Tyang Gelay's Grill Review: Authentic Filipino Food in Woodside That Reminds Me of Home

Quick Summary

Restaurant: Tyang Gelay's Grill
Address: 68-28 Roosevelt Ave, Woodside, NY 11377
Rating: 8.8/10
Cuisine: Filipino
Price Range: Affordable
Total Spent: $46.22
What We Ordered: Lumpia Prito, Chicken Inasal, Ginataang Kalabasa with Sitaw, White Rice, and Leche Flan
My Favorites: Chicken Inasal and Lumpia Prito
Best For: Authentic Filipino comfort food at an affordable price
Would I Come Back? Yes

Watch My Experience

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Quick Summary
Watch My Experience
Looking for Authentic Filipino Food in Queens?
A Small Restaurant That Feels Like Home
Easy to Get There by Subway
Lumpia Prito: A Great Way to Start
Chicken Inasal: My Favorite Dish
Ginataang Kalabasa with Sitaw: Filipino Comfort Food
Leche Flan: A Classic Filipino Dessert
Food That Reminds Me of the Philippines
The Final Verdict
Restaurant Information

Looking for Authentic Filipino Food in Queens?

Whenever I'm craving Filipino food in New York City, I usually head straight to Woodside because it’s packed with authentic spots. On my latest food run, I decided to try dinner at Tyang Gelay's Grill, a small, unassuming place right on Roosevelt Avenue.

Storefront of Tyang Gelay's Grill in Woodside, Queens at night, featuring a green and yellow sign that reads "Authentic Filipino Cuisine" with a motorcycle parked in front. — Tyang Gelay's Grill storefront along Roosevelt Avenue.

Since I lived in the Philippines before, eating Filipino food always brings back good memories. It's more than just having dinner; the flavors remind me of the time I spent there and the many home-cooked meals I enjoyed. After eating at Tyang Gelay's Grill, I left completely satisfied. The food was comforting, the portions were generous, and the prices were incredibly affordable. It wasn't a fancy restaurant, but sometimes that's exactly what makes a place special.

A Small Restaurant That Feels Like Home

The first thing I noticed was how simple the restaurant looked—don't expect a high-end dining room or expensive decorations. Instead, Tyang Gelay's Grill feels like a classic neighborhood spot where local Filipino families and friends gather to eat together. While the dining area is fairly small, it feels cozy rather than cramped.

Cozy and casual interior of Tyang Gelay's Grill dining room in Woodside, filled with families and friends eating at tables under circular light fixtures. — The dining area is casual, simple, and always bustling with locals.

During my visit, the restaurant was busy, and I noticed that most of the customers were Filipinos. To me, that's always the ultimate green flag because it means the kitchen is serving food that genuinely reminds people of home. The atmosphere felt relaxed, filled with the sounds of people talking, laughing, and sharing plates. It really felt like a little slice of the Filipino community right inside the restaurant.

Even with the dinner rush, I thought the staff did a great job. Everyone we interacted with was friendly, welcoming, and checked on us whenever they could to make sure we were comfortable. Good service doesn't always have to be perfect; sometimes simply making customers feel welcome is more than enough, and the staff here nailed it.

A table spread of Filipino dishes at Tyang Gelay's Grill, featuring a bowl of creamy yellow squash and green bean curry, grilled chicken inasal on a banana leaf, a fried lumpia roll, and two mounds of white rice. — The full spread: Lumpia Prito, Chicken Inasal, Ginataang Kalabasa with Sitaw, and plenty of white rice.

Easy to Get There by Subway

Tyang Gelay's Grill is located at 68-28 Roosevelt Ave, Woodside, NY 11377. If you're taking public transportation, it is incredibly easy to reach. Just take the E, F, M, R, or 7 train to the Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Avenue Station. From there, it's about a quick 10-minute walk toward Woodside.

If you're driving, street parking is technically available, but it can be highly frustrating depending on the time of day. Personally, I think taking the subway is much easier and saves you the headache.

Lumpia Prito: A Great Way to Start

The first dish we ordered was the Lumpia Prito. If you've never tried lumpia before, it's one of the most popular Filipino appetizers. Think of it as a Filipino spring roll filled with meat and vegetables, fried until crispy. The lumpia at Tyang Gelay's Grill was stuffed with chicken, shrimp, and vegetables.

Two golden-brown, crispy fried Filipino lumpia prito served on a green banana leaf inside a small silver metal dish. — The Lumpia Prito arrives hot and fresh on a banana leaf.

The wrapper was wonderfully crispy without feeling greasy or heavy, and the filling stayed juicy and flavorful. But what really made it stand out was the spiced vinegar dipping sauce. Filipino vinegar has a sharp, slightly sour kick that cuts right through the richness of the fried roll. I honestly couldn't stop dipping each piece, and this is definitely an appetizer I'd order again without hesitation.

A close-up hand-held shot of a crispy Filipino fried lumpia prito bitten in half, showing a savory filling of shredded carrots, cabbage, and chicken. — The perfect crunch reveals a beautifully seasoned veggie and meat filling.

Chicken Inasal: My Favorite Dish

If I had to choose just one dish from the entire meal, it would easily be the Chicken Inasal. This is one of the most famous grilled chicken dishes in the Philippines, traditionally marinated in soy sauce, vinegar, calamansi, garlic, and local spices before getting grilled over charcoal.

