Filipino Food in DC

When I first moved to the DC area, I never expected to be able to get Filipino cuisine here at all. Lately however, there’s been a lot of interest in Filipino cuisine, at least in the DC area. Most recently, a Filipino restaurant sold out in just hours for their most recent weekend pop-up. As someone who grew up on Filipino food and never considered it haute or refined, the thought of paying $60 for a five-course Filipino meal, like what the pop-up was offering, seems absolutely ridiculous!

Where to get Filipino Food in DC that’s metro-accessible?

If you’re looking for authentic Filipino food that’s metro accessible, I’d highly recommend checking out the following places when you get the chance:

Pampanguena Cafe

I stumbled upon this place a few months ago. Located about a 10 minute walk from the Shady Grove Metro, Pampanguena Cafe operates like most “turo-turo” (pronounced TWO-roh TWO-roh) places, that is, a bunch of dishes are laid out cafeteria style, and the diner points to which dish they’d like.

For those that aren’t familiar with Filipino food, it’s a mixed-type of cuisine that’s heavily influenced by Spanish, Malay and Chinese cuisines. The cuisine is heavy on meat (specifically pork), and can be pretty fatty and greasy depending on what type of dish you get. As a side note, the Philippines is broken up into a several regions, and Pampanga is one of them.

The front entrance. Note the name change (this place used to be called Kapampangan Cuisine, but recently changed their name to Pampanguena Cafe).

My meal at Pampanguena Cafe: bistek, pork and rice. A pretty typical Filipino meal.

Check out their yelp review here.

Hours of Operation

Tuesday-Wednesday, Friday-Sunday: 11:00 am – 8:30 pm
Thursday: 11:00 am – 5:30pm

Getting Here

Take the red line to Shady Grove Metro
Exit the station, walking past the Carmax, which will be on your left.
Turn right onto Frederick Road and walk for about 5 min. Kapampangan Cuisine will be located on your right in a strip mall.

Bistro 7107
Whereas Kapampangan Cuisine is a totally no-frills experience, Bistro 7107 serves up an actual restaurant experience. Located less than a 5-minute walk from the Crystal City Metro, Bistro 7107 offers a more refined dining experience that’s located much closer to downtown DC. I’ve been here several times for both breakfast and dinner, and while the restaurant can be a little pricey, my guess is the restaurant will still be cheaper than some of the more newer Filipino restaurants that will be opening in DC over the coming months. Some dishes I’ve had at Bistro 7107:

Pinakbet – pork, bitter melon and other vegetables

Filipino vegetable fritters

Sisig – chopped pork, onions and garlic

Crispy pata – fried pork

Check out their Yelp Review here.

Hours of Operation

Sunday – Thursday: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Friday – Saturday: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm

Getting Here

Take the Blue or Yellow Line to Crystal City station.
Walk south towards 23rd St.
Bistro 7107 is located near the corner of 23rd St. and South Eads St.

Destination: Eastern Market Metro

I kicked off my quest to visit every DC Metro station by heading over to the area around the Eastern Market Metro station. As someone who lives in North Arlington, even though Eastern Market sits on the same line as my home stop, I’ve only visited the area a handful of times. Here’s what I discovered:

For places to eat…

Boxcar Tavern

My friend and I started the day off for a quick and cheap lunch here. Located on 7th St. SE, this place is relatively affordable compared to the other brunch restaurants in the Eastern Market area along 8th St. SE. I had an omelette with potatoes and fruit. With tax and tip, breakfast came out to about $15 per person.

My bacon and cheese omelette.

Check out their menu here.

Hours of operation:

Monday – Wednesday: 11:00 am – 12:00 am
Thursday: 11:00 am – 1:00 am
Friday: 11:00 am – 2:00 am
Saturday: 9:30 am – 2:00 am
Sunday: 9:30 am – 12:00 am

Other restaurants to check out:

My friend and I only made it to Boxcar, but the Eastern Market area, particularly along 8th St. SE., has a lot of restaurants to choose from. Here are my suggestions:

Medium Rare – Known for their steak frites. You’ll be surprised at what happens to your plate when you’ve finished: the waiters will give you another helping. The first time I went here, I had no idea they did this. Boom!

Belga Cafe – One of my favorite brunch spots in DC. It gets packed on weekends, so make sure to book a reservation ahead of time. They’re a little small, but regardless, I highly recommend ordering their Belgian waffles!

Ambar – This restaurant opened relatively recently, and offers excellent Balkan cuisine! Definitely a place I’d recommend checking out if you’re looking to broaden your palate!

