Pinoy Cafe - Cedar Rapids

I’m consistently delighted to discover Filipino cuisine in the Cedar Rapids area, as options are quite limited. I was really impressed with how delicious the pancit and lumpia were! The taro boba was sweet, but not overly so, and it was creamy and delightful!

This food booth also offers tasty Boba drinks and Bu, though I found them a bit pricey. Having seen Boba drinks all over California, this was my first encounter with them in Iowa. We tried the Thai Milk Boba Drink and a Strawberry Boba Drink, both of which were fantastic! I’ve missed having these since moving to Iowa, as in California they’re found virtually everywhere. It seems Boba drinks or Bubble Tea haven’t become as popular here yet. For those unfamiliar, these drinks are often creamy milk smoothies or flavored teas filled with chewy tapioca balls at the bottom, providing a unique texture and delightful surprise with every sip. So tasty and fun! The only surprise for me was the price! I’ve never paid so much for a Thai Boba or Strawberry Bubble Tea during my years in California. I was a little taken aback by the cost, but it didn’t deter me from indulging; I’ve gotten one every time I’ve visited NewBo! I absolutely love these drinks, and they even have lactose-free options! After speaking with the very kind Filipina woman who owns Pinoy Cafe, I learned that she plans to close her booth by the end of the month. After running a successful and respected food stall for the past five years, she has decided to stay home with her kids while they’re still young. Hearing that she would be closing was heartbreaking! This has been the only spot for Filipino cuisine in the Cedar Rapids area! While it may not have been the finest Filipino food I’ve ever had, it was definitely solid. I worry that once it closes, local residents—both hip young folks and older generations—might miss out on experiencing Filipino food altogether! She did mention that she may keep the Pinoy Cafe website up to offer made-to-order lumpia, and there’s a chance she might reopen once her kids are older. Who knows what the future holds? If you’ve never tried Filipino food or visited this stand at NewBo, I encourage you to check it out! Let’s give a warm send-off and best wishes to our local Filipino gal as she embarks on her next chapter!

I ordered the Thai tea boba, and unfortunately, it was quite disappointing. The honey pearls were overcooked and too soft, having an almost soggy texture. The Thai tea itself was diluted and lacked flavor. I'm giving it two stars, just to be fair, since boba isn't their main focus.

We went here as a family and tried several of their traditional Filipino dishes. loved their adobo. It was a different version than my Lola's. loved their Turon and Ube ice cream. we will definitely go back!

One of the best places inside NewBo. Amazing boba tea! ?