A big win for one of our own
The team at Sarsa has much reason to celebrate today.
The MICHELIN Guide is in the Philippines, and Chef JP Anglo’s humble culinary camp in his home of Makati has been awarded a Bib Gourmand at the ceremony hosted today, 30 October – a recognition of great restaurants that don’t break the bank without compromising on the fare.
Sarsa, helmed by one of Dubai’s very own, is real, raw and free from fuss and frills, serving honest effort and a razor-sharp focus on flavour over form. The space itself is simple and stripped back, with green-accented walls, traditional screen dividers, marbled tiles, rattan lamps, wooden tables and a cool, casual ambiance perfect for laid-back dining.
Day in and day out, diners gorge on generous sharing portions of Negrense-forward, Filipino staples such as kinilaw and lechon manok, turon a la mode and boodle sa bilao. Besides the permanent location, the team also travels around the country, a kitchen trailer in tow, cooking up a storm in scenic locations.
The ethos of Sarsa is not that much different from that of Kooya Filipino Eatery, Anglo’s venture here in Dubai – taking on somewhat of a nomadic form, homing in kitchens in locations around the city, and now most recently having set up at Market Island Food Hall in Dubai Festival City Mall, and a stall in Global Village – JP-Q by Kooya.
The mission remains constant – to put Filipino food up there on the world culinary map. That with every bowl and bite a diner enjoys, he or she discovers or rediscovers the colour and joy of Filipino cooking. Sarsa came first, and then Kooya, but both have found a firm spot in foodie circles as some of the places to go to for authentic, elevated Filipino fare.
A new era of dining for the Philippines
The decision to bring the MICHELIN Guide to the Philippines was first announced this February, and that has come to fruition today with the announcement of the 2026 Guide covering spots in Manila, Cebu and the regions of Pampanga, Tagaytay, and Cavite.
Asador Alfonso, Celera, Gallery by Chele, Hapag, Inato, Kasa Palma , Linamnam, Toyo Eatery, all receive one MICHELIN star each. Helm made history as the first and only two MICHELIN star in the guide. The MICHELIN Green Star, was awarded to Gallery by Chele, the first Philippine restaurant to receive the distinction.
@sarsa_mnl, @kooyafilipinoeatery, @michelinguide
Image credit: Supplied
Deeply passionate about food, culture and community, Manaal loves telling extraordinary stories of ordinary people. Besides sniffing out a tale to tell, her favourite things to do include binging true crime documentaries, chasing cats on the streets and curating a good outfit.