A must-visit (at least once!)

Eastern Market

After lunch, my friend and I headed over to Eastern Market. The Market is arranged like one big hallway, with vendors selling a wide selection of products: mostly pastas, meats, seafood and pastries. On Saturdays, the area around Eastern Market hosts a Flea Market, with vendors selling mostly arts and crafts.

Inside Eastern Market

Vendors at Eastern Market

If it’s your first time to the area, you should absolutely stop by Eastern Market, if only to briefly check the place out. Not coming to Eastern Market would be like visiting DC for the first time without walking around The Mall; it’s simply wrong! After living in the DC area for 5 years, Eastern Market at this point feels more touristy than local. For a true local market experience, I’d suggest visiting Union Market.

Hours of Operation:

Monday: Closed
Tuesday – Friday: 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday: 7:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

For a delicious cup of coffee (or hot chocolate!)…

Peregrine Espresso

I’d heard a lot about Peregrine Espresso from friends, so decided to check out this neighborhood coffee shop. Although I’m a former Starbucks barista, I rarely drink coffee — hot chocolate and tea is my jam! However, my friend absolutely loved this place! This cafe gets really packed on weekends, so I’d suggest getting your drink to go.

Peregrine Espresso, Eastern Market

Hot chocolate at Peregrine Espresso.

View their website for more info.

Hours of operation:

Monday – Saturday: 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

An interesting neighborhood gem…

Capitol Hill Books

Located in a converted row home, this bookstore, which sells used books, was without a doubt the most interesting find of the day. Unlike at your typical Barnes and Noble, books here are crammed literally into every corner imaginable. Walking around the bookstore, I wondered if the staff had any way of knowing which books they currently have in stock, or where to locate the book.

Endless stacks of books at Capitol Hill Books.

Books even in the bathroom!

Capitol Hill Books

Check out their website for more info

Hours of Operation

Open daily, 11:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on weekdays,
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on weekends.

For some dessert…

District Doughnut

After the bookstore, we walked over to District Doughnut. Located directly across from the Marine Barracks entrance (hence the nickname for this street, Barracks Row), this no-frills shop is known for its variety of donuts. I love apples, and after the lady behind the counter showed us the six donuts currently available, I unhesitatingly chose the one with the apples. I was so excited, but after taking my first bite had realized the donut was actually a type of cake shaped like a donut. I was bummed!! Next time you come here, make sure to ask if it’s a cake versus a donut!

District Doughnut

Apple Cinammon Doughnut

View their menu here

Hours of Operation:

Wednesday – Friday: 7:00 am – 4:00 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Other dessert places to check out:

Sweet Lobby – Take note: this place is only open on weekdays. However, if you can make it there, you’ll be rewarded with amazingly delicious macarons. In my opinion, they’re the best in DC!

CONCLUSION

You could well easily spend a whole day eating along Barracks Row, located directly south of the Eastern Market Metro station. To take a break from all the eating, head towards Eastern Market to check out what’s on sale, Capitol Hill Books for a new book, or Peregrine Espresso for a nice cup of coffee or tea.

GETTING HERE

Eastern Market Metro Station

Eastern Market Metro is located in Southeast DC, and is served by the Orange, Silver and Blue lines.

Parking: None
Bikes: 20 bike lockers are available
Carsharing: several zip cars are available
Buses: The following bus routes serve this station:
- Eastern Market Bus Map

Destination: Virginia Square Metro

As someone who’s lived in the North Arlington area for the past four years, I’ve put together a list of five reasons why you should head out to Virginia Square:

For those looking for coffee…

Northside Social

This local neighborhood coffee shop, located roughly halfway between the Clarendon and Virginia Square Metro stations, is great. For one, it’s more than just a coffee shop! In addition to great coffee, the place also doubles as a wine bar upstairs, and offers a variety of pastries, teas and hot chocolatey goodness to choose from. During peak hours, this place can get packed, so I’d recommend coming earlier in the day if you plan on lingering around to get some work done.

Take a look at their menu

Hours of Operation:

Monday – Wednesday: 6am – 10pm
Thursday: 6am – 11pm
Friday: 6am – 12am
Saturday: 7am – 12am
Sunday: 7am – 10pm

Northside Social

For those looking to eat…

Rocklands BBQ

The Arlington branch of this DC area barbeque joint is located just a 5 minute walk from the Virginia Square metro. Rocklands is a fast casual type of restaurant, making it the perfect place to head to if you didn’t have time to cook lunch or dinner. Every time I come here, I pretty much get the same thing: a pulled pork BBQ sandwich, with a side of fried okra and mac and cheese.

