Most people in Manila think Pakistani food is just another kind of Indian food. Wrong. Walk into Khandan Kapitolyo, and you’ll figure it out fast. The place doesn’t whisper spice; it throws it at you. Curries heavy enough to stain your shirt, rice dishes that smell like a festival, and fried snacks that never make it past the first round at the table.
This isn’t watered-down curry for the cautious crowd. It’s the food of Khan’s childhood, cooked the way he remembers it from Pakistan, dropped right into Pasig. And once the plates hit the table, you’ll understand why this restaurant keeps people talking.
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Table of Contents
About Khandan Kapitolyo
Every restaurant has a story, but not every story matters. Here, it does. The man behind Khandan is Khan, and yes, the name comes from him. Born in the Philippines to a Filipino mother and Pakistani father, he didn’t grow up eating adobo. His childhood was shaped in Pakistan, surrounded by spices, fire, and food that keeps families at the table long after they’re full.
He eventually returned to the Philippines, married a Filipina, and brought all that food knowledge with him. The restaurant name, Khandan, means family. Fitting, because the menu feels like a family table. And Khan’s passion and energy is infectious as he prepares the food that he and his family would enjoy around their table back in Pakistan.
All his ingredients are sourced halal, because Khan understands that authenticity doesn’t stop at flavor. The point is to eat food that matches the Muslim traditions he grew up with. For anyone specifically looking for halal food in Pasig, Khandan Kapitolyo is one of the only authentic options.
Khandan Kapitolyo Menu
The Khandan Kapitoloyo menu isn’t overwhelming. It’s pretty straightforward actually. A list of starters, kebabs, curries, specialties, biryani, bread, dessert and drinks round it out. But it’s enough variety to keep you arguing which dishes to try at your table without hating yourself.
I tried several dishes on my visit that we will cover here. It may sound like a lot, but then I realized I barely put a dent in the menu. Ultimately, the flavors are what is going to win you over though. Many Kapitolyo restaurants have extensive menus, but the flavors are what make Khandan one of the best restaurants in Kapitolyo. So let’s get into those dishes
Where to Stay in Metro Manila Near Khandan Kapitolyo
Luxury Accommodations: – Edsa Shangri-La, Manila – Edsa Shangri-La in Ortigas delivers five-star comfort with lush gardens, elegant rooms, and top-tier dining. A luxury stay just minutes from Kapitolyo, perfect for travelers who want resort-style escape in the city.
Mid-Range Accommodations: – Ace Hotel & Suites – Ace Hotel and Suites in Pasig combines modern rooms with access to the famous water spa, rooftop dining, and skyline views. A comfortable stay minutes from Kapitolyo with wellness and comfort in one spot.
Budget Accommodations: – Privato Ortigas – Privato Hotel Ortigas offers sleek modern rooms, a rooftop pool with skyline views, and easy access to Kapitolyo’s dining scene. A stylish budget stay for as little as $30USD a night
Looking for other great places to stay near Khandan Kapitolyo? Use the search bar below.
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Samosas
I start light, because I have to and I love these damn things. Samosas are the way for me. They arrive fried to a crisp, triangles filled with spiced potatoes and peas that somehow taste better dunked in the house tamarind chutney.
Nothing complicated, they’re just addictive. You have probably had samosas before but I’m sure we can all agree that not all samosas are equal. This isn’t an if you’ve had one, you’ve had them all. Dough can often be rubbery as opposed to crispy, potato’s overcooked, or dipping sauces just bland with zero tang.
The only noticeable difference I found in these compared to all of the samosas I have eaten during my time in India? The spice levels are a little more subtle. That could be a product of taming food down for the local Filipino palate or maybe Pakistani samosas just less spice forward.
Either way, you will still eat 10 of these and ruin your main before it even gets to your table.
Kebabs
Grilled meat doesn’t need selling, but here it deserves it. Khandan’s kebabs come out hot, charred, smoky, and spiced just enough to keep you reaching for another bite. None of that dry, chewy nonsense pretending to be barbecue. This is meat that holds its juice.
