Kusina Pinoy Bistro Woodside Review: Is the $250 Kamayan Feast Worth It?

BySaif

Quick Summary

I've always enjoyed Filipino food, but there's something special about sharing a traditional kamayan feast with friends. That's exactly what drew us to Kusina Pinoy Bistro in Woodside, Queens.

We ordered the Kusina Kamayan Special ($250), advertised for 6 to 8 people, which came served on banana leaves and piled with rice, grilled meats, seafood, noodles, lumpia, and fruit. The star of the spread was the Calamares Gigantes—a massive fried squid served upright on a skewer.

While the food and party atmosphere made for a fun group dinner, additional food orders, drinks, auto-gratuity, fees, and potential live-music cover charges brought our group's final bill to $466.69 before tip. Here is my breakdown of whether it's worth it.

Overall Rating: 8.4/10
Food: 8.8/10 | Service: 7.8/10 | Atmosphere: 8.9/10 | Value: 7.5/10
Price: Expensive for groups ($$$)
Main Order: Kusina Kamayan Special ($250 package)
Favorite Dish: Calamares Gigantes
Additional Order: Sizzling Chicken Sisig
Best For: Birthdays, large group celebrations, reunions, and festive gatherings

Good to Know

📍 Address: 69-16 Roosevelt Ave, Woodside, NY 11377
🍽️ Cuisine: Filipino
💵 Our Group Bill: $466.69 (inc. tax, 20% gratuity, and operating fee)
🚇 Subway: 7 train to 69 Street Station (~2-minute walk)
🅿️ Parking: Street parking along Roosevelt Ave
⭐ Don't Miss: Calamares Gigantes
⚠️ Note: Watch out for auto-gratuity and evening entertainment cover charges ($10–$15/person)

Watch My Experience

Jump to:

Why We Tried the Kamayan Feast

Exterior storefront and illuminated sign of Kusina Pinoy Bistro on Roosevelt Avenue in Woodside Queens
The storefront exterior of Kusina Pinoy Bistro on Roosevelt Avenue in Woodside, Queens.

Woodside is a hub for Filipino food in Queens. I've previously eaten at Tyang Gelay's Grill nearby, where I enjoyed their Chicken Inasal and Lumpia. This time, we wanted to try a traditional kamayan dining style.

Kamayan means eating with your hands—a communal Filipino dining tradition where food is served on banana leaves spanning the entire table. At Kusina Pinoy Bistro, disposable plastic gloves are provided, making it clean and convenient for large groups to share a feast.

For Filipino ube pastries and leche flan donuts nearby, check out my review of Kora Bakery in Sunnyside.

Atmosphere: A Lively Filipino Party Setting

Casual dining room interior at Kusina Pinoy Bistro featuring wooden tables, dark seats, and bar counter
The dining room interior at Kusina Pinoy Bistro.
Performance stage inside Kusina Pinoy Bistro set up with drum kit, screen display, and neon green accent lights
The live entertainment stage equipped for evening karaoke and music performances.

Kusina Pinoy Bistro has a festive, gathering-style atmosphere. The space features wooden tables, dark cushioned seating, colorful ambient lighting, and a full stage equipped with a drum kit, screens, and audio equipment.

If you visit on a weekend evening after 9:00 PM, expect live music or karaoke. It creates a high-energy environment suitable for celebrations, though it can get noisy if you are looking for a quiet conversation.

What About the Live-Music Cover Charge?

One important detail to keep in mind is that the restaurant charges a separate cover charge per person ($10 to $15 depending on the event) if you stay during peak entertainment hours on Friday or Saturday nights.

If you are planning a group dinner, it's worth calling ahead to ask whether an entertainment cover charge applies during your reservation time.

Service: Welcoming, but Not Always Attentive

The staff was polite when greeting us, but service proved a bit slow once the dining room filled up later in the evening. Getting water refills or calling a server over took extra effort during peak hours.

Location & How to Get There

Kusina Pinoy Bistro is located at 69-16 Roosevelt Ave, Woodside, NY 11377.

  • Subway: Take the 7 train to 69 Street Station. The restaurant is less than a two-minute walk from the station exit.

What Comes With the Kusina Kamayan Special?

Printed menu page displaying Kusina Kamayan Special package for six to eight people priced at 250 dollars
The printed menu listing the Kusina Kamayan Special ($250.00).
Full overhead view of a massive Filipino kamayan feast spread over banana leaves with rice, grilled meats, lumpia, noodles, and fresh fruit
The full Kusina Kamayan Special spread out across banana leaves
  • Package Price: $250.00 (Serves 6–8 people)

The Kusina Kamayan Special includes a wide variety of Filipino specialties:

  • Appetizers: Lumpia Shanghai (pork spring rolls) & Ensaladang Mangga (green mango salad).
  • Noodles & Rice: Pancit Bihon (rice noodles with vegetables) & unlimited steamed white rice.
  • Meats: Crispy Pata (fried pork knuckle), Inihaw na Liempo (grilled pork belly), Lechon Kawali (crispy pork belly), and Whole Fried Chicken.
  • Seafood: Calamares Gigantes, Buttered Garlic Shrimp, Baked Mussels, and Daing na Bangus (fried milkfish).
  • Vegetables: Pakbet (pinakbet vegetable stew) & Ginisang Sitaw at Kalabasa (squash and string beans).
  • Dessert: Fresh seasonal fruit (watermelon and orange slices).

