Kusina Ni Tess has served Filipino home cooking from its Ellis Street spot since 2005, with ownership passing to Hapagibig Inc. in 2017. The name reflects that shift — Hapag for the table where family gathers, Pagibig for love — and the restaurant still runs on a cafeteria-style, a la carte setup: dishes are laid out, diners pick what they want, and everything gets piled onto a tray.
The menu changes daily and leans into Filipino staples done the traditional way — chicken adobo, beef pares, bulalo, kare-kare, laing, and pinakbet among the rotating a la carte options. Silog breakfast combos pair garlic fried rice and a fried egg with a choice of protein, and the kitchen is particularly known for its crispy pork lumpia and classic chicken adobo. Desserts include ube halaya and halo-halo.
Portions run large, and staff are known for walking newcomers through the daily spread and offering samples to anyone unsure what to order.
The menu changes daily and leans into Filipino staples done the traditional way — chicken adobo, beef pares, bulalo, kare-kare, laing, and pinakbet among the rotating a la carte options. Silog breakfast combos pair garlic fried rice and a fried egg with a choice of protein, and the kitchen is particularly known for its crispy pork lumpia and classic chicken adobo. Desserts include ube halaya and halo-halo.
Portions run large, and staff are known for walking newcomers through the daily spread and offering samples to anyone unsure what to order.