I was in the area and decided to give The Fattened Caf a try, and I'm so glad I did! I got the Filipino Style Chicken BBQ to-go. Although the wait was quite long (25 minutes), the wait was worth it! The chicken was cooked perfectly (not dry at all) and the sauce seasoned and sweetened (but not too much!) the chicken to perfection! The Java rice was also absolutely heavenly, and the cabbage atchara/seasoned cucumbers added a freshness that accentuated every bite. Service was super friendly, and there was also a cute and homey set up with sofas, fun chairs, and a coffee table (dining tables were further inside of the restaurant). Would be a great spot to spend time/study! read more

I must say, walking inside does give a bit of a Filipino-style feel, especially when seeing the peacock and bamboo woven chairs + decor that reminded me of home. The owners are very approachable and could immediately recognize us as Filipinos when we were sitting and eating there. The restaurant reminds me of a "fancier" Filipino style like you see in big tourist spots in Boracay. I do admit, the wait is a bit long as we were waiting for almost 30 minutes for our food to arrive. However, I feel like the complaints about it from other reviews are ridiculous since this place isn't considered fast food, but cooked with love. I mean- when I was living in The Philippines, everyone has patience of a saint, especially when it comes to food so I do not see the wait time as an issue. It's not served immediately like karinderya style. I ordered the Filipino-style chicken BBQ and I'd like to say that it's so delicious and flavorful. However, it doesn't remind me of home. I do want to point out to definitely ask for tuyo kalamansi with chili for the dip if you're not a fan of vinegar. I was told it was homemade by the owner and it did not disappoint. The pork BBQ that my father ordered was a bit too hard for his liking, as Filipino meat tends to be on the softer side. The ube banana pudding is also yummy, however, it is way too sweet for our liking. I'd like to point out that Java rice is so good that I think that it isn't enough for a Filipino like me and I personally don't want to pay for another cup of Java rice. There were more sides than rice tbh. I was also a bit bummed that halo-halo isn't in the menu at all, With that being said, I feel like the food and desserts here are mostly catering the American palette, but it would be good for people who has never tried Filipino food. read more

The Fattened Caf. - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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I met up with a few friends before a show and wasn't quite sure what to expect, but the Filipino/St. Louis BBQ fusion completely blew me away. From the moment you walk up, the smell of grilled meats hits you (in the best way possible) as they're cooking right out front. It sets the tone immediately. The setup is simple, order at the counter, grab a seat, and enjoy. Quick, easy, and perfect for a pre-event bite. I went with the pork steak and loved every bite. The banana ketchup BBQ sauce was a total standout, sweet, tangy, and just different enough to keep you going back for more. I also stole a few bites of my buddy's pork belly, which was just as impressive, perfectly crispy on the edges with that melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. The rice was cooked spot on and rounded out the dish nicely. Add in a laid-back, friendly atmosphere, and it's the kind of place you immediately want to come back to. Definitely looking forward to working my way through more of the menu next time. read more

The Fattened Caf. - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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First time here and very impressed. Friendly service, beautiful vibey decor, and most importantly great food. We ordered the pork steak and bbq chicken (exploding). Both were full of flavor and delicious. The vinegar served with the dishes were nice complements to the sweeter sauces. It was a good portion for lunch, which was the time of day we visited. We are big eaters and probably would have split another side for dinner. read more

The Fattened Caf. - Filipino style pork steak bbq - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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A neighborhood fav! Service always great, high quality, flavorful food always fresh and hot. Food made w care and love and it totally comes through. I also love dining here with my daughter bc it intentionally has things to keep kids(and adults) entertained - chess and checkers, a 'living room' sort of area up front, chalk board and doll house and coloring books in the back. read more

The Fattened Caf. - Coconut collards and Ube longdog - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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Absolutely 10 out of 10 for this spot! Pinoy food is all about balance of sweet, sour, spice and I think they did that perfectly here! Walking in, you are embraced with warmth just from the decor and then greeted! We must have exuded our excitement bc the owner went over the menu with us and gave us recommendations! Everything is prepared from scratch so there is a wait! They brought out our food on these grass woven trays, and we went to town: collard greens cooked in the style of laing, Pork Belly Tocino, Piyanggang Chicken, Pork Steak, Calamasi juice, and Banana Cue Latte. Each entree plate had a rice, spicy vinegar, and pickled cabbage. This was fantastic! I highly recommend the piyanggang chicken and collard greens. The tocino was also so good and had a great fattiness to it. The owner is a BBQ pitmaster so I completely trust they know meat here! Great vibes! read more

