Aje’s Cafe

This is my favorite place to eat Filipino food in Chinatown. Auntie Julie’s best dish is her Pansit Miki Bihon. I love the chicharon bits she tops it off with.

I have passed this stall many, many times when I come to the food court at Maunakea Marketplace and today tried here for the very first time.
I originally came to Chinatown to pick-​up some dim sum from Happy Garden and decided to walk around. It was a mistake to stop by Bread House as the cheesecake made me hungry so I walked to the food court looking for something substantial to eat.
It was about 1pm so many of the places had leftovers and didn’t really find anything good but I bumped into this patron who had pork adobo with rice that looked really, really good. I found the courage to ask the man politely where he got his plate and he advised me Aje’s Café.
Right next door (to the right) of Nestor’s, where they have good food, I immediately saw the pork adobo which had large chunks with pieces of pork skin all curled up. Because I had a heavy breakfast, I opted for the 1-​choice which costs $ 3.50.
The pork adobo was very tender and flavorful. I am fully aware the pork skin is not good for me but I couldn’t pass on this and wolfed it down. The next thing I know my tummy is very happy!
I found myself another great place for fast-​food Filipino food in Chinatown…
Apologies as I forgot to take a photo before eating. I was too hungry and only remembered just when I was about done. I’ll make sure to post my plate the next time I come here.
NOTE: Cash only

If you want good Filipino food, made the right way, don’t go anywhere else but here.
This place has HANDS DOWN the BEST Filipino food on the island. It’s located in the Maunakea Marketplace Food Court. Okay, this place is not the prettiest place to eat, BUT the food here is PHENOMENAL. They sell some of the same things the other Filipino places do in the food court, but theirs is the best. It’s not spectacular. They don’t do anything crazy or different with the food. It’s ‘just right.’ It reminds me of the way my father used to cook, and before discovering Aje’s, nothing would compare to a good filipino home-​cooked meal. until now.
Everything is cooked simply and done well. Meat dishes are always tender. Rice is always sticky but not too wet. Everything from the pork guisantes (a pork dish simmered with peas and bell peppers) to the tortang talong (grilled eggplant and fried with egg) is seasoned well. It tastes the way its supposed to taste and nothing else compromises its simple flavors. It’s cuz ingredients are always fresh and the food is made fresh daily from the produce sold in Chinatown.
My personal favorites:
Nilagang Baka: Beef soup made with cabbage. Sounds so simple because it is. She really gets the beef flavor to permeate throughout the soup and the meat is so tender it melts in your mouth.
Tortang Talong: Honestly, it’s just grilled eggplant, smashed, and fried in egg, but I can’t get it to taste like that at home! What’s the secret?
Pork Guisantes: Probably the most popular filipino dish. Pork stewed with green peas and bell peppers. If you’ve had this before, you haven’t had Aje’s.
Laing: Taro leaves simmered in coconut milk with spices. First of all, anything with coconut milk is good, but this classic dish is sooooo good.
The prices are cheap $ 3 for one choice and $ 7 for 3 choices.