There’s just something about pasta that makes it super comforting. Maybe it’s the tenderness of the noodles; maybe it’s the warmth and flavor of the sauce; maybe it’s the lightheartedness of the chef (because pasta’s so easy to make lol) that propagates through the dish… Whatever it is, let’s just all give thanks to Italy for sharing with the whole world a type of dish that you can never say no to. Haha.

Because pasta’s so popular, it isn’t surprising for a non-Italian restaurant to include pasta on their menu. Hence, they’re kinda everywhere. Lol. But of course, not all pasta dishes are created equal, so here— go ahead and check out some of the best-tasting ones according to pasta base:

Tomato-based

For me, red sauce is the best type of pasta sauce because its flavor’s relatively strong and distinct. Plus, I love tomatoes. Lol.


Pancake House: Spaghetti (Php 189 – regular / Php 295 – large)
Its meatiness and sweetness make this the best-tasting spaghetti ever. ‘Meaty’ and ‘sweet’ describe the typical birthday party spaghetti, but this one is waaay better than that. It consists of pure ground beef, and it doesn’t rely on too much tomato sauce/paste. Overall, the dish seems so simple, but once you try it, you surely won’t get enough of it! Visit any of Pancake House’s 92 branches in Metro Manila now.

Trattoria Altrove: Gamberi e Olio d’Oliva (Php 385)
Trattoria Altrove serves really good and authentic Italian dishes, so it’s no surprise to find it on the list. What I love about this pasta dish is that you can definitely taste freshness with every bite. Also, the shrimps included are relatively large, and the flavor of the sun-dried tomatoes is just right (not too sour). Surely worth the price! Head over to their restaurant along Tropical Avenue (near Prep Camp) in BF International.

Cream-based

White sauce is good, too, but sometimes it can make you (or is it just me lol) feel too sated due to too much milk/cream. Nonetheless, I still have my white pasta favorites, including these two:


Pound by Todd English: Caramelized Bacon Alfredo (Php 130)

Although Pound is originally known for its burgers, but recently, they added pasta dishes on their menu. At first I didn’t consider it to be a big deal, so despite knowing about the new items on the menu, I continued to go there just for their burgers. But after a few more visits, I was finally able to try one of their pasta dishes (unintentionally, because my boyfriend ordered it without letting me know lol) and it was so yummy! I love how it’s so sweet and salty, and that its ingredients are proportioned perfectly. Try it now at either of Pound’s branches in Bonifacio High Street and SM Megamall.


Neil’s Kitchen: Pasta Carbonara (Php 350)

Neil’s Kitchen isn’t known for pasta dishes, too, so I’ve also been to their restaurant a number of times without trying out their pasta. And for some reason again, we finally tried their carbonara, and it turned out to be one of the best ones I’ve had! Though it’s a little pricey for a typical type of pasta, it’s still worth it because its serving’s really large— good for three to four persons. Bring your friends and family to Neil’s Kitchen at Westgate (Alabang) now, and get to feast on their carbonara!

Oil-based

Like cream-based, oil-based pasta’s delicious, but it can tend to be yucky when there’s too much oil. But anyway, as long as there’s enough garlic, then I’m good. Hahaha.


Applebee’s: Pasta Aglio (Php 345 – add shrimp for Php 150, chicken for Php 75, chicken and shrimp for Php 175)
I like Applebee’s pasta dishes in general, but this one’s my favorite. Why? You guessed it— there’s a lot of (spicy) garlic in it…and more garlic means more flavor. Lol. What makes it even more flavorful is the shiitake and dried tomatoes. Yum! Dine at Applebee’s in BGC or Eastwood for this awesome dish.


Mama Lou’s: Spaghetti Seafood Olio (Php 335)

Mama Lou’s servings are usually enough for two people, but I can easily finish this particular dish because it’s that delicious. The noodles are so tender (hence easy to chew and eat), the seafood’s so fresh, the saltiness is just right, and of course— there’s a lot of garlic, too! Enjoy this comforting dish at any of Mama Lou’s branches in BF International, Evia Lifestyle Center, UP Town Center, and Ayala Malls the 30th.

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