MAKATI CITY — Chef Frances Tariga officially launched Tadhana Makati on May 15, 2026, bringing her contemporary Filipino dining concept back to Philippine soil after earning a Michelin Guide recommendation in New York City. The restaurant operates under MLG Hospitality, the upscale division of the Mama Lou Group, and is situated at the Levanto Building along Jupiter Street in Makati. Diners can expect a 10-course tasting menu that transforms classic Filipino comfort food using modern culinary techniques. The homecoming marks a significant moment for local gastronomy, as an internationally recognized chef chooses to invest in the Manila dining scene.
From Sampaloc to Seven-Star Kitchens
Tariga grew up in Sampaloc, Manila, before embarking on a global culinary career that started at the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai as a prep cook. She later worked as a private chef for an Emirati princess and then for a UAE ambassador to the United Nations, a position that ultimately relocated her to New York City. These early roles demanded long hours and relentless dedication, teaching her the standards of luxury dining at the highest level. She now applies those same standards to her homecoming project in Makati, aiming to elevate familiar Filipino flavors.
Building a Name Through Competition and Grit
Television competitions became a major turning point for Tariga, starting with appearances on Cutthroat Kitchen and Beat Bobby Flay before joining Top Chef Season 13. Her unfiltered personality and distinct Filipino humor made her a crowd favorite on the show, opening doors for future opportunities. In 2023, she won the first season of Morimoto's Sushi Master while sporting her signature neon green hair, infusing her omakaze with bold Filipino elements. That victory gave her the confidence to open Tadhana on Manhattan's Lower East Side in 2024, featuring a tasting menu deeply rooted in Philippine flavors.
Michelin Recognition Arrives Within Months
Within just five months of opening, Tadhana New York earned a recommendation spot in the prestigious Michelin Guide, a rare achievement for a Filipino restaurant abroad. The establishment was also named a Best New Restaurant of 2024 by TimeOut New York, adding to its growing list of accolades. For Tariga, this rapid critical acclaim proved that everyday Filipino food could compete within global fine-dining systems. The recognition validated her philosophy of celebrating familiar local dishes rather than chasing rare or exotic ingredients that most Filipinos do not regularly eat.
A Homecoming Rooted in Everyday Memories
The name Tadhana translates to fate, and Tariga believes bringing the restaurant to Manila was always meant to happen. While the New York location paused operations ahead of a planned move to Los Angeles, she seized the opportunity to open in Makati instead. Rather than focusing on heritage reconstruction or hard-to-find indigenous ingredients, Tadhana Makati highlights what she calls middle-class cuisine, the everyday street food and home-cooked staples of local Filipino life. Her opening menu draws heavily from childhood memories, featuring elevated versions of favorites like kwek-kwek, binatog, sinuglaw, and champorado.
What Diners Can Expect at Tadhana Makati
The 10-course tasting menu at Tadhana Makati treats familiar local ingredients with the same care typically reserved for luxury imports. One standout dish is the Tinapay, a warm laminated tingib cornbread made with croissant-style techniques, served alongside a savory tinapa mousse and dalandan-sherry marmalade. Another course features kwek-kwek presented in an annatto pie tee cup topped with smoked ikura, while binatog gets an upgrade with truffle comte espuma. The tocilog course arrives with French squab, its intact claw resting dramatically on the plate, followed by sinuglaw paired with Wagyu beef. Dessert offerings include a mango choux au craquelin reminiscent of a peach mango pie and a reimagined maja blanca with sweet corn caramel. The beverage program includes curated wine, sake, champagne, and samalamig-inspired mocktails, all served in a contemporary space playing modern Filipino hip-hop, with reservations available through OpenTable.