Calamares Gigantes — The Star of Our Kamayan Feast

Close-up view of Calamares Gigantes featuring a massive deep-fried whole squid served upright on a wooden skewer
Calamares Gigantes — a massive deep-fried whole squid served upright on a skewer.
Section of kamayan platter showing Lumpia Shanghai spring rolls, Pancit Bihon noodles, grilled shrimp, and fresh fruit
Lumpia Shanghai, Pancit Bihon noodles, grilled shrimp, and sliced fresh fruit.
Section of banana-leaf kamayan spread featuring Crispy Pata pork knuckle, grilled chicken, fried milkfish, mussels, and steamed rice
A detailed look at the grilled chicken, Crispy Pata, and Daing na Bangus (milkfish).

The standout dish of the night was the Calamares Gigantes. Served skewered vertically over the table, this entire fried squid was crispy, golden, and visually striking. The meat remained tender inside without becoming rubbery, making it the most memorable part of the meal.

Sizzling Chicken Sisig — Our Additional Order

Sizzling cast-iron plate of Filipino Chicken Sisig with chopped chicken, peppers, onions, and lemon wedge
Sizzling Chicken Sisig ($17.95) served on a hot cast-iron plate.
  • Price: $17.95

In addition to the kamayan package, we added an order of Sizzling Chicken Sisig. Served on a hot cast-iron skillet with chopped chicken, onions, peppers, and a creamy sauce, it made a rich addition to our spread.

Price & Value — Was the $250 Kamayan Feast Worth It?

Here is the exact itemized breakdown from our group receipt:

ItemPrice
Kamayan Package 1$250.00
Chicken Sisig$17.95
Chicken Inasal$14.95
Additional Drinks$65.30
Subtotal$348.20
NYC Sales Tax (8.875%)$30.90
Automatic Gratuity (20%)$69.64
Operating Fee$17.95
Total Bill$466.69 (Discounted Cash Total: $448.96)

While the $250 initial price for 6 to 8 people looks reasonable on paper, additional food, drinks, automatic tip, and administrative fees can drive the bill up noticeably.

Be Careful About the Automatic Gratuity

Because we were a larger party, a 20% gratuity ($69.64) was automatically added to our receipt. Double-check your itemized ticket before signing or adding an additional tip line to avoid paying twice.

What I Think & Would I Return?

Sharing a kamayan feast with friends at Kusina Pinoy Bistro is a fun experience, and the Calamares Gigantes is a great highlight. Also, the portion were very generous and we were not able to finish all of it.

However, the final bill felt steep once all automatic surcharges and fees were calculated.

Would I return? Maybe, though I plan on checking out other Filipino spots across Queens first.

Final Verdict: Is Kusina Pinoy Bistro Worth Visiting?

If you are organizing a celebration or group night out in Woodside, Kusina Pinoy Bistro is worth considering for the experience. Just be sure to review the itemized receipt carefully so you understand all automatic fees ahead of time.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kusina Pinoy Bistro

How much is the kamayan platter at Kusina Pinoy Bistro?

The base Kusina Kamayan Special costs $250.00 for 6 to 8 people. With added drinks, extra sides, sales tax, auto-gratuity, and fees, our group bill came out to $466.69.

What food comes on the kamayan platter?

It includes Lumpia Shanghai, Ensaladang Mangga, Pancit Bihon, Crispy Pata, Lechon Kawali, Whole Fried Chicken, Calamares Gigantes, Garlic Shrimp, Mussels, Daing na Bangus, vegetables, rice, and fresh fruit.

Is gratuity automatically included?

Yes, a 20% automatic gratuity was added to our group receipt. Always review your itemized bill before tipping.

How do I get to Kusina Pinoy Bistro?

Take the 7 train to 69 Street Station in Woodside, Queens; the restaurant is a short walk away on Roosevelt Avenue.

Kusina Pinoy Bistro Restaurant Information

InformationDetails
RestaurantKusina Pinoy Bistro
Address69-16 Roosevelt Ave, Woodside, NY 11377
Phone(347) 724-8773
CuisineFilipino
NeighborhoodWoodside, Queens, NYC
Base Kamayan Cost$250.00 (Serves 6–8)
Our Group Total$466.69 (inc. tax, 20% tip, fees)
Favorite DishCalamares Gigantes
Extra Dish OrderedSizzling Chicken Sisig ($17.95)
AtmosphereLively, party-like, casual
ServiceWelcoming, but can be busy
Subway7 train to 69 Street
Would I Return?Maybe
Overall Rating8.4/10

For looking other restaurants within Woodside, check out my review of Momo Craves which is about a Nepali dumplings.

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