MAKATI CITY — A quiet corner on Jupiter Street has become the setting for a culinary homecoming. At the Levanto Building, Tadhana Makati translates the flavors of Filipino "middle-class cuisine" into a refined 10-course tasting menu that respects tradition while embracing global techniques. Chef Frances Tariga, whose journey has taken her from Sampaloc to Dubai, New York, and London, has returned to the Philippines with a mission: to prove that the food she grew up eating deserves the same celebration as its Thai or Vietnamese counterparts. The restaurant’s name, which means "destiny" in Tagalog, reflects the serendipity of bringing her Michelin-recognized vision home.
A Menu Rooted in Memory and Technique
The 10 course menu, comprising 16 distinct bites, takes everyday Filipino staples and elevates them through fermentation, dry-aging, and precise modern techniques. Dishes inspired by childhood favorites such as champorado, afritada, and taho appear reimagined without losing their local soul. The opening course, "Taho," presents silken tofu with arnibal syrup and sago pearls, deconstructed and served in a delicate ceramic bowl. Another course transforms the classic "Afritada" into a slow-braised beef cheek with tomato conserva and a crisp adobo flake. The tasting menu changes seasonally, but each iteration remains grounded in the chef’s memories of home-cooked meals and neighborhood carinderias.
From New York to Jupiter Street
Tariga’s path to opening Tadhana Makati was shaped by years of training in Michelin-starred kitchens and a stint as a personal chef for an Emirati princess. Her previous restaurant, Tadhana New York, earned a Michelin recommendation within five months of opening and was named a Best New Restaurant of 2024 by TimeOut New York. When the New York location paused operations for a planned relocation, Tariga saw an opportunity to plant roots in Makati. The Jupiter Street space, designed with warm wood accents and an open kitchen, encourages diners to watch the plating process up close, making the meal feel both theatrical and intimate.
Collaborations and Beverage Pairings
Tadhana Makati operates under MLG Hospitality, the upscale division of the Mama Lou Group. The beverage program features curated wine, sake, and champagne pairings, alongside samalamig-inspired mocktails that pay tribute to local street drinks. Diners can opt for a non-alcoholic pairing that includes a calamansi-based cooler and a pandan-infused soda, both crafted to complement the menu’s bright, fermented flavors. A dedicated tea service featuring local heirloom varieties is also available.
Accessible Luxury for the Filipino Diner
Despite its fine-dining ambitions, Tadhana Makati keeps its pricing accessible for the local market. Reservations can be made through the restaurant’s website or via the OpenTable app. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, Tuesday through Sunday, and is located on the fourth floor of the Levanto Building along Jupiter Street. For those seeking a taste of elevated Filipino cuisine that feels both familiar and new, Tadhana Makati offers a dining experience that honors the past while looking firmly toward the future.
