Junels Restobar is one of the longest-standing Filipino restaurants in Hong Kong. The place also moonlights as a karaoke bar, which in part reflects the love most Filipinos have for singing.

They serve an array of dishes but some of the favourites include lechon kawali (deep-fried pork belly), the classic adobo (chicken or pork stew marinated in soy sauce and spices) as well as dinuguan (pork simmered in sauce from pig’s blood). Their sisig is served on a sizzling plate for extra goodness.

Junels is a cornerstone of Hong Kong’s Filipino community and domestic workers and since its inception in 2009, has welcomed generations of families to celebrate their birthdays, socialise and just eat some good Filipino food.

Junels Restobar, B/F, Shop 1G, 7 On Ning Lane, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, +852 5182 8725,j junelsrestobar.business.site

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Cinta-J is the place to be if you want to try a range of Southeast Asian dishes including Malaysian, Thai, Indonesian and of course, Filipino. Located in Wan Chai, this restaurant also offers live band performances together with a wide range of dishes to choose from.

Some of the recommended ones include their breakfast sets (but you can eat them anytime), tosilog and tapsilog. The former is a combination of tocino (cured meat), fried rice and egg while the latter also has fried rice and egg but is served with tapa (cured beef). The name comes from the first syllable of each of the main ingredients. Their lechon kawali with gravy sauce is also a must-try—it just melts in your mouth.

Cinta-J, Shop G-4, Malaysia Building, 69 Jaffe Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, +852 2529 6622, facebook.com/Cinta.J.HK

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A relative newcomer to the Filipino dining scene in Hong Kong, Holy Gaw prides in its contemporary take on Filipino cuisine. Helmed by chef Gaw, the restaurant offers diners Filipino-inspired fusion food that still keeps much of what makes traditional Filipino dishes great.

The standouts here are the Salpicao, made up of juicy slices of tenderloin mixed with garlic and calamansi, the carbonara and the very innovative ube ice-cream sandwich. For the drinks, their calamansi mojito and calamansi soda are blockbusters. The serving isn’t so heavy making Holy Gaw a great starter if you’re just getting to know Filipino food and is suitable for those with an international palette.

Holy Gaw, Shop 4, G/F, 15 Swatow Street, Wan Chai, +852 2782 3988, facebook.com/HolyGaw

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What is a list of the best Filipino food without mentioning Jollibee? This fast-food sensation is such an important part of the Filipino dining scene whether it’s in the Philippines or overseas. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) clamour to eat this as it’s a reminder of home.

Serving mouthwatering comfort food well-loved by the Filipino palate, Jollibee’s famous chicken joy is surely a must-try where you can expect finger-licking, juicy chicken. After all, its tag line is “Bida ang saya” which roughly translates to “happiness is first or a priority.”

Their Jolly Spaghetti might make you raise your eyebrows because of its sweetness but the well-loved dish is perfect for kids who love the taste of the sweet Filipino banana ketchup. Don’t forget the double cheeseburger (a rendition of the classic Yum Burger) to complete the meal. For dessert, we highly recommend the mango pie. Sadly, Jollibee’s dancing mascot isn’t here in Hong Kong to entertain its diners but it’s a huge hit in the Philippines, especially during children’s parties.

Jollibee, various locations, facebook.com/JollibeeHKofficial

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The Port might be hidden inside a building but given its location near Lan Kwai Fong, this restaurant is a hit among the Filipino crowd after (or before) a night of fun. They have a great selection of dishes though, the bicol express (pork in coconut milk and chilli peppers) and tokwa’t baboy (deep-fried tofu and pork) pack a punch after a drink.

If you want to visit during the day, their set lunches are a fantastic deal. You can choose from lechon kawali, beef kaldereta (meat stew with liver spread), tapsilog and longsilog (Filipino local sausage or chorizo, egg and fried rice).

The Port, 3/F, Ho Lee Commercial Building, 38–44 D’Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Central, +852 9409 5259

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The latest addition to the Filipino food scene in Hong Kong is Mama’s Kitchen, which opened in February 2021. The beauty and brains behind the restaurant is Mel Balik who wanted to share her homemade recipes with Hong Kong families and Filipinos who miss their mother's cooking back home.

