60-Minute Feasts: Barkada Filipino Restaurant Lunch Review

Restaurant snapshot: Barkada, a modern Filipino restaurant and bar, is the brainchild of native content creator Indulgent Eats. She brings to life her vision of serving her adopted home of Hong Kong with funky fermented, spicy and vinegary flavours of Filipino food, adding a modern interpretation.

Vibe and venue: The restaurant is as vibey as you can find in Hong Kong. Located on Cochrane Street, amidst a flurry of kebab-eating partiers, Barkada positions itself well to capture early diners and late-night drinkers. Its open windows invite passersby to join the Filipino festivities. 

Value for time & money: Barkada launched their new lunch offerings earlier in May 2023. Set lunch plates and noodle dishes range from HK$118 to HK$158 with a drink included, which is on the high-end of sit-down lunches in SoHo. The kitchen takes about 15 minutes for service.

Menu highlights: Out of the 11 options available at lunch, the spicy inasal BBQ chicken thigh scores highly on report cards for great authenticity. The tocino-glazed omni luncheon meat plate is a notable addition to include vegan eaters for the meaty and glazed lunch affair.

What we tasted: Tofu Gising-Gising, Spicy Funky Coconut Noodles, Beef Tapa, Lumpiang Shanghai, Halo Halo Soda.

Hits & misses: All three of us dining at Barkada liked the coconut noodles, blending sweet coconut cream and starchy squash. For misses, the beef lacked a salty punch, coating your tongue with a cornstarch residue and a floury aftertaste.

The midday must-have: I preferred the flavours of the tofu gising-gising, serving soft puffy tofu cuts with a light green curry in a bed of cauliflower rice. I am not a big fan of cauliflower rice, but Barkada’s rice had a great texture, and the green curry paired well with the spice.

Final verdict: I laud Barkada for serving a wide range of lunch plates beyond the cuisine’s dependence on pork. However, I wish proteins were served tender, rather than the tough bite of the beef flank. Lunch portions are heavy, and hearty, so prepare for a nap after.

Location: Barkada, UG/F, 48 Cochrane Street, FOCO, Central, Hong Kong

Contact details: +852 2663 0238

This food review is based on a complimentary media tasting provided by Barkada in exchange for a truthful review and no compensation. The opinions expressed within represent the views of the author.   

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