Kiko's

Kiko’s — Carinderia comfort. Big flavors. Great value.

Restaurant Category: Casual Filipino canteen/street-food spot in Little Manila; $12–$30 per person typical; Kamayan boxes around $25.

Menu Highlights:
– Chicken inasal with java rice
– Bagnet (crispy pork) and inihaw na liempo
– Kamayan platters/boxes (seafood K2, pork belly options; shrimp, mussels, squid, okra, eggplant)
– Pork sisig over rice; bangus sisig bowl (mixed feedback)
– Silog plates (tapsilog; All-in Silog), often served with complimentary beef bone broth
– Lugaw/Goto/Arroz Caldo; Lomi
– Lumpia/Shanghai rolls
– Pork belly skewers
– Deep-fried chicken skin
– Palabok with fried chicken
– Kalderetang kambing (goat)

Service Highlights:
– Warm, welcoming staff; cozy, canteen-style vibe that feels like home
– Complimentary hot beef bone broth to start
– Generally quick service and short waits
– Generous portions and fair pricing

Notes:
– Some dishes arrived only warm, not hot
– Occasional overcooked/tough meats; one report of burnt okra on the kamayan
– Shell-on grilled shrimp can be hard to peel
– Service lapses noted: slow water service, not enough napkins
– One report of dirty cups/unclean water and being seated at a dirty table
– Small egg shell found in an egg
– Sisig leans lighter in flavor for some; bangus sisig bowl tasted mixed to a few diners

Logistics:
– Location: Bathurst’s Little Manila, tucked beside Popeyes
– Parking: busy plaza; can be tough to find a spot
– Transit: easy access via buses along Bathurst

Customers come for the homestyle flavors and value—think juicy chicken inasal, shattering-crisp bagnet, smoky inihaw na liempo, and hearty silog plates that land with a home-cooked feel. The kamayan spreads get a lot of love for variety and presentation, from seafood-heavy feasts to pork-focused platters, and many diners appreciate the complimentary beef bone broth that sets the tone. Folks also rave about comforting bowls like lugaw/goto and lomi, plus snacky hits like Shanghai rolls, pork belly skewers, deep-fried chicken skin, and palabok with crispy fried chicken. There are deeper cuts too—kalderetang kambing gets praise for tender meat and rich, slow-cooked sauce.

Diners enjoy the canteen-style, carinderia vibe—busy, warm, and nostalgic—with staff who are friendly and efficient when the place is humming. Portions are generous for the price, and the food often arrives fast. Although, some customers mention inconsistencies: a few plates arrived just warm instead of hot, occasional tough or overcooked items, and on the kamayan, okra can come too charred and shrimp shells clingy from the grill. Service hiccups pop up here and there—water taking a while, not enough napkins—and one table reported dirty cups and being seated before the surface was properly cleaned.

Some people love the crisp, punchy pork sisig, while others prefer a richer, more umami-heavy style than Kiko’s lighter take. The bangus sisig bowl drew mixed reactions, with a few diners thinking it didn’t taste purely of bangus. Still, between the cozy Little Manila setting, the steady stream of complimentary broth, and a menu stacked with Filipino comfort staples, many leave feeling like they visited a neighborhood spot that feeds both the appetite and the senses of home. Parking can be tight in the plaza, but it’s an easy ride if you’re coming by bus along Bathurst.