The Fattened Caf

Take Me Here Using Metro Transit

The Fattened Caf is a Filipino-inspired restaurant on Jefferson Ave in St. Louis. Years of hard-work has paid off for owners Darren and Charlene Young; after successful pop-ups, a run on Cherokee St. and the launch of their popular GDA-certified WashU location, owners Darren and Charlene Young now have a steady home to share their love of Filipino cuisine with St. Louis. This 4-Star certified restaurant showcases the rich, bold flavors of traditional Filipino cooking with a nod to the locals: St. Louis diners aren’t likely to find a Filipino-style pork steak anywhere else.

The menu emphasizes the robust sweet, salty and umami flavors of Filipino cooking, balanced by crisp cabbage, piquant onions and the tangy banana ketchup. The house-made tocino (think Filipino bacon) is a perfect example: savory, salted pork, cured in sweet and tangy pineapple juice. Each dish is a visual treat as deep green banana leaves contrast the vibrant purple and reds of ube, cabbage and pickled onions. 

Their pork shoulder comes from freshly cut form Wenneman’s Meat Co. in Illinois. Charlene’s nose-to-tail kitchen philosophy means very little goes to waste. The jackfruit adobo is more than a token vegan/vegetarian option and a variety of sides are marked V, VG or GF on the menu. Over-prepping is rare; the kitchen is diligent with portions, preps food carefully and preserves when feasible.

You’ll find sunny side-up Missouri eggs from Buttonwood atop the silog rice bowl (or ask for a breakfast style “longdog”). Local micro-cilantro from Bee Simple’s urban farm is a frequent garnish. Try the refreshing calamansi soda, made in-house, with hints of lime and tangerine. They source pastries and bread from Liz’s Filipino Food and Desserts in St. Peters, MO. They even get local hardwood for the smoker. 

If the banana leaf plate liners and the banana ketchup BBQ sauce don’t fully transport your tastebuds to the South Pacific, try the homemade “southern style” banana ube pudding alongside locally-roasted Comet Coffee. 

St. Louis city diners have a new sustainable option, lunch and dinner, in the city. Come and enjoy the artwork, tropical plants and get a taste of the Philippines. Congrats on the Fattened Caf for certifying its second location!