One popular pasta dish that most Filipinos love is creamy carbonara. Homemade or store-bought, settling for one serving isn't enough! With its rich ingredients that blend well together in every bite, it can be eaten as a full meal or a snack for merienda time.
If you're looking for the best carbonara that will surely satisfy your taste buds, you're in luck! We will introduce and help you narrow down your choices by sharing our top 10 list and our buying guide fact-checked by nutritionist-dietitian Samantha Morales.
Quick List - Top Carbonara
Wild Flour Italian
Its Bell-Shaped Noodles Provide an Explosion of Flavors in Your Mouth
Gino's Brick Oven Pizza
A Traditional Carbonara Dish From an Italian Resto in the Metro
Samantha began her career in clinical nutrition and weight management at a tertiary hospital in Manila, Philippines. Her practice allowed her to give nutrition counseling and plan modified diets for patients with medical conditions. Presently, she does private practice to focus on true holistic wellness - an approach that believes in aligning one's mind, body, and spiritual well-being.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
Over time, carbonara has been reimagined to attract various tastes and preferences. Whether it be adding new ingredients or substituting the default ingredients with other choices, there’s always a carbonara dish for everyone! Let’s break down the different renditions of carbonara that are available in the market.
Although the origins of carbonara remain vague, the original ingredients of a traditional carbonara dish are guanciale (cured pork meat), spaghetti noodles, black pepper, and eggs. The latter is responsible for giving the creaminess to the dish even without the addition of cream.
There's no exact recipe for modern carbonara because it is constantly changing, depending on the restaurant. For instance, the spaghetti noodles can be exchanged for linguine, penne, and fettuccine for a thicker consistency.
As for the guanciale, it can be swapped with any sort of seafood and mushrooms. This is an ideal choice if you’re a vegetarian, pescatarian, or simply maintaining a diet. Other notable ingredients that are added to the modern carbonara are milk, Parmigiano, wine, garlic, and sometimes, truffle oil.
Doing a headcount before buying food is very crucial for any gathering. This is so everyone gets an equal chance of eating a certain dish before anyone goes for a second round. A lot of restaurants offer party platters or trays for 4-12 pax. For more information, you can check out their website or message them on their social media accounts.
If you live alone or are trying to control your portions, luckily, the default option of carbonara in most restaurants is a single serving. With this, you can spare yourself from having extra leftovers if your appetite is limited.
Solo servings of carbonara are often cooked on the day itself so that they can stay fresh before arriving at your doorstep. For party platters, you may have to order at least a few days in advance, as you have to consider the prep time.
Also, it can be delivered through third-party couriers or an in-house delivery service from the restaurant. It can also be picked up from the nearest branch. Make sure to check their social media account or website for the delivery information.
Most restaurants these days recommend paying in advance online, whether it be through bank transfer, credit card, or e-wallet transfer. Cashless payments save time and effort between the seller and buyer and lessen physical contact, which is important during these times. Oftentimes, Cash-on-Delivery is available in food delivery applications and third-party couriers.
Reading the reviews from past customers gives you more knowledge about the taste and textures of their dishes, packaging details, and overall customer service. Although it can be subjective, it’s good to keep an open mind. Aside from detailed reviews, most customers give star ratings based on how good the dish is.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mamma Mia Spaghetti Carbonara Alla Mamma Mia | ![]() | Carbonara Blanketed With a Generous Serving of Cheese | |
2 | Wild Flour Italian Campanelle Carbonara | ![]() | Its Bell-Shaped Noodles Provide an Explosion of Flavors in Your Mouth | |
3 | a mano Carbonara | ![]() | A Savory Dish With a Balanced Amount of Saltiness | |
4 | Gino's Brick Oven Pizza Carbonara Pasta | ![]() | A Traditional Carbonara Dish From an Italian Resto in the Metro | |
5 | CIBO Linguine alla Ghiotta|Solo | ![]() | Comfort Food From a Renowned Restaurant | |
6 | Mary Grace Café Classic Carbonara | ![]() | A Delicious Pasta Meal That Is Both Creamy and Smoky | |
7 | Bondi&Bourke Truffled Prawn Penne Carbonara|Tray | ![]() | Giant Tiger Prawns That Are a Feast for the Eyes and the Tummy | |
8 | La Spezia MNL Spaghetti alla Carbonara | ![]() | Oozing Sous Vide Egg on That Will Keep You Wanting More | |
9 | Amici Spaghetti alla Carbonara | ![]() | Creamy Carbonara That You Can Dive Into With Your Barkada | |
10 | Banapple Pasta Jacintha | ![]() | A Carbonara Dish That Satisfies the Filipino Tastebuds |
Mamma Mia, this better be on top of your list! The Spaghetti Carbonara Alla Mamma Mia is a popular choice in the resto as you wouldn't see it anywhere else! The spaghetti noodles are drenched in parmesan cheese, bacon, and egg sauce and are seasoned with black pepper to taste.
