Ubefest Vendors Cyclops Coffee and The Burger Ghoul Highlight Filipino Flavors

Two local food businesses share their ube-inspired drinks and burgers coming to the Ubefest food festival this weekend.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 9:29pm

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A vibrant, high-contrast silkscreen print of a single ube-bun smash burger repeated in a grid pattern, capturing the bold, playful spirit of Filipino cuisine and culture.The ube-bun smash burgers from The Burger Ghoul pop-up will be a highlight of the upcoming Ubefest food festival, showcasing the versatility of this beloved Filipino ingredient.Los Angeles Today

On the latest episode of 'AirTalk''s Food Friday segment, host Austin Cross spoke with Steven Than of Cyclops Coffee in Long Beach and Geoffrey Manila of The Burger Ghoul pop-up about the Filipino-inspired menu items they'll be serving at the upcoming Ubefest food festival in Cerritos, California. Cyclops Coffee will be offering an ube cookies & cream latte and a piña colada ube latte, while The Burger Ghoul will have an ube-bun smash burger on the menu.

Why it matters

The Ubefest food festival aims to highlight Filipino cuisine and culture, providing a platform for local businesses like Cyclops Coffee and The Burger Ghoul to showcase their unique takes on traditional Filipino flavors like ube. As Filipino food continues to gain popularity nationwide, events like Ubefest help promote visibility and appreciation for this vibrant culinary tradition.

The details

Steven Than, the owner of Cyclops Coffee, started in graphic design before transitioning into the coffee business through another company, Steelhead Coffee, which helped him launch Cyclops. Geoffrey Manila, the owner of The Burger Ghoul pop-up, was inspired by Los Angeles' thriving burger scene and wanted to put his own spin on the classic smash burger by incorporating Filipino ingredients like ube. During the interview, host Austin Cross sampled the ube cookies & cream latte and piña colada ube latte from Cyclops, as well as the ube-bun smash burger from The Burger Ghoul, praising the flavors as delicious and true to their Filipino heritage.

  • Ubefest takes place this Saturday and Sunday (April 12-13, 2026).

The players

Cyclops Coffee

A coffee shop located in Long Beach, California that will be serving ube-inspired drinks at the Ubefest food festival.

The Burger Ghoul

A smash burger pop-up in Los Angeles that will be offering an ube-bun burger at the Ubefest food festival.

Steven Than

The owner of Cyclops Coffee.

Geoffrey Manila

The owner of The Burger Ghoul pop-up.

Austin Cross

The host of the 'AirTalk' Food Friday segment on which the Ubefest vendors were featured.

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What they’re saying

“'They helped me build Cyclops Coffee.'”

— Steven Than, Owner, Cyclops Coffee

“'I wanted to be a part of that.'”

— Geoffrey Manila, Owner, The Burger Ghoul

“'I love the flavor of coconut … and this one delivers exactly what I want out of it.'”

— Austin Cross, Host, 'AirTalk' Food Friday

“'The ube definitely kicks it up a notch, with the crispy pork on the edges.'”

— Austin Cross, Host, 'AirTalk' Food Friday

What’s next

Ubefest will take place this weekend, April 12-13, 2026, in Cerritos, California, providing an opportunity for attendees to try the ube-inspired drinks and burgers from Cyclops Coffee and The Burger Ghoul.

The takeaway

Events like Ubefest play an important role in promoting Filipino cuisine and culture, giving local businesses a platform to showcase their unique interpretations of traditional flavors like ube. As Filipino food continues to gain popularity, these types of community-driven festivals help raise awareness and appreciation for this vibrant culinary tradition.