On our 1st installment of #KULINARYATRAVELS Subway Series we go across town to the West Side to Tradisyon NYC located at 790 9th Avenue, in the heart of NY’S Hells Kitchen neighborhood.

This Filipino fast casual restaurant opened right in the beginning of the pandemic last year on March 16, 2020. At the helm is Chef Anton Dayrit who honed his skills at ABC Kitchen under the tutelage of the famed James Beard Award winning chef Dan Kluger. His second in command is Sous Chef Bianca Vicente from Enderun Colleges in Manila. The 2 have previously worked together at ABC Cocina and Mighty Bowl before launching this new concept together. To complete the team is their Front of the House manager and business partner Joey Chanco who was once the marketing coordinator for the Philippine Department of Tourism here in New York.

As I entered Tradisyon for the first time you can’t help but feel nostalgic for the ambience that the place offers. The decors and motive are reminiscent of an old ancestral home in the provinces where our lola’s would cook all day. The wall is decorated with photos of Chef Dayrit’s family reflecting on Tradisyon, hence the name of the place. One of the major influences for creating a Filipino menu was inspired by Chef’s favorite Pinoy dishes eaten away from home.

His version of the Barrio Fiesta “Kare Kare” is a definite must try when visiting here. His Beef Kaldereta which was by far my favorite dish here is a tribute to his mother Linda’s cooking.

Their version of Sisig was probably the best I’ve tried so far here in the city, right balance of fat, crunch, spice and acidity to blend well with the pork and egg yolk.

The “Adobong Pusit” or squid adobo was the last dish I tried and the saying that you always save the best for last is quite accurate. The richness from the squid ink coats the rice perfectly and the tenderness of the squid along with the spice of the chilis was just what the doctor ordered for this rainy Friday afternoon.

Joey Chanco was kind enough to give me their famous Calamansi tart as I packed the rest of my rice bowls to go and I am currently enjoying it while I write this article.

Tradisyon NYC thank you for being part of the NYC food scene and for helping to bring Philippine Food and Culture to the map… #KulinaryaTravels Subway Series will return next week.