Mamser: Enjoy Latin American Cuisine at this Poblacion (Makati City) Food Spot

With the plethora of food spots in Poblacion (Makati City), it can be paralyzing to choose one. One night, my friends and I were roaming the streets of Makati’s nightlife but we couldn’t decide where to eat. Finally, we passed by UNWND, a luxury hostel. Since we wanted to check out the hostel (especially its roofdeck bar) long ago, we thought of trying it. Little did we know that in the ground floor of UNWND is a restobar serving Latin American cuisine—Mamser.

It’s not common to find a food spot serving Latin American food so we knew we had to eat there. Mamser serves dishes from Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, and Peru.

We were given complimentary bread at the beginning. It’s soft, sweet, and has a crisp crust. It’s also served with a salsa verde, which has a nice kick and cilantro taste. The bread was so good that it increased our anticipation of our food.

We started with Small Plates, which is good for sharing. We first tried their Coxinha, which is a Brazilian deep-fried dough with creamy chicken filling. It has a crunchy exterior and savory filling, and its sweet and tangy dip compliments well. While the Coxinha is good, I just think the dough is too thick for me.

We also tried their Baked Mussels, which has onions that give a nice crunch.

Let’s now go to the Mains and we couldn’t pass on the Feijoada, which is Brazil’s national dish. It’s a stew made basically with pork and black beans, and the ingredients vary per recipe. It’s typically accompanied with sautéed greens, sliced oranges, and rice.

Mamser’s Feijoada has pork belly, pork knuckles, bacon, and sausage. It’s pork is fatty and tender, and the beans add earthiness. It’s just on the salty side but the orange balances it.

We also tried their Ropa Vieja, which is a Latin American pulled beef brisket stewed in tomato sauce. UNWND’s version is juicy and flavorful, with a strong cumin flavor. It’s also served in a taco-like bowl, and with crisp and soft Patacones (flattened and deep-fried plantains) on the side. I can’t help but liken Ropa Vieja to a Birria taco filling.

Other Mains that we tried are the Lomo Saltado, a Peruvian dish made of sautéed sirloin beef and French fries, and Pollo Encachuetado, a Mexican dish consisting of chicken cooked with peanuts, tomatoes, and spices.

The Lomo Saltado’s beef are tender and the fries are soggy (I’m not sure if the fries should be soggy). The Pollo Encachuetado is tender and flavorful. Both dishes has a hint of sourness, probably due to a citrus.

Let’s talk about the desserts we tried starting with the Alfajores, which are Latin American cookie sandwich with dulce de leche filling and dipped in dark chocolate. The cookies are crumbly and the chocolate is decadent and like the one used for Churros.

Another dessert is the Bunuelos, another Latin American dessert that consists of deep-fried dough with cheese and a chocolate dip. I like its sweet and salty contrast.

We had a pleasant visit at Mamser. All the dishes we tried are good. My favorites are the Feijoada, Ropa Vieja, and Alfajores. If you want to try an uncommon cuisine here in Manila, then visit Mamser and try their amazing Latin American food. I highly recommend it to you!

Have you been to Mamser? Which of the food above have you tried or would like to try? Comment below!

Address: G/F UNWND Lux Hostel, 5396 General Luna St., Poblacion, Makati City, Philippines | Operating Hours: TBA | Instagram