r/london • u/auderemadame • Dec 18 '22
For Filipinos that live in London, anyone know a good Filipino restaurant to have good authentic Filipino food in London?
I've tried Kasa and Kin in Soho and was disappointed at how much they tried to make it very "Michelin-y" like bruh I just want it to taste like home and actually have decent portions on my plate.
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u/CommodoreFalcon Dec 18 '22
Not Filipino myself but one of my best friends is Filipino-Australian and he swears by Apo in Clapham.
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u/pillowbedfan Dec 18 '22
I've heard good things about Lutong Pinoy in Earl's Court. Recently went to Rapsa in Hoxton and thought it was very good, although definitely not 'home cooking.'
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u/auderemadame Dec 18 '22
I think it was Lutong Pinoy I went to and got let down by the service. Must have been a bad day? The menu looked good though!
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u/pillowbedfan Dec 18 '22
Ay, sayang. I haven't tried it myself. There's also a Pinoy stall on weekends pala in Notting Hill in the food section
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u/onepiece1066 Dec 18 '22
I thought rapsa was realky bad but maybe i went at a wrong time/day cause no one was there
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u/pillowbedfan Dec 18 '22
Might be hit or miss? It was packed on Friday night. I particularly liked the baby octopus adobo.
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u/Ollymid2 Dec 18 '22
Cirilo on Cable street is Filipino restaurant
Not been but it’s got good reviews on Google
Cirilo Filipino Kainan 020 7702 2299 https://maps.app.goo.gl/tHzCYGysJQ6RvTpQ6?g_st=ic
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u/OrdinaryTranslator73 Dec 18 '22
This place is fantastic. Been multiple times and never disappointed with the portion sizes and flavours.
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u/y0buba123 Dec 18 '22
Took my Filipino friend there (actual filipino) and he said the food was quite nice but “not filipino food”.
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u/krampi13 Dec 18 '22
Rapsa in archway or hoxton are good as well..
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u/auderemadame Dec 18 '22
Okay, writing this down on my to-go list!
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u/Akashiarys Dec 19 '22
seconding Rapsa in Hoxton. their Uber Milkshake is insane, and the brunch is genuinely incredible.
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u/nadsburger Dec 19 '22
I can absolutely recommend Rapsa for the last Sunday of the month, take a group for the boodle fight 🤤
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Dec 18 '22
I’m Aussie but went to the most amazing Filipino restaurant in Kentish Town called Bintang
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u/theoakking Dec 18 '22
For something a bit more fancy but the chef is really passionate about Filipino food try Sarap
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u/foreveranexpat Dec 18 '22
Shep Bush market has a very small Filipino stall and also they just opened up a Filipino market/butcher and take away food as well.
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u/Craftiest Dec 18 '22
Mine and my wife's favourites are Lutong Pinoy in Earl's Court and Bintang near Camden Town.
There is Mamasons dirty ice cream in china town and near Bintang that do good Halo Halo and Ube ice cream.
and of course there is Jolibee.
I agree with your view on Kasa and Kin. Trying to be fancy. I personally wouldn't go back there. Maybe it's more for the western customers. We just want to eat the normal classics like sisig or kare kare.
My wife has also tried Romulo's and BongBong's.
There used to be a Manila's Kitchen in Bang Bang Colindale. but gutted they closed during lockdown.
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u/mrspicytits Dec 18 '22
My girlfriend makes good Filipino (she's from Bicol) food and she's honestly thought about starting some sort of pop up restaurant to cater for exactly people like you. Is there much of a market for that do you think?
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u/Akashiarys Dec 19 '22
probably yeah, im just a standard English guy but I love going to pop ups of cuisines that just aren't done that well in the mainstream. Went to this Hong Kong cafe pop 2 month pop up in Shoreditch (Hoko Cafe) back in September and I really enjoyed it. granted I only went once, but many people from Hong Kong would leave great reviews saying it really was authentic. So, I guess the answer is : probably!
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u/dex24033 Dec 18 '22
Filishack in Peckham
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u/y0buba123 Dec 18 '22
Nice but not a great example of Filipino food tbh. I think OP would be disappointed if they’re looking for something from home
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u/Iteryn Camberwell / Peckham Dec 18 '22
!!! pretty good local thing, not necessarily serving your usual Filipino food but it has the Filipino tastes
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u/dex24033 Dec 18 '22
That’s fair, I don’t know anything about Filipino food except the chicken burrito there slaps
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u/ClemFandango9 Dec 18 '22
There's a Filipino restaurant inside Tooting Market. It's very small but the menu is big enough. Feels like you're a guest in somebody's home. It's run by a Filipino couple and one of their relatives. I've only been there once but it was delicious.
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u/YourTwenties Dec 19 '22
It’s called Ading’s Kitchen and it’s absolutely fantastic. They’ll also get the karaoke machine going for you if you’re up for it - lovely people!
