BARTable East Bay Filipino Restaurants
In San Francisco? Check out BARTable San Francisco Filipino Restaurants.
Stop in to munch on some fried spring rolls and sip on a mango smoothie or stay a while to watch a chef slice a whole roast pig — Filipino food is a blend of so many influences that there’s a little for everyone. From the influences of over 175 ethnolinguistic Filipino nations to a storied history of colonizations across the archipelago, there is no shortage to the different flavors Filipino food has adopted and has to offer.
Despite having a sizeable Filipino community, the East Bay Filipino food scene only really started growing in the past few years. The following BARTable pop-ups, former food trucks and restaurants take recipes from sariling bahay — their home towns — and reinvent them with the flavors and ingredients of the local community.
FOB Kitchen
Steady yourself for a blast of the tropics — from its interior design to the cocktail menu, FOB Kitchen brings a little piece of the Philippines to Temescal. FOB Kitchen started as a pop-up in the San Francisco Mission district and moved into this permanent location late last year. Chefs Brandi and Janice Dulce play with the regional diversity of the Philippines in their menu, working to include several vegetarian and vegan options as well.
The Lumpia Company
The crispy, deep fried spring roll known as lumpia is a Filipino cuisine staple, and The Lumpia Company reimagines it in the best way possible. By creating lumpias filled with the flavors of other Filipino dishes, like chicken tinola soup, or entirely different cuisines like a bacon cheeseburger, owner Alex Retodo hopes to share his experiences as a Filipino American.
Jeepney Guy
There’s no experience like a jeepney ride — and there’s no experience like a jeepney that brings your merienda (snack) to you. Jeepney Guy has settled into a location at 7th West, after only weekly appearances at Off the Grid, and serves some of the best lechon around.
Cafe Gabriela
This Downtown Oakland cafe features an array of local delights, including their beloved pulled-pork adobo sandwich that puts a tasty spin on a traditional Filipino dish. Cafe Gabriela also has a full coffee bar and delicious cookies to complete your meal.
