I want to share with you our family’s new found favorite. Ima’s Kitchenette is an open-air restaurant offering delicious Filipino cuisine in a gentle and vibrant city of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. It is situated inside Savano Park, which is a booming leisure and commercial district in the city.
The word “Ima” is actually a kapampangan term for “mother” (thanks to my kapampangan hubby for the little trivia!). I’m guessing the owner has kapampangan blood, and they are bringing their kapampangan homecooking in our beloved hometown.
We’ve been here twice and we’re surely coming back anytime soon! Jec and I came here first then came back with the whole family. We’re not bringing our family somewhere not so nice, you know.

Its appearance is simple and homey, yet, so aesthetic. It is actually built out of a shipping container, which adds a modern touch to blend itself well in the city. There’s also a huge open parking space. If you’ve been to Savano Park you’ll know how wide the place is.
Ima’s Kitchenette is your safe dining experience, just like alfresco but without getting yourself scorched in the hot sun. Its lofted build makes it spacious and airy, which prevents diners from breathing the same air.
They also have a VIP area which is airconditioned perfect for private family gatherings.


On our first visit, we ordered Palabok, Chicken Inasal, Pork BBQ, Chicharong Bulaklak, Blue and Cucumber Lemonade, and Home-made Mango Ice Cream. We honestly didn’t expect the serving to be quite generous, especially for the Palabok! I loved their version of it. It has lots of toppings such as chicharon, slices of boiled egg, and even squid! And if I’m not mistaken, I could also taste some peanuts in the sauce. I might order it again when we come back!
Jec also liked his Chicken Inasal served with Java Rice. It’s nice to see the food served on a wooden plate with banana leaf. Putting a little touch of province vibes in a modern setting is quite a dope move!




As you could see, the ground floor dining is ideal for big groups and families, and the loft dining is for couples and small groups. We tried dining at the loft area on our first visit since it was just me and Jec. Then on our next visit we were assigned a bigger table for the whole family at the ground floor. It was Sunday evening so the crowd was quite expected. Mostly people having dinner after church, just like us.



For our after-church dinner we tried their Special Bulalo, Sinigang na Salmon Head, Sizzling Pork Sisig, Sizzling Bone Marrow, and Baked Tahong. All came in generous serving and especially good taste. Among my favorites are the Special Bulalo and Sizzling Pork Sisig. I actually expected so much about the Baked Tahong but for me it lacked a few minutes in the oven as the cheese wasn’t brown yet.
On the whole we liked our experience at Ima’s Kitchenette and we’ll definitely drop by when we get to this side of SJDM again!




How I’d rate this resto
Food | ★★★★☆ |
Service | ★★★★★ |
Location | ★★★★★ |
Ambiance | ★★★★★ |
Price | ★★★★★ |
Overall | 4.8 |
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