Naty Filipino American Food

Naty’s Kitchen Filipino Food in Maunakea Market in downtown Chinatown, Honolulu. And wow is that masarap-​sarap! The Pinakbet has just the right amount of bitterness-​to-​savory ratio, and the pork adobo has just the right amount of vinegar-​to-​shoyu ratio that’s well-​permeated into the tender large cubes of fatty-​good pork shoulder cuts, with a pronounced accent of peppercorn and bay leaf that you can really
all was a winner.

Order the proven: Pinakbet, Pork Adobo and Dinuguan. Naty’s Kitchen makes da’ best!

After a marathon of Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern, the husband and I were ready for a third world food adventure with sketchy surroundings and exotic food.
Natys at Maunakea Marketplace was as close as we could get. Roaches skittering across the floor, people speaking in other languages, dim lighting and an open spread of food stuffs that couldn’t possibly pass inspection? Check!
Naty’s has a huge selection of food things and desserts, really nice ladies serving, and I wound up ordering the very non-​exotic pork gisantes and chicken curry with rice. I also ordered an extra bowl of rice (for the man who was off pretending he was in the Filippines and searching for things made of blood) and it all came out to $ 8. Not bad! Though in a place like that I don’t think one could charge much more.
The food was absolutely delicious, exactly how I like my Filippino food.
However.
The food was COLD.
Was I supposed to ask them to heat it up? Was I supposed to take it home and heat it up myself? Being in as much of a starvation state one can muster while living in a first world country, I ate my cold food despite serious misgivings about festering bacteria and vile foodborne illness.
I then felt ill for the rest of the day over the cold meat I consumed from the cockroach marketplace. This was purely in my mind as I didn’t actually get ill.
Would I eat there again?
Yes, yes I would. But I will take the food to go and nuke it before consumption for my psychological well being.

After shopping in Chinatown for groceries, my cousin and I were hungry and wanted something quick to eat so we checked out the Maunakea Marektplace Food Court, which is predominantly Filipino fast food.
I pretty much patronize Nestor’s and Aje’s but none of them had chicken curry, which Naty’s had. It looked like a fresh batch that just came out so I had a 1-​choice plate and a side order of pancit bihon:
Chicken Curry (²⁄₅)
This was disappointing. Definitely looks better than it tastes. First of all, the chicken was overcooked and the gravy was too runny. I did appreciate the large chunks of veggies and potatoes which were NOT overcooked. But sadly, this did not make the grade.
Pancit Bihon (⁴⁄₅)
Flavorful and with large chunks of meat, shiitake mushroom and other veggies. It was NOT mushy and cooked very well. I understand it’s fast food but would have been a perfect rating should it have been piping HOT, which I prefer.
Overall, an average rating of 3-​stars. This stall is quite large with an extensive selection of various Filipino dishes, deep fried meats and whole fish as well as sweet desserts. I may have come here on a bad day but very promising. Will most likely come back and try other foods.
I shouldn’t be alarmed that there were about 4 Filipinas working but only 1 was at the counter assisting customers. There was another one chatting on her cell phone only to ignore me and a couple of other customers. The other 2 were working in the kitchen but checking out the food line and staring at me. This place could sure use some guidance in customer service, but then again this is Chinatown.

It’s nice to see that a business that was marked as closed is open for business! This is the case for Naty’s Kitchen Filipino food (formerly Naty’s Filipino American Food). I bumped into this location by accident while shopping. Located inside the Maunakea Marketplace in Chinatown. The Aunties greeted everyone and I was instantly drawn to them! Naty’s offers over 6 entrees including an assortment of fried fish. As well as a dessert selections. I’m Filipino and I’m very particular of eateries and restaurants that serve up Filipino food. So, I gave this place a shot and I was expecting the usual disappointment to follow. However, the «new «Naty’s Kitchen EXCEEDS my expectations. I spoke to the ladies and found out that most are Ilocanos. Does that make a difference? YES! Ilocano style cooking is comfort food because everything is made from fresh items and the food hasn’t morphed from outside influences to please the non Fililpino palate. Additionally, Illocano cooking style isn’t rush style cooking. The Aunties tell me that the food is made fresh and not recycled (I’m giving the benefit of the doubt). But I can tell if food has been recycled: it doesn’t look fresh. I’ve been a regular customer and each time the food has been Fili-​fantabously ono!
Let me mention one entrée for the die-​hard Filipino conisseuer. The pinakbet incorporates summer vegetables simmered with cube cut pork. The sabow (sauce) is perfect without the overwhelming smell and taste of bogoong. I’m not a fan of okra but that was changed when served in this entrée! The other is a dessert called bitsu-​bitsu or pitsu-​pitsu. Whatever the exact name it is ONO! This morsels of rice flour and coconut milk, covered in shaved coconut meat brings me back to my younger days as a kid in my parents kitchen! Naty’s Kitchen does not fail in Ilocano style cooking.
Price is fair. The two option meal is $ 6.00 and the portions are appropriate (they don’t skimp out). I left feeling satisfied. If you have that craving for comfort Pinoy Style Naty’s Kitchen is the place to go and they are definitely open for business!
This place is a «go to» for lunch or take out for dinner!
***at this time I’m unsure of business times but I will find out. They are opened Sunday — Saturday***