Magna Kusina, a boisterous space punctuated with reds, blues, and yellows borrowed from the Philippines’ flag, is a great place for modern takes on Filipino food. While you can find pork-stuffed lumpia served with spiced vinegar and vegetarian pancit bihon, you should focus on dishes like Mom’s Crab Fat Noodles made from squid ink and local Dungeness crab or kaldereta stew with braised lamb neck. Whatever you do, start off with a few grilled skewers to share—we like the diver scallops, duck sausage, and shishitos. The restaurant is pretty casual, but reservations are recommended if you want to avoid eating takeout in your hotel room.

photo credit: Keanu Bayanat