People's Palace Greenbelt Review: The Best Thai in Makati

The short version: People’s Palace is the best Thai restaurant in Makati, and one of the two best in Manila, with Some Thai in Ortigas. It’s on the ground floor of Greenbelt 3, looking out over the gardens: modern, a bit hip, with music that’s almost EDM. The tom kha gai and the mango shake are the stars, the satay is very good, and the rice is Thai-style and unlimited. The pad thai isn’t Bangkok, the service is friendly but slow, and at ₱4,902 for three, about ₱1,630 a person, it’s pricey for Manila. If you’re staying at the Raffles, the Fairmont, the Shangri-La or the Peninsula, it’s an easy walk, though I’d send you to Milky Way and Din Tai Fung first.

I had lunch at People’s Palace on October 25, 2026, a Sunday, with two other people. I’ve been several times before; on my last visit I had the som tam and the pad thai, and I’d have scored them the same then. I paid for everything myself, and the restaurant didn’t know I was writing about it.

Pros

• Tom kha gai: rich, refreshing coconut, one of my favorites
• A mango shake made from real ripe mango, no syrup
• Soft, flavorful chicken satay with a very good peanut sauce
• Thai-style rice, unlimited
• A modern room looking out over the Greenbelt gardens, a short walk from the Makati hotels
• Busy, but it doesn’t feel cramped

Cons

• Service is slow, and nobody offered us rice or dessert
• The pad thai is a step below a good one in Bangkok
• The tom kha gai could use more chicken
• Pricey for Manila, with a 10% service charge on top

Getting there

People’s Palace is on the ground floor of Greenbelt 3, in the center of Makati. You can walk from the Raffles, the Fairmont, the Shangri-La or the Peninsula, or take a Grab. Either way, the easiest route is the Grab drop-off by the Hermès store: face the center of Greenbelt, go left, and it’s right there, looking onto the gardens.

The setting: 7.5 out of 10

Modern and fairly hip, with music that’s almost EDM. It’s a nice room in a nice spot, right in the central part of Greenbelt, and it was full without feeling crowded. Nothing incredibly special, but a good setting.

The food: 8 out of 10

We ordered family style, which I’d always do here, and got rice. The rice comes Thai-style, which is a bit more authentic, and it’s unlimited.

Tom kha gai (₱720): 8.5 out of 10. One of my favorites. Very good, with a nice, rich, refreshing coconut flavor, and great with rice. The only thing holding it back is that it could use more chicken.

Chicken satay (₱580): 8 out of 10. Six pieces, and I really liked them. The peanut sauce is very good, the chicken is soft and flavorful, and it doesn’t go hard after sitting on the skewer for a while. The cucumber relish on the side is quite good too.

Som tam (₱480): 7.5 out of 10. A little spicy, but not too bad, and a decent portion.

Panaeng beef cheek curry (₱960): 7 out of 10. Pretty good and fairly soft, but it could have had more flavor.

Pad thai goong (₱780): 7 out of 10. A fairly good pad thai, and I haven’t had many of those in the Philippines. Next to the ones in Thailand, though, it’s missing a little of that sugary note a good pad thai has, and a little sauce.

Ripe mango shake (₱260): 9 out of 10. Incredible. You can tell it’s real, ripe, fresh mango, no syrup, which is one of my favorite things about the Philippines. The only very minor thing is a lot of ice, so it got a little cold at times.

I didn’t try the Coke Zero, and I won’t score the rice; rice is rice, but it was good. We didn’t get dessert.

Overall the food is very good. There are plenty of places in Thailand I’d rank higher. In Manila my favorite is Some Thai in Ortigas, where the pad thai is an 8.5 for me and the tom yum is also quite good. But if you’re in Makati, People’s Palace is the one I’d send you to. The strengths are clear: the tom kha gai and the mango shake.

Service: 6.5 out of 10

There are a lot of servers, but they’re not always that attentive. It took a little while for anyone to come over at the start, and a small problem with the POS system slowed things down when we paid. They were friendly, but they could have been faster, and nobody offered us rice or asked about dessert; we had to ask for the rice ourselves.

What it cost

Lunch for three came to ₱4,500, plus the 10% service charge, for ₱4,901.79 total, about ₱1,630 a person. That was the tom kha gai, chicken satay, som tam, panaeng beef cheek, pad thai goong, two rice, a mango shake, a Coke Zero and a liter of still water.

Value: 6.5 out of 10

By U.S. standards it’s a pretty good value, and you’re paying for Greenbelt and a modern room. By Manila standards it’s quite pricey: the most expensive of the Makati restaurants I’ve reviewed, more than Din Tai Fung, Lampara or Milky Way. The truth is there aren’t many great Thai restaurants in the Philippines, which is part of why it can charge this. Some Thai in Ortigas is better food at less than half the price, if you’re willing to make the trip. The setting there isn’t as good, and it’s a way out from Makati and BGC, but the Podium is a nice mall.

Who it’s for

Anyone staying around Makati who wants a good Thai dinner close to the hotel; the Raffles, the Fairmont, the Shangri-La Makati and the Peninsula are all a short walk away. Everything is family style, so it’s better with two or more.

Tips if you go

• From the Grab drop-off by Hermès, face the center of Greenbelt and go left.
• It gets busy. We walked in at around 1 p.m. on a Sunday and got a table, but a reservation is the safer bet.
• Order family style, and ask for rice; they may not offer it.
• Get the tom kha gai and a mango shake.
• The 10% service charge is added automatically.
• Open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

Verdict: 7.5 out of 10

Quite a good restaurant, and I’d recommend it. Manila doesn’t have many great Thai places, and this is one of the two, with Some Thai in Ortigas, which has better food for less but is farther out. The tom kha gai and the mango shake are worth the trip on their own, the portions are generous, and the Greenbelt setting is great. The service could be more attentive, and with how busy it gets, they probably just need more servers. It’s also a little pricey next to most restaurants in Manila. If you’re staying near Greenbelt, go, but go to Milky Way and Din Tai Fung first. This restaurant is in my Where to Eat in Manila guide, with all fourteen ranked and matched to occasions.

FAQ

Where is People’s Palace?

Ground floor of Greenbelt 3, Makati, overlooking the central gardens. From the Grab drop-off by Hermès, go left toward the center of Greenbelt.

Does People’s Palace take reservations?

We walked in at 1 p.m. on a Sunday and got a table, but it was busy. For dinner or a group, book.

What should I order at People’s Palace?

The tom kha gai, the chicken satay and a ripe mango shake. Order family style and ask for the unlimited Thai-style rice.

How much does People’s Palace cost?

Lunch for three with five dishes, rice and drinks came to ₱4,902 with the 10% service charge, about ₱1,630 a person. Curries run ₱720 to ₱1,080.

Is People’s Palace authentic Thai?

Close, for Manila. The tom kha gai and satay hold up; the pad thai is a step below a good one in Bangkok.

Is People’s Palace the best Thai restaurant in Manila?

In Makati, yes. Overall in Manila, my pick is Some Thai in Ortigas: better food, better value, but farther out.

What are People’s Palace’s hours?

11 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.