New resto brings popular Pinoy streetfood to Adelaide

Imagine: the smoke of barbecue sizzling over charcoal fire and the smell of frying fishballs.

If you are a Filipino living abroad, chances are, you miss having your senses assaulted by such scene, which is common in every streetcorner in the Philippines.

But if you're a Filipino residing in Adelaide in South Australia, consider yourself lucky — a newly opened Filipino-owned restaurant there is bringing such beautiful hometown memory closer to you.

Named Kalye for the streetfood it sells, the establishment opened in late April to serve grill staples such as chicken and pork barbecue, kwek-kwek, and squid balls alongside more festive items such as inasal, liempo, and sisig.

“We wanted to present our childhood memories in Kalye which is why we focused mainly on streetfood,” Ria Mcavaney, one of the restaurant's four owners, tells GMA News Online.

While owners Mcavaney, Edralin Garcia, Joey Fernandez, and Darlene Fernandez had backgrounds in business management, their childhood in the Philippines and their longing for the flavors and smells of streetfood led to the establisment of Kalye.


“All of us grew up in the Philippines before we met in Australia,” Ria shares.  “We use to reminisce about streetfood back home. These elements we put together at Kalye.”

Since the restaurant's opening, Filipinos in Adelaide and neighboring areas have made it the place-to-be when their craving for chicken barbecue cooked on charcoal grills strikes. Aside from Filipinos, Australians and even celebrities and noted personalities have made it a point to visit Kalye.


“Australians are very adventurous and are open minded to try new things,” Ria says, adding that among the celebrities who tried Kalye out were Masterchef Australia contestant Jessie Spiby, local celebrity chef Dennis Leslie, the executive chef of Hill of Grace, and local and national football players.

Kalye is Shop 1/219 at The Parade Norwood, SA 5067 and may be contacted at +61 8 8333 1193. The cafe is open every day from 11 am to 10 p.m. —KBK, GMA News

Photos from Kalye's Facebook page