Top Restaurants in San Juan
Top Things to do in San Juan
Where to Eat in San Juan: The Best Restaurants and Bars
Discover the best restaurant in San Juan, Philippines including Angel's Kitchen, Cube-o-Grill, Gefseis Greek Grill, The Big Kahuna Bar and Restaurant, Awesome Hotel, German Bistro, Surf Shack, Tagpuan, Kaizen Izakaya and Japanese Restaurant, Coast Call Kitchen & Bar
Things to do in San Juan
1. Angel's Kitchen
Overall Ratings
4 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By KIMI4812 - Quezon City, Philippines
After all the eating out in different restaurant, one gets tired seeing the same menu of Filipino food, Japanese, Korean and Chinese. So those travelers and experimenters like me finding a new type of food is always a treat. We had a meeting in Angels Kitchen at Connecticut Street in San Juan. It is the last unit in the row of stalls in the building. Tucked in that corner, one enters into a cozy eating place with very simple but elegant interiors. Wanting a light meal, I ordered waldorf salad and fish burritos. The salad came first and the lettuce leaves were crispy fresh and topped with cheese and walnuts. While it came with the dressing, the combination of nuts and cheese and greens was very delicious already. Then the fish burritos came and one has to do your own wrap. First the mayonnaise, the romaine lettuce leaf then the deep fried fish fillet and last is the piece the resistance i.e. the mixed dressing which gives the burrito that twang. The meeting lasted for an hour but definitely the meal is unforgettable.
2. Cube-o-Grill
Overall Ratings
4 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By bo-voyage - Manila, Philippines
Except for the quaintness of this restaurant AND the pretty tasty meal, everything else receives failing marks! Because we were a group of more than 40, we reserved in advance for dinner. The establishment required a downpayment (yes, a downpayment), with which our host complied. We then pre-ordered so our meals would be ready when we got there, with close coordination between our group coordinator and the restaurant staff. Lo and behold, when we got there, none of the food we ordered was cooked, there were unavailable items from our ordered list, and it went downhill from there! Obviously, our group anticipated that any restaurant in a place like La Union would be overwhelmed by our big group, hence, the pre-ordering. So we waited, and waited, and waited, with intervention from our coordinator and hosts, who practically stood by the cooking staff AND the wait staff to get things done and to hurry them along. Our companions even served some of the drinks from bar to table because everyone there was overwhelmed. If the food weren't good, the whole evening would have been a complete disaster! The oysters, the inihaw squid, the bagnet over greens, the beef (tadyang, I think), the pinakbet and more...were scrumptious. Although we waited for a long time, our food turned out delicious. And when paying time came, we had to wait for a very long time again because the restaurant didn't have a system. The orders they wrote in smaller pieces of paper were all written onto a larger piece of paper (yes, indeed, redundant), the prices then written down, then totaled by hand (yes, indeed, they could have used the calculator on their cell phone, but they apparently needed to exercise their brain mathematically)...Two of our group members tried to teach them a faster system but they wouldn't do it...so with all of us already piled into our vehicles, we waited, and waited, and waited, and waited. Then, c'est fini! We couldn't get away from there soon enough.
Management: train your staff; anticipate bottle necks, problems; no reason for the deterioration of service since early on, our host already paid partial to insure our reservation and called again to confirm our orders... BAD BUSINESS, what happened to us.
3. Gefseis Greek Grill
Overall Ratings
4 based on 127 reviews
Gefseis Greek Grill new location is at Hacienda Peter's Surf Resort, Urbiztondo Beach, Urbiztondo, San Juan, La Union in between Sea Nymph Cafe and Fatwave Resort.
Reviewed By Gilbert C - Abulog, Cagayan, Philippines
They offer a fantastic view of the beach. They offer authentic greek food. Some of their ingredient are imported from Greece. Price is reasonable.
4. The Big Kahuna Bar and Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 34 reviews
Reviewed By David B - Ventura, California
My fiance and I did not stay at the Kahuna resort, but we found ourselves eating at the restaurant every day for most of our meals. Others who have reviewed this claim this restaurant is too pricey, but coming from California, I would have to disagree.
The eggs Benedict were all-time, and at 250 pesos, how can you call that pricey? I pay 250 pesos for a happy meal at McDonalds in the US.
The staff is amazing, always attentive and if your server is not right there, any other server is going to help you. They have a pool table, and they don't charge you extra to play like many others do in the PI.
The view is great as you are right on the ocean watching surfers as you eat.
The food was always cooked perfectly, and I did not have one complaint every single time I came here over the week I stayed in San Juan. The servers actually new mine and my fiances name after the first day we visited and this was pretty impressive. By the third day, they knew our favorite drinks.
