I rarely go to the Century City side of Brgy. Poblacion since my comfort places are on the Rockwell/Backwell (back of Rockwell) side. So for me to actually venture off there without an invite means that 1) the food is good, and 2) there’s bike parking.

Enter Dirty Hands, a shawarma place that “sells more than just shawarma.” And they’re not wrong. They have delectable spin to how you eat this Middle Eastern treat that keeps you hankering for more.

The first time I heard about Dirty Hands was when I joined a community ride last June. This was our dinner stop, and despite eating someone else’s order and drinking someone else’s bottle of Coke, I found the food to be delicious and worth coming back for.

Dirty Hands has two floors: The first part has the bar and open kitchen, perfect for solo diners, and the second floor has a wider dining space, along with a balcony for those who want a slightly more intimate night out. Keep in mind that the resto is only open Tuesdays to Sundays, 5pm-12mn; better to have lunch elsewhere.

How to Get to Dirty Hands

If you’re coming from JP Rizal, go beyond the Makati Ave-JP Rizal intersection until you see Molina St., turn left and make another left at Quintos. Check the red arrows on the map above.

If you’re coming from Century Mall like I did last time, make a U-Turn on the General Luna zebra crossing (be mindful of people) and make a sharp right until you exit into Valdez St.. Turn right and then turn left into Molina, then right at Quintos. Follow the green arrows on the map above.

Bike Parking Situation

There’s available bike parking at Dirty Hands, but you’ll need to inform the kitchen staff to bring out the bike stands. They keep the stands inside the resto and bring them out only when needed. They can hold up to five bikes at a time, and if you’re a party of more than five, you can lean your bike elsewhere within the premises.

For large or full e-bikes, there’s a nearby parking area that can accommodate your ride.

Bring locks as you won’t be able to see your bike from inside the restaurant.

Everything is Oh-So-Good

I can get why my friends highly recommend this place for a quick bite. You can choose your base (chicken or beef shawarma), your carbs (their bestselling Tombik, Lavash, Buttered Rice, or Salted Fries), and your flavor. You can order these as a meal (for Tombik and Lavash only), or as a la carte (for the rice and fries).

Because I wanted rice, I ordered the a la carte version. I’ve tried the chicken shawarma in Tombik and Mabuhay Manila flavor, which was worthy of its bestselling status. For bigger groups though, I recommend trying their Mezze Platter for starters. I’m definitely going back another time to try their beef shawarma with Lavash in A La Turka.

If you’re tired of the Rockwell side of Poblacion, find your new hangout spot here at Dirty Hands. You’ll definitely find your favorite shawarma combo here.

About Best By Bike

Best By Bike is a blog series dedicated to discovering bike-friendly cafés and restaurants around Metro Manila.

If you own or manage a bike-friendly café or restaurant and want to be featured, I’d love to hear from you! Submit your establishment for a feature.