Kumare Restaurant and Bakery — Restaurant in Richmond

Kumare Restaurant and Bakery 8130 Park Road, South Richmond

Overview Kumare Restaurant and Bakery offers a taste of authentic Filipino cuisine with traditional dishes that highlight the rich flavors of the Philippines. Located in a cozy setting, this eatery combines a bakery and restaurant, catering to guests with a range of savory and sweet options.

Food

Papaitan (Bitter Beef Stew) This traditional stew, featuring beef tripe, tendon, and bile with ginger and onions, delivers a complex, bold flavor that fans of this dish will appreciate. The portion size is generous, and the balance of ingredients reflects a thoughtful approach to an often-underrepresented dish. A commendable offering for those seeking a truly authentic experience. Rating: 8/10

Ukoy Kumare’s ukoy arrives as two large fritters of shrimp and mixed vegetables, fried to a golden crisp and served with a side of vinegar for dipping. While the fritters showcase fresh vegetables and have a satisfying crunch, the overall flavor could benefit from additional seasoning to deepen the taste profile. The concept is spot on, but a minor tweak could elevate it. Rating: 7/10

Lechon Kawali A highlight of the meal, the Lechon Kawali is beautifully crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, showcasing the richness of deep-fried pork belly at its best. While the pork is well-prepared and portioned generously, a touch more seasoning would enhance its savory appeal. This dish stands out as a well-executed Filipino classic that offers satisfying crunch and flavor. Rating: 8/10

Tokwat Baboy This combination of deep-fried pork belly, tofu, and onions served in a vinegar-based stew brings a refreshing acidity that complements the richness of the pork. The seasoning is balanced, allowing each ingredient to shine. A delightful dish that offers both texture and flavor in each bite. Rating: 8/10

Garlic Rice The garlic rice is aromatic and well-portioned, serving as an excellent accompaniment to the main dishes. The garlic flavor is prominent without being overpowering, adding an enjoyable depth to each forkful. Rating: 8/10

Ambiance Kumare provides a clean and welcoming atmosphere that sets a relaxed tone for a casual meal. While the space is generally comfortable, one of the tables was unsteady, a minor detail that could detract from the experience. However, overall, the environment feels inviting and well-maintained.

Rating 6/10

Price Considering portion sizes and the quality of ingredients, the prices at Kumare are fair and reasonable. Diners can expect value for money here, as the servings are ample and the flavors rich.

Service Regrettably, service was the low point of the experience. With only two guests dining, we found the staff inattentive, with no water refills offered and no follow-up on our meal. Improved attentiveness and engagement from the staff would significantly enhance the overall dining experience at Kumare. Rating: 1/10

Verdict Kumare Restaurant and Bakery succeeds in delivering authentic Filipino dishes with robust flavors and hearty portions, making it a strong choice for those seeking a genuine taste of the Philippines. However, the lack of attentive service detracts from the overall experience, leaving room for improvement. With enhanced service, Kumare could become a go-to destination for both Filipino cuisine enthusiasts and new...

We had lunch with Por Por (Grandma) and a family friend who used to live in the Philippines. Our friend doesn't get to go out for Filipino food very often so we decided that we would try out Kumare restaurant in Richmond together. On the table we had Sizzling Bangus Belly, Manila Style Pinakbet, Calamares, Kumare Rice, Chicken Adobo, Lato Salad, Ginataang Langka, and Halo Halo.

Sizzling Bangus Belly: Impressive at first when it arrives sizzling hot on a plate, but when it comes to actually eating it, there's very little fish meat to be found.

Manila Style Pinakbet: Why didn't they mention on the menu that there was bitter melon in it? Bitter melon is on my list of Top 5 foods I hate!

Calamares: Enjoyed it like I do in most restaurants. Hard to go wrong with deep fried squid!

Kumare Rice: Shrimp paste fried rice garnished with shredded mango. I love shrimp and I love mango. Great combination for me.

Chicken Adobo: Tender, moist and flavorful.

Lato Salad: Never heard of seagrape seaweed before. Saw this on the menu and wanted to try it. They were tiny green spheres. A bit like the fish roe that you might see on top of Tobiko sushi in a Japanese restaurant, only these were green instead of orange. They were crunchy and neat to eat!

Ginataang Langka: Jackfruit failed to impress for many years. In the last few years however...ever since I stopped eating meat and started to cook and eat plant based foods, I've suddenly developed an appreciation for Jackfruit. This jackfruit had coconut milk and shrimp paste on it. It was one of my personal favorites from this meal.

Halo Halo: Why do people eat dessert after dinner? Is it based on the idea of saving the best for last? Halo Halo was my absolute favourite out of all these dishes. Such a refreshing and tasty treat. A wonderful way to end the meal.

Service: Fair (Not very attentive. We waited a super long time to be able to flag someone down and get our bill. There were hardly any other customers besides us in the restaurant, so it's not like they were super busy. The servers stood around chatting idly with each other.) I say it's fair because when they actually did come around to our table, they were reasonably polite and helpful.

Parking: Plentiful and free! Location: Across the street from Richmond Centre,...

Very disappointed with the customer service tonight! We were treated so badly after our order was wrong, brought us the wrong food, two of us did not get our meals, got attitude from the waitress, waited 20 minutes for someone to come around our table, we ended up getting up and go to the front desk to get our bill and ask for to go dishes. We get the bill, charged us the orders that were wrong and they took back... we stressed that we had a poor experience and to please fix our bill and remove the items that we did not consume and were taken back. Bill gets fixed, paid our bill for 4 people no problem - get my receipt and ready to leave, a young girl comes up with huge attitude and hands on her hips and says “so what’s going on?” - we start by telling her that we had a poor experience and that we have been going there for years. No apologies, super rude and defensive, nothing but attitude and kept interrupting me saying she didn’t understand. We tell her that there’s no reason for her to budge in as the cashier already helped us and we had paid our bill - she didn’t stop arguing until we finally tell her that she has no reason to intercept, to which she said I’m trying to help - you need to pay the food you ate right? So we said of course which WE PAID!! here’s my receipt! we are not asking for anything! We are just sharing our experience and unless you are going to do something for us, give us a discount or pay our meals why are you budging in? She then said - WHY WOULD I DO THAT? - BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING FREE! IT IS A GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE TO BE KIND TO YOUR PAYING CUSTOMERS AND TREAT THEM RESPECTFULLY! AND YES! SOMETIMES AN ACT OF APPRECIATION (i.e. a discount, a meal on the house) CAN TAKE YOU A VERY LONG WAY! Even when we didn’t ask for anything! BAD customer service, rude...