Barkada Sets Opening Date After Successful Soft Opening Serving Filipino Flavors To Portland, Maine

For a lot of Portland food lovers, the wait is finally over. After building excitement through its food truck and teasing locals with what Filipino flavors could bring to the city, Barkada is officially opening in the Old Port on Saturday, May 30.

The new fast-casual restaurant at 425 Fore Street, in the former Paper Tiger space, just wrapped up a friends and family soft opening this past weekend, and from everything I heard, it was an absolute hit.

People are already buzzing about the food, especially the lumpia. Crispy, packed with flavor, and impossible to eat just one, they quickly became one of the stars of the weekend. The ube piña colada slush also had people talking, bringing a fun and colorful twist that perfectly matched the energy of the space. And then there was the Lechón, which completely delivered and left guests raving. The menu focuses on customizable bowls and bold Filipino flavors, giving Portland something that feels both new and exciting.

Chefs Nicole and Ben Bowers have created something that feels special, and there’s real excitement surrounding Barkada’s arrival. Filipino food and flavor have officially made their way to Portland, and judging by the response from the soft opening, people are more than ready to dig in.