Many have called Kusina ni Itay as one of Makati’s “hidden gems.”
Luxury cafés and upscale restaurants may dominate Makati’s Ayala Center, but tucked away in the basement of Glorietta 4 is a humble canteen that many office workers regularly visit for a filling meal without spending hundreds of pesos.
Kusina ni Itay, a karinderya-style eatery in the mall’s Basement 2, serves home-cooked Filipino dishes at prices that have become increasingly difficult to find in the city’s central business district.
Ulam ranges from ₱35 to ₱45, rice costs ₱15, and a complete meal can still cost less than ₱100.
The eatery has recently gained attention online after Instagram user @nickxploration featured it in a post. Since then, many have called it one of Makati’s “hidden gems.” It has also long been recommended, alongside office cafeterias, by workers looking to stretch their lunch budget.
Its appeal has also become part of the running “OFWs in Makati” joke online, a tongue-in-cheek reference to how expensive everyday life in the business district can feel.
In the area, a single cup of coffee can easily cost more than an entire lunch elsewhere. Kusina ni Itay continues to attract office workers searching for something increasingly uncommon in Makati—an affordable, home-style meal.
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