As reported on Aberdeen Business News, a new independent restaurant bringing the vibrant flavours of the Philippines to Aberdeen has officially opened its doors. Kultura, a family-run venture, launched last week on Belmont Street, offering a warm and authentic dining experience that celebrates Filipino culture through food.
Established by the team behind Dolores’ Lutong Bahay, which had built a loyal following through its weekend pop-ups at Northern Golf Club, Kultura now operates five days a week and marks a significant milestone for Filipino representation in Scotland’s hospitality scene.
“Kultura was established due to the passion our family has for making people happy through good food. We don’t just serve food – we tell stories, and each dish is inspired by traditions,” said Rochel Diane Rivera, Assistant Manager. “We believe that food is one of the most powerful ways to connect with different cultures, and we have seen Aberdeen being a home to a diverse and international community.”
The restaurant’s name itself, ‘Kultura’, meaning ‘culture’ in Filipino, reflects its core mission. “We want to create a space for Filipinos to feel at home – home-a home away from home–as well as to invite locals and others to experience the Filipino culture through food and service,” Rivera added.
The menu is packed with bold and comforting flavours, offering both traditional favourites and lesser-known regional dishes. From hearty mains like adobo and kare-kare to sweet treats like ube halaya and halo-halo, Kultura takes pride in cooking everything from scratch.
“For many people in Aberdeen, Filipino cuisine was something new, and at first, we were not sure how it would be received,” Rivera explained. “But after our first week, we have seen a real curiosity and openness to trying our dishes. We had guests tell us they enjoyed every dish and were surprised by the bold flavours and comfort in the dishes.”
Among the dishes on offer are all-you-can-eat Filipino-style tapas, featuring Lumpiang Shanghai (pork spring rolls), Pork Sisig, Kwek-Kwek (battered quail eggs), and Pritong Manok (crispy fried chicken wings), among others. These small plates showcase a variety of cooking techniques, including ihaw (grilling) and sangkutsa (sautéing), while incorporating locally sourced Scottish meats and seasonal vegetables.
“Some of the essential ingredients we use include suka (vinegar), patis (fish sauce), bagoong (shrimp paste), gata (coconut milk) and ube (purple yam), which give dishes like sinigang or halo-halo their distinctive identity,” said Rivera. “We work with trusted Asian and Filipino suppliers in the UK who import directly from the Philippines, as well as local Scottish producers wherever possible.”
The team also has an eye on the future, aiming to create more opportunities to share Filipino culture through collaborative events and experiences in Aberdeen.
“We look forward to exploring collaborations with local artists, other chefs and events locally here in Aberdeen to create shared experiences that reflect the diversity of the city,” Rivera said. “In the future, our dream is to expand to different parts of the UK, and for the Filipino cuisine and culture to be well-known.”
Aberdeen Business News visited Kultura during its opening week to sample the menu. Dishes included Pastil Na Baka – a garlic shredded beef dish served with dry chilli and sticky rice – and Ginataang Manok, a traditional chicken curry simmered in rich, creamy coconut milk and served with garlic fried rice. The food was worthy of high praise with its delightful yet spicy flavour profiles. ABN was also impressed with the friendly, attentive service and the welcoming atmosphere.
Kultura is now open five days a week and is already drawing attention as an exciting new addition to Aberdeen’s food scene – a true celebration of Filipino heritage brought to life in the heart of the city.
