2 restaurants serving Filipino Brunch
East Brunswick, NJ
“Maricel's Kitchen stands as New Jersey's premier Filipino culinary experience destination in East Brunswick, founded in 2017 by acclaimed Chef Maricel Gentile who learned cooking from her lola (grandmother) in Manila and built a distinguished 30+ year culinary career in New York City's finest five-star establishments. This unique establishment operates simultaneously as a Filipino restaurant featuring Friday Night Kamayan Tower Feasts and weekend Filipino brunch, a hands-on cooking school teaching Filipino and Pan-Asian cuisines, and a bespoke catering service for private events and corporate gatherings. Featured on Food Network, PBS's A Table for All with Buki, Hulu, and author of Maricel's Simply Asian Cookbook, Chef Gentile created a culinary experience destination at 111 Main Street that welcomes thousands annually to discover authentic Filipino and Asian flavors through interactive cooking classes, exclusive Chef's Table dinners with guest chefs, and intimate dining experiences including the signature Kamayan Tower-a stunning tiered display of scratch-made Filipino dishes served exclusively for each party. The menu showcases Chef Gentile's lola's recipes including chicken adobo, beef caldereta, tinola, sinigang, and specialty items like crispy shrimp balls and grilled pompano, many adaptable for gluten-free diets upon request. With weekend Filipino brunch featuring three-tier Brunch Towers ($59.95 for two people) and lighter platos, plus the traditional Kamayan Feast served on banana leaves for hands-on communal dining, Maricel's Kitchen fulfills Chef Gentile's mission to make Filipino cuisine part of everyday dining conversations alongside Italian, Mexican, and Thai, while honoring her lola's legacy by sharing authentic family recipes with new generations.”
Los Angeles, CA
“Sampa represents the evolution of Filipino-American cuisine in Los Angeles, bringing contemporary fine dining sophistication to the Arts District while honoring Filipino culinary traditions. Named after the sampaguita, the Philippines' national flower, this restaurant is the passion project of Chef Josh Espinosa and entrepreneur Jenny Valles, who transformed their pandemic-era pop-up into a full-service destination showcasing "Filipino cuisine reimagined." Chef Espinosa trained under legendary restaurateur Helene An and applies global culinary techniques to Filipino flavors, creating dishes that surprise and delight while maintaining authentic connections to the homeland. The menu features innovative interpretations like Kare-Kare Tamales with braised oxtail and peanut butter velout topped with bagoong dust, Crispy Duck Pancit combining crispy confit duck with spinach tagliatelle, and Octopus Adobo featuring Spanish octopus with crispy confit potatoes. Their Lamb Shank Kaldereta and Crab Fat Fried Rice demonstrate Chef Espinosa's ability to elevate traditional Filipino recipes into refined culinary experiences. The cocktail menu equally impresses with creative drinks like the Ube Sour and Strawberry Coconut Negroni that incorporate Filipino ingredients into sophisticated libations. Sampa's intimate, dimly-lit atmosphere creates the perfect setting for their shared plates approach, encouraging the communal dining style inherent to Filipino culture. The restaurant aspires toward Michelin recognition, representing a movement to position Filipino cuisine alongside other celebrated Asian culinary traditions. For Filipino-Americans, Sampa offers familiar flavors presented with artistic flair, while for adventurous diners, it provides an accessible introduction to the complexity and richness of Filipino gastronomy through the lens of modern culinary innovation.”
