8 Flavorful Halo-Halo in Manila to Help You Beat the Summer Heat

Address: 900 Pasay Road 2/F, Milkyway Building, Makati

For residents of Makati or even those who lived since the ‘60s, MilkyWay Café is known as one of the staples in the neighborhood. The restaurant started out as a small ice cream shop in 1962 but has since grown to offer sumptuous Filipino food. Some of their famous offerings include Baby Crispy Pata (Php1495) and MilkyWay Kare Kare (PhP625).

Although MilkyWay’s ice creams (PhP595/half gallon) are great companions this summer, their halo-halo (PhP225) is also one of their most known offerings. Milkyway’s version is a classic treat that follows their recipe from 1962; it contains preserved fruits, pinipig (toasted glutinous rice), and leche flan and is made better with their very own ice cream.

Another famous restaurant known for their halo-halo is Razon’s. Originally from Pampanga, Razon’s started out as a refreshment parlor in Guagua that offered simple afternoon snacks like hamburger, fries, and pancit luglug (thick glass noodles with shrimp sauce). But, of course, their most famous offering is their halo-halo (PhP115).

Razon’s version won many hearts because of its simplicity as it contains only three ingredients: leche flan, saging na saba (banana) and, macapuno (coconut sport). The owners pride themselves in using natural and freshly-cooked ingredients instead of preserved components, thus giving their halo-halo that signature taste.

Address: 528 Banawe Avenue, corner Calamba Street, Quezon City

Another brand from Pampanga that became known for their halo-halo is Kabigting’s Halo Halo. Flora and Jacinto Kabigting started their journey in a small sari-sari store in Arayat, Pampanga in the ‘70s where they also sold halo-halo. To make theirs unique, the Kabigtings decided to use unusual ingredients to stand out from the competition.

A Kabigting Halo-Halo (PhP105) contains sugared white kidney beans, pastillas made with carabao’s milk, and corn, which resulted in a sweet and salty but tasty dessert that became well loved by many Kapampangans. Today, the “Pride of Arayat” also branched out in Quezon City so Manilenos can also have a taste of their halo-halo.

For those who love a trip down memory lane, dining at Dekada Historic Filipino Cuisine is as nostalgic as it gets what with its interiors filled with knick-knacks from days of old. In addition to its interiors, Dekada’s food is also an homage to our heritage serving both classic and contemporary versions of our favorite Filipino dishes.

Among the classic items on the menu is their halo-halo under the name Proclamation No. 1081 (PhP168). Although it’s named after the proclamation for Martial Law, there’s nothing scary about this halo-halo—it’s just pure bliss. Served in a coconut shell, you’ll get your usual favorite ingredients including jackfruit, coconut shavings, ube, various kinds of beans, and more with a cherry on top! The syrup is also set aside so you can control the sweetness of your dessert.

Read: 5 Places to Get your Halo-halo Fix with a Twist!

Kuya J may be known as a Filipino restaurant, but it is their halo-halo that’s been making waves for years now. The brand started out in 2005 in Cebu, and it slowly became well-known in Manila. The restaurant offers classic Filipino fares like Crispy Pata (Regular PhP549/Family PhP695), Kare-Kare (PhP435), and Pancit Canton (PhP180). Going back to their halo-halo (PhP109), Kuya J’s version has become a favorite thanks to the unique texture of its ice. Unbeknownst to many, Kuya J uses frozen milk instead of frozen water to give their halo-halo a creamy consistency that doesn’t easily melt.

They also serve three variations of their halo-halo namely Halo Halo Espesyal, their classic halo-halo; Ube Halo Halo which using ube-flavored frozen ice to make the halo-halo extra flavorful; and Saba Halo Halo, a more simplistic halo-halo using only sweetened banana, jackfruits, and tapioca pearls.

Another oldie but goodie on our list is Icebergs. The shop started way back in 1986 as a small halo-halo eatery in Timog Avenue but has since grown into a full-pledged restaurant serving various desserts and some savory dishes as well.

If there’s one dessert that made Iceberg famous, it’s their Super Halo-Halo (PhP128). Iceberg pioneered the ‘flipped’ serving of halo-halo where the ice is at the bottom of the glass and the ingredients are highlighted at the top. Aside from the presentation, their halo-halo brimming with various sweets from ice cream to leche flan, and cornflakes made it a popular and classic choice among many.

Read: Top 6 Best Halo-halo in the Philippines 2017

Sentro 1771 features a menu filled with classic and eccentric dishes like Sinigang na Corned Beef (PhP595). After tasting their extensive offerings, end your time with Sentro 1771 by ordering their Halo Halo (Small PhP75/Big PhP150).

Sentro 1771 sticks to the classic way of preparing this dessert, but they made sure to use only the best ingredients. Made with red mung beans, nata de coco, and sweetened garbanzos, their halo-halo is made better with their leche flan and ube made in-house.

Address: Ground Level, The Grove by Rockwell, E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue (C5), Pasig

If you’re willing to splurge on a good glass of halo-halo, one restaurant to consider is Chef Jessie Grill. For a whopping PhP300, the price might make you want to think twice before ordering, but for this price you’ll taste a cup of halo-halo made by an award-winning chef, so why not go ahead and try it?

The restaurant’s president, Josefina Sincioco, is a multi-awarded chef who has cooked for Pope Francis in 2015 and for the ASEAN Summit in 2017. The restaurant’s version of halo-halo will leave you pleasantly surprised as it is made with homemade ingredients such as sweetened banana and kamote, jackfruit, tapioca pearls, red beans, jellies, macapuno, and kaong. The dish is elevated by ube ice cream plus ube halaya (yes two ube!) and a square of leche flan with a hint of lime.

Check out our list of restaurants in Metro Manila that serve halo-halo or browse the Dining & Leisure category of the ShoppersGuide Directory.