J&J Foodhub: A taste of the Philippines in Singapore’s heartlands

Many of us would simply turn to Lucky Plaza for Filipino grub. But what about a hawker stall hidden in the heartlands that’s become a home away from home for the Filipino community, and a good place to start your exploration of the cuisine?

Just 10 minutes from Toa Payoh MRT station lies J&J Foodhub, a Filipino hawker stall nestled in the corner of Epic Haus coffee shop. 

The first thing you’ll notice probably won’t be the uniquely Filipino dishes — but rather a person: the bright and upbeat owner, Vonn Ryann Suazo, 46.

Vonn arrived in Singapore just three years ago to join his wife, who’s been working in healthcare here for the past 15 years. When the stall’s previous Filipino owners decided to step away, it was his wife who encouraged him to take it over — leading Vonn to quit his healthcare job and dive head-first into the F&B industry. 

With no culinary experience, Vonn reached out to friends in the Philippines and learned cooking techniques and recipes over video call. After two years, the store has grown into a hotspot within the Filipino community.

The spread at J&J Foodhub

Many Filipino classics grace the menu, naturally sparking a dilemma on what to try. Vonn recommended we get a mix of dishes we know and love, along with some harder-to-find dishes.

The one thing that did catch our eye was the Ilocos empanada (S$9). You might recognise it by its bright orange exterior, and the fact that it has gone viral over the past few months.

A beloved Filipino street food, the empanadas have a crispy orange hue that comes from soaked annatto seeds which are then mixed into a rice flour dough. It’s often stuffed with a savoury meat, vegetable filling and served with a side of vinegar. J&J Foodhub’s version is served this exact way. 

Cracking into the empanada, you’ll find it stuffed to the brim with savoury Filipino ground pork (Ilocos longganisa), mixed with mung bean, papaya and even a whole fried egg.

Even if you’re not a vinegar lover, trust us — the lightly sweet and tangy vinegar helps cut through the rich flavours of the stuffing, bringing the empanada to a whole new level. 

Despite it being more of a snack, we found the portion large enough to be a meal. So if you’re planning to try the other items on the menu, make sure you bring a friend to share it all!

Continuing our street food streak, we got pork BBQ (S$3.50) and BBQ isaw (S$3.50) skewers to try. Both skewers were slathered in a sweet homemade barbecue sauce before being grilled fresh — right inside the stall.

What surprised us the most was the BBQ isaw — made of pig intestines. While that might sound intimidating, the grilling process helps firm up the offal and gives it a nice crispy char around the edges. Coupled with that addictive sweet barbecue sauce, it had us going back for more.

If you’re looking for an introduction to Filipino cuisine, the quintessential adobo (S$7), available in chicken or pork, is a must-get.

Chunky pieces of tender soy sauce-braised pork belly, paired with rice, make for the perfect comfort meal. Vonn says that his version has been tweaked slightly to better suit the Singaporean palate — interestingly, with the help of cinnamon.

If you like tangy flavours, go for the sisig (S$7) — chopped pork jowl seasoned with calamansi, onions and peppers. 

It’s traditionally served with pig’s head and on a sizzling hotplate, too! But since that’s not as well received by the local palate, Vonn’s version leaves that out entirely — so you get all the savoury, tangy goodness without having to pick around for them.

Of course, no meal is complete without some dessert. We gave the leche flan (S$8) a go — creamy custard pudding speckled with hints of coffee, doused in a sweet caramel sauce. 

We did find the flan a little too sweet for our liking, but we’d recommend pairing it with a cup of black coffee to balance things out. If you’ve got a big sweet-tooth though, you’ll have no issues polishing this off.

If you’re already a fan of Filipino cuisine or are looking to try it for the first time, J&J Foodhub is worth a stop in your next food exploration. Don’t worry if you’re not well-versed in the cuisine, Vonn’s warm guidance will take care of that! 

For more ideas on what to eat, check out this sushi bar serving omakase with unlimited refills, or this hidden yong tau foo spot in Bugis Cube.