Filipino restaurant in Florida lands on Yelp’s Top 100 US Restaurants for 2024
Photo from abstraktfilipinoessence/Instagram
Adobo and lumpia may be the stars of Filipino cuisine but this Pinoy food truck-turned-restaurant in Florida proves that our cuisine offers so much more. Proof? They made it to Yelp’s Top 100 US Restaurants for 2024.
Thanks to Abstrakt Filipino Essence making its way to Yelp’s Top 100 for 2024, Jacksonville Beach’s food scene is now in Yelp’s spotlight.
Less than a year in its brick-and-mortar form, this Filipino restaurant nestled at 1500 Beach Blvd. clinched the 71st spot — credits to the fanfare and 5-star reviews.
Nothing notable ever started on top and Abstrakt Filipino Essence’s story is nothing short of inspiring. From its humble beginnings as a food truck to landing on Yelp’s elite list, this Filipino spot has indeed spiced up the local food scene.
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“I’m infusing all this flavor in my Filipino roots. That’s why I call my food 80/20. It’s 80 percent family recipes that I love to eat and then I put my 20 percent twist to it,” Chef Jojo Hernandez told Times-Union during their opening last February 2023. Hernandez was the brains behind this culinary gem and a founding member of Jax Filipino Chefs.
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More than just a plate of lumpia
Dropping the adobo or lumpia stereotype when talking about Filipino cuisine, Yelp notes how “Chef Jojo is crushing the rumor that Filipino food is just lumpia.”
“Abstrakt” offers a variety of Filipino classics but with a creative twist, paying homage to Pinoy family meals while introducing international culinary flairs.
Think of Pork Belly Sisig Bowl, Chicken Tocino Bowl, Bigg Steak Silog, not to mention their vegetarian options and desserts that will leave you wanting for more.
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Their crowd pleasers? Most of the Yelp reviewers are raving about their crispy pork belly adobo and ube cheesecake — made of purple yams. Dessert lovers would rejoice with their crispy turon topped with ube ice cream.
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As one Yelp reviewer, Levi L. puts it, “I think their Tap-Silog is now one of my favorite dishes. Have you ever had a dish so tasty you couldn’t help yourself from making that MMMmmm noise? I made that noise with every bite.”
A taste of the Philippines at the heart of Florida, this Filipino restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and opening early on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Or you can opt to order online.
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