SERBESA Filipino Kitchen Heads to Market on 8th

Among the new South Bay food hall’s 14 food and retail vendors, will be Khris Astudillo’s SERBESA, a Filipino kitchen concept with a craft beer division under the name Paradise Hills Brewing Company. What Now San Diego recently covered the plans for Paradise Hills Brewing Company, which, like SERBESA, were briefly delayed due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

SERBESA is now back on track and headed soon to Market on 8^th, the 9,000 square-foot food hall that will open in downtown National City.

“I started SERBESA to honor my family using the recipes that my mom taught me. I wanted to do fast-casual, made-to-order, traditional Filipino food, which at the time that I started in April of 2018, no one was doing. Filipino restaurants were either traditional mom and pop shops or Filipino fusion,” Astudillo shared with What Now San Diego. “I wanted to expose people outside of Filipino culture, in places like North Park, to traditional Filipino food.”

SERBESA started doing pop-up events back in April 2018. “What I like to emphasize to everyone who has my food is that SERBESA, Filipino Kitchen grew from the desire to honor my family and my community. SERBESA food and service reflects that desire,” Astudillo continued.

SERBESA takes its name from the Tagalog word for beer and is meant to encapsulate the spirit of a “craft beer bar with Filipino food and hospitality.” Astudillo says he’s particularly excited to realize his dream of opening his own restaurant in the neighborhoods he grew up in. “I’m from San Diego and I grew up in the Paradise Hills community, which being so close to National City, the two communities are inextricably connected. Especially with the large presence of Filipinos in both communities,” he said.

At SERBESA, you’ll be able to sample items like Surf & Turn Lumpia, a dish that won the Sumo Award for best non-poke dish at “I Love Poke Festival 2019.” SERBESA’s recipe deviates from the traditional pork dish by featuring shrimp and chicken. Astudillo also recommends Bistek and Pancit Palabok. Bistek is comprised of beef marinated in soy sauce, citrus, and spices that’s then stir-fried with onions. Pancit Palabok, Astudillo’s personal favorite, is a noodle dish with a pork, shrimp, and egg sauce that’s topped with scallions and chicharrones.

An opening date for Market on 8th has yet to be announced, so you’ll want to follow SERBESA’s social media for updates. And of course check out Paradise Hills Brewing Company as well.