Manila’s dessert scene is crowded with contenders, but these cheesecakes continue to inspire cravings and repeat visits.
It’s possible that Manila has too many good cheesecakes, which isn’t a complaint so much as a logistical problem. The cheesecake scene spans charred Burnt Basque imports, pillow-soft New York classics served at the end of very good steaks, and a handful of hybrid experiments from local bakeries. Some have built cult followings through word of mouth alone, but each one proves that the dessert menu is worth saving stomach room for. Here are five cheesecake spots worth knowing about.
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El Born Cheesecake
Chef David Amoros has built a well-earned reputation on “the absolute-freaking-best cheesecake in town,” according to locals who have clearly done the homework. The original is made of mascarpone base, with vanilla, lemon zest, and Maldon salt flakes, then threaded with a faintly citrusy, slightly salty finish through each bite. A thin graham crust layer nods to classic New York style cheesecake. Beyond the original Burnt Basque, the shop rotates flavors like Catalan Cream, Cookies & Cream, Matcha, and a Coffee & Cacao option that functions like an affogato in cake form.
Cheesecake By Chele
Chef Chele González’s cheesecake takes a different direction from citrus-bright: thick, smoky, and aggressively caramelized on top, with a burnt crust that gives way to a dense and creamy interior carrying subtle notes of caramel. The shop also carries a Tarta de Queso with a molten, oozing center.
Tilde Bakery
Mother-daughter duo Ginny and Sabrina de Guzman made a cheesecake that’s hard to categorize yet easy to eat. Their Chocolate Cake Cheesecake is composed of cheesecake sandwiched between two sheets of light chocolate truffle cake. Emphatically, it’s not the dense, fudgy kind of consistency that’s common to many Filipino chocolate cakes. Other items, like its Lemon and Strawberry counterparts do something similar, cradling cake between NY-style layers.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse Homemade Cheesecake
Ruth’s Chris arrived in BGC in 2021 as part of the world’s largest fine-dining steakhouse chain. Its famous Homemade Cheesecake accompanied its arrival, the dessert chock full of rich cream cheese base, dusted with powdered sugar, and served alongside fresh berries. It’s pillow-y soft and the sort of dessert you’ll keep eating even after you’ve decided you were done.
Wolfgang Steakhouse New York-Style Cheesecake
It’s dense, rich, and creamy in the way New York cheesecake is supposed to be. Wolfgang’s version is the rare steakhouse dessert that feels like a fair trade for the price, especially eaten as a counterpoint to a USDA Prime cut that had just done most of your meal’s heavy lifting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some of the most popular cheesecakes in Manila include the Burnt Basque cheesecakes from El Born and Cheesecake by Chele, the Chocolate Cake Cheesecake from Tilde Bakery, and the New York-style cheesecakes at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Wolfgang Steakhouse.
Burnt Basque cheesecake is available at specialty shops such as El Born Cheesecake and Cheesecake by Chele.
Steakhouses such as Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Wolfgang Steakhouse serve cheesecake as part of their dessert offerings.
