half saints

dudes u all have to try half saints in mother ignacia pls!!! everything there was perfect for me. it made me rethink if i was really in qc, cos the place felt like makati/bgc and the food quality was superb!!! no joke, i’ve been there two times and they were consistent with the food and service.

i suggest you guys try their chicharron teriyaki, some crunchy slices of sweet meet in teriyaki sauce you wrap in nori, add the whip cream and munch on. so damn good, i swear.

they’re also famous for their puff pizza, got to try thejr shiitake goat cheese balsamic vinegar and it was good, not your usual pizza so prepare your expectations. the dough’s texture was similar to that of croissant. 😋

beef lasagna with cream cheese spinach was also really yummy. not a big fan of lasagna but this was something i appreciated, really.

arroz con pollo. pls try this. a filling and sulit meal if you’re on a budget u can get this as it is. thinking of it makes me drool haha

gallo pinto x rbm. little did i realize this rice with beef egg and roasted bone marrow. oops the cholesterol in it is crazy but it was an okdishfor me. if u prefer the putok batok dishes, go for it, but don’t forget your anti-cholesterol meds 😝

64% dark chocolate tart was so damn good. one of the best chocolate cakes in my book. so rich and not too sweet. came with salt to give contrast to the gastronomic experience.

i wrote this review with so much passion so i hope u enjoy as much as i did! 🤘🏽

it’s my 2nd time in half saints, and they have nailed it yet again!

we got to try the:
🥘 salmon bento — the red rice, miso soy, and salmon was a perfect combination in itself. a perfectly balanceddishhitting all the right spots on your palate! downside? it leaves you wanting more.
🥘 double smashed tocino burger — a new item on the menu and a fantastic twist to the normal burger we all know. the tocino added a sweetness that was very distinct. my dad loved this!
🥘 shiitake. goat cheese. balsamic pizza — so so so good. the puff pastry base is pure genius and it really allows the toppings to stand out.
🥘 tres leches cheese latte — one of the best lattes i’ve ever had. the top tasted like tres leches icing! every sip was delightful.
🥘 textures of turon — we particularly enjoyed thisdishthe most. a deconstructed turon, using the exact same ingredients, but presenting it a totally different way! we didn’t want thisdishto end!

half saints creates art out of the food they present and that in itself is worth giving this place a 5/5. 😍 can’t wait for my next visit.

the restaurant is a very good restaurant the ambience is good, the servers are polite and knowledgable, the food is great although not all. some of the food in half saints are very good especially the risotto the chicharon terriyaki and the salads. i was excited by the gallo pinto because of the marrow but i was disappointed. the gallo pinto for me was a let down although the cookery is good the flavor wasn’t enough. the benedictdishfor me was soso. i think the other dishes in the menu makes the gallo pinto look bad. but overall its one of my fave restos in manila and would definitely eat again.

was with my son at the resto around 6:30 and it was still nice and quiet.

we ordered the chicharron teriyaki to start. it was very interesting! i liked it a lot but you know how bagnet is if it’s twice cooked? a bit dry/tough? nevertheless the novelty of thedish(it came with nori and cream cheese) made up for it.

next was arroz con pollo with the rice cooked in coconut milk. thisdishwas excellent! very flavorful and perfectly cooked. must try.

then we had a shiitake, goat cheese and balsamic vinegar on puff pastry pizza. nice and crispy and flavorful!

we got a 64% dark chocolate torte for dessert. the server suggested we try it on the side where there was no salt first then try the next bite with a bit of salt. soooooooo yuuuuum!

the servers were very knowledgeable and helpful.

will bring the rest of the fam next time!

cozy place, food was ok, the pizza was genius as they used puff pastry as the base instead of the regular dough, but the flavor we ordered(goat cheese) was a bit too creamy. the pasta was really good and seasoned really well. the flaming cheese balls was also good. the marrow ricedishcould be a lot better if seasoned a bit more.

a great place for unique comfort food.

