Kawali Island Introduce
Kawali Island is a unique and specialized restaurant nestled in Bergenfield, New Jersey, bringing the rich, complex, and comforting flavors of Filipino cuisine to the local community. Categorized as a Restaurant and Grill, Kawali Island is clearly focused on providing authentic, home-style Filipino food, with a particular strength in catering-sized portions. The name itself, referencing the 'kawali' (a traditional Filipino cooking pan/wok) and an 'Island' setting, evokes a sense of authentic preparation and a wealth of culinary delights from the Philippine archipelago.
For New Jersey residents, especially those in Bergen County, Kawali Island serves as a crucial local resource for traditional Filipino comfort food. The restaurant’s menu is extensive, covering all the major categories of beloved Filipino dishes, from savory pork and beef stews to classic noodle dishes (Pancit) and traditional desserts. This depth of menu allows patrons to find both familiar favorites and exciting new dishes. The business appears to be structured to serve significant meals, making it a popular choice for family events, gatherings, or simply stocking up on generous portions of high-quality, flavorful food.
Its welcoming and Casual dining atmosphere makes it a great spot for both solo dining and family-friendly meals. It is a favored choice for Lunch and Dinner, appealing to a diverse clientele in the Bergenfield area who appreciate authentic ethnic food in a local, accessible setting. The focus on Comfort food and Small plates, even within the context of larger dishes, highlights its dedication to satisfying, traditional recipes. While some customer feedback raises questions about the menu pricing structure, the sheer variety of authentic preparations suggests the restaurant is targeting an audience looking for both specialty dishes and bulk/catering options.
Kawali Island is conveniently located right on one of Bergenfield's main retail arteries, making it easily accessible for locals and those traveling from surrounding Bergen County towns.
The restaurant's address is:
7 S Washington Ave, Bergenfield, NJ 07621, USA
South Washington Avenue is a central and well-trafficked route, which benefits local businesses by ensuring high visibility and easy navigation. For New Jersey drivers, the location offers the convenience of Free street parking, a notable advantage in a busy suburban downtown area. Furthermore, the establishment demonstrates consideration for all members of the community by providing a Wheelchair accessible parking lot, ensuring that everyone can easily visit. This prime, accessible location in Bergenfield helps cement Kawali Island as a go-to spot for authentic Filipino dining in Northern New Jersey.
Kawali Island provides an impressive array of services centered on authentic Filipino dining, with a focus that appears to lean heavily towards catering-style portions, given the provided menu pricing.
- Dine-in and Takeout Options: Offers flexibility for patrons to enjoy their meals on-site in a casual setting or take them home.
- Extensive Filipino Menu: Features comprehensive categories of traditional Filipino cuisine, including Pork, Beef, Chicken, Seafood, Noodles, and Vegetables.
- Catering-Style Portions: The pricing suggests that many of the main dishes are offered in larger sizes, ideal for family meals, parties, and catering events.
- Full Meal Service: Offers dining options for Lunch, Dinner, and Dessert, covering a complete meal experience.
- Payment Acceptance: Accepts Credit Cards, providing easy transaction methods for customers.
The menu selection is notable for its breadth. For instance, the Pork category alone features classics like Lechon Kawali, Crispy Kare-Kare, and Sisig, which are core Filipino specialties. The Beef menu includes favorites such as Bistek and Caldereta. The inclusion of several noodle and dessert options—ranging from Palabok and Bihon to Buko Pandan and Leche Flan—ensures a well-rounded and deeply authentic culinary offering for the New Jersey community.
Kawali Island possesses several distinct features that make it a notable establishment in the Bergenfield dining scene, particularly for those seeking authentic Filipino cuisine.
- Specialization in Authentic Cuisine: The restaurant focuses entirely on traditional Filipino fare, offering a true taste of the island nation's rich culinary traditions.
- Signature Dish Focus: Highly recognized traditional dishes, such as various styles of Kare-Kare (Pork, Beef) and the classic Lechon Kawali, are prominently featured.
- Ideal for Groups and Families: The dining atmosphere is described as Casual and Family-friendly, making it an excellent choice for gatherings, while the menu appears structured for sharing with its generous portions.
- Convenient Accessibility: Offers Free street parking and Wheelchair accessible parking, addressing common concerns for local New Jersey visitors.
- Versatile Dining: Popular for Lunch, Dinner, and Solo dining, catering to various schedules and needs for a Quick bite or a full meal of Comfort food.
The restaurant's commitment to offering a complete spectrum of Filipino dishes, from savory mains to well-known desserts, highlights its role as a cultural and culinary hub in the region.
For New Jersey residents planning a visit, a takeout order, or seeking catering information, here is the direct contact information for Kawali Island:
Address: 7 S Washington Ave, Bergenfield, NJ 07621, USA
Phone: (201) 292-3808
Mobile Phone: +1 201-292-3808
For Filipino food enthusiasts and New Jersey residents looking to host a gathering, Kawali Island offers several compelling reasons why it is a worthwhile choice. The primary strength of Kawali Island lies in its specialization and the sheer volume of its authentic offerings. This is a restaurant designed for people who are serious about Filipino food, from the famously rich Dinuguan to the comforting layers of Cassava Cake.
