Txanton

The Verdict

If you're choosing between Txanton and one of Manila's modern Filipino tasting menus, the answer comes down to what you're in the mood for. Gallery By Chele and Toyo Eatery will give you a more theatrical dining arc. Txanton gives you something rarer in Manila: a Spanish kitchen that earns a Michelin Plate recognition without the ceremony, the prix-fixe commitment, or the advance-booking stress. For Spanish food done with real discipline in a room that doesn't take itself too seriously, this is where to go.

What Txanton Is

Txanton is a Spanish restaurant on the second floor of the Alegria Alta Building on Chino Roces Avenue in Makati. The name references the Basque tradition, the kitchen is led by Chef Justo Rodrigo Lopez. The Michelin Plate it earned in 2026 signals that inspectors consider the cooking worthy of attention; not just passable, but good enough to single out in a city with serious competition. Opinionated About Dining ranked Txanton among Asia's leading restaurants two years running: #339 in 2024 and #377 in 2025. That consistent double appearance on a list driven by peer votes and repeat visits means this isn't a one-cycle anomaly. People who eat widely across Asia keep coming back and counting it.

At that count, the number is a reliable signal rather than a statistical fluke.

Why It Works for a Return Visit

If you've been once, you already know the room doesn't try to impress you with its décor. What holds the attention is the cooking. Txanton operates in a register that's relatively uncommon in Manila: Spanish food with genuine technical grounding, served in a format that doesn't demand you commit to a full tasting menu or dress a particular way. For a city where Spanish dining often skews either toward casual tapas bars or high-formality Spanish-European hybrids, Txanton occupies a useful middle position. The casual setting is doing real work here, it keeps the experience accessible while the kitchen delivers at a level the awards record confirms.

On a return visit, the practical logic is direct: Txanton is open Monday through Sunday, 11am to 10pm, which gives you genuine flexibility that many Michelin-recognised restaurants don't offer. Lunch here works if you want the full experience without committing an evening. There's no price range published in the public record, so budget accordingly by checking directly when you book, but the positioning as a neighbourhood-accessible Spanish restaurant rather than a destination splurge suggests it won't require the financial planning of, say, a full omakase or tasting menu evening. Booking appears to be direct relative to the city's harder-to-secure tables.

For Spanish food at a comparable level outside Manila, ZURRIOLA in Tokyo and BCN Taste & Tradition in Houston represent what the format looks like when it travels well. Within the Philippines, Asador Alfonso in Cavite is the closest regional reference point for Iberian-influenced cooking. In Makati itself, Helm is the most obvious comparison for serious, independently-run cooking at a similar register.

Who Should Book

Txanton works well for a two-person dinner where you want something with credentials but not a production. It suits solo diners who want to eat properly without the social weight of a tasting menu format. It's a reasonable pick for a low-key special occasion where the food matters more than the spectacle. It's less suited to large groups wanting a banquet format or to diners whose priority is a specifically Filipino dining narrative, for that, Toyo Eatery or Grace Park Dining by Margarita Forés are better fits.

If you're building a wider Manila dining itinerary, pair Txanton with something from our full Manila restaurants guide. The city's bar scene and hotel options are covered separately if you're planning around a longer stay.

Ratings and Recognition

• Michelin Plate (2026), inspectors flagged the cooking as worth a dedicated visit
• Opinionated About Dining, Asia Leading Restaurants: #339 (2024), #377 (2025), two consecutive appearances driven by peer voting

Practical Details

• Address: 2nd Floor, Alegria Alta Building, 2294 Chino Roces Ave, Magallanes, Makati City
• Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11am to 10pm
• Cuisine: Spanish, led by Chef Justo Rodrigo Lopez
• Booking difficulty: Easy, no evidence of extended waits or hard-to-secure reservations
• Price range: Not published; confirm directly when reserving