Balik champions the idea that food is a great way to share one’s family values, tradition, sense of community and support, especially during this pandemic. With travel on hold, Mama’s Kitchen is bringing Filipino food over to us. In addition to their normal selection, they also offer vegetarian options. The chicken adobo bun is a spin on the classic adobo and the spring roll is a Filipino party favourite. No matter what dish you choose, each is guaranteed to be cooked with love.

Mama’s Kitchen, basement, 13 Staunton Street, Soho, Central, Hong Kong, +852 5299 8119, mamaskitchenhk.com

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If you’re looking to support independent businesses that equally serve amazing Filipino food, look no further than The FAT Kusina (kusina means kitchen in Filipino while FAT stands for fresh and tasty). Their products are homemade and served with love and evoke a nostalgic feeling from home-cooked meals especially of families sharing it together.

Their offerings are divided into ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat packs. We recommend the skinless longganisa (Spanish sausage similar to a chorizo), a staple in any Filipino breakfast as well as the chicken inasal (grilled chicken) for the ready-to-cook packs. On the other hand, the kare-kare, bicol express and kaldereta are all worth a try.

To order, send a message through their Instagram page

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Momsh Kitchenette is another independent Filipino business offering deliciously home-cooked Filipino dish or lutong bahay. Chicken inasal is the mainstay and blockbuster here but the lechon kawali and innovative laing con lechon (shredded taro leaves with crispy pork) are equally delicious. If you want something with more spice, have a go at the bicol express.

To order, send a message through their Instagram page

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When Filipinos visit the Philippines, a meal at barbecue fast food chain, Mang Inasal is a must. Unfortunately for Filipinos in Hong Kong, Mang Inasal isn’t in Hong Kong—yet. But we have something else. Aamir Khan has brought the well-loved chicken inasal (grilled chicken) to Hong Kong not just for Filipinos but for everyone to enjoy.

Being part Pakistani, the chicken served at Khan’s restaurant is halal which also opens up the beloved Filipino dish to the Muslim community. Tatler Tip: Chicken inasal is best eaten with your hands.

Chi-Khan Inasal, G/F, 9 Elgin Street, Soho Hong Kong, facebook.com/chikhaninasal

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Another independent Filipino business offering mouth-watering homemade Filipino food is Ilaw (light in Filipino). If you look at their Instagram page, immediately, you’d want to dig your tastebuds at their offerings.

For appetisers, kinilaw (raw seafood sometimes served with lettuce leaves) is the way to go. It’s normally served as pulutan or side snacks during beer-drinking sessions but this time around, it’s a great meal to start with.

Over at the main dishes, a fusion of Filipino and Japanese can be seen with the chicken inasal kaarage while the sweet and sour crispy pork belly is pure finger-licking good. Other dishes include bistek Tagalog (a type of Filipino beef stew using thick beef slices), pinakbet (mixed vegetables sauteed in fish or shrimp sauce) or duck sisig.

To order, send a message through their Instagram page.

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Fiesta Deli in Sai Ying Pun is a Filipino-inspired Deli that opened in April 2022. Fiesta or piyesta in Tagalog means festival. The concept is to provide a space for people to gather, eat, drink and relax—a typical get-together for many Filipinos.

The neighbourhood cafe serves classic sandwiches and home-style Filipino delicacies like fried milk fish and shredded beef (tapa). There’s also a fantastic selection of drinks from Filipino favourite beers Red Horse and San Miguel Light to Apple Rhubarb cider or Coopers pale ale.

Fiesta Deli, 52 Centre Street, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, instagram.com/fiestadelihk

If you’re looking for another lutong bahay (home-cooked) option, then put Darang Mel’s dishes on your list. Made with passion and care, the food here is based on and inspired by Kapampangan Filipino cuisine in the northern Philippines. It’s not surprising that Darang Mel’s signature is sisig, a famous Kampanpangan dish.

We also recommend the dinakdakan (chopped pork ears) or the oxtail kaldereta. While not a Kampangan dish, their breakfast sets are also filling and the perfect meal to start your day. For dessert, turon (deep fried banana) is a sure winner.

To order, please send a message through their Instagram page.

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