Boston Restaurant Talk: Filipino restaurants

Showing posts with label Filipino restaurants. Show all posts

Thursday, November 13, 2025

Kuya Jay's Ube Kafe Is Moving from Cambridge to Somerville

A Filipino spot is in the process of moving to a new location.

According to its Instagram page, Kuya Jay's Ube Kafe is getting ready to open in Somerville, moving from its previous location on Rogers Street in Cambridge's Kendall Square area to Medford Street in Somerville's Winter Hill area. The new location plans to soft open this weekend, opening its doors on November 15 and 16 at 11:00 AM, and based on the now-closed Cambridge shop, expect to see sandwich cookies, sweet rolls, milk tea, latte, matcha, lemonade, hot chocolate, and more.

The address for the new location of Kuya Jay's Ube Kafe is 415 Medford Street, Somerville, MA, 02145. Its website is at https://ubekafe.com/ while its Instagram page is at https://www.instagram.com/ubekafe/

[November 18 update: According to its social media, Kuya Jay's Ube Kafe now appears to be fully open in its new space in Somerville.]

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Thursday, June 12, 2025

Kanaka Cafe to Open in the Former Pinoy Kabayan Filipino Asian Cuisine Space in Downtown Boston

A new restaurant that offers Filipino dishes and more will be opening in the heart of Boston, and it will be taking over the space where another Filipino dining spot had been.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Kanaka Cafe is opening on Broad Street in downtown Boston, moving into the former Pinoy Kabayan Filipino Asian Cuisine space. The Instagram page for Kanaka Cafe mentions that it will be featuring "Authentic Hawaiian, Filipino dishes and Poke Bowls" including items such as garlic shrimp, fried chicken, Kalua pork, poke nachos, crab salad, pork and peas, and more.

Pinoy Kabayan Filipino Asian Cuisine debuted in September of 2023,

The address for the upcoming Kanaka Cafe is 71 Broad Street, Boston, MA, 02109.

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Thursday, May 04, 2023

Pinoy Kabayan Filipino Asian Cuisine Is Opening in Downtown Boston

A new dining spot that features a cuisine that isn't all that easy to find locally is coming to downtown Boston.

According to an article from Universal Hub, Pinoy Kabayan Filipino Asian Cuisine is hoping to open on Broad Street, with Janeth Millare saying that it will offer mostly takeout Filipino food, though the space would possibly have seating for 16 for those wishing to dine in. UH says that the Boston Licensing Board is slated to vote on its request for a common victualler license today.

The address for Pinoy Kabayan is 71-73 Broad Street, Boston, MA, 02109.

[September 25 update: A poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page states that Pinoy Kabayan is now open.]

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

NOTE: Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is currently dealing with health issues and needs your help. Please donate if you can at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

Tuesday, January 03, 2023

Tanám at Bow Market in Somerville's Union Square Is Closing

One of the few Filipino dining spots in the Greater Boston area is shutting down.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, Tanám at Bow Market in the Union Square section of Somerville is closing its doors, with an Instagram post from owner Ellie Tiglao saying the following:

There's no easy way to say this, so it's important to begin with the reason for this post: Tanám is closing....I won't lie and say the pandemic was not the worst roadblock to a space that looked to connect strangers across a table. It has been difficult in ways you may only truly know if you're in this industry. My heart is breaking -- how could it not when you're still in love?...We return from break on January 5th with advanced reservation only private dining and kamayan to go (check out our Tock). Beverage service is limited and we will not be serving walk-ins. January 14th is our last day, but I hope this virtual space is a place we can continue to challenge norms that do not serve us.

Tanám first opened at the beginning of 2019, with Tiglao doing pop-ups in and around Boston for a few years before its debut.

The website for Tanám can be found at https://www.tanam.co/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Monday, July 05, 2021

Bright Light Is Taking Over the JnJ Turo Turo Space in Quincy

One of the region's only Filipino restaurants is gone for good, though a new dining spot that features both Filipino and Carribbean fare will be opening in its space.

Based on information from posters within the Quincy Is Everything Facebook group page, a new restaurant that offers Filipino and Jamaican cuisine is coming to the JnJ Turo Turo space in Quincy, with a check on the OpenCorporates page indicating that Bright Light is opening in the Water Street storefront. The page shows the name of the parent company as being Bright Light Authentic Jamaican & Filipino Cuisine while a Google search seems to indicate that the restaurant may indeed just be called Bright Light; as soon as we find out more, we will post an update here.

JNJ Turo Turo, which first opened approximately 15 years ago, said earlier this year that it planned to close at the end of June; it was one of a very few restaurants locally to offer Filipino fare, with Tanám at Bow Market in Somerville also focusing on Filipino food as well.

The address for the new restaurant (and JNJ Turo Turo) is 143 Water Street, Quincy, MA, 02169. The website for Bright Light will be at https://store.getbeyond.com/bright-light

[September 7 update: Based on its website, Bright Light is now open, and it offers such items as shrimp rolls, empanadas, stir-fry noodles, jerk chicken, beef patties, curry goat, fried tilapia, and more.]

[Earlier Article]
JnJ Turo Turo in Quincy to Permanently Close in June

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Monday, January 11, 2021

JnJ Turo Turo in Quincy to Permanently Close in June

One of the only options for Filipino cuisine in the Greater Boston area is shutting down.

According to a poster within the Friends of Boston's Hidden Restaurants Facebook group page, JnJ Turo Turo in Quincy is planning to close its doors for good, with a Facebook post from the Water Street eatery saying the following:

It is with a heavy heart that we inform you that JNJ Turo Turo will be closed for business effective June 2021. Ever since the start of the pandemic last year, the restaurant business has really taken a hit. I know my store is not unique in suffering some loss. As much as we would like to keep serving our favorite dishes, it's no longer feasible for us financially.

The note does mention that Jervin Erasquin is hoping that someone might want to take over the business in order to "continue the tradition," though he also says that either way, he will be selling most of the equipment there.

JNJ Turo Turo, which first opened 14 years ago, is one of a very few restaurants locally to offer Filipino fare, with Tanám at Bow Market in Somerville also focusing on Filipino food as well.

The address for JNJ Turo Turo is 143 Water Street, Quincy, MA, 02169. Its website can be found at https://www.jnjturoturo.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)