Tag Archives: Kusina Filipina

Community

Filipino Restaurant CheBogz Rallies Support for Beacon Hill Grand Opening

by Ronnie Estoque

A horizontal banner combining the logos of 'Giving Tuesday' and 'South Seattle Emerald'. On the left, the 'Giving Tuesday' logo is presented with 'GIVING' in bold white letters above 'TUESDAY', with a woven heart motif in red placed over the letter 'V'. On the right, the logo for 'South Seattle Emerald' in navy blue features the word 'EMERALD' in large block letters beneath 'SOUTH SEATTLE', with the tagline 'Amplifying the Authentic Narratives of South Seattle' in smaller font. The background is dark blue, and the overall design symbolizes community engagement and local storytelling.

This article was originally published on April 27, 2023. In the spirit of Giving Tuesday, we are republishing a series of inspiring articles and op-eds that highlight the incredible ways in which community giving, generosity, and compassion have transformed lives. These stories are not just narratives; they are testaments to the strength and compassion that flourish in our community when we support each other.

A longtime favorite for Filipino cuisine in Beacon Hill, Kusina Filipina was forced to close in 2017 due to a rent hike. The Paraiso family had run Kusina Filipina since 2010, making it a destination for authentic classics like lumpia, pancit, and adobo, all in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Now, almost six years after leaving Beacon Hill, the Paraiso family is coming back. CheBogz, the family’s food truck, will open a brick-and-mortar restaurant right next to the Beacon Hill light rail station at the Colina Apartments. Currently, they have an active Kickstarter campaign to help secure funds to finalize their return to the local community. 

Continue reading Filipino Restaurant CheBogz Rallies Support for Beacon Hill Grand Opening →
Features

Beacon Hill Restaurants Baja Bistro and CheBogz to Reopen at Colina Apartments

by Mark Van Streefkerk

Family-owned Beacon Hill restaurants Baja Bistro and Kusina Filipina were known for more than just their delicious, authentic recipes. Their customers and neighbors were welcomed like family when they came to dine. That was partly why the loss of both restaurants was so painful. After a change in building ownership led to a rent hike, the Paraiso family closed Kusina in 2017, and Baja shuttered after 25 years in 2020 due to the pandemic. The closures also reflected the decades-long trend of displacement and gentrification in Seattle. With the support of the Beacon Business Alliance (BBA) and a community-minded developer, these two legacy restaurants are planning to reopen in the same neighborhood they were previously forced out of. 

Baja and CheBogz — the latter is owned by Paraiso family sisters Trixia and Paula — are returning to Beacon Hill, splitting a storefront space in the new Colina Apartments. 

“It’s almost kind of like a fairy-tale story for People of Color,” Trixia said when reflecting on moving the restaurant back to Beacon Hill. “You don’t really get this opportunity to have a landlord say, ‘We want you guys here so that we can keep this community as diverse as it was before.’” 

Continue reading Beacon Hill Restaurants Baja Bistro and CheBogz to Reopen at Colina Apartments →
Community

Feed The People Plaza Breathes New Life Into an Iconic Beacon Hill Corner With Art, Food, and Happenings

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by Mark Van Streefkerk 

Over the last two months, a vibrant mural has spread steadily over the corner of the building on South Hanford Street and Beacon Avenue, now known as Feed The People Plaza. Chef Tarik Abdullah and artist Malcolm “Wolf Delux” Procter , co-creators of the plaza, have curated “an outdoor art incubator space” by and for the Beacon Hill neighborhood. Over 80 artists and community members of all ages have contributed to the evolving mural on the north, east, and west sides of the building, which houses Victrola Coffee Roasters and the Mexican restaurant El Quetzal. In addition to being an organic community collaboration, it’s also an homage to the former site of Kusina Filipina, which closed in 2017. The Paraiso family’s beloved Filipino comfort food restaurant was a cornerstone of the neighborhood for almost a decade. Feed The People Plaza has hosted two socially-distanced events so far, featuring local musicians, poets, pop-up chefs, and vendors. 

Continue reading Feed The People Plaza Breathes New Life Into an Iconic Beacon Hill Corner With Art, Food, and Happenings →
Community

Now Mobile, Paraiso Family Brings Taste of Philippines to South Seattle

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by Keiko DeLuca

After eight years, the Paraiso family shut the doors to Kusina Filipina, Beacon Hill’s beloved Filipino comfort food restaurant.

Despite much fanfare, the family closed its doors after failing to negotiate with the property owner. Although the family knew it was a long time coming, it was a bittersweet moment with mixed emotions. Continue reading Now Mobile, Paraiso Family Brings Taste of Philippines to South Seattle →