From kakanin to kwek-kwek, here’s an updated Peninsula Filipino food guide

A variety of Filipino dishes at Inda + Mely in San Bruno. Courtesy Inda + Mely.

As we draw close to the end of October, we also wrap up another Filipino American History Month. Nearly 6% of the San Mateo County population speaks Tagalog at home, according to a 2020 census, and nearly 34% of Daly City’s population is Filipino, according to the city’s website. In 2024, writer Edwina Dueñas wrote a guide to local Filipino cuisine, highlighting 12 eateries.

This week, Dueñas curated a guide featuring eight Filipino restaurants that had not been highlighted in her previous article. From a family-owned business offering Ilocos-style empanadas out of a gas station to a 24-hour eatery with silog breakfast plates in a casino, there’s no shortage of Filipino flavors along the Peninsula.

Stay tasty,
Adrienne

8 Filipino Peninsula restaurants to try for Filipino American History Month

October is Filipino American History Month. Get a taste of the island country by dining at these eateries around the Peninsula showcasing a range of Filipino flavors. Some spots have opened since our last guide, while others are local stalwarts worth revisiting. Whether you’re craving a hearty breakfast, an all-you-can-eat spread, a boba drink or a cocktail made with Filipino spirits, this food crawl has you covered.

Menlo Park’s only Uyghur restaurant shutters, a Turkish bakery is coming to Santa Clara and Kajiken’s debut at Valley Fair mall

Sichuan dry pot squid at Dragon General in downtown Menlo Park ($28). Courtesy Dragon General.
  • One of the only Peninsula Uyghur restaurants has permanently closed. The owner has reopened Mrs Khan as Chinese restaurant Dragon General.
  • The creators of upscale Turkish restaurant Meyhouse are opening a Turkish bakery in Santa Clara.
  • Square Pie Guys, a Detroit-style pizza joint, is permanently closing its Palo Alto restaurant after service Friday.
  • A Novel Affair, a romance bookstore and cafe, is closing its Los Altos location Dec. 31 and moving to Palo Alto. Its opening date and address have not yet been announced.
  • Arwa Yemeni Coffee, which made its Bay Area debut in Sunnyvale late last year, is expanding to the former Starbucks in downtown Redwood City.
  • Kajiken, a Michelin-recommended Japanese aburasoba restaurant, is soft opening at Westfield Valley Fair in Santa Clara Friday and hosting its grand opening Saturday. 
  • Yutori in Palo Alto is hosting its grand opening Nov. 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. and a special Taiko performance.
  • Ocha Matcha has opened in the former space of Matcha Ren at Serramonte Center in Daly City.
  • After 34 years in Sunnyvale, Mexican restaurant El Caminito is permanently closing Nov. 30.
  • Helkipooki, a health-focused Korean restaurant, recently debuted at Sunny’s Food Hub in Sunnyvale.
  • Sunnyvale Autumn Food Festival is Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with food and drinks, handmade crafts, a pet costume contest and live stage performances.
  • Sushi Maruyama, a Japanese restaurant in San Mateo, is expanding to Sunnyvale, according to a recent Instagram post.
  • Yoshi Sushi – which has locations in Los Altos, Milpitas and San Jose – soft opened its new Los Gatos location Friday.
  • Xun Jiang Smoked & Braised House recently opened in the former space of Filipino Soul in Sunnyvale.
  • Nomad Grill, a Mediterranean food truck, debuted Oct. 12 in San Bruno.
  • Hidden Tiger Thai Eats recently opened in the former Westborough Deli & Cafe in South San Francisco.

Matcha omakase at Junbi

Honey calamansi matcha sparkler with a coconut macaroon at Junbi’s matcha omakase in Mountain View. Photo by Adrienne Mitchel.

Matcha and omakase are two food trends that have defined the Peninsula’s culinary landscape in the past two years, so it was about time that someone combined the two concepts and launched matcha omakase. 

Junbi in Mountain View first started its matcha omakase concept in July, a $70 ticketed event in which attendees receive six sets of made-to-order matcha beverages paired with a pastry crafted by former Michelin-starred pastry chef Lance Nitta. While I wasn’t able to snag a ticket to the July event (it books up quickly!), I did get my hands on a coveted ticket for the October omakase.

Double matcha latte with yuzu bonbon at Junbi’s matcha omakase in Mountain View. Photo by Adrienne Mitchel.

The matcha omakase is held in the back of Junbi, separated from the rest of the store by a divider and a sign saying “Closed for a private event.” The omakase seats 10 people total, but notably it’s not a bar-style seating. Instead, guests are seated facing each other at tables of two and four. The six-course omakase lasted two hours, and the pace felt quite slow, so I’d recommend going with a friend to make the pauses go faster.

Hojicha latte with mascarpone cream top, cocoa dusting and ladyfinger at Junbi’s matcha omakase in Mountain View. Photo by Adrienne Mitchel.

While all beverages and pastries were quite tasty, my favorite beverages were the rich and creamy double matcha latte (a matcha latte with matcha cold foam) and the honey calamansi matcha sparker, which was sweet, tart and refreshing. In terms of pastries, the black sesame shortbread and the yuzu bonbon were my favorite, with the shortbread having a melt-in-your-mouth texture and a wonderfully nutty and buttery flavor, and the bonbon featuring a bright and tart yuzu filling and snappy dark chocolate exterior.

To see a full breakdown of the courses, watch my review on Instagram @peninsulafoodist.

Junbi Matcha & Tea, 450 San Antonio Road, Ste K, Mountain View; 650-398-0704, Instagram @junbimountainview. Follow the Instagram to stay updated on the next matcha omakase event.

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Adrienne Mitchel is the Food Editor at Embarcadero Media. As the Peninsula Foodist, she's always on the hunt for the next food story (and the next bite to eat!). Adrienne received a BFA in Broadcast...