MELBOURNE | Located up a set of stairs in a “blink and you’ll miss it” CBD laneway location you’ll find Barkada Pinoy. The restaurant, which began life as a food truck, and relocated from Melbourne Central late last year, offers a variety of Filipino street food style dishes, ranging from popular favourites to things not often seen in Australia. I recently popped in for What’s On Melbourne to find out more.
Grilled chicken and pork skewers are a speciality here, glazed and grilled to order. Prime cuts and offal are used, with things like chicken thighs, pork belly, chicken feet, pigs ears, and pigs intestines to choose from. Come with friends, and order an assorted platter.
Large plates include Barkada’s signature inasal chicken, sigsig, arrozcaldo, pork belly liempo, and burger steak with mushroom gravy. The inasal is a must order. You get chicken maryland marinated in calamansi, pepper, coconut vinegar and annatto, grilled while basted with the marinade. It’s served with rice, calamansi, soy sauce, chicken oil and vinegar.
For something different, try the Kwek Kwek. It’s a popular street food of boiled quail eggs, coated in an orange batter and deep fried until crispy. Also keep an eye out for the specials, where you’ll find any number of interesting things. Things like puto bumbong, and the Jolibee-inspired peach mango pie. Even balut has been known to make an occasional appearance.
If you’re in the mood for something sweet, there’s desserts like halo halo, leche flan, and taho. To drink, it’s Filipino juice and drinks, soft drink, and a small alcohol selection.
On the way out, be sure to take a look at the small pantry section. Modelled off the typical sari-sari stores that you find throughout the Philippines, it contains a selection of pantry staples and snacks for home.
Barkada Pinoy
L1, 6 Sutherland Street
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia
Telephone: 0422 752 327
E-mail: n/a
Website
Open
Sun – Wed: 9:00am to 9:00pm
Thu – Sat: 9:00am to 10:00pm