Top 5 Best Cafes and Restaurants in University Belt

We start our countdown with Potato Giant, a food stall which serves potato snacks. Their flagship product is the potpot, or fresh and crispy potatoes cut thicker than a potato chip but thinner than Mojos. Other potato-based snacks include cheesy fries, mozzarella potato balls, mozzarella pockets, twister fries, French fries, and hash brown. They also have chicken nuggets and buffalo bites.

Potato Giant was conceptualized by De La Salle University alumni John Jeric Cantillon. It started out as an outlet in a food court near De La Salle University – Manila before branching out to different universities across Metro Manila.

Students looking for a decent meal near the Philippine Women’s University area can head to Nitz Restaurant. Opened in 1977, Nitz Restaurant is a cafeteria-style self-service restaurant which has been in business for over 40 years. Nitz offers a wide array of affordable home-cooked meals. They serve short-order meals priced at PhP100 or less, as well as equally budget-friendly merienda (snacks) and dessert items. They are famous for their lasagna, which at PhP85 is a steal. With printing, photocopying, and free Wi-Fi services, student on snack or lunch break can also run school errands after they eat.

For burgers that are easy on the wallet, students studying near the University of Santo Tomas (UST) flock to Yvan Navy Burger and Kebab House. They are most famous for their burgers, particularly the quarter pounder (PhP50) and double quarter pounder (PhP100). They use 100% pure beef patties grilled on volcanic rocks to achieve their signature taste. Burgers are cooked only upon ordering. They can also make custom burgers in different sizes according to customer preferences. Other items on the menu include beef kebabs, chicken kebabs, Hungarian sausages, tacos, nachos, pasta, burritos, and quesadillas.

Another place to hang out in the UST area is Café UK-Co. Café-UK is a concept coffee shop which specializes in vacuum-brewed coffee. They serve their signature vacuum coffee alongside coffee shop mainstays like coffee-based or milk-based Frappuccinos, smoothies, espresso, cappuccino, mocha, and macchiato. They also offer an all-day breakfast plate aside from a selection of cakes and pastries, pasta dishes, and appetizers. To make their customers’ stay enjoyable, the three-storey coffee shop is equipped with modern amenities like iPad units on coffee tables, drafting tables, ventilated smoking lounge, and free 10 Mbps Wi-Fi.

Many students love to eat and hang out at Amo Yamie Crib Coffee and Movie House, and for good reason. The cutesy interiors, delectable frappes, and cheesecake flower pots of this concept café are all Instagram-worthy. Here, patrons can sit in regular chairs, cozy up with their friends in one of many cribs, or stay at honeycomb-like enclosures for studying, chilling out, or whatnot. Friends can bond even further by watching a flick at their private mini movie theater.

Amo Yamie serves hot or iced coffee, ice-blended coffee, milkshakes, milk tea, and fruit teas. They also have waffles, burgers, fries, and tacos.

Have you visited the cafes and restaurants above? Let us know in the comments section below!