Kalye Marinas Filipino Grill and Seafood (Hampton / Bayside Branch) — Restaurant in Melbourne

Had the cutest lunch date! We originally came here to try their halo-halo to see if it’s a hit or a miss… so did it slap or disappoint? 👀

FEATURED: 🍹 Sago’t Gulaman [$8.00] 🥘 Crispy Pork Kare Kare [$29.99] Crispy Pata Slices (Fried Pork Hock), Kare-Kare sauce (Peanut Based Sauce), beans, bokchoy, eggplant 🍜 Lomi Overload (Egg Noodle Soup) [$27.99] Thick Egg Noodle soup with veggies topped with meat and egg 💚 Buko Pandan Halo Halo [$15.99] Iced Shaved with buko pandan ice cream, young coconut, pandan jelly, nata de coco(coconut gel), cheddar cheese, rice puff and milk 💜 The OG Halo Halo [$15.99] Iced Shaved with housemade ube ice cream, ube halaya, creme caramel (leche flan), young coconut, corn, caramelized banana, jackfruit, kaong, nata de coco, coconut milk

First off, their menu was STACKED—so many options! They’re known for their seafood boil, but we were feeling nostalgic and craving some classic Filo dishes. We ended up getting lomi and crispy kare-kare, both totally different but fire in their own way. My fave was the kare-Kate 😍, but lowkey, they could’ve added more pork belly.

For drinks, we got sago’t gulaman—super sweet and kinda like a grass jelly drink. Refreshing and good!

Now for the main event… dessert! We tried the Buko Pandan Halo-Halo and the OG Ube one. The Buko Pandan was the star of the show—SO good! The rice pops, pandan, jelly—everything just hit. Definitely getting that again. But the OG? Kinda disappointing. I think pouring the liquid didn’t really taste like ube, so it threw off the whole vibe.

Overall, still a solid spot! Plus, if you pay in cash, you get 5% off—love that. Definitely coming back to try...

Kalye Marinas Filipino Grill has truly set a remarkable standard in both food quality and customer service. From the moment you walk in, you are welcomed with warmth and a deep sense of care that immediately makes you feel at home. Their team exudes passion, not only in the meticulous preparation and presentation of their dishes but in the genuine relationships they build with their customers.

The seafood boil is nothing short of exceptional, showcasing the freshness of the ingredients and the rich, authentic flavors of Filipino cuisine. Each bite speaks volumes about their commitment to culinary excellence and cultural sensitivity, honoring tradition while catering to a diverse clientele.

What truly sets Kalye Marinas apart is their empathy and love for service. Every interaction is imbued with thoughtfulness, making you feel like more than just a customer—they make you feel like family. They take the time to understand and respond to your needs, and this attentiveness is reflected in every detail, from personalized service to their dedication to food safety and quality.

In a world where exceptional service and heartfelt passion for food can often be hard to come by, Kalye Marinas shines as a beacon of excellence. Their staff demonstrates the perfect balance of professionalism, compassion, and a deep love for what they do. They don’t just serve food; they serve an experience that leaves you inspired and uplifted.

I cannot recommend Kalye Marinas Filipino Grill enough for anyone looking to enjoy not only a fantastic meal but also a meaningful and unforgettable...

We had the seafood boil, prawns, baby octopus, mud crab and clams and it was decent. Seafood tasted fresh although they do say it is fresh frozen. They gave 2 crabs for the portion listen on the menu and I thought that’s a pretty good deal. They combos however were said to be for 2-3 people when we asked the staff but honestly, I would say it’s for 1.5-2 adults at max, depending on how much you eat. The garlic butter sauce was OK but was a little too sweet for my liking. Salt brings out the flavour of garlic and butter so I would have preferred it saltier. The Cajun sauce was interesting because it came out thicker and more textural than expected but it tasted good. My favourite was mixing the garlic butter and Cajun sauce together to balance them out.

The sweet potato wedges were not sweet potato but in fact normal potato wedges. We doubled checked with the staff and they insisted this is correct but it’s definitely NOT sweet potato inside.

Also, a point deducted on service because they failed to clear the table first and served our halo halo dessert while we still had prawn, pippies and crab shells on the table. They could have easily wrapped them all up in the paper and served the halo halo. Also, no instructions were given on how to eat the halo halo until we asked and service was not attentive enough to refill our water when we were done although we were seated right in front of the counter.

I would still like to come back to try the traditional Philippine...