My family and I were looking for something to eat on a Sunday evening at Reading Market. There are lots of choices but I don’t want to be disappointed with what the taste are so I went to see Tambayan and I told myself that I will eat something familiar. Of course we were looking for tables which you really have to wait at Reading Market, seeing the bar type table mostly empty made me decide that I will eat at Tambayan. I ordered 3 halo halo which I saw being prepared. While waiting, I have decided to order 2 lumpiang sariwa. After I got my halo-halo. I went back to wait for my lumpiang sariwa and pay for the whole thing. It took awhile to get my food which is understandable, but while the lady who is preparing my food get some rice and added it to the lumpia, I was surprised. We don’t eat lumpiang sariwa with rice. As a Filipino, I am concerned that this restaurant is not an authentic Filipino restaurant. Anyway, I still took my food and sat with my family on the tables in the middle not on the bar table of the restaurant. As the halo halo’s ice cream was already melting because I ordered it first, I started eating the ice cream and I was shocked that it has a grainy texture instead of the creamy texture. I told myself that I was duped but I just told myself that I bought it already so I will just eat it. I then opened the plastic container containing the lumpiang sariwa with rice. There were 2 pieces slightly smaller than what we were used to with the rice which has no business being served with the lumpia. I saw and tasted the lumpia wrapper and it’s a bit thick like a crepe. Lumpiang sariwa usually have a thin wrapper. When I took my first bite and felt the texture of potatoes, I told myself that I am duped. We don’t use potatoes in lumpiang sariwa. But since I paid $14 for it, I just keep eating it and the rice as well which is really weird. Anyway, I brought the other lumpiang sariwa to my sister who was home and I told her that it was a weird lumpiang sariwa. When she tasted it with the potatoes, she was shocked and was more shocked to see that a bell pepper was added to it as well. I think mine missed the bell pepper. Anyway, she did not finish the meal and just threw it in the trash, so there goes the $14 down the trash. Anyway, my take is if I am trying a Filipino food from a new place, I will make sure that the one who is preparing it is Filipino or else, it will not be authentic at all. I gave one star for the food since it is not what it is supposed to be. Back to the halo halo, which I try to finish as well. I am not satisfied with it as well.
Lesismore Adventures
Excellent, friendly service... A very comfortable feeling, like friends or family. The food is great and I'm looking forward to my next visit already.
Francis Shue
Tambayan is a Filipino spot tucked in the back of Reading Terminal Market near the restrooms. I only tried the halo-halo, so I can’t speak for the full menu, but it was definitely on the overly sweet side — even for a dessert that’s supposed to be sweet. At $14, it felt a bit overpriced, definitely leaning into tourist trap territory.
Service was moderately quick considering how many people were in line, and the steamed buns in the front display looked fresh and inviting. My partner, who’s familiar with Filipino food, said the halo-halo was pretty authentic, just a little too sweet for his taste too. There’s limited seating — mostly standing spots up front — and unfortunately, you do catch occasional whiffs from the nearby bathrooms, especially on warmer days. I’d come back to try the savory dishes, but I’d skip the dessert next time.
Leo de Guzman
Still have to try your food though next time we come up to Philly. Told our son to visit your restaurant when he craves for his mom's filo cooking.
Coromoto García
Today I tried their pancita and it was a disappointment. It's nothing like it. I lived in the Philippines for two years, and that's why I'm saying this. Plus, it's super expensive! I definitely don't recommend this dish here.
Jerico Pasion
I came here a couple weeks ago with my dad. We got the ube pandesal to take home and it was AMAZING! So soft and sweet and delicious. I wish I got more, I'm craving it so bad I even had a dream about it! Will definitely be back soon!
Rick Diaz
I was looking forward to eating here as there were not a lot of Filipino restaurants that I’ve seen in the Northeast, but after eating here I was not impressed with the taste of the food, especially with its exorbitant prices. My whole family shares the same sentiment. Nevertheless, the service that we received was great. I’d recommend this store to people who haven’t had Filipino cuisine before, but that’s it.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
S C
Amazing bbq and lumpia. The ube cake was perfect and the owner is so sweet
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Filipino BBQ, Fried Lumpia
Danette Pascarella
Amazing breakfast!! So tasty. The steak was seasoned so perfectly, we wanted more! This was our first stop on a two day food tour of Philly and we kept coming back to this and saying it was the perfect way to start. Highly recommend! Thank you, Kathy!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jesselyn Kim
Worst experience my sister looking for a job. She looked down on my sister because she doesn’t have a working permit and not fluent in english.
