Leeds to welcome 'first truly authentic' Filipino restaurant

is set to replace the previous Sakku restaurant on St Peter’s Square in the city. It is from the team that operates restaurant brands including Sakku Samba in Bradford, Caffe Noor, Casa Peri Peri, Habbibi, and Estabulo.

The menu will comprise classic and modernised versions of some of the favourite dishes in Filipino cuisine, including lechon kawali pork belly; Manila-style BBQ skewers; seasonal spring rolls; chicken Inasal; pancit palabok; and pork adobo.

It will also serve Filipino style paella to share, which the group says exemplifies the fusion of Spanish influences with the local flavours and cultural heritage of the Philippines, as well as traditional deserts such as halo-halo; and turon.

In addition, it will serve ‘Boodle Fight’ or Kamayan feasts - traditional style of feasting where food is laid out in banana leaves and diners are encouraged to eat with their hands - exclusively for large group and party bookings.

Drinks will include Filipino beer Red Horse and classic Filipino cocktails such as gin bulag.

“The word ‘authentic’ gets thrown around a lot nowadays but it’s a promise we aim to stick to our roots cooking Filipino food from the heart, the flavours we grew up with, with a modern European flair from the collective decades of training from our kitchen team,” says kitchen director Cezar Javier.

“It is with pride and joy that we open the first true Filipino kitchen in Leeds, and we hope it will be food that people will really want to eat time and time again.”

Sous chef Isaac Javier adds: “Oood will be nourishing and unpretentious, and focused on flavour first and foremost as Filipino food has never been about flair and always been substance over style.

“It is also important for us as we would be the first Filipino restaurant in town, and we want to do well.”

Sakku Pinoy will officially open on 9 September.