The best part? There's guanciale added right above a melted cheese blanket that'll have you drooling at first sight. If you're into having a cheesy galore in your pasta dish, this option is for you. You can choose from either a solo or group serving, although reviewers encourage you to get this to share because it's just that good!
This dish can be delivered to your doorstep through third-party couriers or picked up in their BGC store. Other dishes that you shouldn't miss out on are their pizzas and their main entrées, which vary from seafood and chicken to pork.
Almost anything from Wildflour is constantly raved about by Filipino foodies, from their scrumptious meals to their delicious desserts. The Campanelle Carbonara from their Italian-inspired restaurant is no exception. The bell-like flower pasta noodles are mixed in an egg and Parmigiano sauce with bits of pancetta.
To finish it off, more cheese is sprinkled on top. The unique shape of the noodles also provides you with a visual feast that makes it more appetizing to eat. All these ingredients give you an explosion of flavors in your mouth! This pasta meal can be enjoyed at home through their in-house delivery service or third-party couriers from their Wild Flour Italian restaurant.
If you're on a hunt for unique and authentic Italian pasta dishes, this Carbonara from a mano is one for the books! It consists of De Cecco Spaghetti that's cooked al-dente and has an egg-based sauce that's seasoned with guanciale and black pepper. Now, that's authentic carbonara Italians would approve!
Reviewers have pointed out that it leans toward the saltier side, with the juices of the guanciale and the egg. Nonetheless, they've mentioned that it's something they'd order again and again!
This is available in one size only, and it can be delivered to your doorstep or picked up at their main store in Rockwell. Other than the Carbonara, don't forget to take a look at their dolci (desserts), such as their Tiramisu and Panna Cotta that you can indulge by yourself or with your loved ones.
Gino's Brick Oven Pizza is a go-to choice when you want to satisfy your cravings for mouth-watering Italian food with a Pinoy twist. From their line of pasta, the Spaghetti Carbonara is a strong contender. Aside from cream and egg yolk, the sauce is also infused with garlic to add that earthy flavor to the dish.
It is also topped with bacon and Parmigiano-Reggiano for that salty kick. On top of that, the noodles are quite thick, which makes this a filling meal. To cleanse your palate, you might want to pair this with a glass of wine for a more heavenly experience. You can order this dish in any of their branches in the Metro for take-out or delivery.
CIBO cannot be left out of this list! Since 1997, they have been serving authentic Italian dishes such as zuppe, paste, pizze, and many more. In particular, their Linguine alla Ghiotta has become a comfort food for a lot of Filipinos. It consists of perfectly cooked linguine noodles with bits of bacon, full cream, parmesan cheese, and sauteed mushrooms.
Due to the equal richness of the bacon and mushrooms when mixed with the cream, this results in a blend that is tasty and addictive, which can instantly brighten up your day. This dish can be eaten solo or shared with your guests, which can serve 3-8 people. Order this with their renowned Spinaci Zola and you’re good to go!