what we had:
braised tomato & mozzarella
arroz con pollo
gallo pinto x rbm

what we loved:
first off, that's a lot for two people (haha!) we even had more than half of the chickendishtaken out, and had it for dinner. i honestly thought they come in small servings but when the pasta arrived, i was  surprised, in a nice way of course. i love how creative they were with the dishes too, without sacrificing quality and taste.

most of all, the ladies were really really warm and friendly. such a nice dining experience, will surely recommend to friends frequenting the area!

please read the full review from the link below. thanks!

excerpt: love at first bite. the description of gallo pinto x rbm in their menu read: “dirty rice and beans topped with shredded beef, fired egg, green onions, bacon, and roasted bone marrow”. more beautiful words have never been combined in such an eloquent manner (just kidding).

how to eat it? like a bibimbap: mix the rice with the other ingredients, except the bone marrow. next, you scoop a little of the bone marrow then scoop some of the mixed rice. then, you put it in your mouth. after that, you’re in heaven. the next day, make an appointment with your doctor to check your cholesterol levels.

thisdishtasted amazing. complex flavors with the beans, egg, bacon, beef and then you get a splash of green onion flavor. thedishalso had very good mayonnaise (or a creamy dressing that tasted like mayo) that bound the flavors together and gave a creamy texture. coat that taste profile with an expertly-roasted bone marrow and the result is an overriding flavor of pure delicious grilled fat.

taste = 5/5
service = 5/5
place = 5/5
value = 4/5

i ordered all the stuff from their menu which most people kept raving about.

the chicharon teriyaki did not disappoint :) it was creative and quite surprising to the palate..

the grilled marrow and paresdishwas also good. but actually, i was on a diet so i didnt get to eat much of the rice. the marrow was good, they were even kind enough to give us another serving of marrow because the first marrow was quite small ;) so thoughtful of you guys...

although, tbh the marrow could use a little more.. salt i guess? try kettle’s steak and marrow and you’ll get what i mean :) the marrow from thatdishwas a delight in itself.

the puff pastry pizza was yummy. there was some sweetness to the puff crust that complemented the salty cheese and tangy balsamic vinegar.

but i dont think this is the first puff pastry pizza, in my province in isabela, there used to be a small bakery/cafeteria named franco’s cafe. they also had pizza baked on a flaky dough. it was also good, but halfsaints’ version had a different flakiness to it pa.

the chocolate cake which everyone raves about was okay. it didnt impress me on first bite, but when i gobbled it up side by side with hot cappucino, the flavors from this choco cake were greatly emphasized.

all in all, i liked the service, the ambience and the concept...

thank you halfsaints for that wonderful brunch.

so good. i was worried i was setting myself up for disappointment because i had such high expectations going in, but half saints met them all

what we ordered:
1. chicharron terriyaki: this was certainly an interestingdishwhere you manually wrap the teriyaki-glazed camiling bagnet in a piece of nori along with cream cheese. woul i order it again? maybe not. it's a nice novelty but not one ill crave for
2. dehydrated tomato and almond pesto with garlic sausage spaghettini: i was a bit iffy about thisdishwhen my friend ordered it because there are so many ways it can go wrong. surprisingly, it was actually really good!! unlike most pesto dishes, the taste wasn't cloying and overwhelming!
3. ratatouille puff pizza: my gosh. this was the star of night. i'd return to half saints for thisdishalone. it's so good. their pizza crust is light and puffy - i don't think it should be called a pizza anymore. anyway, this is super good. try it
4. 64% dark chocolate tart: this dessert of theirs is pretty famous. it's good, but i've tasted equally good ones elsewhere. nevertheless, greatdishto cap off a yummy night!

overall, i'm giving half saints 5 stars without reservations - not just for the food but also for the great service and the readily available parking at the basement (so rare for tomas morato restaurants...)

a tiny place near hi-top q.ave, half saints has delivered on my expectations!

