Kuma Inn

Filipino restaurant · Lower East Side

Kuma Inn

Filipino restaurant · Lower East Side

113 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002

Highlights

Filipino-Thai small plates, BYOB, cash only, cozy spot

113 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002 Get directions

google.com

@kumainn_uminom

$$ · Menu

@eater

Kuma Inn Chef King Phojanakong Has Died - Eater NY

"Beloved chef and owner King Phojanakong of Kuma Inn on the Lower East Side for 15 years, died on January 2 at the age of 54; Grub Street reports it was from a rare infection of the brain and nervous system." - Melissa McCart

https://ny.eater.com/2023/1/4/23538754/king-phojanakong-dead-kuma-inn-chef

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@chopped

King Phojanakong, Executive Chef, Chopped after the entrée, Episode 1.10, March 17, 2009

Chefs from Chopped on Food Network - New York

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@grubstreet

Chef King Phojanakong Dies at 54

"In mid-2003, he opened Kuma Inn in a tucked-away Lower East Side location. This was the height of the tapas craze, and Phojanakong’s small plates combined Thai, Filipino, and Chinese influences. In a review published a few months after Kuma Inn opened, New York called it 'a true destination restaurant' that 'takes the tapas concept someplace new, with big flavors and even bigger ideas about how to combine them.'" - Chris Crowley

https://www.grubstreet.com/2023/01/chef-king-phojanakong-dies-at-54.html

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Viet Fili Foodies

Google

My 🇵🇭 sweet tooth, like many others, is strong 💪 especially when it comes to the ingredients I know dearly. Take this coconut 🥥 and lemongrass infused panna cotta. The tropical 🌴 flavors I grew up with stands tall next to the creaminess of the sweet 🇮🇹 custard 🍮 a small insight into a 🇵🇭 kitchen.

Google

Cozy little spot for Filipino/Asian style bites. Delicious and quick service, and cash only!Inside the decorations are welcoming and whimsical, and the staff is warm as well. Although a bit hard to find, signage isn't as clear from the street as it is on the 3rd floor. Tell your friends about Kuma Inn!

Kevin Liu

Google

The Asian tapas was excellent and the portion sizes were surprisingly good for tapas. Anything with the Chinese sausage was a great choice. The bring your own wine policy was also extremely convenient to keep the alcohol costs lower. It's a hole-in-the-wall restaurant and a little price-y, but service and atmosphere was spectacular. Definitely recommend this place, especially for dates.

Melanie Rosen

Google

This place was great. You climb up all these stairs to get to the restaurant. It is a small place. I don't remember what I ordered since my Filipino friend ordered everything but they come out in small dishes. The service was great. I love the BYOB and the staff kept my beer in the refrigerator so it did not get warm.

Dominic De Martini

Google

I had a great meal here. The second floor location is a little hard to find but that adds to the charm. You have to walk up a seedy looking staircase which is marked on the lintel at street level. It’s not a big restaurant and the service is lovely and helpful. The food is delightful. The prices are a bit high considering it’s “tapas style” however I should say that it’s more food than a tapas plate but less food than a normal entree. The shrimp was KILLER (good). If I’m ever in the area again I’ll come back for sure

Andi

Google

Very nice staff, good menu options, the bottom of the salmon was burnt black, and prices were a bit high considering the small portions.

Eden N

Google

Filipino/Thai fusion cuisine with very attentive waiters in a hidden spot. The entrance is nondescript, next to a doorway vertically marked "Kuma Inn" (there's a bouncer next to it). Dishes are reasonably priced, if not on the small side, and our waiter was great in recommending different things to try. Food wasn't bad - nothing to write home about - but a cool spot to check out that's a little different.

Rachel Antonio

Google

Kuma Inn was one of the first Filipino fusion restaurants I tried when Filipino food was really coming up in NYC. It turned out to be a huge disappointment. We made reservations but weren’t seated until an hour later. Mind, you we ended up eating close to 11 PM! The place was packed and it was a real fire hazard as we were hanging out in the hallway. The plates are small. Some tasty, some bland. Most you can make in your own home. We ordered a bunch, were still hungry so we ordered some more. Then the other tapas plates got bigger. So the sizing and price is so inconsistent. Wasn’t impressed. This is BYOB and for some reason people go crazy for this place. Don’t get their coconut rice. It’s hard as a rock and still wrapped in cellophane.