If anyone has redefined contemporary street food in San Francisco, it’s longtime pals Evan Kidera and Gil Payumo’s Señor Sisig fusion food truck. With their special twist on a Filipino happy hour dish sisig, Señor Sisig took the portability of their favorite Mexican taqueria dishes and melded the two together to reflect their diverse palette and down-home appeal. Though sisig is traditionally made from parts of the pig’s head bought from the butcher to make use of the entire pig, Señor Sisig’s more palatable version uses the meatier pork shoulder.
Taken from his father’s family’s recipe in Pampanga, a region renowned as the “breadbasket” of the Philippines for its legacy in culinary traditions, Chef Gil marinates the pork shoulder for over 24 hours in a special blend of spices and charbroils the meat until it is packed with succulent juicy flavor. He then uses it as the base for most of the dishes. Not a pork lover? They also have an outstanding version with chicken and tofu, every bit as filling as its porky counterpart.
But how did this culinary crossover happen? Though they both met in high school in Daly City, California, and followed their own respective paths, Evan receiving his MBA at San Francisco State and Gil graduating from Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Academy, entrepreneurship and food runs deep in both of their family’s bloodline and it was only a matter of time that their shared love of Filipino food would turn into a fusion rolling restaurant, with Chef Gil at the grill and Evan at the wheel.
Try it once and you’ll be hooked! As Senor Sisig continues to expand, you won’t have to wait too long to experience a truly unique take on a traditional Filipino delicacy. It’s fast, its fun, it’s flavorful, and best of all, it’s truly San Franciscan.