Chinatown-International District's only Filipino restaurant to celebrate grand opening

SEATTLE — History is being made in Seattle's Chinatown-International District this weekend.

The district’s only Filipino restaurant is celebrating its grand opening.

Hood Famous Café and Bar is expanding to the CID and is located on the corner of 5th Avenue South and King Street South.

Owner Chera Amlag began producing her famous Ube cheesecake about five years ago for “pop-up” dinners in the area.

The cheesecake is made from a purple yam, popular in the Philippines and was an instant hit.

Amlag and her husband, Geo Quibuyen, opened a small retail store and kitchen in Ballard, eventually selling the famous cheesecake at markets like Uwajimaya.

She calls this weekend’s grand opening in the CID a homecoming because the district is where she and her husband got their first jobs out of college.

These first-generation business owners are so grateful for the support they have received to open their café.

“We loved how food was a bridge and how food brought people together. We saw how much of an impact we were seeing and a sense of pride in the community we were building specifically around Filipino cuisine which the city doesn’t have enough of, “ said Amlag.

Amlag is thrilled to be joining a list of Filipino restaurants in the Seattle area and promises this weekend they will carry a variety of their cheesecakes and coffees available.

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