Toyo Eatery—best PH resto—looks back on its journey
Toyo Eatery has just been named, once again, the best restaurant in the country by Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. It was the lone Philippine-based entry in the top half of the list (Gallery By Chele is No. 72) — acclaim the resto has been receiving for six consecutive years.
It was also given the prestigious Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award for 2025, following other special recognitions from the body in previous years. It debuted as the One To Watch in 2018, then got the Sustainable Restaurant Award in 2023.
No matter how serious they are at their craft, the people behind Toyo still know how to have fun. That was evident at last Saturday’s party, where they celebrated their ninth anniversary.
“Toyo started as an idea, but more than that, it was a feeling—a way to cook, to serve, and to honor where we come from,” says May Navarra, who, along with her husband Jordy, opened Toyo Eatery in 2016.
I got to chat with her days after their win in Korea. “It wasn’t just about opening a restaurant. It was about finding a way to express Filipino ingredients, techniques, and sensibilities in a space that felt like home, but pushed things forward at the same time.
“The concept came together as a way to understand and explore the nuances of local food and ingredients that spoke to us. When we opened, we knew that Toyo wouldn’t be static—it would grow, evolve, and shape itself through the hands of the people behind it. Has it stayed true to the original idea? In spirit, yes. But the best part is that it has become more than what we first imagined it would be.”
They are still enjoying their trajectory, and though they’re already very much celebrated, they are not quite done building their empire yet, as the group is about to launch a new concept soon. In the meantime, we turned to the past to recall some of their milestone moments.
First dinner service
“When we began, we were a team of seven in the kitchen and four front of house. We announced we were open on our Instagram account which, at that time, had 20 followers, which included all 11 of us plus family members. We didn’t know if people would come, but people did! We were so nervous but also so happy that it all came together on day zero.”
Receiving the Miele One to Watch Award
“It was so unexpected but so deeply affirming. It was a little nudge for us because it really felt like what we were building had resonance beyond our restaurant.”
Panaderya Toyo, Inato
“Expanding beyond the restaurant meant finding new ways to tell our story. Each space has its own rhythm, but the heart and spirit at their core is the same.”
Noma cooking their menu
“The first year we joined Gelinaz! (a global one-day chef/restaurant shuffle event), the menu we created went to Noma. Seeing a team like theirs interpret our flavors is still so insane to imagine to this day.”
Working during the pandemic
“While restaurants around the world eased up on their dining restrictions, the Philippines was still stuck on takeout and dine-out. We knew we still wanted to join Gelinaz! that year because we wanted to give guests some semblance of normalcy amid the madness. We invited some friends from the industry to take part in the event, and we had this whole drive-thru/dine-out experience in the parking lot of the Karrivin compound. People would drive by a station for slushies and trays would get served to them at their cars, drive-in-style. Given the limitations, it came together pretty well.”
Flooding
“A couple of months ago, there was a wild storm that hit Manila. It was the first time we experienced a flash flood like this in the compound. In the middle of the night, knee-deep water entered the restaurant. The following day, the entire team came together to clean the whole place up. Two days later we were back on our feet, cooking with chef Tam Chudaree Debhakam of Bangkok’s Baan Tepa who flew to Manila despite the storm. It was one of those moments that proved that no matter the challenge, we face it together.”
Barangay Toyo in Bohol
“Whenever we cook in other countries, we make it a point to take one or two people from our team along with us. But it’s always been a dream to take the entire team on a trip outside Metro Manila. Last year, we all boarded a plane to Bohol and just hung out there for a few days. It was the best.”
Toyo Eatery is located at 2316, The Alley at Karrivin, Karrivin Plaza, 1231 Chino Roces Ave Ext, Makati.
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