Words by Lynnie Mundy
www.panalo.co.uk
Where Family and Flavour Meet.
In the ever-changing culinary landscape of central Hove, Panalo Filipino stands out as a delightful addition to Church Street’s restaurant scene. This family-run gem offers authentic Filipino cuisine, along with an injection of fun with incorporating the Filipino favourite pastime karaoke!
The heart of Panalo lies in its family roots. The Madren family, Junjun, Aita, Melissa, and Ava—nurses from the Philippines—have made Brighton their home. Their dream was to share their native flavours and cultural heritage. Alongside Junjun’s wife, Cindy, and Ava’s husband, Mario (both head chefs), they’ve created a warm and inviting space offering an exciting menu of dishes.
Discover Brighton were delighted to receive an invite to the official opening, ribbons were cut, cheers went out as the team opened up to the public with warm and inviting hospitality.
We felt like part of the family in no time. The restaurant has been totally refitted to give an authentic Filipino vibe with a state of the art karaoke room at the back of the restaurant which was already packed with eager singers cheering and encouraging each other when we arrived!
Settling back into the quieter dining area, having never tried Filipino food, we decided to ask the friendly waiting staff for their recommendations, so we started with Pinoy BBQ—tender pork skewers in a tangy marinade, which were delicious and left me wishing I had ordered more but then the Salt and Pepper Squid, with its light, fresh batter, was equally delightful. We then ventured into tradition with Sinigang Na Hipon—a tangy tart broth teeming with fresh veggies and colossal prawns. Imagine tom yum soup, but even better.
The star, though, is Chicken Inasal—a juicy grilled chicken infused with Filipino flavours like citrus, lemongrass, and garlic, served with perfectly cooked sticky rice and possibly the best sweet potato fries I have ever had.
Then for the karaoke. I would have had the whole restaurant running out of the door holding their ears but my partner picked up the mic to The Bangles. He was cheered and encouraged but thrilled customers enjoying the revellers.
Panalo Filipino left us with full bellies, huge smiles, and newfound Filipino friends. Highly recommended!
Whether you’re a local or a visitor, Panalo Filipino promises an unforgettable dining experience.
