10 Best Filipino Restaurants In NYC To Try Right Now
New York City’s melting pot culture can’t be overstated, and it’s reflected in the food and drinks scene too. Especially in the Filipino restaurant space, where authentic flavors are being hand delivered straight from the streets of the Philippines to the city that never sleeps. Next time you’re looking for a casual sisig spot, head to one of these Filipino restaurants scattered around NYC.
1. Naks, East Village
From the team behind Dhamaka and Brooklyn hotspot Masalawala & Sons comes Naks, an East Village Filipino outpost that leaves us wanting for more. The name’s restaurant is slang for an expression of surprise and admiration in Tagalog, and that’s exactly how their food will make you feel. Their menu consists of a few a la carte options, but the star of the show is an 18-course kamayan-style tasting menu which includes grilled meats, noodles, Filipino street food, and so much more. See Naks’ full menu here.
Where: 201 1st Ave
2. Jollibee, Multiple Locations
With over 1,000 locations in the Philippines, Jollibee’s is a Filipino fast food chain that’s made it’s way to NYC in style. The go-to at these spots include the Jolly Spaghetti (trust us, it’s better than you think), fried chicken and gravy, and a delightful peach mango pie for dessert. There’s a few locations around NYC, with the most recent being in Brooklyn which opened earlier this month. There’s also locations in Times Square, Queens, and more!
Where: Find your location here
3. Pig and Khao, Lower East Side
Pig & Khao is a Filipino-Thai crossover that serves up energetic Southeast Asian food in the heart of LES. Their lively dining room filled with brightly colored paintings and high ceilings is super inviting, and their menu items like Green Papaya Salad and Hainanese Duck really make you feel the culture. Check out Pig & Khao’s full menu here.
Where: 68 Clinton St
4. Gugu Room, Lower East Side
This Filipino-Japanese izakaya on the Lower East Side blends together the flavors of both cultures, creating contemporary Japanese cocktails with a Filipino twist, delectable yakitori and clever entrées. The main dining room is dark, moody, and red…inspired by the mysteriousness of 19th century romance. As for the menu, expect anything from robata kushiyaki (fireside skewered meats) options like teriyaki chicken and Filipino style pork belly to tempura, congee and kare-kare. See Gugu Room’s full menu here.
Where: 143 Orchard St
5. Renee’s Kitchenette & Grill, Woodside
Renee’s Kitchenette & Grill is right in the middle of Woodside’s “Little Manila” neighborhood, and their home-style Filipino cooking style draws in crowds from all over NYC. It’s a mom-and-pop shop kind of place where you can chat up owners Renee and Ernesto Dizon while you feast on their Sizzling Sisig Special and Kare-Kare recipes that have been mastered for decades. See Renee’s Kitchenette & Grill’s full menu here.
Where: 69-14 Roosevelt Ave, Queens
6. 87 Ludlow, Lower East Side
87 Ludlow specializes in Filipino/Spanish tapas that chef and owner Aris Tuazon has mastered during his travels to Spain and his Filipino upbringing. Their art-filled dining group is a great spot to dine with friends, since you can order a bunch of shareables for the table like Oyster Sisig, Pork Belly Adobo Kebabs, and Chorizo Shrimp al Ajillo. See 87 Ludlow’s full menu here.
Where: 87 Ludlow St
7. Ihawan, Woodside
Dig your teeth into the greatest Filipino BBQ food at Ihawan, also located in Woodside! Their Kapampangan cuisine is elite, and is undoubtedly the place to come for meats. Sizzling steak, pork, and seafood are just some of the items that highlight their no-frills menu, so you really can’t go wrong here. They even have a whole section of their menu dedicated to house specials (think kare-kare, chop suey, calamares). See Ihawan’s full menu here.
Where: 40-06 70th St
8. Mama Fina’s, East Village
Mama Fina’s is “the house of Filipino sisig” for good reason, and if you visit this spot you know what to get. Their variations of the popular sizzling Filipino dish (like pork, chicken, tuna, quid) will leave your mouth watering. Of course they have other Asian specialties too like BBQ, seafood, Filipino style spaghetti, and more. See Mama Fina’s full menu here.
Where: 167 Avenue A
9. Flip Sigi, West Village
What started as a Filipino dive bar back in 2015 is now a nationally recognized “Filipino taqueria” that fuses Asian and Mexican cultures into a delicious blend. It’s pretty rare to stumble across a place serving Longanisa Tacos and Filipino Breakfast Bowls, but this place does it effortlessly. Not to mention their graffiti and California-inspired dining space is pretty rad too. See Flip Sigi’s full menu here.
Where: 131 7th Ave S
10. Tradisyon, Hell’s Kitchen
Tradisyon is home to all of the Filipino comfort food you can dream of, and their Hell’s Kitchen location is meant to “make traditional Filipino food known and accessible.” They may just have the best Pork Adobo in the entire city, but everything else is delicious too. See Tradisyon’s full menu here.
Where: 790 9th Ave
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