Filipino Pop-Up Kultura Finds Permanent Home on Spring Street

Since last December, chef Nikko Cagalanan has popped up at the downtown location of Baguette Magic (73 Spring Street, Charleston) every Friday and Saturday as Filipino restaurant Kultura. Now, Cagalanan and Baguette Magic co-owner Paula Kramer have teamed up to make Filipino flavors a more permanent fixture on Spring Street. Since last Friday, Kultura is now open Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Monday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. with brunch on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In the mornings, the space offers coffee and pastries from Baguette Magic but with Filipino flavors, like ube lattes, guava “Pop-Tarts,” and egg sandwiches with pork belly adobo. In the evenings, Cagalanan puts out dishes inspired by the food he grew up eating but with fine dining touches. “It is different from the way we grew up in the Philippines,” he says, “The flavor is authentic Filipino, but the way it’s plated is a bit different.” The opening dinner menu includes arroz caldo with smoked trout roe, pancit with lump crab, and a whole snapper curry.

Cagalanan and Kramer say they will take the next two months to see how the space works and adjust due to the needs of the neighborhood. After that, they want to give the space a tropical makeover and hope to include more collaborative dinners with guest chefs.