Holy Week is just around the corner, and many of us are already thinking of where to score delicious, Lent-friendly meals for the family.
Whether you’re looking to try something new or want to rediscover an old favorite, here are eight restaurants offering mouthwatering Lenten specials or year-round Lent-friendly dishes – for every kind of budget!
Who says you have to give up your favorite comfort food this season? With Kenny Rogers Roasters, you don’t have to! They have a great selection of seafood dishes – from their Crispy Fish Fillet Sandwich to the heart-friendly Grilled Salmon Meal with your choice of sides.
Photo courtesy of Kenny Rogers Roasters
For something zesty and flavorful, open up your Grab or FoodPanda apps and order Asian Shrimp Tacos from Casa Crawford (of Billy and Coleen fame, of course)!
These bad (but good!) boys are generously stuffed with crispy breaded baby shrimps, Asian slaw, and wasabi mayo, offering an explosion of flavors in every bite. Not to mention, they’re pretty filling, too!
Photo courtesy of Casa Crawford
Also available via GrabFood and FoodPanda, 24/7 Super Healthy is a must-try for healthy meals that are generally available all year round!
Their bestsellers include the Eggplant Katsudon Rice Bowl (breaded eggplant, sesame seeds, pickled red onions, tonkatsu sauce, garlic), Crispy Tofu Curry Rice Bowl (curry rice, crispy tofu, cilantro sauce) and Falafel Rice Bowl (crispy falafel balls, brown rice, fresh salad greens).
With most bowls priced at a mere Php120 to Php280, they’re definitely value for money – plus great for your health.
Kapampangan favorite Manam has some scrumptious Lenten specials up its sleeve! This year, the restaurant is offering a delicious Lenten menu for those down for some classic Pinoy fare.
Their Shiitake and Tokwa Kare-Kare is a welcome twist to our local peanut stew, featuring shiitake mushrooms, banana heart, petchay, tofu, and sitaw. Meanwhile, Hoy Gising Gising! is a special ode to one of their bestsellers, with this version putting the spotlight on string and winged beans with bagoong, chili, fish sauce, and honey.
And perfect for breastfeeding moms, Manam is offering Laksa-Style Halaan Soup with Crispy Sili Leaves and Mais! If that doesn’t make you run to your nearest branch, we don’t know what will.
Photo courtesy of Manam PH
For your Japanese katsu cravings, look no further than Saboten. Hailing from Shinjuku, Tokyo, this cutlet specialty restaurant offers an array of seafood sets for every taste and preference.
They have seafood combinations such as Shrimp and Tenderloin, Shrimp and Scallop, and Mixed Seafood (crab, shrimp and scallop). Their newest offering is the Tuna Katsu Set, which features sashimi-grade maguro!
Photo Courtesy of Saboten Philippines
We can’t think of a better place to get your fair share of Thai than Lime & Basil. Thankfully, Thai cuisine has an overwhelming range of non-meat choices that are packed with flavor – and this restaurant has a few of them!
Try Pla Som Rod – crispy tilapia paired with tamarind sauce, crispy shallots, and basil; or Pla Manao, their poached talakitok with Thai dressing. Also, you can’t miss their bestselling salad Yam Pla Duk Foo: crispy catfish, shredded green mango salad, spicy nuts, and Thai dressing. Yum!
Photo courtesy of Lime & Basil
Pro Tip: Make it a day trip and dine at their original branch in Alfonso, Cavite – nothing beats the warmth of Thai flavors coupled with the cool Tagaytay breeze and their quaint restaurant setup!
Didn’t expect pizza to make it to this list? Well, Angel’s Pizza made us think twice! This wallet-friendly pizza shop is the destination of choice for those craving for a late-night indulgence or a family feast.
Popular Lent-friendly variants include the Creamy Spinach Sushi Bake, Garlic Shrimp, and an unexpected crowd favorite, Garden of Eden – which comes laden with zucchini, eggplant, red bell pepper, white onion, mushroom, garlic, and basil leaves on a “garden” of melted cheeses!
Photos courtesy of Angel’s Pizza
The Wholesame Table is a bit pricier than your usual healthy food joint, but quality dishes and innovative concepts make dining here worth it.
Lent-friendly meals are available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Some of our top picks include their Forest Mushroom Toast (sourdough, wild mushrooms, spinach, sunny side up egg, truffle oil, mozzarella, emmental, and feta), Poke Bowl (raw salmon, wakame, Ifugao brown rice, Japanese mayo, ebiko, furikake, togarashi spice, pickled ginger, and romaine), and Nutty Garlic Pasta (spaghetti, roasted garlic pesto, olive oil, parmesan, and cashew cream).