Discretely and unobtrusively perched on an elegant white structure along San Juan's busy P. Guevarra Street is a culinary oasis where familiar Asian flavors are elegantly elevated with a modern contemporary spin. Step inside Eraya...
Inspired by the Sanskrit word for "beautiful, noble and pure at heart," Eraya translates this nuanced state with an imaginative repertoire of creative dishes threading bold Asian flavors in a seamless and purposeful weave complemented by their impressive selection of cocktails, spirits and coffee in an elegant setting. Read on for a tasty peek at Eraya...
The vibrant commercial and dining scene along P. Guevarra in the San Juan neighborhood can be a blur of tempting options. At the intersection of Wilson and P. Guevarra Street, you might miss Eraya. But take a closer look at the grand white facade and soon Asian flavors with playfully inventive and contemporary renditions tease your palate for one more addition to your growing list of dining destinations in the emerging culinary landscape of San Juan.
Inside Eraya, one finds a calming sanctuary far from the hectic pace of the busy P. Guevarra street scene. And you'll soon agree this is the perfect stage for a refreshingly new flavor experience. And it also made the cut as part of the 50 Great Restaurants of 2025 by SPOT.ph. for its creative fusion cuisine.
Helmed by Chefs Henry Manglo (R) and mentee Migel Florida (L), Eraya's Asian driven menu takes diners on a flavorful rediscovery of familiar flavors expressed in creative executions. Anchored on a unique culinary style, Eraya's cuisine brings another colorful layer in the complex tapestry of flavors to the San Juan neighborhood. Start your dining experience with a refreshing sip...
...of the Summer Latte (P 270), an unexpected twist on the usual with the deep pronounced notes of espresso for depth smoothened by the creamy richness of milk and...watermelon. That's right, a lingering fruity sweetness that's perfect for summer. The contrasting play on flavors works, cooling you down with each soothing sip. It's this approach to flavors that makes Eraya one of many must-try restaurants in San Juan.
One more sip of the Summer Latte and you're ready to try the savory specialties from Eraya's kitchen like the wittingly named KFC Poppers (P 435). The dish isn't inspired by the timeless Colonel but rather an homage to Korean style fried chicken topped with sesame seeds, spring onions, gochujang aioli and kimchi.
Crisp and juicy, the tender Korean style fried chicken is masterfully executed with its delicately crisp layer over rich and moist meat. But it's that sweet, sour and mild heat from the gochujang aioli and kimchi that really completes the elaborate play on flavors and textures. The savory richness of the dish are perfectly tempered by the sharpness of the gochujang and kimchi for that balanced finish.
The Aligue Pasta (P 820) with soft yet firm farfalle draped in an indulgent and creamy crab fat emulsion sauce made even richer with coconut milk plus succulent shrimps, fresh cilantro, thin slices of pickled radish and sprinkled with Grana Padano for that flavorful finish combine for a sumptuous bowl of pure and unrestrained savory goodness.
The sinfully rich crab fat sauce is the flavor base that brings all the components together followed by the briny sweetness of the plump shrimps and subtle sharp notes of the Grana Padano with the radish and cilantro for that contrasting yet balanced finish. Comforting yet unapologetically rich, the Aligue Pasta hits all the right notes from the first bite all the way to the last.
The Pork Chashu (P 440) with tender slabs of pork belly braised for six hours on garlic rice topped with garlic chips and toasted sesame seeds and garnished with a crisp fried enoki mushroom fan and lightly pickled cucumber is one solid meal in a bowl. One of the new dishes at Eraya, the dish draws inspiration from Chinese, Korean and Japanese techniques for a sumptuous take on Asian flavors. For even more flavor, a side of the braising liquid is served along with the dish.
The fork-tender pork belly brings a savory burst of richness to the palate, best paired with the garlic rice. The pickled cucumber cuts through the richness of the pork while the crisp garlic chips and braising liquid combine for even more flavors with each bite. The enoki fan with its delectable texture and mild earthy hints also works well when dipped in the thick braising liquid.
For dessert, the decadent Eraya Rocher (P 585) with dark chocolate, crisp wafer shell, walnuts, matcha crisps, mango and vanilla sorbet is another masterful play on textural contrasts and flavors. Each component complements the other for a indulgent medley of flavors to cap a satisfying feast at Eraya. Creative and playfully inventive, contemporary and progressive, Eraya injects a fresh take on contemporary cuisine and modern execution with its menu.
As the afternoon light slowly fades, another facet to Eraya's changing moods is revealed for the dinner service. Like a chameleon, Eraya is dramatically transformed setting the tone for dinner and after dinner cocktails with its well-stocked bar. The evolving San Juan neighborhood is quickly shaping up as one of the metro's growing number of dining destinations. And Eraya is definitely one of those establishments driving the neighborhood's culinary scene.
Eraya is located at Ongpauco Sisters Building, 197 A P. Guevarra Street corner Wilson Street, San Juan, 1500 Metro Manila. You can also visit their FB Page and IG Feed at https://www.facebook.com/p/erayaph and https://www.instagram.com/eraya.ph/ for more information and updates or call 0954 234 9155 for inquiries.
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