Chance Anies, the owner of the much-loved South Philly Filipino spots like Tabachoy, opened his second restaurant, Manong, in a spacious corner location on Fairmount Avenue. The best way to describe the new restaurant is to ask, “What if Outback Steakhouse was a Filipino restaurant?” The answer is, apparently, that there would be crispy pull-apart fried mushrooms, giant burgers, big crunchy salads, and a lot of fun to be had. The vibe is casual, with friendly table service and full bar.
With a spacious dining room and relaxed energy, Manong is great for groups, especially if you’re down to share. The ice cream (especially the pandan) is a nice treat to end the meal.
Owner Chance Anies has a young child and has clearly made space for other families to eat comfortably. Early in the evening, the restaurant is full of kids chowing down on fries, burgers, and lumpia.