Student Friendly University Belt Eats | Restaurants Near DLSU

Navigating life as a student in Manila’s student packed University Belt means balancing academics, budgets, and social life, all on a tight schedule and an even tighter allowance. Whether you're cramming for finals, celebrating a friend’s birthday, or just escaping the dorm for a decent meal, finding the right spot matters. 

From late-night pares joints to cozy study cafes and group-friendly Thai spots, this guide highlights a list of restaurants near DLSU and nearby Malate restaurants that have earned their reputation through real student praise.

University Belt, Real Food: The Student-Vetted List

U Me Kape

G/F, Manor Building, 2635-E Taft Ave, Malate, Manila, 1004 Metro Manila, Philippines

Vibe: Cozy, affordable cafe for studying and casual meets.

What Students Say:

• Reddit: In a thread asking for "Cafes near Taft with good wifi for studying," a user commented: "U Me Kape near DLSU. Coffee is under 150, has sockets, and isn't too loud. Perfect for acads."

• Social Media: A popular Instagram food page (@taftfoodfinds) featured their "Bang-for-Buck Breakfast Silog Meals" (priced at ~₱99-₱129), with students in the comments vouching for its affordability.

• Google Maps Review: "Student budget friendly! Their all-day breakfast saves us during exam weeks. The tapsilog is less than 150 pesos and very filling. Also, their iced coffee is cheap and good."

Silya

635 Julio Nakpil, Malate, Manila, 1004 Metro Manila, Philippines

Vibe: Noisy, boisterous open air space for beer and cheap food.

What Students Say:

• Reddit: Mentioned in a r/Philippines thread on "Best value meals in Manila": "Silya in Malate. You get a hearty, plated Filipino meal (like sisig or crispy pata bites) for around ₱150-₱200. Quality is way above typical karinderya."

• Social Media: Frequently appears on TikTok with the sound "It's giving... sulit" showing their loaded plates. A viral Twitter thread from a DLSU student listed it as a top spot for "group dinners that won't break your baon."

• Google Maps Review: "Our go-to when the family visits and wants Filipino food. Student-friendly prices, air-conditioned, and malinis. Can feed a group of 4 for under 1k."

Jims Pares Mami

1739 Maria Orosa St, Malate, Manila, 1004 Metro Manila, Philippines

Vibe: Classic, no-frills pares/mami house, a late-night institution.

What Students Say:

• Reddit: The undisputed king of Reddit food threads for Taft. One highly upvoted post titled "Pares in Taft area?" has top comment: "Jims Pares. Always Jims. Beef Pares for ₱90. That's the standard."

• Social Media: Consistently featured in "Midnight Food Run" vlogs by college students. Facebook food groups like "Eats in Manila" have countless posts praising its "walang patapon na budget meal."

• Google Maps Review: "Definition of student-friendly. Open 24/7, fast service, super cheap, and tasty. The pares + mami combo is legendary and costs less than a fancy milk tea. No brainer for students."

The Barn by Borro

10 Scout Borromeo, cor Sct. Tobias St, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Vibe: Spacious, rustic garden cafe popular with the picture-taking university crowd.

What Students Say:

• Reddit: In a thread comparing study spots in QC, a user noted: "The Barn is great for big groups. Their coffee isn't Starbucks expensive, and they have huge sharing platters of fries and sandwiches that are perfect for group work."

• Social Media: Instagram is filled with tags like #StudentFriendlyCafe showing their large, shareable meals.

• Google Maps Review: "Perfect for student org meetings. The place is huge, you can talk without disturbing others, and you can order a bunch of appetizers to share without spending too much. WiFi is reliable."

Cafe Adriatico

1790 Adriatico St, Malate, Manila, 1004 Metro Manila, Philippines

Vibe: Old-school, iconic Filipino-Spanish cafe. A "treat" spot that's still relatively accessible.

What Students Say:

• Reddit: When it comes to malate restaurants, Cafe Adriatico is known as a "special occasion" spot for students. A comment reads: "For birthdays or after graduation, Cafe Adriatico is the move. It feels fancy but their classic tapsilog and pan de sal breakfast sets are actually priced reasonably for the quality and ambiance."

• Social Media: Often tagged in "Throwback Thursday" posts by alumni treating current students. Described as "Where you bring your parents when they're paying" but with menu highlights like the "Adriatico Breakfast" shown as affordable for a solo dine-in.

