Commercial mixed-use urban development Araneta City bagged the Food & Beverage Retailer of the Year – Philippines in the Retail Asia Awards 2025 for its one-of-a-kind dining destination World Kitchens during the awarding ceremony in Singapore on June 4.
Far from the usual mall restaurant, World Kitchens introduces an entirely new concept — a giant, full-table-service restaurant that serves comfort food from around the world. Located at Araneta City’s Gateway Mall 2, it is a welcome addition to the city’s thriving food scene, establishing the area as a rising culinary hub in Metro Manila.
It features 15 show kitchens, each offering a distinct culinary experience crafted by internationally renowned chefs. Diners can choose from a variety of dishes served by the likes of Chef Steve Ma from Hong Kong; Masaki Watanabe, Takahiro Fujita, and Hoshiba Fumihiko from Japan; Dario Bonaccorso from Italy; Rajan Veeranan from India; Gale Tan Sun from Spain; and Jessie Sincioco from the Philippines.
Spanning over 2,500 square meters, World Kitchens can accommodate over 700 guests. For special gatherings, it also offers six private dining areas perfect for celebrations or intimate occasions. Its design combines modern elegance with touches of nature, featuring lush greenery and stone accents that create a serene and welcoming atmosphere.
World Kitchens also integrates technology and hospitality to ensure an elevated and stress-free dining experience, allowing guests to browse the digital menu using their smartphones and place orders with ease.
“World Kitchens was born from a bold idea. It is the first giant, full-table-service restaurant — not just in the Philippines, but in all of Asia — to serve a variety of international dishes at one table and the different cuisines are operated by independent operators. All these are powered by an AI-driven ordering system. By blending technology and taste, we have created a seamless, one-of-a-kind global dining adventure that is worth enjoying,” Singaporean F&B visionary Andrew Tan Hock Lai said.
World Kitchens is made possible by the partnership between Araneta City and Tan, who is renowned for his expertise in integrating technology into the dining experience.
“This award affirms our success in redefining the dining experience. Thank you for believing in the innovation, flavor, and joy that World Kitchens brings to the culinary world,” Tan added.
Retail Asia Awards recognizes outstanding achievements, innovations, and excellence within the retail industry across the Asia-Pacific region. In 2024, it bestowed Araneta City the New Mall of the Year – Philippines award for Gateway Mall 2.