Among Southeast Asian cuisines, Filipino food remains a bit of an enigma. In Hong Kong, Thai, Indonesian and Vietnamese fare is common enough, but having a meal at a Filipino establishment might require a little more searching. Fortunately for you, we’ve done the legwork and rounded up some of the best restaurants for Filipino food Hong Kong, from tried-and-true hole in the walls to happening nightlife hotspots.
Cinta-J
At the heart of Wan Chai’s nightlife scene is Cinta-J, where you can enjoy live music over dinner and drinks. Expect favorites like sinigang (vegetables and meat or seafood in a sour broth), adobo (meat in a soy sauce and vinegar-based sauce) and halo-halo (a dessert of shaved ice, evaporated milk and other ingredients such as sago and mixed fruit). Other Southeast Asian dishes such as Indonesian nasi goreng and pad thai are on offer, too. With the establishment’s closing time of 4am, it’s tempting to drink and sing the night away.
Shop G-4, Malaysia Building, 69 Jaffe Road, Wan Chai, 2529-6622.
Bedana’s Filipino Restaurant & Bar
Bendana’s Filipino Restaurant & Bar — formerly Foodtrip Bendana’s Filipino Restaurant — may look unassuming at first glance, but it’s a firm favorite among the Filipino community, and a go-to for Filipino food in Hong Kong. Try the kare-kare (a meat, seafood or vegetable peanut sauce stew) or the pancit palabok (fried noodles topped with shrimp, pork, tofu and egg). If you’re eating with a big group, why not go for the “boodle fight” (pictured)? Originating from the Filipino military, a boodle fight is a mix of dishes with rice served on banana leaves and meant to be eaten with the hands.
G/F, 113 Woosung Street, Jordan Road, Jordan, 2542-3088.
Junelsrestobar
If you’ve partied with Filipinos, you’ll know it’s won’t be long until someone busts out the karaoke microphone. Junelsrestobar offers the option to sing karaoke as well as enjoy a good meal. The entire restaurant shares one microphone and TV karaoke system, so make sure to keep track of your turn! The menu is divided up into fried dishes (spring rolls, chicken wings, calamari), fried noodles, meat and seafood mains, soups, and vegetables.
G/F, 11 Lai On Lane, Water Street, Sai Ying Pun, 5182-8725.
Escape
Another Wan Chai haunt dishing up some of the best Filipino food in Hong Kong, Escape boasts 7,050sqft of floor space a nine-meter long island bar that’s jazzed up by an LED-light backdrop. The bar and disco serves up both Filipino and Thai fare; try the crispy pata (deep fried pork knuckle, pictured) off the Filipino menu. Entertainment comes in the form of live music or sporting events playing on 10 LCD screens.
Shop LGF, East Town Building, 64 Jaffe Road, Wan Chai, 2143-6030.
AMORE
AMORE serves a combination of Western and Asian food, but a bulk of the menu is Filipino dishes. Of particular note are the range of Filipino breakfasts on offer: fried beef, corned beef or sweet pork with garlic rice and egg; or chicken or beef tripe with congee and egg. The Filipino-style beef steak, fried milkfish and eggplant omelette are some of the restaurant’s signatures.
Shop D, G/F, 8 Thomson Road, Wan Chai, 2877-8282.
Balé Deli
At Balé Deli you’ll find Filipino products from embutido (Filipino-style cold cuts) and tinapa (smoked fish) to pili nuts and leche flan. The deli also offers sandwiches, coffee and lunch boxes for takeaway. Available dishes depend on the day.
Unit 1A, Imperial Terrace, 356 Queens Road West, Sai Ying Pun, 9683-2490.
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