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When choosing a Filipino restaurant to eat at, the Aristocrat Restaurant is probably going to be among the first places that will come to mind. It’s easy to see why The Aristocrat has endured for decades; their classic favorites like crispy pata and sinigang are unforgettable, and they also serve new dishes that cater to the fickle palates of modern-day Filipino diners.

The Aristocrat Restaurant’s specialty is their famous Chicken Barbecue. Served with a steaming, tasty cup of yellow java rice and seasoned with a thick peanut sauce, it’s no surprise that this dish alone keeps sending regular patrons back in droves for more.

A plate of sizzling gambas seasoned with loads of garlic is the perfect appetizer as it satisfies the hunger pangs without spoiling your appetite.

The Aristocrat Restaurant’s kare-kare is served with their own brand of bagoong.

For those who don’t eat meat for health or personal reasons, the lumpiang ubod (above) and kilawin (below) are tasty vegetarian options.

One of the things I wondered about as I ate my food was why The Aristocrat was named, well, The Aristocrat. With a name like that, you’d expect the restaurant to be a fancy five-star place serving European nouvelle cuisine but like most Filipino restaurants, The Aristocrat is a very informal place. Maybe the name of the restaurant was influenced by the times - they first opened their doors during the height of the American occupation, and I suppose a restaurant with a Filipino name wouldn’t have attracted as many people. It wouldn’t make any sense to rename the place either since The Aristocrat is practically a household name when it comes to Filipino food.

The Aristocrat Restaurant can be found at Makati City, Malate, Robinson’s Place Manila, SM Mall of Asia, SM North Edsa, SM San Lazaro, Subic, and The Block.