Simpsonville's Potato Joe's Kusina Latina brings Filipino and Puerto Rican cooking to Main Street
The Greenville Journal's Weekly Dish featured Potato Joe's Kusina Latina in Simpsonville, co-owned by Analyn Ortiz and Rizza Tumblin from Davao Oriental, after Filipino History Month.
Potato Joe's Kusina Latina, a Filipino and Puerto Rican restaurant at 430 SE Main Street in Simpsonville, was featured in the Greenville Journal's Weekly Dish column on 5 November. Columnist Tiare-Leiana Solis-Ridgell wrote that she visited on 21 October after a friend texted her about the shop, which she said had quietly opened next door to a gas station.
Co-owners Analyn Ortiz and Rizza Tumblin are both from Davao Oriental in the Philippines, the Greenville Journal reported. Ortiz was working when the columnist tried her pancit and chicken adobo. The idea came from a food truck started by Ortiz's husband, who is Puerto Rican.
Face-to-face with both communities
Ortiz told the Greenville Journal she is surprised how many Puerto Ricans and Filipinos are in the area. A permanent storefront has given her face-to-face introductions to both communities she had not had before, and she can introduce Upstate residents to foods they may not have tried.
"When you say [the food] and describe it, they don't like it but if you give them a taste of it," Ortiz said, "They don't even care what's the name of it, just 'Give me that!'"
Menu and hours
Who's On The Move reported on 26 August that Potato Joe's & Kusina Latina, at 430 SE Main Street (Suite C), officially launched operations in late May. The family-run, veteran-owned restaurant offers Filipino classics including pancit, lumpia, grilled meat skewers, adobo and ube-infused desserts topped with leche flan, alongside Puerto Rican staples such as tostones, mofongo, arroz con gandules, roasted pork and caramel flan.
According to Who's On The Move, the eatery is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and is closed on Mondays.
A Filipino History Month find
Solis-Ridgell framed the visit as catching up after Filipino History Month in October. She wrote that her grandfather Gilbert was a Filipino man from Hawaii who made sure each of his grandchildren knew how lucky they were to be Filipino.
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- The Greenville Journal featured Potato Joe's Kusina Latina at 430 SE Main Street in Simpsonville in its Weekly Dish column published on 5 November.
- Co-owners Analyn Ortiz and Rizza Tumblin are both from Davao Oriental in the Philippines, the Greenville Journal reported.
- Who's On The Move reported on 26 August that the restaurant officially launched operations in late May and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
- The menu includes Filipino dishes such as pancit, lumpia and adobo alongside Puerto Rican staples such as tostones and mofongo, according to Who's On The Move.
Official sources
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