I Need Filipino!
Is there any in the Boston area? I am informed that Shuttle Stop has now closed, and I know that Via Mare and Manila Puzon both closed about a year ago. From 3 to zero in one fell swoop!
Is NYC the closest alternative? None in Lawrence or Worcester or anywhere?
I am told that there are 9000 Filipinos in Massachusetts. That should be enough to support ONE restaurant, surely!
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Can anybody here comment on how vegetarian friendly JnJ is? I'm not too concerned with meat/seafood contamination (i.e. I can eat food with fish sauce and meat broth, say), but can JnJ accommodate requests for veggie-only kare kare? Will they remove meat from some of the dishes?
I've been contemplating making the trek to Quincy for some time, but I'm not sure there's anything here for me to eat besides the lumpia.
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re: amy_wong
galangatron
Aug 28, 2009 11:27 AM
the menu is very meat heavy but they do have a few vegetable dishes. one that comes to mind is pinakbet (string beans, squash, okra, japanese eggplant, and bitter melon simmered in bagoong)
the kare kare is served turo turo style (filipino buffet) and features both oxtail and tripe but they might be able to prepare the two noodle dishes (pancit bihon and pancit canton) without meat since they're cooked to order
it's not listed on the menu but last year there were signs on the wall advertising several dishes featuring milkfish. i don't know if it's still available but you could ask them about it. the staff are very helpful. call them or e-mail them and ask if they can accommodate your request
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re: galangatron
Good to know about the pancit, although I can make that myself since the ingredients are available locally (although I'm sure my version will pale in comparison.) The kare kare is what I'm after since I can't seem to make a decent version at home.
I'll email the restaurant to see whether they can make some of their dishes more veggie-friendly. Would be a good time to ask too if they serve traditional Filipino Xmas food. Those I really miss.
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re: amy_wong
I don't know if this is still around and I never tried any of the food, but it looks very good.
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theparegorickid
Aug 26, 2009 10:30 PM
JNJ Turo Turo's pork sticks are awesome
pinakbet is very good there as well
their crispy pata was a bit dry with not much flavor on its own, but came with a good
soy-vinegar dipping sauce
very helpful and friendly service -
galangatron
Aug 26, 2009 08:48 PM
i wish there was a jollibee in boston
i really like jnj turo turo filipino cuisine and was a regular when they first opened. it's family owned and operated and everybody is exceptionally friendly and helpful. they have a lot of good pork dishes (adobo, patatim, lechong kawali, sisig, etc) and the halo-halo (filipino shaved ice) is great on a hot summer day. the only thing i don't like is it's really small inside and can get very crowded with filipino families on the weekend
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kobuta
Aug 26, 2009 04:08 PM
Isn't there JnJ Turo Turo in Quincy? That's technically greater Boston, if you stick to this definition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Boston). I've never been myself, even though it's in my 'hood, but I thought there were some decent reviews of this place when they first opened.
EDIT: Adding link to restaurant: http://www.jnjturoturo.com/index.html
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re: kobuta
Tir_na_nOg
Aug 26, 2009 07:54 PM
Turo Turo is worth trying if you are the area, or possibly even driving to if you've never had Filipino cuisine, but it is a little hole-in-the-wall and serves a combination of made to order and buffet food. It is next to a little Filipino grocery. Haven't been back, but it did inspire me to buy a Filipino cookbook and learn how to cook a kickass chicken adobo.
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Sadly, there are really no Filipino restaurants in the Greater Boston area. Always seemed strange to me, considering the large number of Filipinos living in MA... But if you're really desperate, you can get some (fairly authentic) chicken adobo at Island Hopper on Mass Ave, next to the Lenox Hotel.
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