Presentation was great but taste was disappointing. No flavor at all. I asked for Patis (fish sauce) and the owner said “I’m a runner so I know salt isn’t good for you” I wish it was just the salt but the Palabok has no flavor. Also came with “meat” but all fat I had to spit them out.(see pic below) I was sad because the market was full of people and it would have been great for everyone to taste good Filipino food.
To the chef. Boil the shrimp with heads on and use that to flavor the Palabok sauce. Pork bullion might also help just to enhance the flavor.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
joe mufalli
Very good enjoy
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maria Felina
Finally had a chance to try the restaurant out. I come to Philly for business and always missed out on this place. Came in today on a Sunday so was able to finally eat on-site. Food came fast and everything was delicious. I didn’t realized the skewers and lumpia came with rice so had plenty of food leftover to bring back to my hotel. The palabok was so huge and tasty. Would definitely come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pancit Palabok, BBQ Skewers
Mariah Washington
Food made my entire family sick. I will never return again!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Chicken Pancit with Veggies
Tyler Regner
I was first attracted to the amount of Ube sweets they offered! I decided on the Ube bread roll, which they warmed up for me as I checked out. It was soft, slightly dense with just a subtle sweetness with a light Ube flavor. I enjoyed it as a lesser-sweet treat.
A few hours later I decided to try their Chicken Adobo. It’s subjective, but theirs tasted EXACTLY what I grew up on except they fine tuned it to add a few more touches that I wish I could do with mine. I was so surprised on how well it tasted, balanced, and very flavorful. It felt like a homemade dish vs a restaurant kitchen, which is how all Filipino food should taste like. I really enjoyed every bit of it!
Customer service was very friendly both times I ordered. I travel frequently for work and I’ll definitely be back! But if you find yourself in Reading Terminal Market, try this spot! This a great place for those who are new or knowledgeable of Filipino food!
My family and I were looking for something to eat on a Sunday evening at Reading Market. There are lots of choices but I don’t want to be disappointed with what the taste are so I went to see Tambayan and I told myself that I will eat something familiar. Of course we were looking for tables which you really have to wait at Reading Market, seeing the bar type table mostly empty made me decide that I will eat at Tambayan. I ordered 3 halo halo which I saw being prepared. While waiting, I have decided to order 2 lumpiang sariwa. After I got my halo-halo. I went back to wait for my lumpiang sariwa and pay for the whole thing. It took awhile to get my food which is understandable, but while the lady who is preparing my food get some rice and added it to the lumpia, I was surprised. We don’t eat lumpiang sariwa with rice. As a Filipino, I am concerned that this restaurant is not an authentic Filipino restaurant. Anyway, I still took my food and sat with my family on the tables in the middle not on the bar table of the restaurant. As the halo halo’s ice cream was already melting because I ordered it first, I started eating the ice cream and I was shocked that it has a grainy texture instead of the creamy texture. I told myself that I was duped but I just told myself that I bought it already so I will just eat it. I then opened the plastic container containing the lumpiang sariwa with rice. There were 2 pieces slightly smaller than what we were used to with the rice which has no business being served with the lumpia. I saw and tasted the lumpia wrapper and it’s a bit thick like a crepe. Lumpiang sariwa usually have a thin wrapper. When I took my first bite and felt the texture of potatoes, I told myself that I am duped. We don’t use potatoes in lumpiang sariwa. But since I paid $14 for it, I just keep eating it and the rice as well which is really weird. Anyway, I brought the other lumpiang sariwa to my sister who was home and I told her that it was a weird lumpiang sariwa. When she tasted it with the potatoes, she was shocked and was more shocked to see that a bell pepper was added to it as well. I think mine missed the bell pepper. Anyway, she did not finish the meal and just threw it in the trash, so there goes the $14 down the trash. Anyway, my take is if I am trying a Filipino food from a new place, I will make sure that the one who is preparing it is Filipino or else, it will not be authentic at all. I gave one star for the food since it is not what it is supposed to be. Back to the halo halo, which I try to finish as well. I am not satisfied with it as well.