Aside from their pastries, Mary Grace offers tasty dishes that cater to people of all ages. Their Classic Carbonara is their best-selling pasta dish that has a creamy and smoky taste, as the noodles are coated in cream and topped with a generous serving of bacon and mushrooms.
It is served with a slice of toasted bread that complements the rich taste of the carbonara. You can have this dish as a solo serving or choose a sharing platter that can serve up to 4 people. For the latter, you can only order it at their website at least 3 days before your desired date.
The Truffled Prawn Carbonara from Bondi&Bourke is an Aussie take on the classic dish. Alongside the pancetta bits, there are giant tiger prawns on top of the noodles. Not only is it a heavenly sight, but the penne noodles are also enveloped in a creamy, white sauce with white truffle essence and Padano. Indeed, it'll make you full with just a few bites!
Customers love the large serving size because you're getting exactly what you paid for and even got those who aren't fond of white sauce pasta salivating on such a dish. There's only one serving available, so make sure to dine with an empty stomach, especially if you want to try their other main entrées and desserts, too!
Real carbonara lovers will agree that the best carbonara is one that's rich and creamyーmade without cream. If that's what you're looking for, you are in for a treat with La Spezia MNL's Spaghetti alla Carbonara! The sauce is made with fresh eggs, EVOO, guanciale, and 18-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano. Believe us when we say that each bite tastes divine as only high-quality ingredients are used to make the dish.
For extra yolkiness, a sous vide-style egg is placed on top of the dish. And as you poke the poached egg, its yolk would ooze right out and coat the carbonara. Now that, for sure, will make your mouth water and keep you wanting more!
You also be pleased to know that it is less salty than most carbonaras, but it definitely bursts with a rich flavor. This only comes in size, which is a regular serving, and you can order through their Instagram or Facebook page. What are you waiting for? Order yours now!
You probably miss dining in Amici with your loved ones for pizza, pasta, and even gelato. The good news is that you can recreate this experience at home by ordering this menu item! The Spaghetti alla Carbonara is a crowd-favorite, which is a more modern approach to the classic pasta dish.
The spaghetti noodles are slathered in a creamy white sauce with chopped mushrooms and bacon bits. Parsley is drizzled as a finishing touch to add that deep and earthy flavor to the carbonara.
Amici translates to “friends” in Italian, which makes it more perfect for sharing with your loved ones. Aside from a regular serving, it can be shared to as many as 4-8 pax with their Grande and Gruppo trays. On top of that, you can order any serving on the day itself on their website or through third-party couriers.
Banapple serves up delicious, homemade dishes in both the savory and sweet departments, constantly making a lot of Filipinos coming back for more. One of their specialties is their Pasta Jacintha, which is their own take of the classic carbonara.
Besides the fettuccine noodles cooked al-dente, the smokiness from the bacon gives it a salty kick alongside the creamy sauce and the herbs mixed in it. This is also served with their famous pesto bread.
This dish comes in three sizes: single, family, and party trays. Whether it be a feast for one or many, don’t forget to add a dessert from their wide array of cakes, cookies, and other pastries before checking out!
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
Plenty of Italian and Italian-inspired restaurants or even cafes sell carbonara. You can find them on food delivery apps like GrabFood, foodpanda, and their official websites. You may also reach them through their Instagram or Facebook page.
Spaghetti is normally used in the traditional carbonara. However, you may find lots of variations that use fettuccine, bucatini, or even rigatoni and penne as these can hold the sauce better.
Since carbonara is composed of raw eggs cooked in hot pasta or cream in some versions, this makes them prone to spoilage. Thus, they can only last up to 4 days in the fridge. But, they must be stored in an airtight container.
Still have remaining space in your tummy for another meal? Check out these savory food items that you can eat by yourself or share with your friends and family!
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Mamma Mia|Spaghetti Carbonara Alla Mamma Mia
No. 2: Wild Flour Italian|Campanelle Carbonara
No. 3: a mano|Carbonara
No. 4: Gino's Brick Oven Pizza|Carbonara Pasta
No. 5: CIBO|Linguine alla Ghiotta|Solo
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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