Milky Way Cafe

Milky Way Cafe — Halo-halo legend. Old-school comfort. Pricey portions.

Casual Filipino cafe-restaurant; on the pricey side.

Menu Highlights:
– Signature halo-halo (often called among Manila’s best), plus Ginumis and house ice cream flavors
– Dinuguan with puto (timpla praised; meat texture divides opinions)
– Crispy pata
– Kare-kare
– Pancit luglug/palabok
– Lumpiang ubod and maya-maya escabeche
– Binagoongan, laing, chicken barbecue, tortang talong, ginataang kalabasa, molo soup
– Steak with mashed potatoes

Service Highlights:
– Generally warm, professional service; quick food once orders are taken
– Occasional lapses: slow order-taking, long bill-out, wrong billing
– Classic, vintage café ambiance; comfortable but feels dated to some
– Spacious and group-friendly; good for celebrations, balikbayan, and visiting friends
– Dessert counter vibe; also sells packaged/jarred items to take home
– Peak-time waits (e.g., Sunday lunch) can be long
– Mixed experiences with lobby/parking guards

Notes:
– Expensive for the portion size
– Rice quality called out as dry/cheap-tasting by some
– Limited vegetarian options
– Mixed feedback on specific dishes: dinuguan meat too lean/dry for some, sinigang too sour, inihaw na baboy gamey, pasta/pizza and bolognese bland
– Ambiance feels old; restroom is outside the restaurant
– Service consistency varies (from impeccable to inattentive)

Logistics:
– Located on the second floor of a building with several restaurants
– Parking/valet assistance reported as inconsistent
– One diner noted PWD access as only moderate

Customers come for the halo-halo and classic ice cream treats, and many say it’s among the best in Manila. Diners enjoy the old-school Filipino flavors—think kare-kare, crispy pata, pancit luglug, and binagoongan—served in a spacious, vintage café setting that feels like a throwback. A lot of folks say it’s a reliable spot for family get-togethers and balikbayan cravings, with a dessert counter vibe and even take-home goodies on the side.

The savory dishes get plenty of love, but feedback isn’t all one note. Dinuguan is frequently ordered; its seasoning earns praise, yet some customers mention the meat can be too lean and dry, and portions feel small for the price. Others happily report “real” flavors and comforting, home-cooked tastes. There’s also a chorus for the crispy pata and kare-kare, while a few diners call out hits like pancit luglug and steak with mash. On the flip side, some folks mention misses: sinigang that’s a bit too maasim, inihaw na baboy that tastes gamey, rice that’s dry, and Western-style pasta and pizza that don’t stand out. Vegetarian options are limited.

Service is often described as pleasant and professional, with quick food once orders are in, although a few visits ran into slow order-taking, very slow billing, and even a wrong bill. The ambiance leans classic and comfy, but some diners wish for a more modern refresh, and note that the restroom is outside the restaurant. Peak times, especially Sunday lunch, can mean long waits to be seated, and experiences with parking help vary—from helpful lobby guards to unhelpful interactions. Overall, diners come for the halo-halo and nostalgic Filipino comfort food, although the cost, portion sizes, and occasional service hiccups are fair caveats.