Chicken or beef, whatever you pick, you’re fine. I chose both because I’m a damn glutton and wanted to try as much as I could. Beautiful char, super juicy, and perfectly spiced. Wrap it in paratha, drag it through yogurt, or in my case homemade chili oil and suddenly you understand why kebabs are more than bar food.
What will separate Pakistani style kebabs from say Middle Eastern kebabs is that spice blend you find in both Pakistan and India. Think along the lines of things like garam masala, ginger, and coriander. They’re just too damn flavourful.
Biryani
You can try biryani at Khandan Kapitolyo by simply ordering it as a combo with your kebabs. And then you have another dish landing at the table that does not disappoint. While there are plenty of arguments to be made over its origin being India or Persia(modern day Iran), the name is certainly of Persian origin.
Either way, India has been making biryani for centuries and with Pakistan gaining its independence at the same time India did 80 years ago it only makes sense that it would be a common dish within Pakistani cuisine as well.
I can’t say that I noticed any major difference between what I have had in India and what I had at Khandan with Pakistani biryani. The truth is every version of biryani I had in India was a vegetarian version and always at Ashrams or rural villages close to major ashrams. In those settings, onions and garlic are considered rajasic so they won’t be used in cooking which is not the case here so you get that added bonus.
But every bite here hits differently: spice here, meat there, fried onions crunching through. This isn’t yellow rice pretending to be special. It’s a full meal that happens to have kebabs on the side.
Chicken Karahi
Here it is: the dish that makes the whole trip worth it. Chicken karahi is Khandan’s signature, and it doesn’t hold back.
I had never heard of this dish before but Khan insisted I try it and when I am in his Pakistani restaurant in Kapitolyo, I do as I am told. After some research I found that this dish originated in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan in the early 19th century. Yes, it would have been part of the Indian subcontinent at the time.
Anyway, the chicken cooks in a steel wok with tomatoes, green chilies, garlic, ginger and enough spice to keep you sweating through the meal.
It’s a messy dish, sauce clinging to every piece, flavors so strong you’ll forget what table manners are. Your paratha is going to be your best friend here to scoop up all the chilies, sauce, and chicken. This is the plate you remember later, the one you’re going to drag people to Khandan Kapitolyo for. If you only eat one dish here, make it this one.
Chicken Korma
If karahi is fire, korma is restraint. This curry leans creamy, but not in a way that kills the spice. The sauce is thick, silky, built for more paratha. And you’re damn right I ordered several paratha once I started eating. Dip, scoop, repeat until you stop pretending you’ll leave room for dessert.
Fun fact, as a former vegetarian, kormas were always my go-to and one of my favourite Indian dishes, so to try the Pakistani version was a revelation for me. Tender hunks of chicken in a rich and creamy curry. Perfection
The chicken carries the flavor without being lost in it. It’s a dish that shows control, proving Pakistani food isn’t just about heat. It’s about balance. And this one nails it.
Gulab Jamun & Chai
And yet another bit of familiarity for me is gulab jamun and masala chai (spiced tea). Chai is one of those things that just brings back awesome memories of my time in India. And honestly finding decent chai since my last visit has been next to impossible. Khandan Kapitolyo easily has the best I have had outside of India which is only fitting with so much shared history between Pakistan and India.
In case you have never had gulab jamun, this is a milk sweet famous all over the Indian sub-continent. Traditionally these were made by reducing raw milk over low heat until only the milk solids remain. The solids are then mixed with flour and deep fried and soaked in a simple syrup that’s been infused with rose water. At Khandan they go a step further and top it with pistachio shavings.
Gulab jamun is sticky, rich, and almost too sweet. Until you take another bite and realize just how stupid good these things are
After spice, you need this. It balances nothing, it just satisfies you with sugar and pistachio. And that’s the point.
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Pakistani Food Through My Lens
Here’s my angle: I’ve spent plenty of time in India, but never once stepped foot into Pakistan. That means most of this food was new to me. The flavors are very familiar in some ways, but they never felt like repeats of what I have had in India. They carried their own identity, their own punch.
The karahi doesn’t taste like curry, the biryani doesn’t taste like pulao, and the kebabs don’t taste like a tandoor special. They taste like themselves. That’s the part that stuck: food that doesn’t need to remind you of something else to be worth eating.
