Nurse turned restaurateur Janine Barican-Le is the director of modern Filipino restaurant Chibog in Melbourne, which first opened its doors early in 2020
When word of an eclectic new Filipino restaurant first spread through the streets of Melbourne, it roused a palpable excitement. While Filipino cuisine is aptly represented between the city’s many night markets, food trucks, pop-up events, and a couple of casual restaurants few and far between, Chibog immediately set itself apart.
Beyond the purple-hued neon lights and jeepney mural, the modern Filipino offerings immediately turned the heads of homesick folks and gastronomes alike. Helmed by healthcare worker turned restaurateur Janine Barican-Le, the self-professed foodie hopes to “share and celebrate Filipino food with Melbournians,” one delicious bite at a time.
See also: A Taste of Home: What Are Melbourne-Based Chef Ross Magnaye's Favourite Filipino Eats?
Simple but timeless choices like the mouthwatering fried chicken wings in a sweet-spicy glaze called Chibok Bok, triple-cooked pork sisig, and sizeable crispy pata (complete with Mang Tomas, of course) all beg for a chilly bottle of San Miguel beer, which they also happen to carry. Meanwhile, dishes like the tortang talong with blue swimmer crab, seafood Bicol express with crunchy battered pumpkin, and crispy deep-fried leche flan provide mind-boggling takes on the familiar—a creative whim equally evident among their Filipino cocktails.