Excellent, friendly service... A very comfortable feeling, like friends or family. The food is great and I'm looking forward to my next visit already.
Tambayan is a Filipino spot tucked in the back of Reading Terminal Market near the restrooms. I only tried the halo-halo, so I can’t speak for the full menu, but it was definitely on the overly sweet side — even for a dessert that’s supposed to be sweet. At $14, it felt a bit overpriced, definitely leaning into tourist trap territory.
Service was moderately quick considering how many people were in line, and the steamed buns in the front display looked fresh and inviting. My partner, who’s familiar with Filipino food, said the halo-halo was pretty authentic, just a little too sweet for his taste too. There’s limited seating — mostly standing spots up front — and unfortunately, you do catch occasional whiffs from the nearby bathrooms, especially on warmer days. I’d come back to try the savory dishes, but I’d skip the dessert next time.
Still have to try your food though next time we come up to Philly. Told our son to visit your restaurant when he craves for his mom's filo cooking.
Today I tried their pancita and it was a disappointment. It's nothing like it. I lived in the Philippines for two years, and that's why I'm saying this. Plus, it's super expensive! I definitely don't recommend this dish here.
I came here a couple weeks ago with my dad. We got the ube pandesal to take home and it was AMAZING! So soft and sweet and delicious. I wish I got more, I'm craving it so bad I even had a dream about it! Will definitely be back soon!
I was looking forward to eating here as there were not a lot of Filipino restaurants that I’ve seen in the Northeast, but after eating here I was not impressed with the taste of the food, especially with its exorbitant prices. My whole family shares the same sentiment. Nevertheless, the service that we received was great. I’d recommend this store to people who haven’t had Filipino cuisine before, but that’s it.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
Amazing bbq and lumpia. The ube cake was perfect and the owner is so sweet
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Filipino BBQ, Fried Lumpia
Amazing breakfast!! So tasty. The steak was seasoned so perfectly, we wanted more! This was our first stop on a two day food tour of Philly and we kept coming back to this and saying it was the perfect way to start. Highly recommend! Thank you, Kathy!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Worst experience my sister looking for a job. She looked down on my sister because she doesn’t have a working permit and not fluent in english.
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Presentation was great but taste was disappointing. No flavor at all. I asked for Patis (fish sauce) and the owner said “I’m a runner so I know salt isn’t good for you” I wish it was just the salt but the Palabok has no flavor. Also came with “meat” but all fat I had to spit them out.(see pic below) I was sad because the market was full of people and it would have been great for everyone to taste good Filipino food.
To the chef. Boil the shrimp with heads on and use that to flavor the Palabok sauce. Pork bullion might also help just to enhance the flavor.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 5
Very good enjoy
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Finally had a chance to try the restaurant out. I come to Philly for business and always missed out on this place. Came in today on a Sunday so was able to finally eat on-site. Food came fast and everything was delicious. I didn’t realized the skewers and lumpia came with rice so had plenty of food leftover to bring back to my hotel. The palabok was so huge and tasty. Would definitely come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pancit Palabok, BBQ Skewers
Food made my entire family sick. I will never return again!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Chicken Pancit with Veggies
I was first attracted to the amount of Ube sweets they offered! I decided on the Ube bread roll, which they warmed up for me as I checked out. It was soft, slightly dense with just a subtle sweetness with a light Ube flavor. I enjoyed it as a lesser-sweet treat.
A few hours later I decided to try their Chicken Adobo. It’s subjective, but theirs tasted EXACTLY what I grew up on except they fine tuned it to add a few more touches that I wish I could do with mine. I was so surprised on how well it tasted, balanced, and very flavorful. It felt like a homemade dish vs a restaurant kitchen, which is how all Filipino food should taste like. I really enjoyed every bit of it!
Customer service was very friendly both times I ordered. I travel frequently for work and I’ll definitely be back! But if you find yourself in Reading Terminal Market, try this spot! This a great place for those who are new or knowledgeable of Filipino food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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