{"id":61476,"date":"2025-09-04T12:37:18","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T04:37:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/?p=61476"},"modified":"2026-02-02T14:34:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T06:34:15","slug":"halong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/location\/philippines\/makati\/legazpi\/halong\/","title":{"rendered":"Halong in Makati: Where Mexican Flair Meets Asian Soul"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"161\" data-end=\"564\">In the Ilonggo dialect, <strong><em data-start=\"185\" data-end=\"193\">h\u00e1long<\/em> <\/strong>means to handle with care, treat tenderly, appreciate, and cherish. It is often used as a heartfelt way of saying goodbye, an expression that conveys warmth, connection, and sincerity.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"161\" data-end=\"564\">True to its name, <strong>H\u00e1long<\/strong> in <strong>Makati<\/strong> brings these values to life, embracing diners with an experience that celebrates thoughtful cooking and heartfelt hospitality.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\" data-start=\"161\" data-end=\"564\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-61486 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Exterior-1-1024x615.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"615\" srcset=\"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Exterior-1-1024x615.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Exterior-1-900x540.jpg 900w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Exterior-1-290x174.jpg 290w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Exterior-1-768x461.jpg 768w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Exterior-1.jpg 1156w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><span style=\"font-size: 10pt\"><em>IMAGE from Halong<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"604\" data-end=\"1041\">At the heart of H\u00e1long is Chef and Owner <strong data-start=\"645\" data-end=\"659\">Cara Davis<\/strong>, whose culinary journey spans leading restaurants across the globe. Her extensive international experience, combined with her Asian heritage and seven formative years in Mexico, is what shapes the restaurant\u2019s distinctive identity. The result is a creative dialogue between Asian flavors and Mexican influences, an innovative fusion that feels both refreshing and deeply personal.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\" data-start=\"604\" data-end=\"1041\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1707\" height=\"2560\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-64233\" src=\"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/CHEF-CARA-DAVIS-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/CHEF-CARA-DAVIS-scaled.jpg 1707w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/CHEF-CARA-DAVIS-400x600.jpg 400w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/CHEF-CARA-DAVIS-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/CHEF-CARA-DAVIS-145x218.jpg 145w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/CHEF-CARA-DAVIS-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/CHEF-CARA-DAVIS-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/CHEF-CARA-DAVIS-1365x2048.jpg 1365w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1707px) 100vw, 1707px\" \/><span style=\"font-size: 10pt\"><em>Chef Cara Davis \/ IMAGE from Halong<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1094\" data-end=\"1751\">While H\u00e1long\u2019s menu changes with the rhythm of the seasons, several dishes have become favorites among loyal patrons. Diners return time and again for the <b>Crab Tinga Tostada. <\/b>Sweet crab sits atop a crisp tostada, layered with garlic chili aioli, carrot habanero pur\u00e9e, carrot escabeche, garlic chive mayo, and a hint of mandarin marmalade, creating a bright balance of heat, acidity, and freshness.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\" data-start=\"1094\" data-end=\"1751\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1707\" height=\"2560\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-64232\" src=\"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/CRAB-TINGA-TOSTADA-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/CRAB-TINGA-TOSTADA-scaled.jpg 1707w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/CRAB-TINGA-TOSTADA-400x600.jpg 400w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/CRAB-TINGA-TOSTADA-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/CRAB-TINGA-TOSTADA-145x218.jpg 145w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/CRAB-TINGA-TOSTADA-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/CRAB-TINGA-TOSTADA-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/CRAB-TINGA-TOSTADA-1365x2048.jpg 1365w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1707px) 100vw, 1707px\" \/><span style=\"font-size: 10pt\"><em>Crab Tinga Tostada (Php 580) \/ IMAGE from Halong<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1753\" data-end=\"2216\">Other highlights add to the experience, like the <strong>Grilled Baby Corn<\/strong>\u00a0served with chipotle crema, smoked feta, and kettle corn, a dish that elevates a humble ingredient into something unexpectedly luxurious.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\" data-start=\"1753\" data-end=\"2216\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-61487 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Baby-Corn-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Baby-Corn-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Baby-Corn-400x600.jpg 400w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Baby-Corn-145x218.jpg 145w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Baby-Corn-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Baby-Corn-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Baby-Corn-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Baby-Corn-scaled.jpg 1706w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><span style=\"font-size: 10pt\"><em>Baby Corn (Php 440) \/ IMAGE from Halong<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\" data-start=\"1753\" data-end=\"2216\">Finally, the dining experience can be wrapped up on a sweet note with the <strong>Sticky Rice Churros <\/strong>made of crisp Chinese five-spice milk crisps paired with creamy Horlicks ice cream and finished with nutty brown butter polvor\u00f3n for a satisfying, indulgent finale.