Filipino restaurant Kayu Launches Weekend Pop-Up Café Morena in Washington, DC

Washington, D.C. — A new Filipino-ish daytime cafe concept brought rice bowls, nostalgic flavors, and cultural pride to Dupont Circle.

Chef Paolo Dungca launched Morena, a weekend pop-up café that operated out of Kayu. The concept debuted April 25, running Saturdays and Sundays (“for now” as stated in their Instagram account) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with plans at the time to expand hours later in the year.

Morena marked a revival and evolution of Hiraya, the daytime café Dungca previously operated alongside Kayu’s original H Street location. After Kayu relocated to Dupont Circle, demand from diners for a daytime option remained strong, prompting its return in a new form.

At its core, Morena centered on Filipino breakfast traditions, particularly silog-style rice bowls, a staple combination of garlic rice, eggs, and protein. The menu featured updated takes on these classics, including garlic-turmeric rice topped with fried eggs, pickled green papaya, and options like smoked pork longganisa, barbecue beef short ribs, burnt coconut chicken, and tofu-mushroom sisig.

Beyond rice bowls, Morena leaned into playful, culturally inspired beverages and comfort foods. Drinks included dessert-style lattes such as ube horchata and bibingka latte, as well as a standout bilo bilo matcha featuring chewy rice balls and jackfruit. Sandwiches, fried chicken, and burgers rounded out the menu, offering quick, accessible options for daytime diners.

Dungca said the concept reflected what diners were looking for: food that was both fast and satisfying without sacrificing identity.

The name “Morena”, a term referring to brown skin in both Spanish and Filipino contexts, signaled a deeper cultural intention. It celebrated Filipino identity and mirrored the ethos behind Kayu, which itself draws from the Tagalog word “kayumanggi,” another reference to brown skin and heritage.

The opening generated strong local buzz, with early promotions including giveaways for the first customers and a notable turnout from the community.

For Washington’s growing Filipino food scene, Morena added another layer: a casual, daytime entry point that complemented Kayu’s more refined evening service. If successful, Dungca had indicated plans to expand Morena into a full-time daytime café operating several days a week.

As Filipino cuisine continued gaining visibility in the District, Morena positioned itself as both a nostalgic return and a forward-looking concept, blending tradition, accessibility, and cultural storytelling into every bowl.