Best Filipino Restaurant in Manila – Inatô Tatler Asia 2025 Restaurant of the Year

Inatô Restaurant – Where Filipino Hospitality Meets Artful Innovation

Inatô, which means “our way” in Binisaya, is a vibrant reflection of Chef JP Cruz’s personal culinary journey—one deeply shaped by his time at Toyo Eatery and his explorations of Filipino flavors across the archipelago. At Inatô, the menu evolves with the seasons, featuring local ingredients interpreted through Filipino cooking techniques and global influences. Signature dishes such as northern-style pinakbet, grilled Pacific oysters with spiced coconut vinegar, and succulent meats and seafood crafted with a Filipino twist underscore the restaurant’s passion for authenticity and storytelling

The design—by Studio Ong—creates a deeply immersive dining environment that invites you into the kitchen’s world. The interiors integrate local materials like banana peel-inspired wall textures, crushed oyster shells, ipil-ipil parquet flooring, and rice husk resin tabletops, articulating a narrative rooted in Filipino creativity and sustainability. At its heart lies a chef’s bar set-up that encourages communal dining and conversation—truly blending Filipino warmth with fine-dining intimacy

Beyond the design and dishes, Inatô delivers a dining experience that feels familial—diners sit shoulder-to-shoulder at the counter, becoming part of the culinary performance. The staff introduces ingredients, shares stories, and welcomes guests as if they were at home, making every visit feel personal and memorable