For Filipinos, the dining table is rarely just a place to eat. It is where stories are shared, celebrations happen, and people come together over a spread of food.
That idea takes center stage at Purple Rice Royal, the newest branch of Purple Rice at Glorietta 2 in Makati.
“I think whenever guests come to Purple Rice, it’s trying new flavors, but then also having that sense of home, feeling that you’re very welcomed here,” Director of Hospitality Alyanna Sia says.
It’s the very core at the heart of Purple Rice, a Thai restaurant founded by Alex Cantor, whose Thai roots and upbringing in the Philippines shape the brand’s identity. Since opening in 2023, Purple Rice has brought together Thai flavors and traditions with the warmth and hospitality of a Filipino home.
“We worked with a Thai chef, and it has the hospitality of a Filipino home. That’s something we really take to heart,” Sia shares.
Now, that philosophy takes on a new setting at Purple Rice Royal at Glorietta 2 in Makati, the brand’s sixth branch.
The brand’s sixth branch brings together Thai culinary traditions and the Filipino way of gathering around the hapag. The space combines warm lighting, woven rattan, light wood, dark green tiles, and foliage, with touches of royal purple that give the restaurant a more polished feel without losing its warmth.
Dishes Made for Sharing
The new branch also introduces dishes created exclusively for Purple Rice Royal.
The Curry Crab & Roe Claypot combines sweet crab meat and rich crab roe with Thai-style egg fried rice, finished with an aromatic curry sauce and served sizzling in a claypot.
Another highlight is the Crying Tiger Angus Steak, featuring grilled rib-eye paired with Nam Jim Jaew, a Thai dipping sauce with a bright, herbaceous character.
Both dishes reflect Purple Rice’s approach to Thai food: familiar enough to enjoy together, but with something new to discover.
More Than Lunch and Dinner
Purple Rice Royal also expands the experience with a beverage menu designed for coffee breaks and casual afternoons.
The Coco Pandan Latte and Coco Pandan Black Tea Soda bring familiar Filipino flavors into the mix, while the Passionfruit Basil Black Tea Soda adds Thai basil to a fruity, refreshing drink.
Other options include the Sea Salt Latte, Espresso Coke Float, Matcha Strawberry, and Ube Latte, giving guests plenty of reasons to drop by even outside regular mealtimes.
Thai Roots, Filipino Warmth
Since opening in 2023, Purple Rice has built its identity around the meeting point of Thai flavors and Filipino hospitality. Its owner, Alex Cantor, draws from both Thai and Filipino roots, bringing together the spices, recipes, and traditions of both cultures.
For Sia, the new branch is an extension of that idea.
“Purple Rice Royal at Glorietta takes our roots of Thai flavors and Filipino warmth, elevating it in a space we created for guests to enjoy dishes they know us for but discover something new on the menu,” she reflects.
The restaurant’s Glorietta opening is part of a wider expansion, with upcoming branches planned for Nuvali, Laguna, and Marilao, Bulacan.
For Purple Rice, the goal remains simple: bring people to the table, serve food worth sharing, and make every meal feel a little more like home.
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