MICHELIN Guide’s Point Of View

Owners Amy Besa and Romy Dorotan mix and match Southeast Asian dishes in such an appealing way at this neighborhood café, you'll have trouble figuring out what not to order. So follow the lead from the crowd-a smart, urbane mix of neighborhood types and savvy gourmands-and try a little bit of everything by sharing. Begin with pa jun, a delicious Korean scallion-and-shrimp pancake, and then move on to tender oxtail kare-kare, braised in peanut sauce and loaded with adobo, root vegetables and fermented fish paste. Other hits include the deliciously tangy and garlicky chicken adobo served with a refreshing green mango salad. Save room for dessert, with alluring selections ranging from champorrado to housemade ice creams, sorbets and even infused shochu.