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Love this place. Will always have a special place in my heart! Their service is amazing, owner actually works in the place and serves which I thought was really cool to see. Chicken adobo is my favorite! The ube banana pudding is the bessstt! Would highly recommend. read more

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First time here! It's been in my list for a while and glad I finally got around to it. The staff was so helpful assisting me with recommendations. The ambiance was so cute too :) I LOVED my BBQ chicken. It was super flavorful. It paired well with the rice. I tried my partner's adobo chicken and it was good too. Much more on the umami side than the BBQ, which I would consider sweeter. The sausage was too spicy for me but it had a lot of great flavors. read more

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The vibrant colors of every dish make the food even more appetizing! Two of us split the half chicken piyanggang ($23), chargrilled pork belly sisig ($18), and longganisa ($5). It wasn't too crowded on a weekday evening and our food arrived shortly after ordering. The chicken piyanggang had a nutty, earthy flavor that was pretty mild. After adding some vinegar and eating it with the pickled cabbage, the chicken tasted even better. I liked that the chicken was not dry but would not mind if it was brined longer. I liked the pork belly sisig more, but probably because I am a big fan of garlic rice and liked how crispy the pieces of pork belly got! I just wish the dish was even more spicy. The longganisa was salty and meaty, but the other two dishes stole the show. This is a great spot to get a balanced meal with lots of protein, yummy carbs, and veggies! read more

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I keep coming back for the jackfruit--so good!! Pair it with the coconut milk collard greens and you'll be in heaven. I finally tried the banana pudding on my most recent visit. I just kept saying "Holy shit!" while shoveling it into my mouth at warp speed. Highly recommend. read more

Their food was delicious The environment is warm and welcoming as they kept their door open on the night we ate here it was around 7:30ish and there are random seating and tables spread throughout this establishment. We would eat here again. Perfect amount of seating for a small group, couples, or even if you are by yourself as they had a bar table along the window. read more

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My husband and I first tried The Fattened Caf on DoorDash and it was sensational! It was probably the best quality and quantity of food I've had on DoorDash in a very long time. The food was incredibly flavorful and fresh, it truly blew our minds! We then came to the brick and mortar a couple weeks later when my best friend came to town. We had the ceviche weekend special, chicken adobo, and salmon - all were fantastic! Another one we tried via DoorDash was the chicken bbq and it tasted great! The collard greens and baked beans side dishes were out of this world, I could eat an entire meal of just those two sides! The service was very friendly and our food came out in a timely manner. The restaurant has a cozy vibe and they have an open kitchen concept where you can see them making the food! Overall, the food is excellent! I would definitely make sure you try the Ube banana pudding (it's epic!). read more

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DELISH! My first time trying Filipino food. My daughter treated me. You walk in and immediately feel like you're transported to an island. I love the decor and the electric seating areas. We were greeted and ordered at the counter. We ordered a few items to share, plus beverages and our bill was very reasonable. I've been telling of their delicious goodness to everyone I know who likes trying different cuisines. We'll definitely be back! read more

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LOVE this place and people! My parents immigrated from the Philippines in the late 1960s and growing up, the only good Filipino food you could get was at family parties. That has changed in recent years and most recently there are at least 4 brick and mortar places serving Filipino food in STL City and county. What helps Fattened Caf standout is their commitment to making great bbq (pork, chicken and fish) paired with great sides that make you feel you are at a family gathering. Their location in Cherokee is perfect as they have been long established in the area when they started their pop-ups and it has been amazing to see their growth here, at STL City home games, WashU and in grocery stores. Their food highlights the best of Filipino flavors: a little sweet, a little sour/vinegart, tangy and well-balanced Check them out! read more

