VIA GRAPHIC PLUS — A good food trip leaves room for a little spontaneity. At Araneta City, more than 350 food brands come together across the City, making it easy to turn a simple meal into an afternoon or evening of eating well, with plenty of affordable and value-for-money options for every budget.
This season, the City’s dining scene has a few things worth seeking out. Lunch gets its own festival, a one-peso dish makes a surprisingly good excuse to order more, World Cellar turns dinner into a wine pairing experience, and even a rainy-day food court run comes with a little game. Here are five to put on the radar this BER season.
- Lunch gets its own festival
The Araneta City Lunch Festival brings together more than 60 restaurants across the City for special midday offerings. Starting September 1, participating restaurants will serve complete lunch sets – including appetizer and main course – starting at P399 only.
Available Monday to Friday, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the festival gives diners plenty of options for a weekday lunch. The list of participating restaurants may be viewed here: https://qrco.de/WKLunchFestival.
- A one-peso dish? Yes, please.
At World Kitchens on Level 4 of Gateway Mall 2, diners have another reason to order a little extra. From September 7 to October 31, 2026, qualifying single-receipt purchases come with the chance to get a dish for only one peso, putting an extra plate on the table for practically pocket change.
The promotion covers participating World Kitchens show kitchens, with a P3,000 minimum single-receipt purchase, while Dario Pizza & More requires a P1,600 minimum. It is a simple way to make a meal at World Kitchens a little more generous.
- Make dinner more interesting with wine
There is more to discover at World Kitchens beyond its many dining concepts. At World Cellar, wine becomes part of the meal through a Chef’s Table series that pairs carefully selected bottles with menus prepared by the international chefs at World Kitchens. Guests can reserve their seats for the upcoming Wine Dinners by registering through https://zfrmz.com/1SwAwDeby7KSxRxWGgJP
Recognized by Wine Spectator with an Award of Excellence, World Cellar offers around 4,000 bottles across 400 labels, with selections from established wine regions and the guidance of in-house sommeliers. Its Chef’s Table series and Friday Wine 101 classes further make wine more accessible to diners.
- A little game with your food trip
Rainy-season dining gets a playful twist with the Mix, Match & Win! Food Courts & Dampa Rainy Season Promo, running from September 4 to October 31, 2026. In partnership with Coca-Cola, diners can play a quick matching game featuring hidden Coca-Cola sodas for a chance to take home Coca-Cola merchandise.
The promo is available at Gateway Mall Food Express, Farmers Plaza Food Plaza, and Dampa at Farmers Market, with qualifying purchases starting at P300 at the food courts and P500 at Dampa, subject to the applicable Coca-Cola product requirements. Prizes include a Coca-Cola tote bag, umbrella, and waterproof bag cover.
- Highballs without the high price
For those looking to wind down after a day of eating, The Whisky Bar has a deal worth raising a glass to. For just P199, guests can enjoy two highballs, making it an easy stop for a casual drink with friends without stretching the budget.
It is a simple addition to a food trip, especially for diners who want to end the day with a refreshing drink and a little more time to hang out.
- A seafood season worth catching
For seafood lovers, the Diwal Festival at Seafood 8 by Olio’s offers a chance to enjoy one of the Philippines’ distinctive seasonal shellfish. Also known as the angel wing clam, diwal is prized for its elongated shell and tender, naturally sweet meat, and is particularly associated with the coastal waters of Western Visayas.
At Seafood 8 by Olio’s at the Ground Floor of Gateway Mall 2, the festival brings diwal to the city through special end-of-season offers. Available until supplies last, it is a timely chance to enjoy this much-anticipated seasonal catch.
- Mix, match, and munch on familiar favorites
Sometimes, a good food trip is simply about getting the classics. Pizza Hut’s Mix & Munch offers a convenient way to explore pizza flavors and combinations starting at P299, while Taco Bell brings value-focused picks such as Bell Savers and rice bowls starting at P139 to the table.
For something sweet to cap the meal, Dairy Queen’s Breakout Blizz offers a cool, creamy, and crunchy dessert. With several well-loved brands to choose from, it makes for an easy food crawl when everyone in the group is craving something different.
- Discover hotel dining beyond the usual mall stops
A food trip around Araneta City does not have to stay within the malls. Hotel dining spots offer another set of flavors to explore, including Gourmet Bar’s Green & Gourmet, a plant-forward food menu at Novotel Manila Araneta City, and Mexi Bites at ibis Styles Manila Araneta City, serving tacos, quesadillas, and other Mexican-inspired bites.
Araneta City’s dining scene brings together the breadth and variety that make a food trip worth making. This season, there is even more reason to keep the City of Firsts on the dining list.
Started in 1927, the Philippines Graphic is the longest-running printed magazine of national circulation that provides relevant news and features and promotes Philippine literature.
