Love this place. Feels like a welcoming Filipino home. They only serve lunch and it's open till food runs out, which it does. Every day is a different spread of food to choose from and there is always vegetarian options. I'd highly recommend the pork belly adobo when they have it but everything I've had has been delicious. Super convenient as the food is ready you just choose which entree you want, so you can grab a quick delicious bite on your lunch break. read more

A cute Filipino family owned restaurant in the RGV! we had the pancit, chicken adobo, beef menudo, pork steak, and dinuguan. All very delicious and flavorful and exactly what i was craving for my pinoy fix. When we were ordering they said they were out of lumpia, but to our pleasant surprise when we paid, Tito fried us up a quick batch of Lumpia! Also, the chatter amongst the family made me think of my own family in the best way possible. Definitely will swing by here next time I'm down here! read more

It's like going to grandma's or a friend's house for lunch. It's a small place with decent amount of seating but the food is served with big portions and even bigger flavor. I've been there a handful of times and every person serving me is always nice, is patient with my many questions when I'm unfamiliar with each item, and they don't skimp on servings. The menu is different every time I visit so it's nice when I get to try something new. The negative reviews almost made me not visit but you know it's a good place when the only negative reviews are people who never got to try the food lol. read more

Drove all the way here and it was closed with no clear signs of business hours. What a waste of my time.

WARNING! I believe this place is permanently closed. I love food from that region of the Philippines. When I brought guests to Cabalen in Mcallen TX they were closed. I was quite embarrassed because I talked about how good the reviews were for this place. It currently has all the information online like they're open but they are not. Unless I get a message back from them with an explanation I will keep this review in place. The least they can do is mark their Google status as "permanently closed". What a waste of my time. read more

An absolute gem! We stumbled into this place for lunch today, and were blown away. We ordered the lunch special (rice and choice of two dishes from a selection of 8 or so) for $5.50. After telling them it was our first time trying Filipino food, they provided samples of everything on the menu alongside what we ordered, and even dessert! The owners were warm and genuine, and the food was exceptional. The pork with pineapple, barbecued pork skewers, sour tamarind soup, and desserts were particular standouts. The valley is so starved for unique cuisine, this place needs to be supported! We will be coming back frequently and referring everyone we can. The low-starred reviews are ridiculous and unfair (seriously? two stars without even eating there, because you showed up when they weren't open?), do not heed them - this is one of the best spots in the Valley. read more

A plate includes rice and 2 main dishes. The food was great, there was a good variety of options to choose from and the price was extremely affordable. The owners were very friendly, after we told them that it was our first time, they gave us samples of some other dishes, and by "sample" I mean almost full portions. There were some desserts too but we were too full to try. Definitely will come back! read more

Cabalen Restaurant - a plate of pasta with a hard boiled egg - Filipino Near Me - McAllen, Texas

See all

Lots of smiling friendly faces makes for great customer service. The combo is great. A serving of rice with two main entrees and there are plenty of choices! I had the pork adobe and some other interesting one with tripe. read more

A small place, but they do not serve in small portions. The food is authentic and fairly good. They serve in generous portions. The service is good, and their staff is friendly. The price is very reasonable. The atmosphere was relaxing, not uptight, not to quiet. A low-key vibe. Don't go here to have a light lunch or go at a dinner hour, they'll be closed. Most of their customers are nurses who are coming off the graveyard shift, hungry for dinner at a lunch hour. I'd recommend trying it out if you have a heavy appetite and want to try something new or just really hungry for some Filipino food. read more

Lunch was amazing!! It reminded me of having a meal with my adopted filipino family back in Cali. Had the white rice with kare kare (peanut flavored sauce) alongside with some sinigan (sour soup). Will be back to try the desserts!! Staff were very friendly!! And the price of the meal was very reasonable and the portions were well served....gonna need a nap now! read more

The place is small, dimly lit, stinks and there's a male Filipino guy there behind the counter who's very noisy! Talks nonstop while people are having their meals. Disgustingly distracting and annoying! The food has home cooked taste to it but the serving portion is quite skimpy. Reasonably priced. read more

Besides the wonderful food and affordable prices, Cabalen has a great ambiance. It feels like home. From the quaint dining area, to the friendly service, it is a place you can sit down, relax, and enjoy a delicious, hot meal and feel like you are sitting in your home kitchen. The fresh, ready made food is perfect if you are in a rush but don't want to compromise your dining experience. read more