Cebuana Filipino Store

While it may be lacking in décor/​ambiance, and its grocery selection is very limited, the lunch itself is amazing.
I went with my ex who is half Filipino. I never saw his face light up like it did when he tasted Maria’s pancit and pork lumpia.
I’m looking forward to purchasing Maria’s cook book so that I can make my own flailing attempts at Pinoy cooking!

Great Experience! I’ve lived in Austin for 8 months, live 5 minutes from this store, and this was my first visit! Shame on me! ha
I have never been to the Philippines, but I felt the environment was very authentic. The owners are doing it the right way. The service was very down-​to-​earth, and me and my roommate were the only two in the restaurant for the longest time, enjoying our sandwich while conversing with Maria and her husband Fred.
I purchased the cookbook, but not before asking a hundred questions, of which Maria and Fred answered all without hesitation. I look forward to being able to return and introduce this new diamond in the rough to my other roommate.
If you’re really into Martial Arts this is also a great spot for you. I’m personally not but both my roommates are and Fred is highly versed in the Martial Arts. He answered all of my roommates questions. I highly recommend Cebuana Filipino store. Hopefully the next time I go it will be busier. I’m willing to wait for great food. I just hope this place gets the public recognition it deserves. I’ll let you judge the food for yourself, without any further input. Thanks!
Robert

We always love the food here. It’s very authentic, delicious and inexpensive. I am so greatful after i move here in Austin to find this store.
The owners both husband and wife are very friendly and nice. And what i like most when i eat here is that they play Asian movies or sometimes do free karaōke. I tell you these really make my day full of fun. I even recommend this store to my friends and they love it too.

It is not often that a foodservice establishment has a fairy tale story with its background and theme. OK, so get this: the couple that runs this joint boasts a husband from Philly and a wife from the Philippine Islands. So… if you want to make a fusion Cheesesteak, it follows that the name Phyllipino cheesesteak would be spot on and clever! I wish I could have that sort of story for my restaurant to-​be. Hindsight bias…
Now, the main attraction: the cheesesteak. There was a little but too much cream sauce in proportion to the beef, but the flavor was pretty good. It was savory, but I would have preferred a touch more actual cheese flavor. I did like the hint of unique spices though. They also throw in a good amount of peppers in your sandwich.
The bread: it is a nice soft French roll with a slightly chewy crust. Good choice.
The waffle fries were freshly fried, and I like that they use a small fryer to keep batches fresh and made-​to-​order. They were crisp and piping hot. The fries got a nice seasoning of some reddish spice.
This couple is doing it right: mom and pop style. The grub is unique, the offerings are pretty dang authentic, and there is an abundance of cheap Chinese films for sale. I would expect nothing less of a straight-​up Asian joint… though this one does give the slightest bit of Philly, to boot. Very different, but fantastic fare. No frills, fo sho’. Did you see my Philly comin’ out there?

We showed up for the $ 1 day Groupon deal. It was the Philippino cheese steak. They had a clever play on words name for it, but I don’t remember. Turns out it was sliced meat with a sauce that reminded me of Russian dressing. The roll was soft and tasty. Not sure how I felt about it overall though. She made some good waffle fries. I wasn’t blown away, and had already been fighting heart burn so this was just extra fuel on the fire.
They have a rather spartan grocery, but I could imagine if you’re looking for the taste of the Philippines, they had a lot of items I haven’t seen much of anywhere else. Also a selection of Asian DVDs for rent/​purchase.
It’s a real mom and pop joint, and maybe I’ll have a long lunch where we can drive back over to East Oltorf and try something different.

Found this little place online and decided to check it out. We had the $ 5.50 combo lunch and the food was very authentic homemade Filipino food. The lady working the counter was very nice. I enjoyed the pansit canton and tinola. The taro bubble tea was the best I’ve had in a long time. Great flavor! We also splurged and got the halo halo. It was a great and made me miss my vacations in the Philippines.
If you’re wanting to try different but tasty type of Asian food, check this place out!

