Magna Kusina

MAGNA KUSINA

Nothing could have prepared me for how lonely and homesick I felt after I first moved to Vancouver from the Bay Area. My personality is such that I don’t typically make friends easily so I tried finding solace by seeking out the best Filipino food I could find. While there were moments of delight, I was mostly disappointed in the sad, bland options that I was finding. I had mostly given up that anything inspiring would come along until I read a little blurb about this new restaurant called Magna that would be opening up in August of 2019.

I just had to go.

I brought my then 5-year-old as my date on the second day of opening week. We went back for my birthday, we went back for my child’s birthday, we would go as often as we could.

Fast forward through a couple years of pandemic and hardship, it now feels like a second home for me and a place of belonging for many.

On the surface, @magnapdx is a restaurant that serves some of the most inspiring Filipino food in the area, but to many people in the community, it is so much more. This tiny but mighty spot on Clinton St. has provided a safe haven and has served as an inclusive incubator for pop ups and collaborations such as @chelopdx @alliegspastries @sunricepdx @wepapdx @jem.supper.club @stabs_smokedmeats_asianeats. It has hosted @tikimpdx meetings and has become a spot to hang out and celebrate after hours because we’re alive and we’re together after a couple of extremely difficult years. I could go on about the food, but honestly the pictures can speak for themselves, the accolades can speak for themselves.

At it’s heart, Magna is about family. The food brought me here, but the people made me want to stay.

Thank you @twistedfilipino @bobbiedovar @jeepney_collective @whereiskev @icharlie888 @lestoiinks @j0yce_totheworld @_freefreako @timtakesphotos @buhnbee @stabs_smokedmeats_asianeats

🖤 Jane