Check out their menu

Hours of Operation:

Monday – Thursday: 11am – 930pm
Friday – Saturday: 11am – 10pm
Sunday: 11am – 9pm

Rocklands Arlington

For those looking for a quiet place…

Central Arlington Library – If I’m in work-mode where I need a place to focus that’s not as crowded as Northside, I head on over to the Central Arlington Library. Located about a 10 minute walk from the Virginia Square metro, the library is the largest and main branch of the Arlington County system. Free wifi is excellent throughout the building, and it’s generally pretty easy to find an open desk on the library’s second floor.

Need a book? Search their catalog here.

Hours of Operation:

Sunday: 1 – 9pm
Monday – Thursday: 10 – 9pm
Friday – Saturday: 10 – 5pm

Arlington Central Library

For those looking to be active…

Arlington Quincy Park – This regional park, located a short five minute walk from Virginia Square, is one of the largest in North Arlington. The park is located right next to Central Library, and has six tennis courts, a basketball court, a sand volleyball court, baseball / softball fields and a bunch of open space to just relax around. One thing that I want to emphasize about this place is safety. The place is incredibly safe. I’ve come here

Make a reservation

Should I make a reservation?

That depends. If you have a big event, I’d highly recommend doing so. I’ve only played tennis here before and have never bothered with reserving the space, but in case you wanted to be sure you have a court, you can reserve a tennis court. For tennis, prices are $10/hour for Arlington County residents, $20/hour for non-county residents.

Quincy Park

For those who like the arts…

Arlington Arts Center – I’ll be honest: I’ve only been inside here because it’s my polling location for elections. That being said, I’ve been meaning to explore more of this place. During the summer, there tends to be an outdoor exhibit or sculpture that they place out on the front lawn.

Gallery Hours:

Wednesday – Sunday: 12pm – 5pm
Or, by appointment

Arlington Arts Center

Getting to Virginia Square Metro

Virginia Square Metro Station

Virginia Square Metro is located in the heart of the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor and is served by the Orange and Silver Lines.

Street Parking: None
Bikes: 12 bike racks and 32 bike lockers are available
Carsharing: several zipcars are available
Buses: The following bus routes serve this station:
- Virginia Square Bus Map
- ART 41 to Courthouse
- ART 41 to Ballston/Pentagon
- ART 75 to Shirlington

Wanderlust: America’s Heartland

Every couple of months or so, I hop on a plane and make the 5-hour journey out west back to California. I’ve been flying cross-country for several years now, to the point that the whole process has become something of a ritual. Packing usually happens the day of the flight. Emptying out my pockets, undoing my belt, and removing my laptop from my backpack as I head through security are all perfunctory. Upon boarding the plane, I make my way to my seat, store my backpack, shut the window shades, slip on my headphones, and fall asleep or watch some movies. Several hours later, I arrive at LAX and am on my way.

So, this past weekend, when I made that trip yet again, I expected the journey to be like any other. But it wasn’t. Throughout the flight, I couldn’t help but peer out of my window, looking at the never-ending landscape below. The endless forests of the East gradually giving way to endless flat farmland of the Midwest, then abruptly ending with the Rockies, then hundreds of miles of desert before touching down in Southern California. This whole region, Middle America, or what’s sometimes referred to derogatorily as flyover country, was never on my radar of places where I’d consider visiting. As someone born and raised on an island, I couldn’t imagine living more than a couple of hours away from the Ocean.

However, after reading Joel Kotkin’s book, The Next Hundred Million: America in 2050, I’m intrigued by what life could be like to live in America’s Heartland. Kotkin argues that although there have been growing concerns that America is in decline, he believes America will maintain its role as the world’s preeminent nation, in part, due to the nation’s abundance of land and natural resources. As coastal cities become increasingly unaffordable, Kotkin argues many Americans, both immigrants and citizens, will opt to move to America’s interior. While I have no intention of giving up my bi-coastal lifestyle, I do think it’s kind of ridiculous that, despite living abroad, I’ve never visited nor spent a single night anywhere in America beyond the Coasts. This needs to change. Hope I can make it out there someday.

One Foot on Sand

Thinker, Dreamer, Explorer

North America

Filipino Food in DC

Destination: Eastern Market Metro

Destination: Virginia Square Metro

Wanderlust: America’s Heartland