Today we’re heading to Kensington High Street to sample some Filipino food at Romulo Cafe & Restaurant. I’m super-excited (as I still always am these days when I go out to a restaurant) because as well as being free to roam again after lengthy lockdowns, I don’t know a lot about Filipino food. I haven’t tasted much of it at all. Love that there’s always so much to discover out there.
And where better to discover it than at Romulo, where Rowena Romulo, co-owner of Romulo Cafe & Restaurant, is leading the way in the Filipino food revolution in London. There’s a significant Filipino population here (around 350,000 Rowena’s partner Chris tells me) and currently there are only ten Filipino restaurants in the capital. Interestingly there are far less people from Thailand living here and there’s a Thai restaurant on practically every corner. I know, I’ve been to a lot of them!
Rowena has taken a lot of inspiration from her grandparents. Grandfather Carlos P Romulo was one of the Philippines’ most eminent diplomats as Ambassador to the US and President of the United Nations General Assembly. You can spot him looking down on proceedings from photographs dotted around the restaurant. Her grandmother was always busy in the kitchen serving up delicious dishes made to her signature recipes. The menu offers authentic recipes elevated and adapted with the creative touch of chef Villanueva. All leading to some truly delightful Philippine cuisine.
What’s on the menu
There’s a wide range of fish and meat choices, all sounding very exotic and unlike anything I’ve eaten before. I even had to google some of the ingredients! We had to try a plate of gambas al ajillo – a garlic prawn dish that I’ve eaten often in Spain. Today it has a Filipino influence, obviously, with prawns sautéed in olive oil, parsley, tomatoes and green chillis with garlic jus. Beautifully luscious prawns with a wonderful lightness and juiciness.
And next, my favourite chicken dish of the year (so far). Mouth-watering sizzling chicken Inasal Sisig. Diced chicken thighs marinated in annatto, ginger, green chill, garlic and lemon grass and served sizzling on a skillet. Annatto comes from the seeds of the achiote tree and tastes kind of peppery. Unique flavours of oh-so-delicious chicken all topped with the crispiest chicken skin ever.
Main course delights
For mains we went meaty with a hearty veggie side and some traditional garlic friend rice (never had that before either). Really is a day of firsts.
Starting with a sublime steak dish. 8oz dry aged 30-day organic rib eye steak Tagalog (bistek). The tenderest of rib eye slices marinated in soy sauce and calamansi topped with caramelised onions and served with roasted sweet potatoes. Google tells me that the calamansi is a little orange fruit that is native to the Philippines and ubiquitous in Filipino cuisine and it’s a hybrid of a kumquat and another citrus fruit, probably a mandarin orange. One of the loveliest steak dishes ever. 
The exotic vegetable dish called ginisang pinakbet magnet is seasonal vegetables sautéed in shrimp paste and topped with crisp pork belly. A load of crisp pork belly as you can see here! It’s a mix of beans, squashes, gourds, okra – lots of exotic veg fried in a mix of spices.
I knew I simply had to try an adobo dish. Adobo is a traditional Philippine cookery process involving meat, seafood or vegetables which are marinated in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves and black peppercorns and then stir fried. The truffled pork belly adobo “Romulo Style” is slow-cooked and scented with an extra special touch of black truffle. It’s served with bok choy and sweet potatoes and topped with an irresistible chunk of super-crispy crackling. Total yum on a plate with melt-in-the-mouth pork and a light, savoury sauce that complements it perfectly.
It’s time for pudding
Okay if you’re going to try Filipino food you’ve got to do it properly so now it’s pudding time. I’m a real mango lover so couldn’t resist this mango flat made up on layers of graham crackers and whipped cream topped with fresh mangoes and served with ice cream. Beautifully refreshing and light and the most delicious of vanilla ice cream.
And finally, some banana Turon. Banana fritters are served warm with toffee sauce and more vanilla ice cream. Crispy, sweet banana heaven.
Well I’m sold! Filipino food all the way for me from now on. Need to try everything on this fabulous menu. I’ll be back! And soon. Ooh and maybe I should consider pencilling in a trip to Manila and beyond now that Asia is opening up for us again. The world awaits. Lots to be super-excited about.
Today’s price point
And finally, the bottom line.
We had three courses each as well as two sides and bottle of wine which came to £82.25.
Both red and white wine start at £25 a bottle. There’s also a comprehensive list of tempting cocktails starting from £9.
Romulo Cafe & Restaurant is at 343 Kensington High Street, Kensington W8.