saw this place at zomato when looking for a place where to have dinner - and just our luck, we got the last table when we got there.

true to the other reviews, the chicharon teriyaki is unique! it hits all the spots with the eccentric partnering of teriyaki, cheese, and seaweed. truly a must try!

the chicken con pollo was good! my boyfriend said this is much better than the one he had in macau. crispy edges, creamy rice, and soft chicken ( no knives needed!) - it was so flavorful! chicken wasn't overcooked, and the rice had contrasting textures of soft and crispy, while the sauce was seasoned well. a well deserved hi-five!

the best selling shiitake, goats cheese, and balsamic vinegar pizza is a combination not many people would think would go well together. thisdishproves it can! crispy, sweet, creamy, savory, and salty - the combinations and textures make thisdishworth of being called a best seller!

our desserts, tiramisu and 64% dark chocolate tart - were equally good as the savory dishes. as a fan of dark chocolate, i absolutely adored the chocolate tart sweet at first, with the bitterness slowly creeping up. add in a sprinkle of salt, and it boosts the sweetness up a notch! (bf had the tiramisu. he said it was delicious. a man of a few words, but honest words)

we commend the head chef, kitchen and bar staff, as well as the servers! food, ambiance, and service was great. will definitely be coming back here and letting others know that half saints serve up great food!

happy eating!

"our menu is a representation of our travels and incorporating them with a local touch to help promote native ingredients from different places in the philippines." 
i had the privilege of checking out half saints yesterday at g/f the ignacia place 62 sgt. esguerra ave., q.c. and meeting two of their co-owners joanna arciaga and christine roque.

as i looked through their menu, i asked christine what was the inspiration behind their food and this is what she said that really stuck with me, "our menu is a representation of our travels and incorporating them with a local touch to help promote native ingredients from different places in the philippines." 

upon entering the restaurant, i immediately loved the whole ambiance and vibe, it was minimalist meets industrial design. greeted with a glass of sangria, which is not for the faint-hearted. so if you prefer a sangria that surely packs a punch, then this one is for you. ;)

one of their best-selling starters is the chicharron teriyaki (php 295). their teriyaki-glazed chicharron is from camiling tarlac, served with whipped cream cheese and nori.  best eaten immediately and eaten in a one bite, wrap and roll style. this is probably one of my top picks! it is really good. a must-try!

i think i'm gonna say "this is my favorite" a lot in this post cause the food was really good. i genuinely enjoyed my dining experience here so, sorry in advance haha!

next is their humshuka (php 280). it is a fusion between cilantro hummus and shakshouka served with nacho chips. i really enjoyed this one, it is a comfort food. great for sharing while catching up with friends!

last but not the least in our starters is the great balls of fire (php 250). spicy risotto balls with shiitake mushrooms and mozzarella cheese served with their home-made marinara sauce. at first i was a hesitant to try it cause i am not allowed to eat spicy food but i got to eat 2 ahahahaha! cause it wasn't spicy at all!

humushuka x great balls of fire x sangria
they also serve puff pizza which is made from puff pastry unlike the traditional pizza dough which gives it a thin and flaky crust. anton ego would be delighted with their version of the ratatouille (php 325). thinly sliced tomato, eggplant and zucchini in a bed of marinara and topped with pesto is really a burst of flavor. *side note: their pesto sauce is really good!

here is another stand-out for me, this is their arroz con pollo (php 395). it's a chicken sofrito paella with a carribean flare. cooked and braised with coconut oil to give it that tropical flavor that best represents our country and weather :d i highly recommend this dish!