The extensive menu, covering over 35 distinct dishes across multiple categories, ensures that whether you're craving a beef dish like Bistek or a seafood favorite like Sisig Bangus, Kawali Island likely has a traditional, well-executed version. Given the high price points, which is a point of customer discussion, it’s highly probable that the menu is specifically geared toward catering or family-style portions, where the cost represents a large tray of food suitable for many people, rather than individual servings. This focus on larger, shareable quantities makes it an ideal, convenient solution for hosting events, holidays, or large family dinners in Bergen County, simplifying the process of serving authentic, diverse Filipino cuisine.
Furthermore, the establishment offers a casual, family-friendly environment and practical amenities like free parking. For those seeking an effortless way to bring the taste of the Philippines to their table or to experience a diverse array of home-style Filipino dishes without having to prepare them, Kawali Island provides a valuable, convenient, and authentically flavored local option. By offering Takeout and Dine-in services, and a comprehensive menu of national favorites, it solidifies its position as a key culinary anchor for the local Filipino community and a unique experience for non-Filipino residents.
Kawali Island Services
Pork
- Crispy Kare-Kare $55.00
- Dinuguan $55.00
- Bicol Express $55.00
- Menudo $55.00
- Sisig $65.00
- Lechon Kawali $55.00
- Grilled Pork Belly $55.00
- Binagoongan $55.00
- Asado $55.00
- Shanghai $42.00
- Igado $55.00
- Humba $55.00
- Afritada $55.00
- Tokwat Baboy $45.00
- Lechon Belly
Beef
- Papaitan $60.00
- Caldereta $60.00
- Asado $60.00
- Mechado $60.00
- Bistek $65.00
- Beef W/ Mushroom $60.00
- Beef W/Broccoli $60.00
- Beef W/ Corn $60.00
- Beef Pares $65.00
- Kare-Kare $65.00
Dessert
- Buko Pandan $40.00
- Fruit Salad $40.00
- Cassava Cake $45.00
- Maja Blanca $45.00
- Tiramisu $45.40
- Leche Flan $45.00
Chicken
- Teriyaki $50.00
- Afritada
- Adobo
- Kawali Chicken $45.00
- Pastel $50.00
- Pineapple Chicken $50.00
- Curry $50.00
- Pochero $50.00
Seafoods
- Calamari $55.00
- Camaron $60.00
- Shrimp W/ Green Peas $55.00
- Sweet & Sour $55.00
- Escabeche $55.00
- Sarciado
- Sisig Bangus $75.00
Noodles
- Bihon $40.00
- Miki-Bihon $40.00
- Canton $40.00
- Sotanghon $40.00
- Palabok $45.00
- Lasagna $40.00
- Lomi $40.00
Vegetables
- Chopseuy
- Laing
- Pinakbet
- Ginataang Langka
- Ginataang Kalabasa
- Ampalaya Con Carne
- Sisig Tofu $45.00
- Fried Lumpiang Gulay
Kawali Island Details
Service options
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Popular for
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Offerings
- Comfort food
- Quick bite
- Small plates
Dining options
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
Atmosphere
- Casual
Crowd
- Family-friendly
Payments
- Credit cards
Children
- Good for kids
Parking
- Free street parking
Kawali Island Photos







Kawali Island Location
Kawali Island
7 S Washington Ave, Bergenfield, NJ 07621, USA
Kawali Island Reviews
filipino foodpricecrispy patadessertkare-kareegg rollsbuko pandanbihonchristmasdinner
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1My sister’s non-filipino bf loves buko pandan so we searched for local spots that sold it for Christmas. Kawali Island said that they do make it so we were all excited. Here comes dessert time after dinner and we take it out the fridge and open it up and it’s all just cut up jello. No buko pandan flavor whatsoever! There weren’t even coconut strings!! For $40 you would expect at least the taste of it. It looks like my 3 year old Godson made it. Never again!
December 28 · eMJust checked put their menu on Google. Are the prices correct? There is nothing on the menu for less than $40? Even the desserts are $40+. Tiramisu for $40 lol.
May 25 · Jason Kimthis place is insane,, price is pretty much the same in a fine dining!! $22 just for the small to go plate of Crispy and very salty dinuguan!! this is my first & last for this place, No Way!!!!
February 08 · lito ortalThey serve the best tasting Filipino food I have tasted. My husband and I compared them to 4 other Filipino restaurants. We brought my mother and father-in-law here 3/17 and they APPROVE! She is kapampangan so she cooks very well! Their food here taste like her cooking. We highly recommend crispy pata, Kare-kare, bulalo, pakbet, pancit bihon and egg rolls! Been here 3x (January, Feb and March 2024).
March 28 · Ferly GobencionAbsolutely DELICIOUS food. Great service and food from a friendly family owned business. I was skeptical to try as it is such a small local business in between many other businesses on this avenue, but it blew me away. I will definitely be returning for lunch this weekend! This place does offer trays for family events and I will definitely consider buying a few menu options for my family for our Christmas dinner
December 14 · Daniel Torres
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