STATEN ISLAND, NY — After ten years of serving authentic Filipino cuisine, Phil-Am Kusina will close its doors on November 30, 2025, marking the end of an era for Staten Island’s Filipino American community and food lovers across the borough.
The restaurant, owned by the Imperial family, announced the closure earlier this month, thanking loyal patrons for their support. “It has been a rewarding journey and our hearts are full as we close this chapter,” the owners wrote in a farewell message. While the restaurant will shut down, the family’s Phil-Am Foods grocery store, a fixture for more than 40 years, will continue to operate, ensuring that Filipino staples remain accessible to the community.
A Decade of Flavor and Community
Phil-Am Kusina opened with the mission of bringing Filipino flavors to Staten Island, offering dishes such as kare-kare, lumpia, adobo, and humba. They took over the place after another Filipino restaurant operated there. Over the years, Kusina became more than a restaurant—it was a cultural hub where families celebrated milestones, newcomers discovered Filipino food, and the diaspora found a taste of home.
Community leader and longtime Staten Island resident Bert Olimpo said the restaurant’s closure is a significant loss for the Filipino community. “It is where we gather for party venues and enjoy Filipino delicacies,” he said. “However, we are glad that our good friends – Felix, Tita, and their family – will still be minding the grocery store across the street. They also do catering and offer take-outs, so that would help. But it’s different when family and friends sit together to enjoy the food.”
For Staten Island, which has a growing Filipino population but limited dining options, Phil-Am Kusina filled a unique role. It was the borough’s only sit-down Filipino restaurant, introducing many residents to the rich culinary traditions of the Philippines.
Janet Cannilla, a retired nurse, also felt sad. “That’s the only Filipino restaurant here, and it saddens me they are leaving for Brooklyn after losing their lease. It would be quite an inconvenience for us to cross the bridge and dine there,” she said. “I hope another Filipino restaurant will come around.”
Why It Matters
The closure leaves a gap in Staten Island’s dining scene and represents a cultural loss for the Filipino American community. Restaurants often serve as gateways to cultural understanding, and Phil-Am Kusina’s presence helped broaden awareness of Filipino heritage in New York City.
Community members expressed sadness at the announcement, noting that the restaurant was not just about food but about connection. “It was where we gathered, where we felt seen,” one longtime customer said. “It’s hard to imagine Staten Island without it.”
What Remains
Though the restaurant is closing, the Imperial family emphasized that they are not saying goodbye. Their grocery store, Phil-Am Foods, will continue to provide Filipino ingredients and products, sustaining the culinary traditions that Kusina helped popularize. For many, this store has long been a lifeline, offering access to items like bagoong, calamansi, and frozen lumpia wrappers.
A Broader Reflection
Phil-Am Kusina’s closure highlights the challenges faced by small, family-run restaurants, particularly those serving immigrant communities. Rising costs, shifting dining habits, and the pressures of sustaining a niche market all play a role. Yet the restaurant’s decade-long run is a testament to resilience and the power of cultural storytelling through food.
As Staten Island bids farewell to Phil-Am Kusina, the legacy of its flavors and hospitality will endure. The closing is bittersweet: while a beloved dining space disappears, the community retains its grocery anchor, ensuring that Filipino cuisine continues to thrive in homes across the borough.
For many, the restaurant’s final days are not just about loss but about gratitude—for the meals shared, the culture celebrated, and the community strengthened.
