Askal

It was my first time trying elevated Filipino cuisine, and I was genuinely impressed. The dishes were thoughtfully prepared and served hot, with flavours that felt both refined and comforting. We had the banquette called ‘piyesta’ for 120pp. The service was attentive without being overbearing, and I really appreciated how carefully the staff explained each dish. The atmosphere was equally commendable, welcoming, relaxed, and well put together. Overall, we had a wonderful experience and I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking to explore elevated Filipino food.

Filipino food is often something I associate with my Lola's home cooking, and I've never had the opportunity to experience fine dining with its dishes and flavours at its core, but Askal rose to the challenge and flipped the notion that it can't be sophisticated on its head. The food and drink were beautiful and tasted as good as they looked. Emphasis on the 'and', too; drinks are often an afterthought at fine dining venues, but their selection of cocktails make clear that they're as much a feature on their menu as the dishes themselves. The only thing I could fault was the balance of flavours on one of the dishes we had. The lamb rib kaldereta was melt-in-your-mouth rich, but only had a few pickles on the side; this made it difficult to get through even one rib without more acid to cut the fattiness. I couldn't stomach the thought of dessert by the end of the night--and I'm the sort of person who'd have put my hand up for a dessert banquet menu if they had one! Also worth highlighting is how attentive the staff at Askal are, starting from the very moment you make your booking. Though initially I had misunderstood how to provide credit card details and lost my table, the team at Askal were happy to reinstate my booking and were very helpful and understanding throughout the process of doing so. The service staff are also keen to make sure you enjoy yourself, whether that means guiding you through the menu and making recommendations or making you feel at home with their infectious energy and sense of humour. I hope more Filipino venues are able to take a page from Askal's book and experiment with reinventing classic dishes in a way that strikes a balance between exciting and surprising while also staying true to their identities. (Pictured are a Ginger Highball, Wrong Island Ice Tea, Pare-Garita, oysters with sawsawan mignonette, pandesal with latik butter, chicken inasal skewers, lamb rib kaldereta, garlic rice, and lechon kawali)

We had a quick dinner at Askal before Love Actually Parody. Service was friendly and very efficient they really make sure you are finished by the time you have to go. Now with the food it was AMAZING! We started with the bread and butter thingy 1/2 dozen oysters and the yellow fin tuna. I love a fluffy bread! And the oysters and tuna were super refreshing full of punchy flavours. Very different from other places we have been. Main we shared the steak we dived into it didn’t even take photo. It was cooked to perfection! Tender again punchy flavours not sure what was the sauce it was like a curry kinda taste but so nice! We even had time for dessert! Chocolate ice cream sandwich twist again amazing! Cocktail special was great too and so was the wine list! Can’t wait to go back to try the rest of the menu!

Trying Filipino food with a fusion twist here felt like taking a mini trip to the Philippines — right in the heart of Melbourne 🇵🇭✨ Every dish was packed with flavour, thoughtfully presented, and full of comforting yet exciting surprises. You can really taste the balance between tradition and creativity in each bite. Worth every bite, and definitely a place I’d come back to and recommend to anyone wanting to explore Filipino cuisine in a fresh, modern way.

Had a great dinner at Askal. It was the one restaurant we wanted to try on our trip to Melbourne. This is upmarket Filipino fusion style dining. Our waitress Mix was superb, very friendly and attentive and helped explain the ingredients to all the dishes as they were served. A real asset to the restaurant. And the open kitchen style was nice, although busy the kitchen staff were enjoying their work and worked well together as a team. Would recommend, and go again.

Amazing dinner at Askal! The Piyesta banquet is the way to go—everything was fresh and packed with flavor. The lamb was easily the dish of the night; it was so good it actually made the steak look ordinary by comparison! Great atmosphere and delicious food. We will definitely be back

First Time at Askal — and Definitely Not the Last! We visited Askal for the first time and tried their Express Lunch — an amazing way to get a taste of their elevated Filipino dishes. We chose the Mushroom Sisig, Chicken Inasal, and the Grilled Flathead — all beautifully presented and packed with bold, balanced flavours. Each dish felt familiar yet refreshingly modern. You also get to choose between jasmine or garlic rice, which is a nice touch — I went with garlic rice (because, obviously!), and it paired perfectly with everything. We couldn’t resist trying the oysters, and wow — so fresh and flavorful, I can still taste them. Chef’s kiss! But the unexpected standout? The Kare-Kare donut. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and filled with that rich, savoury peanut sauce — it sounds unusual, but trust me, it totally works in the most flavourful way. Creative, comforting, and delicious.. A brilliant twist on a Filipino favourite. For dessert, we shared the Buko Pandan, and honestly, it’s the best one I’ve had yet — creamy, refreshing, and just the right amount of sweetness. Overall, the experience was fantastic from start to finish. The flavors were bold, creative, and comforting all at once. Highly recommend Askal — and we’ll definitely be back!

First time at Askal last night for our yearly staff dinner. The set menu.. Excellent! The pandesal is better than any pandesal I’ve tasted here in Melbourne.. margarita Mansi, askal flakes , the pulburon better than goldilocks… Kare Kare doughnut,… such a good experience..good service… fine ambience … modern Filipino food , makes me proud to see amazing talent and creativity ..Pinoy pride … highly recommended…