The AAPI-Owned Restaurants That Inspire Tadhana Chef Frances Tariga
Where do chefs and restaurateurs go and, more importantly, where do they love to eat? In Resy Regulars, we ask Resy chefs and industry folks to tell us where they’re regulars.
For Frances Tariga, the chef and owner of Lower East Side Filipino tasting-menu restaurant Tadhana, it’s all about supporting her community. Although her groundbreaking restaurant is temporarily closed while she searches for a larger new space, she’s currently in the Philippines, helping open other restaurants throughout the country. And she plans to reopen Tadhana later this year.
When she’s in New York, the spots she frequents most are mainly owned by friends, mentors, and people whom she admires in an industry that has a tendency to be cutthroat. Supporting other Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)-owned businesses, in particular, is vital, she says.
“We’re very, very few. I come from the third world, and sometimes it’s a scarcity mindset, and you’re in survival mode all the time,” Tariga says. “I feel like we have to uplift each other more.”
With that in mind, we sat down to talk to her about the AAPI-owned restaurants in New York that she visits most.
Resy Regulars
1. Mori
Soho
“It’s always great to visit and support and catch up with my chef friends while they’re working behind the counter. The chefs are all seasoned powerhouses; they always have impeccable service.”
2. Kisa
Lower East Side
3. 87 Ludlow
Lower East Side
4. Bangkok Supper Club
Meatpacking District
“What I like the most is their modern take on Thai cuisine, which still has an emphasis on elevated ingredients and bold, fiery flavors that really hit the spot. It’s like taking a quick trip to Bangkok without leaving New York, as they reference. I love that it feels like a celebration of Thai cuisine, and they have an excellent cocktail program, too.”
5. Tradisyon
Midtown
“Chef Anton Dayrit and Joey Chanco opened this place right before the pandemic. I saw how they worked hard and on every visit, the food kept getting better and better.
“Tradisyon’s Filipino food is top-notch. I actually always order from here on DoorDash — actually, almost every day of the week. It’s where I go when I’m craving Filipino comfort food that’s done right and feels like a warm hug from home. I really admire their dedication to authentic recipes, and I love bringing friends here to show off Pinoy cuisine. It’s always a hit!”
Walk-ins only. Tradisyon is currently located inside Urban Hawker on 50th Street.
