Alyssa Valdez's Go-To Restaurants in Metro Manila

The Phenom also happens to be a foodie, and she has some top-notch recommendations for you.

When The GAME sat down with Alyssa Valdez and asked her what makes her instantly happy on a bad day, she didn’t even pause before she replied.

“Food!” she answered instantly, with the same contagious smile that she displays whenever she is on the court with her teammates.

For any athlete, food is a key part of the game because good nutrition is essential to performance. But for Alyssa, who’s dedicated her life to volleyball, it’s more than just fuel — it is also a big source of happiness and joy.

A foodie of the court, Alyssa loves a little adventure on her plate. She’s always open to trying new cuisines and dishes, but she also has a trusty roster of go-to restaurants, tried and tested spots in Metro Manila that never fail to satisfy her cravings.

Here are some of Alyssa Valdez’s favorite restaurants in Metro Manila!

Craving ramen?

One of Alyssa Valdez’s favorite travel destinations is Japan, a country known for its diverse food scene. And so, when it came down to listing her favorite restaurants in Metro Manila, Alyssa had to include her favorite ramen spot: “Siyempre, Mendokoro Ramenba.”

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(Photo credit: Mendokoro Ramenba on Instagram)

This is one restaurant that the Phenom highly recommends, especially for ramen lovers. Mendokoro Ramenba offers generous servings of ramen with thick noodles, perfectly charred pork, and their signature selection of uber-umami broths.

With generous servings and craveable flavors, Mendokoro is definitely a great spot to try out, especially if you’re an athlete like Alyssa, who is looking for something delicious and filling.

Craving Thai food?

Up there in Alyssa Valdez’s rankings of favorite cuisines is Thai food. Thailand is known for bursting flavors, combining sweet, salty, sour, and spicy ingredients in their dishes — think Pad Thai, Tom Yum, Green Curry, and Mango Sticky Rice.

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Did that get your Thai cravings going? If so, Alyssa has a great recommendation for you: “When you’re craving for Thai food, I recommend People’s Palace.”

(Photo credit: People’s Palace Thai on Instagram)

People’s Palace is one of the most popular Thai restaurants in Metro Manila, and for good reason. It has been hailed for its wide range of authentic and flavorful dishes and its modern and elegant ambiance for years, which is most likely why it is on Alyssa’s go-to list — you’re sure to get a great meal when you eat here.

Craving Italian food?

When you’re as active as Alyssa Valdez is — even when she’s not in the midst of training for a volleyball season, she loves to stay active with other sports like tennis and golf — carbs are a no-brainer. You need it for fuel. And a great cuisine for carbs is Italian.

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“Recently, I would say, I really like Italian food,” Alyssa revealed to The GAME. Her current go-to? a mano.

(Photo credit: a mano on Instagram)

The restaurateur behind this concept, Amado Fores, wanted to stay true to authentic Italian cuisine, which is why a mano, which translates to “by hand” in English, crafts delicious handmade pastas and pizzas. They opened their first branch in 2019, and since then, they have become one of the most popular Italian restaurants in the Philippines, and have even been recognized globally. Earlier this year, they were ranked No. 7 in the 50 Top Pizza Asia-Pacific 2025 Awards, making their pizzas a definite must-try.

So, which of Alyssa Valdez’s go-to restaurants is going to be your next reservation?

Banner images by Kitkat Pajaro, and from People’s Palace and Mendokoro Ramenba on Instagram.

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