'I thought it was a scam': How El Poco owner missed Michelin ceremony

Kitchen can be messy, and Michelin can feel like a scam?

A viral post today by El Poco Cantina owner Richard Ken “Tots” Ramirez on Facebook revealed his hilarious reason for missing the Michelin Guide 2025 ceremony on October 30 at the Manila Marriott Hotel in Newport World Resorts.

“P.S. Next time, reply to the email at least. It wasn’t a phishing scam,” he shared.

Despite missing the momentous event, Ramirez expressed gratitude for the recognition and humbly thanked their customers for their support.

El Poco Cantina is part of the Michelin Selected Restaurants. Here’s the full list:

62 Selected Restaurants in Manila and Environs

• Aida's Chicken

• Antonio's

• Aurora

• Automat

• Ayà

• Benjarong

• Blackbird

• Butcher Boy

• Cantabria by Chele Gonzalez

• Canton Road

• Carmelo's Steakhouse

• Chie Chie's Pancit Batil Patung

• China Blue

• Cirkulo

• Cru Steakhouse

• Deo Gracias

• El Poco Cantina (Malate)

• Ember

• Esmeralda Kitchen

• Fong Wei Wu

• Fresca Trattoria

• Ginza Nagaoka

• Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill

• Goxo

• Iai

• Juniper

• Kei

• Kodawari (Salcedo)

• Locavore (Taguig)

• Lola Helen

• Lore

• Lusso (Legazpi)

• Mamacita

• Man Ho

• Metiz

• Mirèio

• MŌDAN

• Now Now

• Oak & Smoke

• Offbeat

• Old Manila

• Origine

• Osteria Antica

• Pablo

• Papillon

• People's Palace

• Ramen Ron

• Sala

• Seva

• Spices

• Steak & Frice

• Summer Palace

• Super Uncle Claypot

• Tandem

• Taupe

• Terraza Martinez

• The Test Kitchen

• Txanton

• Uma Nota

• Umu

• Yamazato

12 Selected Restaurants in Cebu

• Abli

• ATO-AH

• COCO

• DIP

• Enye by Chele Gonzalez

• House of Lechon

• Kamakura

• Lantaw (Compostela)

• Maya

• Pares Pares (N. Escario Street)

• Sialo

• Socarrat