Raquel Villaneuva Dang

Raquel Villanueva Dang, BS ’11

Baby’s Kusina + Market

Philadelphia, PA

Celebrating Filipino Heritage in Philly

Raquel Villanueva Dang, BS ’11, is bringing a touch of Filipino culture to Brewerytown at Baby’s Kusina + Market. Villanueva Dang and her husband, co-owner Tam, are both first-generation Asian Americans, and have been introducing Philadelphians to the flavors of the Philippines for eight years, first as a pop-up and then as a brick-and-mortar starting in 2025. They have unique menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as an extensive list of coffee offerings with beans sourced from the Philippines. 



 

Quick Bites

Baby’s is named after Villanueva Dang’s mother, whose nickname is Tita Baby. 

Villanueva Dang and her husband, Tam, first debuted their concept as a pop-up in 2019 while Villanueva Dang was still working in corporate marketing. 

Ruby Ibarra, Filipina rapper and the winner of NPR’s Tiny Desk contest in 2025, recently dined at Baby’s.

Illustration of Rich Tita at Baby's

Inspiration for going into the food business? 

My love for food came from my family. I wanted to celebrate my Filipino heritage and bring more representation of Filipino cuisine to Philadelphia.

Best part about being a restaurant/business owner? 

Definitely the freedom to create and innovate. In the kitchen, discovering new dishes or improving staples. But also creating a brand and a voice for Baby’s. Exploring new partnerships, ways to give back to the community — the possibilities are really endless. 

Biggest challenge as a business owner?

The food industry is constantly changing and we have to be ready to change with it. It’s a real challenge to fully understand and prepare for this constantly shifting landscape. But we think that by studying consumer trends, we can anticipate where things are headed and adapt.

How has your education impacted you as an entrepreneur?

The biggest thing my education did for me was to give me the opportunity to shape my leadership traits and discover how I prefer to lead. There is so much to be said for knowing who you are before starting a venture like this.

Can’t-miss menu item?

Our Rich Tita breakfast sandwich. We use pork longanisa as the base, add on a fried egg, cooper sharp cheese and arugula. and top it off with a chili-mansi aioli. My favorite part is that the sandwich comes on a house-made pandesal roll; this was a really important ode to my heritage.

SJU-themed meal or dish?

In University City, there was a beloved food truck called Linda's. I would make a rendition of the chicken pita sandwich, which I would get weekly at the truck. A classic!

 

Follow Baby’s Kusina + Market on Social:

Hungry for More?