Kabayan Authentic Filipino Cuisine — Queens Blvd. — Restaurant in New York

I've tried to root for this place but they haven't made it easy. I want them to do better. I'm writing this so it reaches them and as a heads up for anyone who might be considering ordering from their catering menu. First: the current number and email on the site aren't the way to go (tried these first and there was an email exchange with choppy answers and no follow through). Calling the specific restaurant did get me through to finally order one week ahead, but generally: poor communication. I went over each request carefully. I even called them the day before the 10am pickup to make sure I could come at 10am for everything and they voluntarily went over the slicing of the desserts (I was like wow, that's thorough). I had a time sensitive schedule to receive deliveries elsewhere by 11am. When I arrived, only a third of the order was ready. Part of it had to be delivered from another location so I sat there waiting, and 2 full trays of lumpia were either still being cooked or they started when they realized I'd arrived. By the time I left the restaurant it was almost a half hour later. They forgot one of the dishes entirely—the puto which would have taken another 30 mins from another location (they took it off the bill)—my family was super disappointed about that special kid request unfulfilled—and in the end the cassava and flan weren't even sliced after all that talk. I guess the lesson is: don't count on it being on time or accurate. The main staffer who rung me up and packaged everything seemed visibly stressed about it and I was nice and left a decent tip for a pickup because it was probably not her fault, but the experience was enough for me to order elsewhere next time. It was probably not in that staffer's power to offer some compensation—a discount? An apology? That kind of effort to alleviate or correct the situation, from a customer service standpoint, would at least have kept me from posting this review. Sorry you lost a customer (and her extended family), Kabayan. The lumpia was...

We reserved a dinner for group of 15 for their Kamayan feast experience. Essentially, they will lay food out on the table in front of all the dinners with a variety of Filipino foods so everyone gets to try a little of everything on the menu. We were served a soup bowl and a spoon but was otherwise expected to eat with our hands. Sanitary wipes and napkins were provided. The staff was very conscious of the allergies in our group and made sure to explain every item on the table as they were serving us.

The feast included calamari, meat spring rolls, sweet & sour pork, marinated beef, mango salad, fried fish fillets, pork coconut milk curry, shrimp and muscle, rice, a bone broth soup, and more. All the food was very delicious but we especially enjoyed their bone broth soup which came with so much meat and such a deep flavor. We found that the food was plentiful for each person and ended up taking a little less than half the food to take home. This was honestly such a unique experience to dine and it was great to be able to try a variety of their food items - I would highly recommend trying their Kamayan feast.

My only complaint is that we ended up waiting almost an hour (we started eating 50 minutes after our reservation time) for our food despite reserving well ahead of time and arriving generally on time (the last to arrive in our party was about 15 minutes late). We were all starving by the time the food was served and the food took a while to set up on the table so some of the food was getting cold while we were waiting for the rest of the table to get set up. There seemed to only be a few waiters in the restaurant and there was another Kamayan feast happening with another large party at the same time as well as regular patrons so I understand that they were probably super busy and understaffed. None-the-less, the servers were amazing and generous. I would recommend going with a...

This was a treat doing the Kamayan Experience about $32 Per person. So much food to try and plenty to take home. I took alot home, since we were so full. The bone broth soup was one of my favorite things there and to bring home.

From Lumpia, bone brooth soup, Pork belly, Mussels, Shrimp, rice.

Must need reservation in advance for large parties, and if your party flakes or can't attend you have to cover the difference for the missing party. They Need to prepare food for xx amount of people.

It was a great experience, a lot of food to eat and try. You don't have to eat with your hands but that is the traditional way of doing it. some of us did ask for utensils.

I couldn't stop munching on the Lumpia, with the sweet chili sauce. Chicaron or deep fried prok intestines was a new item I was introduced to. I never ate it but with the sauce I just kept munching on and on.

The Lechro is deep fried pork bell you might see this with other cultures and super addictive.

Bulalo the shank soup with bone was so savory, as a start or as a ending item to eat. Im sure most of us kept picking at it. I took it home and made more soup next day !

The meats were all very flavorful and juicy, the shrimp and muscles were okay nothing crazy. I was told to get coconut rice next time with our order!

Till the next part of invite, i do want to try their takeout or smaller meal.

IG: Jliueats/...