The 17 Best Restaurants In Carmel - Carmel - The Infatuation

"Think about the last couple hours of a wedding reception when the formalities are over and the lame guests have gone home. That’s the energy you’re hit with at Edwin’s Kaona, a family-run, Filipino-Indonesian restaurant. Every Thursday through Sunday, live bands perform next to a white grand piano, so prepare to clap along to songs like “Sweet Caroline” or “Despacito.” It feels like a high-end island restaurant, and the flavor-packed dishes add to the party feel and embrace local ingredients. You’ll see substantial rice, curry, and noodle plates and large entrées like the Pinoy bone-in fried pork chop. Start with the crispy island rolls served with purple yam mashed potatoes, and move on to their signature Balinese fried chicken smothered in herby gravy." - allison green, clara hogan