Hampton's New Filipino Restaurant Offers Tradition with a Twist

Mabuhay Filipino & Soul Kitchen serves up classic Filipino fare alongside soulful Southern sides.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Mabuhay Filipino & Soul Kitchen, a new cafeteria-style takeout spot in Hampton, Virginia, is serving up traditional Filipino dishes like chicken adobo and sisig (chopped pig's head) alongside soulful Southern sides like collard greens and mac and cheese. The restaurant is owned and operated by Filipino chef Dante Golpeo, who has worked as an executive chef at local hospitals and universities as well as for a cruise line.

Why it matters

The opening of Mabuhay Filipino & Soul Kitchen marks the first Filipino restaurant in the city of Hampton, providing residents with an opportunity to experience authentic Filipino cuisine. The restaurant's fusion of traditional Filipino flavors and Southern comfort food also reflects the growing diversity and culinary evolution of the Hampton Roads region.

The details

Mabuhay Filipino & Soul Kitchen opened in January 2026 in a standalone building on South Armistead Avenue in downtown Hampton. The cafeteria-style takeout spot has limited seating, with just two tables and chairs, so most customers will need to get their food to-go. The menu features classic Filipino dishes like chicken adobo, sisig, and garlic fried rice, as well as soulful Southern sides like collard greens and mac and cheese. The reviewer tried eight menu items and highlighted the crispy lumpia (fried spring rolls), the comforting kaldereta (tomato-based beef stew), and the addictive crispy pork belly.

  • Mabuhay Filipino & Soul Kitchen opened in January 2026.

The players

Mabuhay Filipino & Soul Kitchen

A new cafeteria-style takeout restaurant in Hampton, Virginia that serves traditional Filipino dishes alongside Southern comfort food sides.

Dante Golpeo

The chef and owner of Mabuhay Filipino & Soul Kitchen, who is a native Filipino and has worked as an executive chef at local hospitals and universities as well as for a cruise line.

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What they’re saying

“I tried eight items, and the flavors of four replayed in my mind all the way home.”

— Rekaya Gibson, Reviewer (dailypress.com)

The takeaway

The opening of Mabuhay Filipino & Soul Kitchen in Hampton represents the growing diversity of the local culinary scene, as residents now have the opportunity to experience authentic Filipino cuisine blended with beloved Southern comfort food flavors.