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, and 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.

The Google rating sits at 4.7 across 209 reviews — a score that holds up under volume, which matters more than a high rating with a thin review base. 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 is worth considering 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
• Google rating: 4.7 from 209 reviews

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

FAQs

• Is Txanton good for a special occasion? Yes, with the right expectations. Txanton holds a Michelin Plate and has appeared twice on Opinionated About Dining's Asia rankings, so the cooking delivers. But the room is relaxed rather than formal, which makes it a good fit for occasions where the food is the point rather than the setting. If you need a more theatrical space for a celebration, Gallery By Chele provides more ceremony.
• Can I eat at the bar at Txanton? Bar seating specifics are not confirmed in available data. Given the Makati location and Spanish format, it's worth calling ahead to ask about counter or bar options , but don't rely on walk-in bar access for a guaranteed seat.
• What should I order at Txanton? Specific menu items are not confirmed in the public record, so avoid anyone telling you with certainty what's on right now. The safest approach: ask the kitchen what's current when you arrive, and trust the Michelin Plate-level cooking to guide the selection. Chef Justo Rodrigo Lopez leads the kitchen, and the Spanish format generally centres on shared plates and house specialities.
• Is Txanton good for solo dining? It's a practical choice for solo diners. The accessible format and relaxed room mean you won't feel like a table-for-one outlier. For solo dining in Makati with a similar quality register, Helm is worth considering as an alternative.
• What are alternatives to Txanton in Manila? For modern Filipino at a higher formality level, Toyo Eatery and Gallery By Chele are the clearest benchmarks. For creative cuisine with a different approach, Locavore is worth a look. For Western-leaning dining, Antonio's and Antonio's Restaurant in Tagaytay cover that ground. See our full Manila restaurants guide for a wider view.
• Is lunch or dinner better at Txanton? Lunch is the better call if you want flexibility and a lighter commitment. Txanton is open from 11am daily, and a midday visit lets you experience the kitchen at full capacity without the evening crowd. Dinner works if you want to make an evening of Makati, pairing it with the city's bar options afterward.
• Does Txanton handle dietary restrictions? No specific dietary policy is confirmed in the public record. Spanish kitchens often rely heavily on pork, shellfish, and gluten-containing ingredients, so flag any restrictions clearly when booking. Contact the restaurant directly before your visit , no phone or website is published in current available data, so approach via the reservation platform you use to book.