Dara — Restaurant in Hong Kong Island

Nestled in Sai Ying Pun, Dara reimagines Filipino cuisine through a modern lens. Named after the Kapampangan (a Filipino language) word for ”auntie”, this vibrant resto captures the warmth of Filipino family dining, offering an authentic culinary experience that celebrates traditional flavors in a contemporary setting.

𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚛 -

𖧷 𝙀𝙣𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 (7.5/10) It sets a vibrant tone with roasted eggplant as its canvas. The interplay of cherry tomatoes, mango and coriander creates a refreshing starter, while the calamansi dressing adds a bright note that awakens the palate with its sweet and sour balance.

𖧷 𝙏𝙪𝙣𝙖 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙬 (7/10) Our first encounter with tuna kinilaw was a delightful culinary discovery. The raw tuna, dressed with ginger and calamansi, offers an unexpected yet harmonious flavor profile.

𝚂𝚔𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚜 -

𖧷 𝙄𝙣𝙞𝙝𝙖𝙬 𝙣𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙠 (7.5/10) A standout dish. Perfectly grilled chicken thigh accompanied by crispy skin and pickled papaya demonstrates masterful technique. The meat is tender and juicy, while the pickled papaya provides a calibrated acidic counterpoint.

𝙼𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜 -

𖧷 𝙄𝙣𝙞𝙝𝙖𝙬 𝙣𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙖 𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙠 (7/10) The charcoal-grilled hamachi jaw delivers a solid performance. While not extraordinary, the dish exhibits skillful grilling and clean flavors that would certainly merit a return visit.

𖧷 𝙏𝙖𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙖𝙠𝙖 (8/10) A triumph of beef preparation. The marinated short plate is tender, easily yielding to the fork. Crispy garlic and chives elevate the dish, with only a minor note about occasional fatty pieces.

𝙳𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚝 -

𖧷 𝙏𝙞𝙗𝙤𝙠-𝙩𝙞𝙗𝙤𝙠 (7/10) It reminiscent of a coconut creme brulee, offers a delicate exploration of texture and subtle sweetness.

𖧷 𝙏𝙪𝙧𝙤𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙤-𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙤 (7.5/10) It truly shines with its symphony of banana, sweet potato, macapuno and jackfruit creating a satisfying...

Embarking on a adventure at a Filipino restaurant is akin to diving into a rich tapestry of flavors, each dish telling its own story of tradition and innovation. we had a filipino dinner at the beautiful restaurant DARA in SYP last week!

For the starter - Inihaw na Baboy, or grilled pork, was marinated to perfection, imparting a smoky, sweet, and tangy flavor that was deeply satisfying. The meat was grilled to just the right level of char

Lumpiang Shanghai, the Filipino version of spring rolls, was a delightful surprise. Packed with a mixture of ground pork, vegetables, and spices, each roll was a crisp, golden bite of heaven. Served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce, it was addictive

Sarciadong Apahap, a dish that features the delicate flavors of seabass in a rich, tomato-based sauce. The fish was cooked to perfection, flaky and tender, enveloped in a sauce that was a comforting embrace of home-cooked goodness

The Lechon Kawali, a deep-fried crispy pork belly, was another highlight. The skin was shatteringly crisp, giving way to succulent meat that was both tender and flavorful. Paired with a tangy dipping sauce, it was a symphony of crunch and zest

Among the standout dishes we savored, the Aligue Rice was a revelation. This delicacy, made with crab fat . Each spoonful was a harmonious blend of the sea's richness and the comforting familiarity of rice

We saw a lot of Filipino dining at DARA even its weekday and it gives us a community vibe! Dining at this Filipino restaurant was not just about enjoying good food, it was a reminder that food is more than sustenance - it's a story, a celebration, a way of bringing...

We had the pleasure of celebrating our wedding at Dara and had the best dinner party ever! We were already fans of their food and the new location was perfect to host a close gathering of friends and family.

We planned the party in a relatively short amount of time and throughout the whole process, Jermaine and the team were not only helpful and organized, but went above and beyond to provide great ideas and suggestions, the flexibility to accommodate our vision, and was all very easy-going to work with.

On the day of the party, the whole team were so amazing and created such a fun, warm and inviting environment that all our guests enjoyed so much! The team were all so professional and proactive to help our guests and I am truly grateful to them as it wouldn't have been such a success (and so much fun) without them!

Last but not least, the food and drinks were fantastic as always and we are so happy that we got to share one of our favourite restaurants with our family and friends! Lots of our guests hadn't really tried Filipino cuisine yet so to hear that everyone enjoyed the food was of course perfect! We had canapes and sharing plates for our guests, a free-flow package with our special "Mr & Mrs" cocktails - safe to say that our guests left full and/or thoroughly enjoyed the drinks ;)

Just wanted to say a huge thank you again to the Dara team and would highly suggest them if you're looking to host an event or simply want to try Filipino cuisine and have...