolls you can pick up in the freezer section of the grocery store. I guess nothing beats the real thing that I have the tremendous opportunity to share with my Filipino co-workers.
have loved the Manila Cafe for nearly 40 years and consider it practically a part of my life. I happened upon it by accident back when it was located in the International District of Seattle (1970). Frederico and Sarah owned and operated it and their daughter, Sandra, worked there waiting tables from time to time. The building was eventually condemned by the city to make way for a small park and they moved to another place just around the corner. Sandra became a mother to a little girl (Rene) who I enjoyed watching toddle around the cafe while her Mom and Grandparents worked. I eventually moved from Seattle and then often drove the 100 miles (round trip) just to have dinner at this little cafe. From the International District, a few years later Fred and Sandra moved and set up shop in West Seattle and I stopped by for "takeout" whenever I passed by. Then one time when I happened by, the cafe was closed and I couldn't find any forwarding information. I lost track of them. I tried but couldn't find any information on the family. I often thought of and talked about how I had enjoyed their food, and then recently while speaking with a Phillipina lady I mentioned my favorite Phillipine dish and said that I had eaten it often at a little cafe called the Manila Cafe. She told me she had recently eaten there. That inspired me to go the the computer and google it and--surprise(!)--there it was! The Granddaughter, Rene, now owns and operates the Manila Cafe, which she re-opened in May of 2008. The featured dish is still BEEF INAHAW AND RICE WITH ADOBO GRAVY (actually, that is the only menu item I've ever eaten there, because it is so delicious!). As I recall, that same meal back in 1970 was priced at around $2.50. It's now around $12.00, but it is still a great value. Rene prepares it exactly as did her Grandfather. In fact, she serves it on the very same oval shaped dishes that I remember from the original cafe. On the dining room wall, are two huge blown up photos of her Grandparents. One of them shows Fred in the kitchen of the first cafe where I met him, looking out from the serving window where I used to stop by and pay my respects each time I ate there. It's a unique place, nothing fancy nor elegant, the staff (of one--Rene) is friendly, the food is very tasty, and Rene is doing a great job of honoring the traditions of her Grandparents and her Mother. While there, I spoke with a few customers and each of them had been eating at the various Manila Cafes for 20(+) years.I am pleased to have rediscovered the Manila cafe and plan to become a regular once again.
