Kabalen Restaurant

Kabalen Restaurant. Authentic Filipino flavors. Crispy pork belly. Heartwarming service.

Restaurant Category: Casual Filipino restaurant and catering; affordable, generous portions.

Menu Highlights:
– Crispy, juicy pork belly/liempo
– BBQ pork skewers
– Lumpia (fresh and crunchy)
– Arroz caldo with toasted garlic
– Garlic rice
– Kamayan feast (good value and plentiful)
– Buffet spread with homemade flavors
– Halo-halo (eye-catching; often mentioned)

Service Highlights:
– Warm, attentive staff who explain dishes and offer recommendations
– Frequent check-ins; make guests feel at home
– Thoughtful assistance like carrying food upstairs and serving soup
– Smooth, professional catering for special events
– Clean, well-kept dining space
– Friendly greeting right at the door

Notes:
– Temperature inconsistency: some meats or kamayan items served lukewarm
– Breakfast combo plating and portion sizes can be inconsistent; occasional wait for arroz caldo
– Lumpia can be too salty for some
– Expect counter-ordering and possible lines; first-timers may find the process confusing at the start

Logistics:
– Counter-ordering with seating available upstairs; staff have helped carry trays
– Can get busy at lunch with short queues

Customers come for the comforting, authentic flavors and the standout hospitality. The pork belly/liempo gets a lot of love for its crispy skin and juicy bite, and folks call out the BBQ skewers, lumpia, arroz caldo, and a well-stocked buffet that tastes homemade. Diners enjoy the kamayan setup for its value and feast-like spread, and many say prices are fair for the generous portions.

Service is a big reason people keep returning. Staff like Merville/Melville, Ate Domz, and Ate Cynthia get shout-outs for warm welcomes, explaining dishes, making solid recommendations, and checking in often. Several diners mention thoughtful gestures—helping carry food upstairs, serving soup, and making first-timers feel like family. Event clients also highlight smooth, professional wedding catering that guests raved about. The place is consistently described as clean and well-kept.

Some diners mention hiccups: occasional lukewarm meats (especially on busy days or in kamayan sets), a few salty lumpia orders, and breakfast combo plating that wasn’t up to the usual standard, including delays on arroz caldo. It can get busy with a line to order, and newcomers sometimes need the ordering-and-seating process explained. Still, most folks leave happy, noting friendly faces at the door, homey vibes, and Filipino comfort food that hits the spot without breaking the bank.