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Parking: Limited (On-Street) Customer Service: Great Cleanliness: Good Quality of Food: AMAZING! Ambiance: Family-Feel __________ I have eaten Fattened Caf. food before, but I was never able to visit their location and eat there on site. This was my first time going there, and I can honestly say that it was an amazing and delicious experience. My group enjoyed the Kamayan buffet, which included an assortment of ingredients: Polish sausage, chicken, cucumbers, rice, cabbage, corn, edible flowers, and more. The BBQ Sauce is *chef's kiss* When your group does the Kamayan buffet, you and your group are tasked with setting the table. Setting the table looks like putting the food directly on the table, no utensils necessary. The owner, Darren, shared some cool background knowledge about the business and the etiquette for eating the buffet. You grab the food with your left hand and then eat with your right to maintain group sanitation. Amazing experience! I highly recommend the buffet or just grabbing a quick bite to eat. read more

The Fattened Caf. - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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This place is absolutely delicious. Located in the beginning of Cherokee Street, once you walk in you are immediately welcomed by this warm community energy. The vibe is fun refreshing cozy home-y. Walked up to order the food and it came out within 15 minutes. Ordered their signature, Filipino barbecue chicken and their pork belly sisig with a side of Ube banana pudding. I also got an iced Ube latte and the ube hot dog. As soon as the food arrived on a wooden woven basket, my jaw immediately dropped. The plates were so visually stunning with the beautiful red pickled cabbage and the brightly colored barbecued meats. I was so excited to eat it. My favorite dish for sure was the pork belly sisig, ate the whole thing so quick! The meat balanced really well with the pickled red cabbage, offering a nice balance of flavors. The Java rice and the garlic rice were a tiny bit dry, but offered a nice cozy ballot to round out both dishes. The Ube light latte was really yummy and I thought the Ube hotdog was a very interesting mix of flavors. There was a pickled vegetable slaw on top that gave it really good acidity to the whole hotdog. Overall would come again the vibe is immaculate service is super friendly. It's located in a wonderful neighborhood and the food is awesome. read more

The Fattened Caf. - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Took a break from our typical Friday tacos on Cherokee to get some delicious Filipino BBQ! The space is very cute, well decorated and lots of seating. It's on Jefferson so mostly street parking. It was just around 5:30 when they reopened. The cashier was sweet and gave recommendations as it was our first time. I got chicken adobo with the garlic rice and cabbage. Delicious. We got it in to go containers because we were planning to leave but having the food hot was the best decision. Seasoned perfect and will be back! read more

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yuuuummm!!! I came for a yelp event earlier this year and had a chance to taste the full menu. What stuck with me the most was those collard greens, both rices, and their bbq sauce! Today I was going for a light lunch and saw they had salmon! I purchased the Salmon Sisig, side of collards and the Ube Banana Pudding. I couldn't put my fork down! The salmon was lightly but well seasoned, just enough crisp, the onions and hint of spice from the peppers was spectacular! The rice & greens were amazing as I remembered. The banana pudding was good but the meringue/whip on top wasn't the best taste so I scooped it off. Customer service was personable and I got my food in a timely manner. The space is so cozy! read more

The Fattened Caf. - salmon sisig, collards, banana pudding - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Had a great experience at The Fattened Caf! The staff were very knowledgeable about the menu and were friendly when bringing our food and drinks. Food service was quick after ordering. The restaurant has a cute lounge area in the front, which would be great for snacks and drinks. There are also larger dining tables in the back that were able to comfortably seat 6-8 people. The food was fantastic for the price point. We were able to try a couple plates, sides, and drinks. I loved the flavors on the pork steak plate and the chicken longganisa has a good spice to it. The restaurant does run on the warmer side indoors, so be mindful of this as the restaurant fills up during peak hours. I personally was comfortable, but others in my party were warm while eating their meals. read more

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Overall one of the best restaurants in St. Louis. Food: Delicious. They nailed how to combine sour and spicy. My favorites are the pork belly sisig, salmon sisig, and piyangang chicken. Service: always incredible. One of the chefs has said hi to us every time we've been there and they always accommodate our requests. Ambience: cozy place. It doesn't feel finished quite yet but it's nice to eat there. read more

