Habanero Kitchen Bar

Aside from the very aesthetic vibe of Cubao Expo, Habanero Kitchen is definitely one of the most worth-visiting restaurants in the area. If you’re planning to dine here, make sure to bring a lot of patience because the place is almost always jam-packed, especially on weekends. The waiting time can be long, but trust me — it is absolutely worth it. We are regular customers here, and Habanero Kitchen has never disappointed us. Every visit feels consistent in quality and taste. Our go-to orders are their Habanero Lechon with Mustard, the Triple Cheese Pizza, and their Truffle Pasta — all of which are always flavorful and well-prepared. Despite the crowd, the overall dining experience is still enjoyable. The cozy ambiance, great food, and lively atmosphere make it a perfect spot for food trips with friends or family. Overall, Habanero Kitchen remains one of our favorite dining places in Cubao Expo and a must-try for anyone visiting the area. Highly recommended for food lovers who don’t mind waiting for really good food!

Located in the eclectic heart of Cubao Expo, Habanero Kitchen Bar is a favorite for its bold flavors, but the experience requires some planning. We waited for more than 30 minutes to get a table, which is quite common for this popular spot. One thing to keep in mind is that most of their seating is al fresco. This can be a bit of a struggle during hot weather, especially if you are dining with seniors. Luckily, when our turn finally came, we were seated in the air-conditioned area on the second floor, which made the experience much more comfortable. Logistically, visiting Cubao Expo can be a challenge because there is virtually no dedicated parking, or at least not enough for the crowd it draws. We opted to park at Gateway Mall and just walked the rest of the way, which is a much more reliable strategy than circling the narrow streets of Cubao looking for a slot. Overall, everything was good. The atmosphere on the second floor saved the experience from the heat, and the food lived up to the hype. I’m looking forward to trying their new branch on Don A. Roces Avenue soon—hopefully, that location offers a bit more convenience when it comes to parking!

The only thing i hate about this dining experience is the ending. Had no expectations or hype about the social media claims. I will definitely go back here. The service is good, they have communication device to keep everything organized.

Had dinner in Habanero with my friends/team mates at work. The kitchen+bar has an airconditioned 2nd floor which was great. Food serving size is good. We ordered camote chips, habanero 3 cheese pizza, 1/2 kilo habanero lechon and oyster sisig (winner!) And rice, of course 😅

Good looking and great tasting food! I was mesmerized as to how sharing plates are indeed for sharing as we almost did not finish them (we were a group of 3 btw). The best part is the pizza where under the cheesy exterior is a creamy filling and best paired with their mango habanero hot sauce. I also appreciate how intricate they are in the details of the dishes. One thing that can be improved is the texture of the sous vide beef as it feels like ham rather than soft beef. Apart from it, a little contour on the aesthetic of the place can elevate the experience.

After seeing so many good reviews for Habanero, I finally decided to stop by on December 23rd to see if it lived up to the hype. I arrived around 5:00 PM to find the place already packed. I put my name down for a party of three and was told I was fourth in the walk-in queue. Interestingly, right after I gave my number, I ran into my friend’s sister—she was checking in for her own group of three and ended up right behind me, fifth in line. While waiting, we headed to a nearby shop to kill some time. Surprisingly, after only 15 minutes, my friend’s sister—who was behind me in line—got the call that her table was ready. Confused as to why they skipped over me, I headed back to Habenero to check. The staff claimed they had tried calling but had the wrong number; however, when I checked their log, the number was perfectly correct. I never received a call, but fortunately, they managed to seat us just a few minutes later. We ordered Camote Chips, Tortang Talong, ​We ordered a spread of Camote Chips, Tortang Talong, Lechon Kawali with Bagoong Rice, and Caldereta Longganisa. ​ ​Camote Chips - A great portion size with a generous serving of cheese sauce and fresh tomatoes. ​Caldereta Longganisa - This had a distinct caldereta flavor with a peppery kick. The inclusion of charred cabbage was a nice touch, as it helped mellow out the spice. ​Lechon Kawali with Bagoong Rice - A solid, standard dish; it tasted fine but didn't stand out as much as the others. Tortang Talong-This was uniquely crispy-coated. While the menu mentioned truffle oil, I couldn’t actually taste it. However, the crispy dilis and bonito flakes were excellent additions that complemented the eggplant well. Overall, the food is good. I like it. The menu is quite extensive that it’s definitely worth a return visit to explore other dishes. ​ While I like the food, I am very particular on customer service. The staff’s service could be improved, particularly regarding the accuracy and organization of the waitlist. Since people are willing to travel and wait specifically for this place, it’s important not to frustrate them with booking errors. Proper staff orientation on queue management would go a long way. ​ The vibe matches the rustic, artsy feel of Cubao Expo, but be prepared for the heat—the ground floor is not air-conditioned. ​There is a handy handwashing station inside the restaurant. ​There are no private restrooms inside. You have to use the common Cubao Expo toilets, which require a ₱5 fee. Parking is limited.

The food here was really good. There was a long line when we arrived but the wait wasn’t too bad. They have alfresco dining downstairs and an air-conditioned area upstairs. It gets hot outside, which is expected with the weather here. Service was great, the waiters were very helpful and attentive. As for the food, everything was tasty. The pizza was the best for me, super crunchy and flavorful. The mango sauce was spicier than I expected though. The lamb kaldereta was also amazing, very rich in flavor and definitely worth trying. The lechon was just okay, a bit bland even with the vinegar. The tortang talong was interesting, cooked more like okonomiyaki with a lot of beef. It was good, but the beef kind of overpowered the eggplant. The spam fries and wings were average, nothing too special. Overall, it was a fun experience. A bit on the pricey side, we spent around 5k but we did order a lot.

Our family came habanero on a saturday 1pm, you have to have your name listed and leave your name and number as its packed and parking is first come first serve basis. Food we ordered was for sharing and it tastes was amazing except for the wings which the flavor was confusing. Invited my family which has never had food here and they said food is worth the wait. Will probably come again with another batch or people. Ps. What we ordered is too much for 4 people and we have the rest for togo and also we were seated outside so theres a smell of tabaco smoke outside which was the downside.