“ It had been a few years since I last visited New York City, so when I reunited with some of my closest friends and former coworkers, they insisted we try Ihawan. Nestled in an alley, the restaurant's unassuming facade belies the culinary treasures within. As we stepped inside, the warm, welcoming atmosphere enveloped us, enhanced by the friendly smiles of the staff. We eagerly ordered a feast of Filipino delicacies: the crispy lechon kawali, its golden-brown skin crackling with each bite, revealing tender, juicy pork that practically melted in our mouths. The kare-kare, a rich and savory oxtail stew, was a delight, its peanut sauce thick and luscious, perfectly complemented by the vibrant vegetables that added both color and crunch. And then there were the lumpia shanghai, golden spring rolls filled with a savory mixture of meat and vegetables. Each bite offered a satisfying crunch, followed by a burst of flavor, especially when dipped in the accompanying sweet and sour sauce. Every dish was a celebration of Filipino cuisine, and sharing this meal with friends I hadn't seen in years made it all the more special. I wholeheartedly recommend Ihawan to anyone craving authentic Filipino food--it's a hidden gem that promises a delightful experience. ”

“ Shoutout to the staff because we had a large party (nearly 30 people) and they were all so kind and patient with their hospitality. This spot is known for their Kamayan style dinner and one of the best priced options I could find for a large group. My partner is Filipino as well as many of his friends and we organized a large group dinner here to celebrate his birthday and the process was pretty easy. They have different priced platters that you can choose between. The food was quite delicious and there was a nice beautiful variety and spread that everyone really enjoyed. The one downside we had was that it was not in the traditional style we had expected. Typically, the way it is set up, is that the bamboo leaves would cover the table all the way with all the food laid out. You can think of it as a long rectangular table with food that you can just grab. However, since the pandemic, they had to change certain procedures including the kamayan setup. Now the kamayan comes in separate platters. I was a bit disappointed at the change, but the food was still beautiful and delicious. I think that what we were missing was a way to connect all the tables together so that everyone could face each other and talk to everyone instead of being separated. I would still love to come back another day and try individual items! Everyone seemed to really enjoy the food and even had some leftovers. Excited to return someday! ”

“ I thought this place was pretty good! The food was definitely flavorful but I was in lovvvvve with the garlic rice. I couldn't finish all my food but I did get the bbq chicken with rice and it was soooo good. I definitely see myself going back especially for the breakfast menu. The place seems like you're at an authentic Filipino restaurant and gives a hole in the wall vibe. ”

“ Ihawan in Woodside, Queens, is a must-visit for fans of Filipino cuisine, especially their standout dish, lechon. The crispy skin and tender, flavorful pork make it an unforgettable experience, perfectly capturing the essence of traditional Filipino roast pork. Beyond the lechon, Ihawan offers a variety of classic Filipino dishes that feel like a home-cooked meal. The cozy atmosphere and welcoming staff complete the experience, making it the perfect spot to satisfy your craving for authentic Filipino flavors. ”

“ Amazing Filipino cuisine is being serve here. It's one of the best Filipino restaurants in this Little Manila of NY neighborhood. You can't go wrong with their Kamayan option. There a big improvement in service for this popular package. It comes now in ready pack, easy to put on or remove from the dining table. We tried their Kamayan package for 6 people. Quantity is right . We had 2 dishes on the side as add-on, the sinigang soup and the lechon sisig. The combination is just perfect . We came in busy Sunday afternoon so I called in 15 minutes arrival to make sure of a reserved table, they don't recommend but what's the harm if calling in. We still get our table ready when we arrived. Food and drinks are delicious and our cravings has been satisfied. Our dining experience was superb. They met our expectations and was. It reappointed. The service is top notch! ”

“ Came as part of my 30 city 26 day food road trip. Enjoyable experience with a friendly staff. Ordered the Sizzling sisig (grilled pork ears, mouth, and belly w/ sautéed onions and peppers in hot skillet with garlic fried rice). It was aggressively spiced which I loved. Heavily minced served in a skillet. The pork ear I believe gave it a slightly gelatinous mouthfeel similar to okra around the meat. Otherwise it was very good. ”

“ My table ordered the pork bbq meal, chicken bbq meal and pork belly meal. I ordered the sizzling pork. This restaurant was such a comforting and nice little establishment with great service. The food was really good and flavorful, large portions and great pricing. Would definitely recommend and come back! ”

“ The Kamayan is such a steal. There's a lot of food and it comes out to less than $20 per person before tax and tip if you follow the amount of people for each Kamayan. There were a lot of parties getting it when we went. All of the different meats were delicious. Halabos na hipon was overdone as the shell stuck to the shrimp, but the garlic flavor was good. Lechon was super cripsy but also had a lot of fat. Loved the savory peanut sauce from the kare kare. The meat was so tender. Such a great pairing with the rice. Daing bangus was unexpectedly good but on the drier side. The vinegar vegetable mix on the side paired well with in. Tocino and bbq chicken were tasty. Eggplant was just roasted eggplant. Could've used more salt or some type of seasoning. The soup was interesting. I've never had a tamarind based soup. It wasn't bad, but I'm not a big fan of sour soups. Lots of pork and vegetables in it. They do go heavy on the rice, so expect to have a lot of it left over. We got lumpia on the side too. I don't think it was necessary since we were so stuffed from everything else, but it was good. We shared one halo halo for dessert. There was definitely too much ice and not enough of everything else. The entire meal came out to less than $30 per person after tax and tip. We were initally give only one postcard when getting the receipt, but they gave us each one when we asked. Definitely the type of restaurant where sharing dishes are the best. Many people were in large groups. ”