Think beyond coffee. While your lattes, cappuccinos, and flat whites may draw customers in, other menu items will add value to their visit. Light bites, hearty meals, and sweet treats play a crucial role in creating a complete experience – one that ensures return visits. Here are café menu ideas to help your business stand out, attract more patrons, and boost profits. All are cost-effective and easy to execute!
1. Wicked Waffles
Next, take the flavors of bibingka to update the classic chicken and waffles combo. For bold contrast, season your protein with Knorr Sinigang sa Sampalok Mix and drizzle a coconut milk-arnibal glaze all over. This twist on a favorite is just one example of creative café menu ideas sure to delight Filipinos who love stunning, “aesthetic” creations.
Go and experiment with your waffle ingredients, too. Use glutinous rice flour for a chewy, mochi-like texture. Experiment with different kinds of milk or healthier sweeteners. Explore flavors like ube, spicy pork floss, coffee, salted egg yolk, matcha, or white sesame. Also, waffles can also serve as a base for grilled cheese, french toast, and, yes, eggs Benedict. So many options!
2. Reimagined Bibingka
One café snack menu idea that’s gaining traction is bibingka – but with a twist of salted egg. Many establishments are moving away from the traditional galapong cooked over and under coals and lined with banana leaves. Instead, this beloved rice cake is being reimagined in ways that elevate the classic and surprise the palate.
Imagine a creamy cheesecake topped with the usual bibingka toppings. Or a kesong puti ice cream base studded with bibingka cubes, salted egg, and toasted niyog. For something even more unexpected, why not combine bibingka with another café favorite: french toast? Other exciting options include bibingka donuts, pancakes, and pizza.
3. Not-Your-Usual Eggs Benedicts
Bibingka isn’t just for desserts; it can also become the base for eggs Benedict. Swap the usual English muffin with a small rice cake and replace bacon with pineapple-infused ham or crumbled chorizo hamonado for a sweet-and-salty twist. This inventive café food menu idea is sure to win over adventurous diners. And it’s only the beginning!
Eggs Benedict is a versatile dish that encourages creativity. Stick with the classic poached egg and hollandaise sauce (though try using calamansi instead of lemon!) but play with the other components. For the base, go for pandesal, toasted monay, or cheese bread. Replace spinach with kangkong or alugbati. As for the protein, the sky’s the limit – tocino, tinapang bangus, corned beef, and even tortang alimango all work well.
4. Classic Regional Kakanin
Sticky, sweet, and colorful, kakanin is the perfect pairing for every cup of coffee. They appeal to all markets – young and old, local and foreign. Plus, as most diners prefer, hindi sila masyadong matamis. Biko, maja, and sapin-sapin are always reliable choices. But you can also shake things up by spotlighting regional varieties that deserve national recognition.
Offer the silky-soft puto manapla from Negros, Aurora’s suman tapol made with black rice, or Cavite’s coconut-heavy indang kalamay. There’s also Pangasinan’s version of palitaw, known as masikoy, and Taguig’s ube-based inutak. The options are as many as the Philippines’ islands!
5. Asian Sandwiches
To cater to customers looking for grab-and-go options, add several sandwich options to your menu. But forget the usual cheese pimiento, chicken salad, or BLT. Instead, take your diners on a journey across Asia. Choose from classics like banh mi, or draw inspiration from their bold flavors to create a signature ‘wich of your own.
For example, try a Korean beef bulgogi burger piled high with pickled vegetables and slathered with gochujang-kimchi mayo. Or go Japanese with a konbini-style tamago sandwich, featuring a surprise soft-boiled egg and a creamy spread made with Lady’s Choice Real Mayonnaise. For a proudly Pinoy option, serve lechon baka sliders with crispy onions and a tangy atchara dressing.
Pro tip: To stay on trend, stack your sandwiches sky-high with fillings, then slice them in half to showcase a stunning, picture-perfect cross-section.
6. Grain Bowls
And now for healthy café menu ideas! These bowls should be nutritious yet filling so your customers feel they’re getting their money’s worth. Skip the generic bowl of greens topped with random veggies. Instead, focus on intentional flavor pairings to craft dishes that are balanced and even umami-filled.
Take this high-protein salad bowl, for example. Start with a vibrant ensalada of pako, green mangoes, roasted eggplant, and salted egg, then top it with garlic shrimp and a tangy calamansi-soy vinaigrette. Add quinoa for more substance; or for a more budget-friendly alternative, try adlai or brown rice.
Another option is a cauliflower bibimbap. Swap out the traditional rice for grated cauliflower and load it with carrots, zucchini, mushrooms, togue, and crispy mushroom chicharon. It’s entirely meatless yet brimming with flavor, texture, and satisfaction.
7. Fab French Fries
Iced coffee and french fries is a hard-to-beat combination. But don’t settle for ordinary fries! Serve up fun with easy café menu ideas that make every bite an adventure. Go for a “dirty” version with sautéed beef, bell peppers, cheddar cheese, chili sauce, and Best Foods Mayo Magic All Purpose Dressing. Or, try a salted egg coating made with chili flakes, curry leaves, and chicken powder.
And why limit yourself to just potatoes? Experiment with kamote, carrots, or green beans. For a healthier take, skip the deep-fryer and roast or air-fry your fries to crispy perfection. As for flavorings, truffle is always a winner; choose between truffle oil or a flavored salt to sprinkle on just before serving. Source the local bu-o mushroom to slash costs without compromising on that earthy, luxe flavor.
Get more café menu ideas from Unilever’s Future Menus report. Tap into the latest food trends to refresh your offerings and keep your customers engaged. Also, don’t hesitate to swap out slow-moving items for bold, playful dishes that complement your beverage program and boost sales.