Perfectly charred Chicken Inasal served on a banana leaf at Tyang Gelay's Grill, accompanied by a small dish of soy-vinegar dipping sauce and a slice of cucumber. — The Chicken Inasal is packed with smoky, savory flavor.

At Tyang Gelay's Grill, the chicken came out tender, incredibly juicy, and full of flavor. Every bite had that great balance of smokiness from the grill and the savory tang of the marinade. It was also served with a soy vinegar dipping sauce, which made it even better. Sometimes grilled chicken can easily dry out, but that wasn't the case here at all. The meat stayed moist while the skin had a great charred finish that paired perfectly with white rice. This was easily my favorite dish of the night and the main reason I'd come back.

Ginataang Kalabasa with Sitaw: Filipino Comfort Food

Alongside the rice, we also ordered Ginataang Kalabasa with Sitaw, which is a beloved staple made with squash, green beans, and shrimp cooked in coconut milk. I love dishes like this because they are naturally comforting and do a great job of balancing out grilled meats.

A bowl of Ginataang Kalabasa with Sitaw, featuring chunks of yellow squash, bright green yardlong beans, and shrimp simmered in a creamy coconut milk sauce. — A beautifully rich and creamy bowl of Ginataang Kalabasa with Sitaw.

The coconut milk gave the vegetables a creamy, rich texture without making the whole dish feel heavy. The squash was perfectly soft, while the green beans still kept a nice little crunch to give the dish some texture. That said, compared to the Chicken Inasal and Lumpia, it didn't stand out quite as much. Still, if you are looking for a solid vegetable dish to complete your family-style spread, it’s a very good choice.

A dinner plate featuring a portion of grilled chicken inasal and creamy ginataang kalabasa vegetable stew served alongside a mound of white rice. — The ultimate combination: grilled chicken, creamy coconut squash stew, and plenty of white rice.

Leche Flan: A Classic Filipino Dessert

Before leaving, I decided to grab one of my favorite Filipino desserts to go—the Leche Flan. This is a rich, velvety custard dessert topped with a sweet caramel syrup that you'll find at almost every birthday, holiday, or family gathering in the Philippines.

A smooth, oval-shaped Filipino Leche Flan custard sitting in sweet, golden caramel syrup inside a clear plastic takeout container. — A classic, smooth Leche Flan ready for takeout.

The version from Tyang Gelay's Grill was smooth, creamy, and sweet without being overwhelming. It wasn't overly fancy, but it tasted exactly the way I expected. After a heavy, savory dinner, it was a great way to close out the meal. If you like custard desserts, it's definitely worth picking up.

Food That Reminds Me of the Philippines

One thing I appreciated most about this meal wasn't just the food itself; it was how it made me feel. Having lived in the Philippines before, eating here brought back memories of so many home-cooked dinners. The flavors weren't trying to be modern, fusion, or different. Instead, they tasted like the simple, comforting food you would eat around the kitchen table with your family. Sometimes those simple, honest dishes are the ones that carry the strongest memories, and Tyang Gelay's Grill felt exactly like that.

Also, don't expect Filipino food have strong flavors with spices or herbs like South Asian cuisines (Check out Jackson Diner Indian Cuisine for my honest review) since they usually use vinegar, soy sauce or oyster sauce as a condiment to enhance the flavor of the dish.

Affordable Prices and Generous Portions

I was also incredibly impressed by the value. Our total bill came out to exactly $46.22, which feels like a total steal in New York City today considering how much food we actually walked away with. The portions were generous enough for two people to share comfortably, making it a highly budget-friendly option for dining out with friends or family.

One Small Thing That Interrupted Our Dinner

While the dinner was great, there was one small thing that stood out. During our meal, someone came inside the dining room asking customers for money. I don't think this is a reflection of the restaurant itself—and I've noticed this happening along Roosevelt Avenue in Woodside before—but it did briefly interrupt a relaxing dinner. Personally, I wish the staff had stepped in so customers could enjoy their meals without being disturbed, but luckily, it was the only negative blip in an otherwise great night.

The Final Verdict

If you're looking for authentic, no-nonsense Filipino food in Queens, Tyang Gelay's Grill is absolutely worth checking out. Don't go expecting a luxurious dining room. Instead, go for honest cooking, friendly neighborhood service, generous portion sizes, and food that tastes like home. It’s especially great for groups since almost everything is perfect for sharing.

On my next visit, I already have my eyes set on trying their Pancit, Bangus Sisig, and Bulalo to see how they compare. But if it's your very first time going, stick to the classics: order the Chicken Inasal, Lumpia Prito, and a Leche Flan for dessert.

Restaurant Information

Feature	Details
Restaurant	Tyang Gelay's Grill
Address	68-28 Roosevelt Ave, Woodside, NY 11377
Cuisine	Filipino
Price Range	Affordable ($)
Total Spent	$46.22
Nearest Subway	Jackson Heights–Roosevelt Avenue Station (E, F, M, R, 7)
Walking Distance	About 10 minutes
Must-Try Dishes	Chicken Inasal, Lumpia Prito
Parking	Highly limited street parking (Take the train!)
Would I Return?	Yes, to try the Pancit and Bangus Sisig next time

Please note that menu items, prices, and restaurant details can change over time. Be sure to check their official listings or Google Maps before planning your visit!