When Now Now Canteen was officially announced as part of the inaugural MICHELIN Guide in the Philippines, they sent their line cook to receive the distinction instead of their founders or their executive chef. Director of Fermentation Bryan Kong told PhilSTAR L!fe that it was their way of appreciating the “unsung heroes” of their team—a reminder that recognition for them isn’t only for one person and that their kitchen “was never built on titles, only on hands that work with care and intention.”

That’s what you get to experience firsthand during your visit to this 97% waste-free contemporary canteen and fermentation lab in Mandaluyong, from the time you see the team work their magic in the open kitchen where all the action happens, to the moment your order finally arrives at your table. Everything here is handled with precision and care—not only because it should be as they work with live cultures to give their menu a new dimension, but also, and most importantly, because they believe that good food speaks for itself.

Complexity and creativity take center stage at this MICHELIN Selected spot, which had its soft opening in 2024 but only started becoming a cult hit the following year. It's seen in their interiors that resemble a laboratory and dishes that look like works of art, such as the colorful Tuna Crudo made with buko juice fermented in protein, julienned fermented sayote, and kombucha-brined singkamas; and the fancy Hoja Santa Veg Rolls served with fermented corn sauce. In mid-2025, they launched a cultural incubation and artist residency program called reNOWn, with talented artists like Isabel Reyes Santos and Celine Lee leading the conceptualization of multi-course degustations and offering limited-edition artworks for guests to take home.

At Now Now Canteen, you are reminded that good things take time—but they are, and will always be, worth waiting for.

Now Now Canteen is located at 497-C Rosa Building, Calbayog corner Esteban St., Mandaluyong City. It's open from Wednesdays to Sundays. Book a table via their official website at https://nownow.ph/.

Price range: P385-P4,490 for food; P180-P590 for drinks

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