A New Filipino Fast-Casual Restaurant “Lalo” is Coming to The Bourse!

The Team behind Pelago, a hospitality group specializing in Filipino-inspired restaurant pop-up events from industry veterans, Neal Santos, Jillian Encarnacion and Resa Mueller, is bringing the Philippines to The Bourse Marketplace this summer with Lalo, a thoughtful fast-casual concept with a focus on Filipino comfort food.

Named after the Tagalog words for grandmother and grandfather, Lalo is inspired by the approachable and friendly spirit of Filipino lutong bahay (Filipino home cooking) — simple, flavorful, and warm-hearted.

The ingredient-driven menu will rotate, highlighting the seasonality and locality of each dish. However, dishes such as inihaw — grilled pork and/or chicken served with atchara (pickled) over garlic rice — will remain a menu staple. They’ll also serve San Miguel beer and a selection of craft cocktails.

Once opened this summer, the Lalo team will debut the Kamatis Salad, highlighting salt-cured eggs sourced directly from Farm 51, the urban farm run by Neal Santos, locally-sourced tomatoes, green mango and a bagoong vinaigrette.

All of the filipino recipes will be sourced from Jillian’s grandfather (who sadly passed away last fall). He sold Filipino-style BBQ sandwiches and skewers from a small cart parked right across Indpendence Mall for three decades.

The trio worked with Manila-based OneZero Design Co. to design their 300 sq ft. Stall, pulling inspiration from everyday household items like the banig, a traditional Filipino sleeping mat hand-woven from palm leaves or grasses and dyed in bright colors and patterns.

As they say in the Philippines, Kain na tayo (Let’s eat)!