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    Cafe Pilipino

    3.6 (52 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Order Cafe Pilipino Takeout or Delivery

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    CAFE PILIPINO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Large White Rice $6.00 (12/04/22). @CafePilipino #JerseyCity #NewJersey #PinoyFood #Rice #FoodPorn
    Jeff B.

    (Tookout 12/04/2022 SU @ 2:00pm): I was ready to get my fill at this "Pilipino" cafe! In my quest to explore the various cuisine scenes throughout Jersey City, I came across Cafe Pilipino to fill my Filipino food craving. Apparently, there was a growing Pinoy community that I never explored when I visited last year and hardly touched this time. With the prospects of having my Pinoy card taken away, how was this first foray into Jersey City's Filipino cuisine scene!? PURCHASE Lechon Kawali ($26.18): This was the main dish I came for and no one was going to be between me and my pork! Sold in large slabs by weight ($14.00/lb), after 1.87lbs later and a slab of meat hacked up into pieces for easier transport and eating, I was a happy boy. It was crispy, fresh, relatively meaty, and salty, but there was more fat that I would've liked. However, I had leftovers for days and repurposed this into bacon, pancetta, etc., which I was fine with https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=W-SmxrAYt0A3BxqlmJaCNQ&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw. Large Pinakbet ($15.00): Made with eggplant, green beans, okra, squash, and more, everything was fresh and healthy. I truly needed this to counteract all the meat dishes I bought https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=L-UbRysfOO8g_SBuLDoelQ&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw. Medium Pancit ($8.50): Made with a blend of angel hair and egg noodles, sliced carrots, onions, and more, it wasn't too greasy or salty, and I was lovingly eating this for days and thought about making a sandwich on the last leftover day https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=xIvt3jN8OylzBl5FnS1KRQ&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw! Medium Pork Adobo ($8.00): Seasoned and succulent chunks of pork with a hint of vinegar crammed into a plastic container, there was hardly any fat on these pieces - so darn good https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=Ll7W3VBj9ehFhUvNj26mpg&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw! Medium Menudo ($8.00): A mess of naughty seasoned tripe bits and chopped carrots in a beefy broth, this somewhat oily dish soothed the soul and would've paired well with some crispy bread https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=mIosVl7IahxLuwN4KfSscA&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw! Large White Rice ($6.00): Just because you had to have rice https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=_IxuOKaGCQVW842xRD8qbQ&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw! 12pc Pork Shanghai Lumpiang ($5.00): Perfect bite-size, crunchy, meaty snacks - always a favorite https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=ifEmVgxCDPD5ZlUSwK7JKw&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw! SERVICE The place was packed when I arrived, and I had to take a number. Thankfully, the line went quickly, and I had a chance to decide what I wanted. Once it was my turn, I went to town! As was usually the case whenever I patroned any Filipino business, I felt inadequate because I couldn't speak the Tagalog dialect... although I was able to understand tiny fragments when they spoke to me. Thankfully, I was used to this failure on my part and just rolled with it. The women behind the counter took care of me, packed all my dishes tightly, and hoped that I returned for more - salamat! PARKING (FREE; N/A this instance) This was a moot point since I walked. However, there was a sliver of a shared parking lot on the side, while there seemed to be plenty of spots along the main drag of Newark Ave. and all surrounding side streets. - nuff said. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE A small corner shop within the bigger Philippine Bread House establishment, it was basically an order counter behind display cases as you chose from a limited selection of mainly Filipino food staples. There were a couple refrigerated coolers to grab a drink, and a few chairs & tables for dine-in options. Plenty of natural lighting came through all the various windows and front door while soul-sucking fluorescent electric ceiling lights filled in the rest. I noticed one TV while carolers sang in the background. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=2PnWbNW1QC88Z_kBeOJKRg&userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops... if it weren't so freakin' cold. OVERALL Cafe Pilipino was a favorable introduction to Jersey City's Filipino cuisine which left me wanting more from this place and others. I loved the food, portion sizes, prices, and straightforward service. The only real knock was the limited menu, and I didn't see any sisig. Plus, I always preferred to support small mom & pop businesses. I found exceptionally good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $82.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, although they accepted credit cards, not mine of choice... AMEX! 4.5 STARS

    Pancit
    Ricardo T.

    Cafe Pilipino is separately located in the back part of the bakery known as Philippine Bread House. I am a Duke (lol) of Philippine Bread House because I patronize them often making it highly convenient to walk a few feet to Cafe Pilipino. The cafe serves as a Turo Turo style table of food. You point point at what you want and they scoop it up. You can do combo platters or order by container. The menu is not exactly clear so i question the receipt often with good reason. The food is hit or miss. I have had some dishes that were good but more often had dishes that were meh, just ok. You have to watch as they dish out to prevent getting an unfilled container or getting a container full of fat with no meat. No indoor or outdoor dining. The customer service is minimal sans smiles or greetings. No display of passion in the service or food. I only come here when pressed for time and visiting the bakery.

    Plastic containers are additional
    Nez B.

