The Traditional Filipino Feast at Dana’s Restaurant in Waipahu Leaves No Room for Dessert

Forks optional.

Animation: Aaron K. Yoshino

The spectacle hits you first—endless mounds of gorgeous Filipino foods arrayed on banana leaves covering a table for six. And then the volume: It’s enormous. Eaten with bare fingers (you can ask for plastic gloves), the traditional kamayan feast at Dana’s Restaurant and Catering debuted earlier this year as the last request of a 93-year-old customer who left the Philippines as a young man and never returned. It proved so popular the restaurant added it to its regular menu. The main kamayan has nine dishes, meant to feed five or six diners; in reality you’ll need eight if you don’t want leftovers. You can ask to substitute items from the regular menu. Wash your hands, take your place at a banana leaf, use your fingers to slide portions from the communal feast toward you and dig in. And yes, forks are available upon request.

Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Sweet potato leaf salad

Soft emerald strands topped with fresh tomato and onion are the only edible greens in sight.

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Shanghai lumpia

Savory pork filling, vinegar sauce for dipping, can’t stop eating.

Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Pancit bihon

A full 3 feet of silky golden rice noodles twined with veggies—all legit good.

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Beef shank

Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Fried chicken

Brined overnight and twice fried, these wings are light, crispy and stay-on-the-brain fantastic.

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Lechon kawali

Improbably light and airy-crisp, with a satisfying crunch to the skin, this is a good gateway lechon.

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barbecue stick

Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Pompano

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Pork Adobo

$78.99, 94-235 Hanawai Circle, Waipahu, (808) 677-2992, danasrestaurantandcatering.com, facebook.com/DanasHawaii