September 20, 2019

Kale Cafe + Restaurant: A Neighborhood Cafe Serving Comfort Food with a Twist

Kale Cafe + Restaurant is a small neighborhood cafe and restaurant in Fairview, Quezon City serving everyone’s comfort food—from your favorite cup of Joe to house specialties served with a twist.

From a small community of people collaborating to create something different out of the ordinary, Kale Cafe + Restaurant was developed into a rustic-minimalist, clean and clutter-free cafe with natural lighting and big windows, overlooking the busy streets of Fairview.

Perfect for any time of the day are their sweets and coffee servings, like their very own recipe of Banana Bread (Php 79/slice) and Cheesecake (Php 85).

Banana Bread (Php 79/slice) and Cheesecake, Latte (Php 140) and Cappuccino (Php 140)

Pair these off with either their Latte (Php 140) or Cappuccino (Php 140), or go healthy and get their refreshing Fruit Bowl (Php 125).

Fruit Bowl (Php 125)

Aside from being a quaint cafe, Kale has been serving staples for over a year now, such as steaks and chickens, served with a little twist to add more depth to each dish.

Take the Bibimbap (Php 295), for example. It’s a Korean staple but instead of bulgogi, they use bacon, somehow giving it a Western twist. The Bulgogi is one of their house specialties served with a special sauce, giving that more complex taste of sweetness and acidity from the pickles.

If you want something with a kick, you better try their Fried Chicken Curry (Php 290), made with homemade Thai Green Curry and chicken thigh fillet. It has a good balance of creaminess with a little curry spice.

Fried Chicken Curry (Php 290)

If you’re looking for something fancy, consider getting the Ribeye Steak (Php 320) served with butter pumpkin puree, roasted tomato, corn on the cob, and a choice of either rice, french fries, or house salad.

Ribeye Steak (Php 320)

At Kale, they make most of the things from scratch, which helps them control the flavor of every dish and add little components that make each dish different.

The Bangers and Mash (Php 280), which is perfect for breakfast meals, is made up of homemade skinless pork sausage, potato croquettes, caramelized onions, and house salad with mango-sesame vinaigrette dressing.

Bangers and Mash (Php 280)

Another example is their Katsu Burger (Php 245), but instead of beef, they use ground pork coated in panko or breadcrumbs with a light, flaky texture, and deep-fried to be paired with homemade slaw, pickled onions, red cabbage, and grilled onion leeks.

Katsu Burger (Php 245),

Of course, what’s a breakfast meal without some toast?

Unlike any other, Kale’s Sardine Toast (Php 145) gives off a very playful and interesting flavor. It is made with some sourdough bread, topped with pickled cucumbers, tomato, basil, and scrambled egg.

Sardine Toast (Php 145)

While these dishes may seem simple to the eye, what makes Kale Cafe + Restaurant different among the rest is the way they prepare every dish—with a little bit of twist and a little more heart.

How to get here

From EDSA, ride a bus going to SM Fairview and get-off at Regalado Highway. From there, ride a tricycle going to Omega Ave. Kale is located on the second floor of the Melting Pot Bldg.

This first appeared in Philippine Primer’s Japanese and English Magazine September 2019 issue.
Written by Denisse Tenorio