The taste and ambience of the Philippines

West Exchange District

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/04/2023 (1238 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg is home to over 77,000 Filipinos, making up a greater percentage of the Winnipeg population (8.7 per cent) than any other city in Canada.

The active and vibrant Filipino community includes many restaurants, the Philippine Canadian Centre of Manitoba, several Filipino newspapers and a radio station. Jollibee, a popular global Filipino fast food chain, has established its first two Canadian locations here.

Now there’s a new restaurant for both the Filipino community and the broader community to enjoy. Bahay Kubo (which means bamboo, stilt or nipa hut in Tagalog, the most common dialect in the Philippines) opened in early February in the Royal Albert Arms Hotel at 48 Albert St.

“Our clientele has been 50 per cent non-Filipino,” said Allan Pineda, Bahay Kubo’s co-founder, chef and manager.

“We’ve had people bring their kids, parents and grandparents. Our food is not solely Filipino. There are flavours from all over South East Asia and the South Pacific like Hawaii, Japanese, Chinese, etc.”

Customer favourites include salmon and tuna kinilaw (a version of ceviche), longgonisa lumpia (sweet, cured-pork spring rolls) and mochi waffles (made with rice flour for a consistency unique to similar Asian dessert dishes).

“We do have a few vegan items,” Pineda said. “We also do collaborations with Roughage Eatery, mainly our vegan ‘kamayan’ experience where you eat with your hands on banana leaves.”

For those who appreciate a dining experience with ambience, Bahay Kubo offers lots of it, along with fun beverage and food options.

The Filipino barbecue pork belly skewer comes with gremolata, pickled shallots and fried garlic, and can be made vegan with a tofu skewer. The Kahlua pork tacos are made with Hawaiian-style Luau pork, fresh pineapple salsa, jalapeno, coleslaw and house-made corn tortilla. For plant-based eaters, the pork can be replaced with enoki mushroom.

“When people walk in they feel at home and it brings back memories from the past of Filipino households in the ’80s and ’90s,” Pineda said. “People of all ages have an appreciation of the thought process involved in the decor and inception.”

“Visiting Bahay Kubo was a nostalgic experience for me,” said diner Dyna Badere Rico.

“ When people walk in they feel at home and it brings back memories from the past…

“The traditional Filipino setting of the restaurant, coupled with the aroma of familiar Filipino dishes, made me feel like I was in the Philippines. The twist of western culture in the food at Bahay Kubo was a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed how the restaurant fused the best of both worlds.”

Fellow diner Wheng described Bahay Kubo as cozy yet classy.

“The service, setup and decorations of the place makes you feel at home. The food is delicious and represents the Filipino cuisine in a higher level. I would like to come back there again and again to eat my favorite Salmon Kinilaw and drink a Halo-halo beer, Kampay! (Cheers!)”

Bahay Kubo offers catering and in-house private dinners and events. Restaurant hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 10 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 5 to 11 p.m. Sunday brunch will soon be added.

For reservations, emai baonbistro@gmail.com. Follow the restaurant on Instagram @bahaykubowpg.