If you want a taste of the Philippines but do not want that 22 hour plane ride, then perhaps this is the place for you. The food here is wonderful and very Filipino. I had some lumpia shanghai and kare-​kare which were cooked to perfection. The prices for the food itself and the items in the store are more than reasonable.
The store itself is a small little hole in the wall without anything in particular calling onto it. When you enter the store, you will find a cafeteria style dinning accommodations with a TV that is usually playing an Asian movie. I am surprised, however, that I have never walked into the place with Wa Wa Wee on the television, which is different for a Filipino establishment.
In the back of the store you will find some Filipino only items. The Cebuana Filipino Store seems to make sure not to include items you might be able to find in a «generic» Asian grocery so do not think that you can walk in here and purchase everything you need to make Pork Sisig or something. They do, however, have the quintessential Pinoy products such as calamansi juice, mung beans, toyomansi, Pinoy snacks and they like.
The only disappointment I would have here is the selection of groceries, but the store is small and I am not sure how much of a market there is in Austin for all things Filipino.
Overall, I was very pleased with my experiences here.

First time there. Horrible bubble tea.
I got the taro with milk and pearls.
It tasted like cereal. Chunks of ice in it and the pearls were bloated and tasted like they were days old. The place didnt have very many store items. Owner was very nice though. Will never go there again.

I kept on hearing about a Filipino restaurant and store near where I lived but I never had the chance to go until now. My co-​workers are throwing a party celebration Asian American Pacific Islander month. So I picked up a few things to celebrate. Then I bought some frozen lumpia which is the Philippine version of eggrolls and I’m going to cook it before the party.
I also bought some sweet biscuits which I want to share with my co-​workers. I would also bought the coconut juice, desserts (such as halo halo), boba drinks and many more.
I decided to take food home and I had the adobo, lumpia and pancit which are traditional food.
There’s a small dining area, DVD’s you can rent and small grocery section. I wish there was more selection and it was bigger.
Besides the food was good that I want to come back. It’s not as good as the Filipino restaurants back in California but this will do. I was actually torn between giving it three or four stars.
Just so everyone knows, this is not a three stars bad review. It’s more of a good review than anything.

Prices are reasonable when it comes to the lunch menu. I usually ask for extra rice and I don’t get charge extra. You can also call in an order and will be ready for pick up. They also do catering.
They also have DVDs for rent but unfortunately not much Filipino movie selection. Its more Japanese, Korean and Chinese movies. It’s disapppointing but oh well, I’m there more for the food.
Overall its a great place, a jewel in South Austin and I love coming here. Friendly staff and I always come back every week, at least twice a week.

One of my kung fu brothers mentioned he got some sweet butterfly swords here, so we rallied a few students after class on Saturday to check it out. They had an entire wall of martial arts movies for rent (I dropped $ 40 on DVD rentals alone!) and when he found out where we were from, the owner put on a kung fu movie for us.
While waiting for everyone to brave rainy South Austin pre-​marathon traffic, I got a bubble tea. I’m not a huge fan of bubble tea (the bubbles freak me out!) but this was good — it was like a blueberry shake. We browsed the staffs and knives and the owner told us he’d have more martial arts stuff in the next month or so. Austin is badly in need of a good weapons store.
Finally with the group assembled, we ordered lunch. I got some kind of pork dish with pineapple, and chicken — it was AWESOME. Great flavor, super moist, generous portion — I was happily stuffed and perfectly content to hang out and watch movie for a while. My friend got Halo-​Halo for dessert with PURPLE ICE CREAM and it was so good. I kept stealing bites of it when he wasn’t looking. And then when he was.
I will definitely be back here to try other items on their menu… and of course to rent more movies!

Okay, I’ve been back numerous times and have finally tried the kitchen and the desserts. They make the absolute best Bubble Tea I’ve had in town — Taro is by far the best way to go. They’ve also stocked some excellent pork steam buns that are the perfect light lunch.

This used to be my favorite place to get bubble tea in Austin. that was when Liz and Gerard were running it. They sold it back in November or so and now the bubble tea is just average. Momoko’s bubble tea is far better

VERY tasty homemade authentic Filipino food. Fresh made daily at very reasonable price. Very nice and friendly people. Small shop. But who cares as long as food is good and cleanly made.
Please go there once and try. I guarantee you won’t regret it.
Soup is my favorite! Yummmmy!
(Remember, they close on Mondays)
Update: The owner/​chef was changed and it it not as good anymore. Just average now.