and another highly recommendeddishis their gallo pinto x rbm (php 495). inspired by the staple breakfast food in central america, it is dirty rice and beans with shredded beef. very much like a silog in philippine breakfast, they decided to kick it up a notch by adding eggs, bacon and a massive roasted bone marrow that will surely make you 20 years younger! hahaha! *side note: it is best to scoop a bit of marrow with every bite ;)

arroz con pollo (php 395) x gallo pinto x rbm (php 495) x ratatouille (php 325)
for my favorite part of every meal, it's now time for dessert! i've done a bit of research before going here and i am excited to try their 64% dark chocolate tart (php 220) which is made from 64% auro dark chocolate from davao in an almond sugar crust with whipped cream, topped with himalayan salt. i love dark chocolate so i already knew that i was going to love this, especially between the contrast of the bitterness of the chocolate and salt.  it is perfect with coffee!

aside from chocolate, i am a big fan of cheesecake. so when they served their tiramisu cheesecake (php 195), i was really happy cause it has the texture that i want in a cheesecake although i think it could have a stronger coffee flavor to give it that legit "tiramisu" flavor. but overall i was delighted with their desserts!

they also serve hot and cold coffee and some frozen drinks which is also worth checking out.

i enjoyed the food and had a great time. although it might be a little bit pricey, you can really see that you get what you pay for. definitely a must-try restaurant whenever you are in the area.

"food shouldn't only fill your stomach but it should also fill your heart with every story that comes with it."
xx

heads up: parking space is limited in this area. best time to go there would be a few minutes after it opens.

chicharron teriyaki - 💡💡💡 props for creativity! uniquely delicious!

dehydrated tomato & almond pesto with garlic sausage spaghettini - could use more salt since its on the bland side for my taste but still enjoyed it.

arroz con pollo - 🔥💛 totally in 😍 with this dish. creamy paelladishserved with extra tender chicken in the middle. really comforting. this is what you would want to eat to cap off your week! peeeerfection in a plate!

btw, half saints have staffs who are more than welcome to explain their menu to first time diners, feel free to ask them when you come in 😉

one of the best singledisharound tomas morato area! place is clean, aromatic, tho they dont have wifi. their chicharon is really a must try for 350php. i love half saints risotto paired with chocolate cake.

i'm giving this a 5.0 mainly because of the service and the quality of the dishes they gave us. we had mainly the best-selling ones, particularly: chicharon teriyaki, shiitake goat cheese and balsamic vinegar puff pizza, arroz con pollo, gallo pinto x rbm, beef lasagna, and 64% dark chocolate tart.

the chicharon teriyaki was a good starter. you wrap the teriyaki-glazed crunchy pieces of pork bagnet with seaweed with a hint of cream cheese as your "sauce." this appetizer truly starts your meal to have an expectation that the other dishes might just be as unique.

the pizza was unique as well, making use of danish-type or croissant type puff pastry. although the goat cheese might be a bit overbearing for some (too cheesy), it was nonetheless tasty and yummy. puff pastry was baked to perfection, the crunch and the inner pastry are just great. the balsamic reduction was sweet, perfectly complimenting the saltiness of the cheese.

arroz con pollo was the best. if you are only alone, this is what you have to order. chicken was cooked perfectly, it's their version of the "falls off the bones" type of protein meat. the paella was likewise the best. flavors were definitely there, plus they deliberately chose to "crunchy" the parts of the dish, serving it truly hot with those tutong pieces of rice which just makes thedishthree levels better than a typical chicken paella. 

gallo pinto x rbm was like a bibimbap. just mix everything and add the bone marrow to your every bite. it was good, but nothing too much to boast about. nonetheless, it is quite unique and the bone marrow was cooked perfectly. same review goes to beef lasagna. nothing spectacular, in my opinion. 

the dark chocolate tart is a must order. it compliments well with the sea salt that it comes with. it's like a very rich and heavy dark chocolate mousse. anyway, it's a good meal ender after tasting a number of their dishes.

would definitely come back.

i love it that the menu is short, and that the dishes are innovative and carefully chosen. there aren't any pictures on the menu, but the servers sure know how to describe eachdishto the last delicious detail. my friend and i shared the chicharon terriyaki and the pollo gallo x rbm. it was a wonderfully flavorful and satisfying dinner, and i can't wait to go back for more. ❤