    You can get your fix for authentic Filipino cuisine at this little gem of a Filipino cafe near Journal Square. It also looks to be family owned with a few grandmas in the back working their magic and youth managing the customer-facing front. This is a well kept combo shop, housing a Filipino bakery on one side, and the cafe with both hot and cold food available. If you are not already familiar with Filipino food, it is very strongly flavored and has lots of salt. So get your glass of water ready. I highly recommend either their chicken or pork adobo. Also, when they finally get the ingredients again, halo halo is always a great Filipino dish. Generally, the prices are pretty cheap for their Filipino pastries. However, they recently upped the prices on their buffet menu from around $5 for a meal to over $8. Before it was a no brainer to get the combo meal with 2 entrees for $5.25. But now that same meal costs $9.25! That's a 60% price increase! Even when I gave it a chance during my last visit and purchased to the 2 entree combo, I found that the serving sizes actually decreased! I only got about 5 small pieces of meat, one piece of potato, and a ton of old and slightly dry rice. It was more like a sample appetizer than an "entree." (Check my posted images) Normally they have seating inside, unfortunately they haven't pivoted during the pandemic and did not setup any outdoor seating. They have limited customer capacity, shut down indoor dining, required customers to wear masks, and the staff also wears masks. I'd have given the spot 4 stars or better but, after the 60% price increase the value just isn't there anymore. Paying $10 a pop is pricy for a small lunch sized meal from a buffet. If it was made to order, perhaps it could stand. But this is a to-go buffet, with food that's been sitting there for hours. After all, we're not in Manhattan. There are many ALL YOU CAN EAT buffets within a 10-20 minute drive that are around $16 pp. Overall, this definitely a spot to get some good and authentic Filipino food when the yearning hits and it warrants the nearly $10 a plate price tag. I really like this spot, but with this last experience and the price bump I took it off of my list of regular spots.

    Flavorful Chopped Adobo Chicken, Garlic Okra and White Rice.
    Johnny C.

    PROS 1. Garlic Okra was cooked well. 2. Chopped Adobo Chicken was Super Flavorful. 3. White rice was cooked well. 4. Prices are Reasonable. 5. Friendly staff. Especially Andrei.

    Pancit
    Sharon S.

    Read about Cafe Pilipino on Hobokengirl.com. I used to come to Philippine Bread House many years ago. We had a delicious plate lunch! Pork adobo and beef-so tasty! And we also tried the sweet sausage and taro. Both delicious! My husband is from Hawaii and says everything tasted like home! Also ordered pancit. So glad there is still parking there!

    $4.50 for a half pint of beef that wasn't even reasonably filled!
    Glo L.

    If I could give negative stars I would have! I ordered a small beef tapa to go. When I got home I opened the container and it was not even full! They charged me $4.50 for a half pint of beef that was not reasonably filled. Please look at the picture I am adding. Also, the server was touching the inside of the container where the food goes. There is no common sense. She had no gloves! I had to say something and when I did that's when she changed the container. This place just lost a customer. I will be telling my family and friends not to go here. They are overpriced! I am a very unhappy customer! DO NOT GO HERE! There are other better Filipino restaurants. Go to West Side Ave!

    Look at the spaces in this $8 beef!
    Krissy H.

    I was very upset when I ordered food to go. I ordered a mEdium container of their beef which they charge $8. Only to find it not even full when I got home! They are so overpriced! Their small container costs too much money. Last week I bought a TAPSILOG to go and when I got home the garlic rice smelled foul! Not garlic smell but spoiled smell. I will definitely NOT be coming back to this establishment! IF I CAN GIVE ZERO STARS I WOULD HAVE!!

    Noelani W.

    Having mother born and raised in the Philippines, I was really excited to find this little cafe. I'm not much interested in eating pricey filipino fusion food, like can be found in nyc, because it doesn't feel authentic to me. So, I don't ever eat filipino food unless I visit her, but that has changed now that I know about this place! It checks all the boxes for good casual filipino food. Cheap af Huge portions Delicious The pork adobo is fire, and the pancit is just like how my mom makes it. Only minor complaint I have is that the food wasn't very warm when it was served. Will definitely be back though.

    Binagoongan, paksiw na lechon, and bopis with 2 cups of rice
    Brendalynne F.

    Great food at a cheap price. It's located in the Philippine Bread House with the typical cafeteria-style set-up that you'd see in a food court at the mall. There's plenty of seating, they have a big flat-screen TV in the corner that's always tuned into The Filipino Channel (TFC), and there's a small parking lot next to the building. I've always set high standards for Filipino restaurants because I'm so used to the homemade meals that my mom cooks, but I've been coming here for the past decade and Café Pilipino has yet to disappoint me with its authenticity, variety, and flavor. They even serve bubble tea and halo-halo (a popular Filipino shaved ice dessert). I've had many dishes here over the years but during my most recent visit, I ordered the bopis and paksiw na lechon, and I tried my friend's binagoongan. Everything was really good. My friend and I each ordered two dishes served with 2 cups of rice - only $5.50 per person! What a bang for your buck!!! I'm deducting a star because although the food is very tasty, it's often served cold and the parking lot is so tiny that it's almost always a pain to get in and out of. However, if you're looking for a cheap and authentic Filipino meal, this is a pretty good place to start.

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    The price is the highest among all the Filipino fast food that I have been to and the servers are very impolite and rude.

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    Food was terrible. Cold and gamey. Meat was tough to chew and half of it was all fat. Didn't respond to any of my requests.

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    Love their ensaymada pandesal and sapinsapin. Used to come here all the time w my mom. It's very sentimental visiting filipino bread house

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    Cafe Pilipino - filipino - Updated July 2026

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