At Tadhana, you get to rediscover Filipino food and leave with a little more pride
Through Tadhana, Chef Frances Tariga tells you a story.
The Michelin-recognized Filipino restaurant in New York recently made its way to the Philippines, particularly at La Reserve in bustling Bel-Air, Makati.
The name Tadhana—or “destiny” in English—feels especially apt.
In an interview with PhilSTAR L!fe, Tariga said the entire concept was inspired by her journey as a Pinoy chef who worked abroad for more than two decades. “After spending years in kitchens in Dubai and New York, I wanted to create something deeply personal.”
But instead of serving Filipino dishes as we know and love them, Tariga lets guests experience them in ways that feel both surprising and familiar.
“The restaurant is rooted in Filipino flavors and memories but expressed with contemporary techniques, premium local ingredients, and a global perspective,” she said. “I wanted Tadhana to show that Filipino cuisine can stand confidently on the world stage while still feeling soulful and warm.”
That idea unfolds course after course.
Among the standouts on the tasting menu is something personal to Tariga: the Pa-Kwan made of watermelon, crispy rice cake, and miso honey. “This is dedicated to my vegan wife,” she said. “The dish reflects how vegetables and plant-based ingredients can still feel luxurious, layered, and deeply satisfying within a tasting menu format.”
Equally memorable is the Ginat-an, which combines coco custard, blue crab, seafood velouté, squash, and Kaluga caviar. The result is a creamy, savory, rich, and comforting dish that evokes nostalgia.
What elevates the entire journey, though, is the Inihaw at Gulay: Iberico Secreto glazed with banana ketchup and paired with pickled pakbet vegetables and grilled kardis. “This really captures the direction of Tadhana,” Tariga told L!fe. “It has Filipino flavors presented with refinement while still keeping the soul of inihaw cooking and vegetable-forward Filipino cuisine.”
Beyond the food evidently made with precision and care, Tariga hopes guests will feel "emotionally connected" when they dine at the restaurant. "I want them to feel a sense of pride and familiarity, as though they are rediscovering flavors and stories they already know, but in a completely new way."
Tadhana, after all, is meant to spark something deeper than having a happy tummy and a satisfied palate after a full-course meal: a reminder that Filipino cuisine has never lacked greatness—just more opportunities to be seen and celebrated.
Tadhana is located at 389 Levanto Building, Jupiter Street, Bel-Air, Makati City. It's open from Wednesdays to Sundays, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Contact +63 920 944 2104 for inquiries and reservations.