Omg this place is a must-go!!! We came at lunch. I had the piyanggang chicken bc I love smoked chicken--the rice was amazing, the chicken was even more than I hoped it'd be, and the banana pudding was To Die For. Everyone loved their meals and then we each went in a circle and awed as we took our first banana pudding bite. Someone also got the coconut jam latte and really enjoyed it, different than expected Although you order at the counter, the service was great. Darren came by and checked on us twice and was very nice! And the feel of the place was lovely. Would love to come back read more

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I love the Fattened Caf I just don't get here often because I live in Illinois. I finally tried the ube long dog and it was life changing! So delicious! Also you have to try the ube banana pudding. Phenomenal! The service here is always good, since it is a fast casual spot you order at the counter and they will run out to you. If you are ever in STL make sure you visit this place! You won't regret it! read more

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Ordered this for takeout and I will be back. We ordered the Pork Belly Sisig, Filipino style chicken BBQ, Coconut Braised Collard Greens, Ube Banana Pudding. Flavorful, rich and incredibly delicious. The chicken was moist and coated in the most incredible bbq sauce. It paired well with the rice and the pickled cabbage side added freshness. The pork belly was my personal favorite with its crispy edges and fatty bites. But even after our filling entrees we had to try the Ube banana pudding. It was perfectly sweet and a must get! Just WOW. Presentation got the takeout was insane too! It's clear they put so much love and care into each dish. read more

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The Fattened Caf is one of my favorite restaurants! The staff is helpful and friendly, the atmosphere is welcoming, and the food is always delicious! read more

The Fattened Caf. - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

I mean, I really just have a deep appreciation for delicious food.... Good food... fresh food. I visited The Fattened Caf. during a trip to St. Louis, and I was wildly impressed. I started off with the Coconut Jam Latte, so rich and creamy. This was definitely one of a kind, and I've never tasted anything similar to it! For my meal, I had pork belly tocino. Chargrilled chicken or filipino-style bacon cured in pineapple juice. Garlic rice, sunny egg, red cabbage atchara and seasoned pineapples. It was absolutely love at first bite for me! Everything was perfectly curated to complement each other flavor wise. All the food is made to order, so prepare for longer wait times, it's totally worth it! The space has a nice feel to it, with plenty of light, and unique decor. When I'm back in STL, I hope to visit again! read more

First time today, based off being featured in a recent Post-Dispatch article, and was not disappointed at all! Jackfruit adobo and collard greens all day, please. Enough for leftovers. Superb flavors. Owners and staff could not have been friendlier and truly cared about our experience. Absolutely going back and telling everyone I know to check out The Fattened Caf. read more

The Fattened Caf. - Collard greens and salad - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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The Fattened Caf has been on my list for a while now and I'm glad we got to try it for dinner on Saturday night. This place did not disappoint! They had so many amazing options to choose from and Sydney was kind enough to walk us through our options. We tried the Pork Steak and Yellowfin Kinilaw. The Pork Steak was tender and delicious! It was truly an ode to STL BBQ. The Java rice and pickled cabbage was a perfect accompaniment to the dish. The Yellowfin Kinilaw was a very unique dish. It was a perfect meld of flavor, texture and kick of spice from the Thai chili peppers. For dessert, we had the Ube Banana pudding - Delicious !! A Must try if you if you have a sweet tooth. The store also sells their popular Longganisa, BBQ sauce and more! This is a family run restaurant and you can tell they put their heart and soul into everything they serve.Looking forward to being back to try more of their menu. read more

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I started drooling when I heard of a Filipino restaurant close by. The place is like a quaint cafe style setting. The people behind the counter were very nice. All the entrees are individually served. It was DEELISH!! I had the calamansi soda, which is calamansi (citrus) juice with sparkling water, so it basically tasted like a Sprite. I had the pork sisig which was very good, already mixed with rice. The chicken adobo was very tasty!! But the best thing was the ube banana pudding!! I tasted more banana than ube, but still VERY good!! We parked on the street. There's plenty of metered parking. I don't come to St. Louis often, but when I do, I'll be sure to come back here! read more

