The Food Connoisseur
+3.5
Filipino restaurants in London are a rarity, Tripadvisor website only shows a handful of the search engines. I came across Josephine’s restaurant in Charlotte Street and always wanted to try more Filipino dishes. Josephine’s Restaurant has been running in central London for over 20 years’ family run serving authentic Filipino dishes. Although it may seem like a shabby looking restaurant it does serve great Filipino food. The restaurant was empty when I arrived and in the duration of 1 one hour, the only person they served. Filipino cuisine is an interesting mix, the Spanish invaded the islands so it has Spanish Asian influences.
I've been here a couple of times and the food is always good. It's the only Filipino I'm central London and the only Filipino I've ever had so take this with a pinch of salt. Their peanut sauce chicken is great, and their stuffed squid isn't bad. Their beef is nice too. Be sure to order some garlic rice! The price and portions are good, especially considering the location. Apparently the restaurant has been there since the mid-80s and it's currently struggling with rent going up and chains opening all around it.
Josephines is a Filipino restaurant that will often be overlooked on the bustling Charlotte Street. I've put off coming here for years despite it being very close to me as I am Filipino and was more than ready to hate anything that wasn't home cooked.
But on one evening I had an insatiable craving for crispy pata (boiled and then fried pork knuckle) and finally gave in. The pile of meat was generous, bones left in tact, and the meat was prepared as it should be. So many different textures and flavors provided by different regions of meat, skin, and cartilage.
The Biko Bibingka (glutinous rice cake) was also better than my family would make.
So pleased to have had my expectations shattered after not going here for so long. I will surely be back to try the other Filipino classics on offer.
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