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\" data-start=\"1753\" data-end=\"2216\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1706\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-64230\" src=\"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/STICKY-RICE-CHURROS-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/STICKY-RICE-CHURROS-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/STICKY-RICE-CHURROS-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/STICKY-RICE-CHURROS-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/STICKY-RICE-CHURROS-290x193.jpg 290w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/STICKY-RICE-CHURROS-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/STICKY-RICE-CHURROS-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/09\/STICKY-RICE-CHURROS-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><span style=\"font-size: 10pt\"><em>Sticky Rice Churros (Php 550) \/ IMAGE from Halong<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2253\" data-end=\"2719\">Designed to seat up to 36 guests, including bar seating, H\u00e1long\u2019s setting is intimate and inviting. Without the distractions of VIP or function rooms, the focus remains on the food and the shared dining experience.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\" data-start=\"2253\" data-end=\"2719\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-61485 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Interior-3-1024x674.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"674\" srcset=\"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Interior-3-1024x674.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Interior-3-900x593.jpg 900w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Interior-3-290x191.jpg 290w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Interior-3-768x506.jpg 768w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Interior-3.jpg 1154w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><span style=\"font-size: 10pt\"><em>IMAGE from Halong<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\" data-start=\"2253\" data-end=\"2719\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-61483 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Interior-5-1024x693.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"693\" srcset=\"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Interior-5-1024x693.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Interior-5-887x600.jpg 887w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Interior-5-290x196.jpg 290w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Interior-5-768x520.jpg 768w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2025\/08\/Interior-5.jpg 1132w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><span style=\"font-size: 10pt\"><em>IMAGE from Halong<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2253\" data-end=\"2719\">The restaurant\u2019s thoughtful approach extends to its dining policies: walk-ins are always welcome, though reservations are recommended, and guests are encouraged to come in smart casual attire to match the restaurant\u2019s refined yet relaxed atmosphere.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2740\" data-end=\"3006\">H\u00e1long opens its doors from Tuesday to Saturday, starting at 6:00 p.m. For those seeking a daytime indulgence, the restaurant offers a special <strong data-start=\"2882\" data-end=\"2950\">brunch every second Sunday of the month from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., <\/strong>a chance to experience the menu in a different light.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2740\" data-end=\"3006\">More than a restaurant, H\u00e1long is a reflection of its name: a space where every dish is prepared and served with genuine care. With its fusion of Mexican vibrance and Asian depth, paired with an intimate dining setting, H\u00e1long has quickly become a destination where flavors are not just tasted but cherished.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the Ilonggo dialect, h\u00e1long means to handle with care, treat tenderly, appreciate, and cherish. It is often used as a heartfelt way of saying goodbye, an expression that conveys warmth, connection, and sincerity. True to its name, H\u00e1long in Makati brings these values to life, embracing diners with an experience that celebrates thoughtful cooking and heartfelt hospitality.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":64234,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[196,99,5351,20,112,7668],"tags":[8022,7559,7557,7558,4081,313,8021],"class_list":["post-61476","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fusion","category-mexican","category-asian","category-legazpi","category-makati","category-contemporary-dining","tag-bib-gourmand","tag-chef-cara-davis","tag-halong","tag-halong-restaurant","tag-legaspi-village","tag-makati","tag-michelin-bib-gourmand"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61476","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61476"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61476\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64235,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61476\/revisions\/64235"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64234"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61476"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61476"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61476"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}