Filipino Restaurants near Cape Canaveral, FL

“Barkada Bowl - Cape Canaveral - 4.5 Stars By a show of hands, how many of you have had Filipino food before? Anyone, anyone? Yeah, me either, but you can now try it at Barkada Bowl in Cape Canaveral. Tucked away in a teeny tiny spot lays one of the most original experiences you can have in Brevard County. Trying new cuisine can be intimidating, especially if the owner or employees do not speak English. As I walked in I noticed an older Asian lady and a younger Asian gentleman. Immediately I thought "crud, now what am I going to do?" The young man made eye contact and in the most mellifluous voice said, "Welcome to Barkada Bowl. My name is Dexter. Do you have any questions about what we are serving?" At this point, I felt like a total dope as Dexter spoke perfect English and obviously was raised in the States. I laughed at my stupidity and began inquiring about the items they serve. Dexter took a moment and explained all of the fresh, delectable items they serve. I set my sights on the Filipino Bowl with pork belly and received a bowl filled with sticky rice, cooked impeccably, which absorbs the flavors of the pork belly delicately. What adds a real exciting sneak attack is the adobo seasoning. It blends just the right kick with a mellow finish one comes to expect from adobo. The veggies are crisp and fresh, and the bowl is finished with the appropriate hard-boiled egg cooked flawlessly. I have not done any research into the authenticity of Filipino cuisine. What I can tell you is the food here is great, regardless of its etiology. The service is admirable and the owner is a stand-up guy. The Big Boy says, don't be afraid to step out of the box and try some original, fresh, and exciting food at Barkada Bowl.“

“This is a bar with a fairly limited food menu, but what they offer is pretty decent. I would definitely choose this place over the tiki bar across the street. One thing that really stood out was the live music. I was surprised to find a band playing on a weeknight, and they were covering a lot of older songs. I even uploaded a short video because it added so much to the atmosphere.

I ordered the wings, and they were surprisingly large. I tried a couple of the sauces on the side, which were okay, but I actually preferred the ranch. It was still nice to mix things up and add some extra flavor. The chili lime fries were decent, but they weren't my favorite item.

There was only one bartender working, and she was very busy, so I had to wait a while for my food. That said, she was friendly and did a great job handling everything on her own.

I actually ended up here by accident because I thought I was walking into Coconuts on the Beach, which is right behind this place. In the end, it was a pleasant surprise. It looked like they had some interesting specialty drinks, although I didn't try any. The atmosphere, especially with the live music, was the highlight of my visit and my favorite part of accidentally discovering this spot.“