Dishes to wow your friends & coworkers
Christmas is fast approaching, which also means it’s time for the back-to-back Christmas parties. And if you find yourself invited to several potluck dinners, coming up with something to bring that’s not spaghetti and lumpiang Shanghai can be a challenge.
Not to worry, though. We’ve made a list of Metro Manila places for potluck dinners for dishes that’ll surely be a hit with party guests even if they’re not Shanghai.
1. Inihaw ni Madam – street-style barbecueÂ
Barbecued pigs’ ears
Image credit: @inihawnimadam
If you and your friends have fond memories at ihaw-ihaw (grilled food) stalls, you can bring your inihaw (grilled food) favorites to your party with street-style barbecue from Inihaw ni Madam.
The place doesn’t only sell barbecued pork meat but also pork skin, small and large intestines, and ears cooked over coal for a true Pinoy barbecue experience. These start at P10 (~USD0.20) apiece.
Their barbecue comes with mouth-watering sauces such as sweet chili and chili garlic with vinegar. You can also get a side of atsara (pickled vegetables) to cut the fat.
They accept same-day delivery and you can get your orders delivered through your preferred third-party courier.
Address: Doña Aguirre Street, Pilar Village, Las Piñas, Metro Manila
Telephone: 0917 898 4084
Inihaw ni Madam’s Facebook | Instagram
2. PizzaExpress – handcrafted pizza from heirloom recipes
PizzaExpress’ heritage pizzas
Image credit: @pizzaexpressph
Elevate your pizza party this holiday season and get PizzaExpress‘ handcrafted pizzas that use recipes that date back to 1965.
Their heritage pizza recipes include Etna, a spicy pizza with roasted mixed peppers, sausages, bacon, mozzarella, and parmesan, and Pollo con Fungi which is chicken and mushrooms in creamy bechamel sauce). They also have a vegan option, Pianta, with vegetables such as mushrooms, pine kernels, and artichokes.
Their heritage pizzas start at P540 (~USD10.70) and you get free delivery for a minimum order of P1,000 (~USD19.82). To order, you can go to their website, call them on their mobile number, or find them on foodpanda, Pickaroo, or Grabfood.
Address: Ground Floor, Uptown Place Mall, 36th Street, 9th Avenue, Taguig City, Metro Manila
Telephone: 0917 703 0729
PizzaExpress’s Facebook | Instagram
3. WoosarapMNL – smoky baked samgyeopsal
Baked samgyeopsal
Image credit: @woosarapmnl
If you want to add Korean barbeque flavors to your potluck dinner, WoosarapMNL offers baked samgyeopsal.
It’s rice topped with beef strips, garlic slices, sauces, and cheese, then blowtorched to give it a smoky flavor. The platter also comes with packs of roasted seaweed to wrap the rice with.
A tray of baked samgyeopsal that’s good for 4 to 5 people costs P450 (~USD8.92), and the store also accepts bulk orders for events such as parties.
WoosarapMNL delivers orders every day at 12PM and 5PM with the help of their partner courier MoveX.
Address: Marikina City, Metro Manila
Telephone: 0920 966 9707
WoosarapMNL’s Facebook | Instagram
4. Tomo Japanese Dining – high-quality sushi
Maki set from Tomo Japanese Dining
Image credit: @tomo.japanese.dining
To impress your friends at your potluck dinner, bring high-quality sushi from Tomo Japanese Dining.
This Japanese restaurant offers trays with a wide variety of sashimi, maki, and sushi. Their maki set with avo ebi (shrimp) maki, spicy salmon maki, unagi boh (eel) maki, and 4 other types of maki, for instance, costs P3,140 (~USD62.23).
Tomo Japanese Dining offers in-house delivery in San Juan. Customers from other areas in Metro Manila can also book a third-party courier for pick-up.
Address: 137 Araullo Street, Addition Hills, San Juan City, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila
Telephone: 0977 859 7622
Tomo Japanese Dining’s Facebook | Instagram
5. Pasta Al Dente – wide variety of pasta dishes
Seafood Aglio olio
Image credit: @pasta.aldenteph
Pasta Al Dente in Quezon City offers pasta trays beyond the usual spaghetti and carbonara.
Their Aglio Olio is loaded with seafood to give you your money’s worth. They also have Philly cheesesteak pasta and jalapeño poppers which are cheesy penne with meatballs and a kick of spice.
