XO 46 Heritage Bistro in Makati: A True Filipino Dining Experience
Updated as of April 17, 2020
XO 46 Heritage Bistro in Makati is considered to be a showroom of Filipino cuisine. The restaurant is the place to go if you want to experience Filipino culture and heritage through food. XO stands for extraordinary, telling of the restaurant’s offerings, while 46 commemorates the year the Philippines gained independence from the Americans (1946).
The restaurant is put by Andrew and Sandee Masigan, who are also the owners of The Advent Manila Hospitality Group in the Philippines. Calling on his family’s culinary treasure trove of dishes, Andrew spent a year in intensive research and development.
He also borrowed a page from the dinner service at his aunt’s house: white gloves, beautiful tablescapes, and a distinctly “honorific” style of service that XO46 is now known for.
The restaurant’s interiors transport you back to the Spanish colonial period. Everything inside speaks the best of the Philippines – from the locally made table, chairs, accents, and decorations to the food and the glaring portraits of the Philippine presidents hanging on the wall. The restaurant celebrates tradition and the old slow way of things.
For starters, try the Empanadang Bilbao Ala Vigan (Php 395), which can be savored by adults and kids alike. You might also want to try the Binawang Na Sotanghon At Manok (Php 320) if you’re looking for something that’s a bit heavy as it is a noddle dish but still light enough to keep you hungry for the main course.
Empanadang Bilbao Ala Vigan (Php 395)
Binawang Na Sotanghon At Manok (Php 320)
Additionally, you might also want to give the Ukoy a try. This dish is composed of deep-fried shrimp and vegetables that will surely make for a delicious start to your journey.
Their most popular item is Kare Kareng Crispy Tadyang (Php 675) which is made with crispy beef ribs, fresh vegetables, and a creamy peanut sauce served separately in a bowl, with bagoong (fermented fish paste), the ubiquitous side for Kare-Kare.
For a true Filipino dining experience, head to X0 46 to get a glimpse of Filipino culture and heritage through delicious food.
How to get here
- XO 46 is located in Salcedo Village, Makati City.
- From Ayala Avenue, drive towards Paseo de Roxas and make a right after PBCOM. Make another right onto Valero St.
- XO 46 is located along Valero St., near the Velero Tower and the Sultan Mediterranean Grill.
This first appeared in Philippine Primer’s Japanese Magazine March 2020 and English Magazine April 2020 issues.