As I said, I did not stay at Kahunas, but the staff let me take photos of their family room so I can share with my thousands of readers here on Tripadvisor.
If you want to learn to surf, it will cost you 200 pesos per hour, or 500 pesos for half day, 800 for all day, which is slightly more expensive then Siargoa.
There is no snorkeling here, since the waters are not the cleanest in the world being next to a major city and shipping port.
I hope you have enjoyed this review and feel free to ask me any questions!
David B.
5. Awesome Hotel
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By mikek123 - Birmingham, United Kingdom
With exception to 5* hotels in Manila, the majority of restaurants in Luzon lack even the most basic aspects of culinary expectations. All too often we have experienced, dismal decors ,tatty furniture, third rate tableware, poor or non - existent service, dreadful WC's and to conclude, unimaginative low quality, poorly presented food.
Having read the reviews on the Awesome Hotel we decided to 'give it a go' and see if our bad experiences could be overcome. On entering the restaurant, we were immediately reassured that this establishment would meet our discerning standards.
Undoubtedly, this restaurant was set up to satisfy the needs of the cosmopolitan diner ( most Filipino restaurants cannot cater for Westerners needs). From the moment you are seated it is apparent from the high quality tableware, cutlery, dining ware, furniture, and ambience that this establishment has gone to considerable lengths to offer something special.
The menu is both comprehensive, and varied. No matter which country you originate from, USA, UK, Germany, Korea, Japan, etc. there is something on the menu to cater for you.It would be impossible not to be able to find a meal for even the fussiest of diners. We did not partake in ordering wine, however like the menu the wine list was diverse and comprehensive.
When we were served our food it was obvious that the chef had used finest, fresh, ingredients available. The taste was only matched by the superb presentation. Clearly the chef had thought about not only producing the food but its presentation. We are not food 'snobs' however to us the presentation defines an exceptional restaurant from a very good one.
On a final note, despite the high quality and finesse the cost of the meal was not exceptional. It was very good value. Raffles, The Marriot, Shangri La, take note !
The Awesome restaurant ticks all the boxes.
6. German Bistro
Overall Ratings
5 based on 7 reviews
Reviewed By Victorianlad - Melbourne, Australia
This smallish restaurant is on the 1st floor of the P & M Final Option Beach resort's closer of two buildings to the sea, although the website claims it is on the second floor.
Waitresses were mostly pleasant and dressed in lovely tropical beach style dresses.
The food was well prepared and tasty. Serving sizes were good and the San Miguel Light beer served from Piper Bar was cold.
At lunchtime there would be a view of the ocean but at night this was hard to see. There was no smoking allowed in the restaurant which pleased me.
A professional outfit so I was not surprised to see 20 diners plus a function on downstairs at beach level.
7. Surf Shack
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 114 reviews
Reviewed By iamjalene - Manila, Philippines
With the tourist boom in San Juan area, Durf Shack offers a nice hangout place to get good food and local beers. It has a variety of food and drinks so the barkada can surely enjoy the night out. Price: P200 for food and drinks per person.
8. Tagpuan
Overall Ratings
4 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By madame_Sophia_ - London, United Kingdom
Favorite: pares, really tasty sauce, beef Cooked perfect, melts in your mouth
However, avoid avoid when busy, you dont get enough toppings, there was one time when we received our rice bowl, and we only had a spoonful of the sauce, and two small cube pieces of beef. I guess cost cutting when it's busy to make more money, definitely not worth 90 php for a bowl of rice and a bit of sauce, So please! Give more toppings so we can enjoy our food regardless of the crowds! Keep it consistent.
We will return here again for our tasty pares fix! Thanks for the tasty food.
9. Kaizen Izakaya and Japanese Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4 based on 8 reviews
Japanese and izakaya restaurant.
Reviewed By Grace V - Manila, Philippines
We went here for brunch because we really missed eating Japanese food (and mind you, this was the only Japanese restaurant in the area). We ordered ramen, gyudon, and maki. I liked the maki, but my boyfriend hated the gyudon. It really was too sweet. The ramen also was a pass. They had limited ramen choices, and the one that was available had slices of lechon on it.
10. Coast Call Kitchen & Bar
Overall Ratings
4 based on 28 reviews
Reviewed By Jeannard Jay T - Baguio, Baguio, Philippines
I went straight from San Gabriel to Coast Call for late lunch. Since it was a Monday, there's not much people in the restaurant. I had my ribs/steak and drinks and coffee. I had a good meal (though veggie side dish was a bit overcooked), service was good, too. I loved the ambience and the cleanliness of the place.
