Kusina Ni Tess
Filipino restaurant · Tenderloin ·
Generous portions of Filipino standards served buffet-style
Generous portions of Filipino standards served buffet-style
"This weekday-only turo-turo counter between Union Square and Tenderloin is our go-to for a hefty breakfast or lunch in the area. Expect trays of perfectly fried lumpia, garlic rice topped with fried eggs, and saucy adobo wings that’ll hold you over until tomorrow. Dishes rotate daily, and the friendly staff seemingly never tires of giving out samples. Most people take their order to go, so there’s usually at least one free seat for you and your cafeteria-style tray." - gabi moskowitz, julia chen 1, patrick wong
"This weekday-only turo-turo counter wedged between Union Square and Tenderloin should be at the top of your list when you’re in the area and need a solid breakfast or lunch that’s likely to fill you up for the rest of the day. Portions are huge—a plate of chicken adobo, for example, comes with six bulky wings, a half-plateful of garlic rice, and an over-easy egg draped on top. Everything more than gets the job done, even with a few minor flaws like some dry bites of chicken and lumpia that could use a bit more filling. video credit: Patrick Wong But with most dishes clocking in at less than $15, it’s a great value. The menu changes daily and the set-up is similar to what you’d expect at a cafeteria. Everything you pick out gets piled onto a tray. For the unfamiliar, the staff is more than happy to explain what dishes are available and provide samples, so don’t be shy about asking a lot of questions—it’s a part of the fun of eating here." - Patrick Wong
"Perhaps the friendliest and most delicious of the city’s Filipino steam table spots, Kusina Ni Tess is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s got a daily changing menu that you should check if you’re craving something specific — say, chicken adobo (available every day except Monday). Traditional breakfast silog plates are available all day, every day, and most dishes are priced at about $11 for an average order." - Dianne de Guzman
"If you’re looking for traditional, homey Filipino food lovingly dropped from a steam table in San Francisco proper, Kusina Ni Tess is your best bet. Breakfast silogs (meat, egg, and garlic rice) are served all day, and the service is some of the friendliest in town. In pre-COVID times, you could even sample the daily specials — a rotating mix of classics like chicken adobo, laing (taro leaves in coconut milk), and picadillo (ground pork stewed with potatoes and tomatoes) — before committing. There are few places in downtown San Francisco where you can get this much food for less than $12." - Dianne de Guzman
"I started my trip with a signature silog ($13) featuring tocino with fragrant garlic rice and a fried egg that hit all the right sweet‑and‑sour notes and tender-yet-bark-like texture, and I’m glad I added a side of piping-hot lumpia ($5) whose paper-thin skins were shatteringly crisp — the proprietor’s kindness made the whole experience a lovely start to my visit." - Paolo Bicchieri