Sitting there, eating dish after dish, I realized how little I actually knew about the cuisine. And that’s the exciting part. Every plate is a first.
Khandan Kapitolyo: Prices, Hours, and Location
Prices:
Khandan Kapitolyo isn’t going to empty your wallet. The most expensive thing on the menu is that amazing Karahi which is right at the ₱350 mark and is meant for sharing. Solo kebab meals and shawarma rice will all be under ₱200. What’s even better is these aren’t tasting plates, these are full meals.
Hours:
11:00am — 10:00pm Daily
Location:
6 Santa Clara St, Pasig, Metro Manila
Khandan Kapitolyo Final Thoughts
Khandan Kapitolyo isn’t going to have the name recognition of Locavore or Kanto Freestyle Breakfast, and they probably never will. But that’s the point. While I love both of those places, you can find them all over Metro Manila.
This is about finding one of the best Kapitolyo restaurants that will surprise you. That’s what Khandan did for me, and I hope it does the same for you. And for those who haven’t tried a true Pakistani restaurant before, Khandan is the introduction you didn’t know you needed.
So let’s hear it, have you been to Khandan or know somewhere better? Drop it in the comments.
Khandan Kapitolyo FAQ
What kind of food does Khandan Kapitolyo serve?
Khandan Kapitolyo serves straight Pakistani cooking. The menu centers on curries, kebabs, biryani, paratha, and other dishes you’d find in a family kitchen in Pakistan. Everything is cooked with halal ingredients, and there are no watered-down “fusion” versions here. If you’re after heavy spice, smoky grilled meats, and curries that demand bread for scooping, this is the place.
Is Khandan Kapitolyo halal?
Yes. Every dish at Khandan Kapitolyo is halal, making it a go-to spot for anyone searching for halal food in Kapitolyo. From the meat used in kebabs to the oils and ingredients in the curries. The owner grew up in a Muslim household in Pakistan, and he makes sure the restaurant respects those traditions. For anyone searching halal restaurants in Pasig, this is one of the few places that doesn’t cut corners.
Does Khandan Kapitolyo offer delivery and take-out?
What are Khandan Kapitolyo’s opening hours?
How much does a meal at Khandan Kapitolyo cost?
The price point is low compared to other Kapitolyo restaurants. Solo kebab meals and shawarma rice hover under ₱200, while signature dishes like chicken karahi sit around ₱350 and are built for sharing. For ₱500–₱600, two people can order mains, bread, and drinks and leave full. For its price point and flavor, it competes with the best restaurants in Kapitolyo while still being affordable.
What dishes are must-tries at Khandan Kapitolyo?
First-timers should order chicken karahi, the house specialty that mixes chicken, tomatoes, garlic, and chilies in a wok until it clings to every bite. But there is an extensive menu With starters like hummus, and motabal, and keema and mains from kormas, kebabas, and shawarma rice
Is the food at Khandan Kapitolyo very spicy?
Not really. Khandan has made sure to tame the spice levels down for local palates. If you are looking for it to be extra spicy, just ask and in most cases they can accommodate you
Does Khandan Kapitolyo have a menu online?
The best reference is their Facebook page (@KhandanKapitolyo) where they post updates, combo meals, and specials. Prices are straightforward, portions are generous, and you won’t find a bloated list of filler items. The menu sticks to Pakistani staples.
Does Khandan Kapitolyo serve vegetarian options?
While the menu leans heavily on meat, vegetarians aren’t completely out of luck. The samosas come stuffed with spiced potatoes and peas, fried crisp and served with tamarind chutney. You can also grab vegetable curries depending on the day’s prep, but don’t expect the menu to bend around vegan trends.
This is still a Pakistani kitchen where meat takes center stage. If you’re vegetarian, samosas and breads are safe bets, but the restaurant’s real strength is its meat dishes.
How does Khandan Kapitolyo’s biryani compare to other versions in Manila?
Most biryanis in Manila are weak imitations. Yellow rice with a sprinkle of spice pretending to be authentic. Khandan Kapitolyo serves biryani that actually tastes layered, with meat, caramelized onions, and spice blends cooked into the rice itself. Every bite changes depending on what you scoop: one spoonful is heavy with clove, the next one with fried onion.