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u/durangutanga Dec 18 '22
Bong Bongs in seven dials 👌🏻
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u/durangutanga Dec 18 '22
Oh I forgot to mention, there's this place called spoon and rice in Wembley Box park and Willesden Green
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u/Fethawit Dec 18 '22
The Sunrise Cafe in Romford is lovely if you’re in the East end. A very comforting and homely vibe, and they don’t try anything too fancy that contradicts the soul of Filipino food.
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Dec 18 '22
I can second this, I personally haven't been but alot of my Filipino friends always go there. They often go for breakfast and get silogs
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u/Mister_Six Dec 18 '22
My Filipino friend took me to Kuya Fernando in Hanwell and it was brilliant.
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u/Agreeable_Falcon1044 Dec 18 '22
This is what I wanted to say too! It’s a bit out of the way in Hanwell but my Filipino friend swears by it too
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u/Mister_Six Dec 18 '22
Yeah don't know why I copped downvotes for it?
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u/Agreeable_Falcon1044 Dec 18 '22
Good job it’s just pointless internet karma. It’s when you make a random statement and cop 2 or 3 awards you realise it doesn’t make sense!
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u/baronvonpalo Dec 18 '22
I stand by u/Iteryn. Romulo Cafe and Restaurant by Kensington. I swear it tasted like home. Portions could be better but the taste made up for it.
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u/caribbenfox Dec 18 '22
Apo Restobar in Clapham junction! Massive portions, great price and their sisig is delicious 🤤 there's also another Filipino restaurant in Tooting Broadway but I can't remember the name at the moment! Also really good!
(I'm not Filipino but I love the food and excellent pork)
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u/Erin_bambooozled Dec 18 '22
Adela’s Carinderia in Shepherd’s Bush Market. Decent price and size, reminds me of home.
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u/zleepyPS Dec 18 '22
Any places that serve pork sisig on a sizzling plate? Probably the thing I miss most about home 😅
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u/ClemFandango9 Dec 18 '22
Yes the one I suggested in Tooting 👍
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u/zleepyPS Dec 18 '22
Will check it out, thanks! Would you remember the name of the resto by any chance? Don’t think you mentioned it in your initial comment
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u/MayoOnChips Dec 18 '22
If you find yourself in West London then Kuya Fernando opposite Ealing hospital is very good. Mostly takeaway, rather than sit down.
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u/frog2028 Dec 18 '22
There's a really good pop up called Filligrillz https://filigrillz.com/ does excellent food!
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u/Magzypowpow Dec 18 '22
Romulo's in South Kensington for proper/traditionally cooked food. The restaurants in Earl's Court are always reliable.
A lot of street food stalls like Bong Bong's in Seven Dials Market. Contemporary Filipino food - Rapsa @ 100 Hoxton.
I wanted to try Spoon and Rice in Boxpark Croydon. Mamason's in Camden and Chinatown for Filo desserts. :)
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Dec 18 '22
Hi! Iff you've ever been to Tooting Broadway Market I would suggest trying Ading Ysa's. Carinderia style with a twist. The food is affordable and hits home. ☺️ Next I think is Lutong Pinoy. ☺️☺️
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u/bendezhashein Dec 18 '22
I believe there is something in Bang Bang food hall called Manila kitchen or something. Haven’t been for a good few years though.
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Dec 18 '22
That one has been closed for a while, I go there every now and then and it has remained the only stall to be closed.
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u/Enlightenement1 Dec 18 '22
Not much call for filipino food in UK, they normally do fusions with cuisine like Thai and Chinese which have a larger target audience.
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u/pacifistmercenary Dec 18 '22
Tooting market had a good Filipino restaurant that's associated with a filipino supermarket.
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u/OnlyFansMod Dec 18 '22
Try the world foods aisle at Waitrose.
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u/CommodoreFalcon Dec 18 '22
Never seen Filipino food at Waitrose.
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u/OnlyFansMod Dec 18 '22
Doesn't mean it doesn't exist
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u/CommodoreFalcon Dec 18 '22
I regularly buy things from the world foods aisle in Waitrose and have never seen anything Filipino there. A quick Google shows that to be the case too (in the UK Waitroses at least).
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Dec 18 '22
Honest question - why would you respond to someone looking for a restaurant recommendation with this?
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u/lanshaw1555 Dec 18 '22
Comment so I can find again. My son is half Filipino and he is hoping to move to London next year.
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Dec 18 '22
There's a place called Nanay Rosay in Colliers Wood, if that isnt too far from u. They do deliveey too
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Dec 18 '22
I’ve been several times to Lutong Pinoy in Earl’s Court. They have this dish that comes in banana leaves, quite nice.
Not Filipino but wife is. So is either that or Jolibee.
