Howard County’s only sit-in Filipino restaurant is expected to open in March or April.
Namit Filipino Barbecue will open its first brick-and-mortar location in Columbia, temporarily closing its food truck as it transitions to a permanent restaurant. The restaurant will be located at 9200 Old Annapolis Road, owner and chef Maria Carmel Tabligan said.
“We are very optimistic. There is a lot of excitement for our brick-and-mortar,” Tabligan said. “We are looking forward to serve the community.”
Namit Filipino Barbecue has operated as a food truck since October 2022, typically serving lunch at office buildings and hospitals and dinner at breweries and special events.
The truck’s locations varied throughout the week, with frequent stops along Gateway Drive and at Howard County General Hospital and Black Flag Brewing Co. in Columbia. The business also traveled to Prince George’s County for breweries, festivals and other events.
The food truck’s anticipated final day of service is Saturday, or Sunday if supplies last. Once the restaurant is established, the owners plan to resume food truck operations for lunches, festivals and events in Howard and surrounding counties.
Namit Filipino Barbecue is owned and operated by Tabligan and chef Paolo Penalosa, both from the Visayan region of the Philippines. They plan to hire at least six additional employees ahead of opening the brick-and-mortar location.
The restaurant specializes in Ilonggo Filipino cuisine, a regional style with its own distinct flavors and dishes. The menu centers on Filipino-style barbecue, including pork and chicken skewers, ribs, and brisket, along with Bacolod-style chicken inasal, Filipino desserts and more.
The brick-and-mortar location, on Route 108 just east of Route 29, will feature an expanded menu, including additional barbecue offerings, lechon belly and Visayan specialties such as batchoy noodle soup. The restaurant will also serve Bangus ala Pobre, a milkfish dish with which the chefs won the July Embassy Chefs Challenge in Washington.
“Howard County is very diverse,” Tabligan said. “Adding Filipino Cuisine would surely enrichen its restaurant scene.”
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