Never had this type of food before and didn’t know what to expect going in. It was buffet-​like but you choose 2 items and get rice with that. The owner was very friendly and let us try a little bit of everything before deciding, since were unfamiliar with the cuisine. I loved everything I tried!
If you’re a little adventurous and don’t mind the not-​very-​good décor (reminds me of some sad barely-​there convenience stores you might see in small poor towns on the interstate) then you might just like it.

I went to Cebuana Filipino Store yesterday after reading all the postive feedbacks here in Unilocal.My American BF loved the Halo Halo and thought of bringing his Brother and Nephew in our next visit. Her Banana Turon reminded me so much of the simple pleasures I had back in my hometown. One product I really hope to find in her shelf is the Philippine version of NESTEA ice tea.
The lunch was great, got to meet new poeple, we travelled all the way from North and it was worth it.

Really good food. You get a big plate for like $ 5. And the lady that owns the place used to be Ms. Philippines or something. She’s really friendly. If you go there, you should try some halo halo (dessert stuff). They also have a small selection of groceries.

I’m so glad this place is here!
Whenever we first moved here, I was convinced that I would have to have my mom ship me Filipino treats from California. Even when we were living in NYC, we had to take two trains out to a certain neighborhood in Queens to get my paws on this kind of stuff. I had no idea that Austin had enough of a Filipino population to have at least one solid Filipino store.
First off, it’s small. Yes, I know. It has two aisles of goodies. However, they have all the basics. I love how one entire aisle is devoted to snacks. That means this place is fo’ reals. Filipinos like to snack, and this place knows. I go here only intending to buy some polvoron and a bag of shrimp chips, but then I walk out with four other snacks in addition to the one I came for. Neat.
Also, they have some the basic groceries: soy sauce, fish sauce, shrimp paste, noodles, some just add water packets. You know, all the stuff you need to fake making Filipino food. (That last comment goes for me, at least. *ahem*)
The people here are really sweet, too. The first time I went here, the owner was talking about some beauty pageant she was going to enter. She won, btw! The last time I was here was a late Sunday afternoon. All the shades were drawn, so when I walked in, the little bell tinkled and the women who were sitting there gossiping jumped up and looked sharp. I was all, «Girl, relax! Have your halo halo.»
I haven’t actually had their ready made food. I’ll have to try that next time. I can’t believe I forgot to order some halo halo, given how fucking hot is is around here.
P. S. They have maiz y queso ice cream. Um, yay!

Let me just say that my mother’s side of the family is filled with raging Filipinos. That said, I have the authority to tell you that this place is legit. Verrrrry Filipino.
A large group of Filipino women congregate here. They wear expensive clothes, mix fashion trends, and gossip fiercely. Last time, a big group was planning a beauty pageant of some sort — Filipino women LOVE beauty pageants.
Another sign this place is authentic: they hired a white girl to do all the work while the owner sits and gossips (they’re all very friendly, though).
There’s not much to the «store.» Just a small isle with random food. They have all the necessary candy, though. :) The boba (or «bubble tea» as I hear its called in Texas) is awesome. Try the Taro. There’s also a little buffet — the choices are slim, but good and authentic.
Its in the same strip mall as the 888 on Oltorf. Beware of Oltorf. No one knows how to drive. You WILL find yourself cussing in the parking lot.
Vegetarians: There are no vegetarians in the Philippines. Don’t try eating here unless you are getting boba and dessert.
$ 0.35 charge added to purchases made under $ 5 on a credit card.

I’m not sure how long this place has been around, but I first learned about it at the Austin American Filipino festival last fall. It was at this marvelous little fest that I discovered the tasty dessert sensation that is halo halo.
Halo halo is basically shaved ice with a cream or condensed milk, tapioca balls and other goodies, with ice cream on top. I chose the taro-​flavored ice cream that is bright purple, and was quite satisfied with my choice. I thankfully picked up one of their business cards at the festival and followed it to this little shop where the halo halo was just as good this time around. I have the feeling that no matter how sad I’m feeling one of these sweet little babies would pick me right up.
They also served several lunch dishes for just $ 5.50 for a plate, (choices of entrée and rice), have bubble tea, and fun Filipino imported goods in their shop to purchase.
Plus, the woman working was super nice. She made me laugh when she changed the Filipino television show cause she didn’t want to «torture» us.
Show this little place some business AND get yourself a treat too.