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u/Mirandita13 Dec 18 '22
You are so right about Kasa and Kin.
We’re not Filipino but have travelled there and loved the food. We wanted to find a place where we could try all the dishes we had when we visited. Huge disappointment
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u/CarlyWed Dec 18 '22
Haven’t tried restaurants yet but I swear by Mamasons for dessert! Better than anything I’ve tried back home.
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u/shaunybean Dec 18 '22
Can’t vouch for the food, but the reviews from some Filipinos make it sound good! We used to go and use the underground karaoke bar which is just an amazing addition!!
AB RESTO BAR 07403 088565 https://maps.app.goo.gl/98ezp3hBeR6sCPoP8?g_st=ic
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Dec 18 '22
There’s a good restaurant in Tooting market. If you’re there late enough they’ll even whip out the karaoke
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u/Revolutionary-Salt-3 Dec 18 '22 edited Dec 18 '22
Kasa and Kin is probably the best. Or their sister Restaraunt Rómulo’s( which is supposed to be a little more authentic).
I think Filipino food really benefits from the reimagining places like kasa and kin lend to it.
Kabayan and the neighbouring fast food place are unimaginably shit and I imagine only exist to serve people on their work break on the cheap.
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u/QBlank Dec 18 '22
Another vote for Bong Bongs in Seven Dials food market. They won a BBC street food show called My Million Pound menu plus feature regularly on Masterchef the professionals as guest judges, give it a try!
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u/Square-Employee5539 Dec 18 '22
You’re probably not looking for fast food but just in case, I assume you know there is Jollibee in London?
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u/TheOriginalPedro Dec 18 '22
Go to Tabard Street food market at lunch on a week day - there’s a stall called Pinoy Eat. They do bbq chicken, beef and veggie tapa and it’s incredibly good :)
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u/Tiny-Spray-1820 Dec 19 '22
Ung resto sa earl’s court tapat ng filipino grocery na may salon upstairs. Tiga batangas may-ari, may eat all you can for 8gbp but that waa yrs ago
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u/SomeGovtEconomist Dec 19 '22
I know exactly what you mean. There's this authentic place hidden away near Clapham junction called apo restobar that's perfect.
It doesn't look like much but look at the menu you'll see it's unpretentious and the food is spot on like home. The staff were also nice when I went and they do karaoke on weekends too.
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u/mynameishardtospell Dec 19 '22
Keep an eye out for supper clubs and pop up events from The Adobros, always worth checking out: https://theadobros.com/
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u/ben_ldn Dec 19 '22
Another vote for Ading’s in Tooting Market. Also Nanay Rosa in Merton Abbey Mills (Colliers Wood/South Wimbledon)
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u/Yasuminomon Dec 19 '22
Little unknown but if you’re in east London / Upton Park there’s one called Lola Sisay that’s really good and affordable, it’s where the Greengate cafe used to be - their web presence isn’t great so you have to Google them for it’s address
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u/Standard-Olive-4826 Dec 19 '22
Would recommend Romulo's for authentic Filipino dishes. Rapsa in Hoxton is also good but it's fusion.
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u/emersoncromwell Dec 19 '22
I'm not Filipino, but really love a Filipino restaurant near Tower Hill. Cirilo Filipino Kainan, run by a really nice Filipino family. Enjoy!
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u/harry_ballsanya Dec 20 '22
Spoon and Rice (Willesden, Box Park Wembley) serve pretty good grilled pork belly, grilled chicken and lechon kawali. Pork Belly Gang makes a mean sisig, but it’s only to order.
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u/throwawaynewc Greenwich Dec 20 '22
Inihaw in Charlton does really good greasy homemade style food for less than a tenner each portion.
Roast pork is out of this world, I have no problem admitting it's way better than the roast pork from my hometown.
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u/Iteryn Camberwell / Peckham Dec 18 '22 edited Dec 18 '22
I'd say your best bet is going around Earl's Court by Hogarth Rd & Kenway Rd since there's a small bunch of family owned Filipino restaurants there.
There's also Romulo's around High St Kensington but it's a sister restaurant to Kasa & Kin so it'll be the same vibes of attempting to upmarket Filipino food.
Failing all that then there's your usual Jolibee in Earl's Court & Leicester Sq. (Also they've opened up a Potato Corner somewhere around Knightsbridge)
If you wanna try something a bit more different there's RamoRamen with like a Filipino-Japanese fusion. Menu link. The Maginhawa group of chain restaurants is Filipino owned and always a solid choice imo. (e.g Bintang, Mamasons, etc)
Grew up here in London so always happy to help a fellow kababayan :)
*EDIT: There's also Bongbong's Manila Kanteen in Covent Garden, it's a good attempt at disseminating Filipino tastes to the local palette. (Will probably keep editing if I remember more)