A serving of pasta that can feed 4 to 5 people costs P480 (~USD9.53) while one that can feed 8 to 10 people costs P850 (~USD16.88). You can also order their pasta with roast pork, baked lemon chicken, or beer-battered fish.
The shop requires 1 to 2 days lead time for orders. Pickup is available via third-party couriers.
Address: Quezon City, Metro Manila
Telephone: 0917 499 0628
Pasta Al Dente’s Facebook | Instagram
6. Puesto – vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian Asian food
Shrimp pad thai
Image credit: @janicasale
If you have friends that have strict diets, Puesto is a food spot where you can get vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian Asian recipes that everyone will like.
They have vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian versions of their pad thai (starting at P1,100/tray, ~USD21.80) and satay pasta (starts at P1,500/tray, ~USD29.73). As for proteins, you can get yangnyeom (spicy) and orange chicken or these dishes’ tempeh (fermented soybean) counterparts.
This provider considers three different types of diets in their offerings and also takes into consideration their customers’ food restrictions and allergies. This means you can message them to have certain products omitted from your order to keep your guests safe from allergy attacks.
You can have your orders picked up from their Quezon City store via your preferred courier service.
Address: 32 A Road 20, Barangay Bahay Toro, Quezon City, Metro Manila
Puesto’s Facebook | Instagram
7. Graze & Deli – grazing box with an impressive variety of inclusions
The Feast-in-a-Box
Image credit: @grazeanddeli.ph
Level up your Christmas potluck dinner by bringing a grazing box from Graze & Deli.
Their Feast-in-a-Box (starts at P7,500, ~USD148.63) is good for 10 to 15 people. It comes with wine, 5 kinds of cheese, 5 kinds of meat, caviar pie, fruits, crackers, chocolates, and more.
Since this particular grazing box is quite big, the shop needs a lead time of one week to make it. For pick-up, you will also need to use Grabcar or a similar car rental service.
Besides the Feast-in-a-Box and their savory grazing boxes, Graze & Deli also has dessert boxes with sugar cookies, cookie pops, and brownies for kids and kids at heart.
Address: Taguig City, Metro Manila
Telephone: 0905 257 5898
Graze & Deli’s Facebook | Instagram
8. Unica Jihan’s Kitchen – uses different chocolate brands for their chocolate chip cookies
Assorted cookies
Image credit: @unicajihanskitchen
If you’re tasked to bring the dessert, Unica Jihan’s Kitchen has chocolate chip cookies made with different chocolate brands to suit any chocolate preference. For instance, cookies made with Callebaut chips are more suitable for different palates while Valrhona is for people who love dark chocolate.
Besides chocolate chip, there are also cookies in white chocolate, red velvet, matcha, and mint flavors. A box of 24 cookies costs P740 (~USD14.66). They also have smores and Oreo-, Hershey’s- and Reese’s-stuffed cookies for P480 (~USD9.51) per dozen.
Cookies from Unica Jihan’s Kitchen can be delivered to your home or office by booking a third-party courier. The shop is currently taking holiday orders.
Address: Quezon City, Philippines
Unica Jihan’s Kitchen’s Facebook | Instagram
9. Vizco’s Cake Shop – famous strawberry cake from Baguio
Strawberry shortcake
Image credit: @eataerielle
In case you forgot that Vizco’s Cake Shop has opened its first branch in Metro Manila, here’s your reminder that you can now buy their cakes in SM Megamall, Mandaluyong.
Besides the popular strawberry shortcake (starts at P580, ~USD11.49), the Baguio-founded cake shop also offers other cake flavors such as mango, ube, and chocolate. There’s also the traditional Filipino fruitcake, krema de fruta.
If you want your Vizco’s cake delivered to your home, you can also reach out to one of their many resellers in Metro Manila.
Address: Building A, SM Megamall, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong, Metro Manila
Telephone: 0917 140 4659
Vizco’s Cake Shop’s Facebook | Instagram
Potluck dinner dishes for Christmas parties
Although we look forward to Christmas to catch up with friends at length, we might dread repetitive holiday food at different parties.
But thanks to food businesses that have unique offerings such as the ones listed above, you can avoid food fatigue and try out refreshing celebration food that may end up being your new favorite.
Also check out:
- 8 local online Christmas decor shops
- 10 unique Christmas gift ideas for exchange gifts
- 10 traditional Filipino Christmas food
Cover image adapted from: @inihawnimadam, @pasta.aldenteph, and @unicajihanskitchen