• Google Maps Review: "A landmark. While some dishes are pricey, their all-day breakfast and merienda sets (like ensaymada with coffee) are very student-budget viable for a quality sit-down experience."

DOON Thai Cuisine

936 Dolores, Malate, Manila, 1004 Metro Manila, Philippines

Vibe: Casual, authentic Thai eatery known for massive portions.

What Students Say:

• Reddit: Recommended in a "Cheap international food in Manila" thread: "DOON Thai on Dolores. Their Pad Thai and Tom Yum are huge and meant for sharing. One order can feed two hungry students for less than ₱200/head."

• Social Media: TikTok videos constantly highlight their "family-style" servings. A food blogger on Facebook calculated the "per-person cost" for a group of 4 ordering 3 dishes, showing it came out to ~₱220 each.

• Google Maps Review: "Best value Thai food! Student-friendly because the servings are huge. We always go in groups and share. The basil rice plate is a complete, heavy meal for under ₱200. Authentic pa."

Smoov.

1969 Anak Bayan, Malate, Manila, 1004 Metro Manila, Philippines

Vibe: Trendy, industrial-chic cafe and cocktail bar with affordable food.

What Students Say:

• Reddit: Mentioned as a dual-day spot: "Smoov is a cafe by day, bar by night. Their pasta and rice bowls during the day are well within student budget (around ₱180-₱250). Good place to chill or do light work."

• Social Media: University Belt cafes tend to feature strong Instagram Reels, but Smoov.’s best reels features their "Day vs. Night" transition, with daytime posts focusing on their coffee and "work-friendly" atmosphere. Tagged with #DateNightOnABudget for students in the evening.

• Google Maps Review: "Great spot for a casual date or meeting friends. Not your typical cheap eats, but for the ambiance and quality, the price is very reasonable. Their burgers and pastas are below ₱300, which is great for this kind of place."

Yoshimeatsu Taft

1021 Pablo Ocampo Street, cor Arellano Ave, Malate, Manila, 1004 Metro Manila, Philippines

Vibe: Unli Korean-Japanese BBQ and hotpot at a fixed, low price.

What Students Say:

• Reddit: The top recommendation in any "Best unli near Taft" thread. "Yoshimeatsu Taft is the student's unli. For less than ₱500, you get unli samgyup, hotpot, sides, and drinks. It's not premium meat, but for the price and when you're super hungry, it's unbeatable."

• Social Media: The hashtag #YoshimeatsuTaft on TikTok is full of students celebrating after exams, showcasing the stacked plates. Facebook check-ins often have captions like "Sulit na sulit for a student's wallet!"

• Google Maps Review: "This is where our block goes after finals. The lunch promo is incredibly affordable for unli meat. Service is fast, and they never complain when we stay long to eat our hearts out. True student-friendly unli."

The Director's Cafe

Unit C, 1059 Estrada St, San Andres Bukid, Manila, 1004 Metro Manila, Philippines

Vibe: Quirky, film-themed hidden gem with hearty meals for the art school crowd

What Students Say:

• Reddit: Described as a "hidden gem" in a San Andres/Malate food thread: "The Director's Cafe. Feels like a secret clubhouse. Meals are around ₱150-₱220, huge servings, and the themed decor is a conversation starter. Great for small group dinners."

• Social Media: Featured on YouTube by channels like "Buddy Adventures" looking for unique, budget-friendly cafes. Instagram posts highlight their "Directors' Platter" for sharing at a very reasonable price for 3-4 people.

• Google Maps Review: "Affordable and unique experience. The pasta and steak meals are surprisingly cheap for the portion. Very chill vibe, not crowded, perfect for students who want to talk and eat somewhere different without spending much."

Malate Restaurants Feeding DLSU Souls

Looking back, these places play the role of restaurants, living rooms, study halls and backgrounds for friendships forged for years after graduation. They're where group projects get finished, birthdays get celebrated, and burnout gets managed with a cheap, good meal. They're the real student centers. Go support them.

And next time you find yourself searching for “Cheap Food Near Me” it might be time to try Likaa - a food discount app to share and collect instant restaurant coupons and chat with fellow foodies. Get it free on the App Store or Google Play.