Best Ginataang Vegetables Across the US

Karenderya

Nyack, NY

“Karenderya has earned national acclaim since opening in Nyack in 2017, named among Esquire's Best New Restaurants in America 2018 and earning Chef Paolo Garcia Mendoza a James Beard Foundation Semifinalist nomination for Best Chef: New York State in 2023. This casual, family-owned restaurant draws inspiration from carinderias-the affordable roadside eateries found throughout the Philippines-while incorporating modern interpretations of Southeast Asian flavor profiles. Chef Paolo grew up in Pasay City before moving to Brooklyn at age 15, training at the Institute of Culinary Education and working under renowned chefs including Floyd Cardoz and Geoffrey Zakarian before establishing his own kitchen. Co-owner Cheryl Baun, a Rockland County native with deep Filipino community involvement, partnered with Paolo to raise awareness about Filipino culture through food. The restaurant operates from modest quarters on Main Street that feel like an old dining room with secondhand furniture, creating unpretentious, welcoming atmosphere. Karenderya's menu offers both traditional Filipino dishes and contemporary creations available as rice bowls or sandwiches, making Filipino cuisine accessible to new diners. Signature items include the exceptional tamarind chicken wings, perfectly executed pork belly, garlic rice bowls with choice of proteins, beef tapa with soy-lime-ginger marinade, and ginataang vegetables in coconut milk. The restaurant offers special mini kamayan feasts for two on select nights, serving food communally without plates or utensils in traditional Filipino style. With consistent quality, fresh ingredients, and Paulo's skilled execution, Karenderya has become essential dining in Nyack while elevating Filipino cuisine's profile in the broader American restaurant landscape.”