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This was my first time ever having Filipino BBQ! We got the Chargrilled Tocino and Smoked Longganisa. Then we shared. These were simply amazing. With addition of a vinegar dipping sauce, this changed the whole taste! From the meats, to the rice and fried eggs, everything was spot on delicious! I love the open kitchen concept. Feels like we are invited in to see the ins and outs.They have this amazing community table. That has flyers for events and other things in the area! They even have sungka, a chess board set made in Sampaloc Philippines! The owners were there cooking themselves. They also took the time to actually talk to us and learn about us. Parking could be a little tricky(especially since there was snow). We used the lot next to it. But there was plenty of space there. read more

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We were here for lunch. Service was nice but we had to wait for almost 45 mins for our order. My favorite was the sausage and chicken adobo, other dishes and drinks were decent. read more

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Lunch at The Fattened Calf was delicious. Yvette and I shared the Pork Belly Tocino and Piyanggang Chicken. Both were a gastronomic delight. The owner was super attentive and friendly. We enjoyed chatting with him. This is a fast casual restaurant with an interesting decor. We liked it. Can't wait to visit again to try some more items on the menu. read more

The Fattened Caf. - Tocino and Pyanggang - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Delicious and authentic food. We have been several times and I have to say the salmon is our favorite. Based in an old building in south city, nothing fancy but everything was clean. The family that runs this place is welcoming and helpful, great hospitality. read more

The Fattened Caf. - Salmon - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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DELICIOUS! We loved the space, the food and the customer service. Can't wait to go back and try more of the menu! read more

The Fattened Caf. - Piyanggang Chicken - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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Unique restaurant serving up flavorful Filipino-style cuisine. You order at the counter and they bring the food to you. We dined with some friends on a Thursday and it took awhile for our food to be ready ~40 minutes or so. The owner brought out some chips and apologized for the wait which was very thoughtful. As a pescatarian, I only had one option which was the jackfruit adobo. It was prepared nicely and very tender but leaned too sour for me. The garlic rice was delicious. They have self serve water that was not very cold, or other beverages for purchase. I think the ube longdog was a crowd favorite--wish there were a couple more choices for non meat eaters. read more

The Fattened Caf. - menu - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Have been meaning to try this place. Their menu isn't the best for sharing but they have mastered the individual serving idea. Got the homemade kalamansi soda. Wasn't very carbonated, unsure if they used a previously opened tonic water/carbonated water but flavor was nice. We had a bunch of people so everyone tried something different. Menu seems very chicken and beef forward. Not too many pork options Friend who got the half chicken loved it. Chicken curry was good as well. read more

The Fattened Caf. - Curry chicken - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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amazing chicken adobo with really good flavors and savoriness. the ube banana pudding was also deliciously refreshing and sweet. the lady who took our order was very kind and showed us around the menu, happily answering any questions we had. the front of the restaurant feels like a nice little cafe with bar seating at the windows and a little lounging area. read more

The Fattened Caf. - ube banana pudding - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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Really good food! Super nice service. And it feels really healthy!!! There is no alcohol, but you won't miss it with this food. read more

The Fattened Caf. - Chicken best seller meal - Filipino Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

We went here for lunch last Monday. This is our first time here. The food is great. The price is super affordable. Each entree has quite a lot of meat, which is great. There are two different rice options. We got both to try. I liked the java which is the yellow color rice more. The other rice is the garlic rice which is the white rice with some seasoning in them and top with green onion, pepper and other seasoning. You come to the ordering line adn paid. Then given a number and choose your table. The staff will bring you the food. Then it is self service. read more

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Amazing food and staff. Absolutely a St. Louis phillipino hidden gem in the city!!! Thanks Darren and Staff. 2 times in one week. That says it all! read more

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We went out to dinner last night and I will be talking about this meal for a while. It was a random choice on yelp and when I pulled up, we almost decided to leave. The neighborhood and the building front were not what I was expecting. I am so glad we didn't leave. Filipino barbecue. Everything we had was exciting, with new flavors and delicious. If you're looking for a new place for date night dinner, and you don't mind to be adventurous,, this is the place! Banana pudding made with "Ube" a Philippine sweet potato that is bright purple and amazing. Banana Cue latte. With housemaid banana brown sugar. The chef and owner served us our food. He was so sweet. This appears to be a small family run business so I would love to see people go support them. read more

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