SEATTLE — With respect for her family's heritage and the courage to innovate, Melissa Miranda is charting a bold new course for Seattle's food scene.
"Really trying to create a space that showcases Filipino hospitality," Miranda said.
The three-time James Beard Award nominee is the founder of Musang in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood, the viewers' choice for Best Filipino Food in 2024's Best of Western Washington.
Musang is actually her father's nickname.
"I always cooked with my dad, I cooked with my mom," Miranda said. "It was just something I was really passionate about."
The menu makes use of traditional Filipino recipes with a local twist.
"Utilizing ingredients from the Pacific Northwest and applying it in ways that's super nostalgic for Filipinos," she said. "And then, for folks that have never had Filipino food before, just to be really surprised by what it is that we make."
The restaurant serves more than food. It also delivers heaping portions of compassion. During the pandemic, Miranda converted Musang into a community kitchen to feed people in need.
"I think being able to have a community that supports you and that you can also, in turn, support them makes what we do a little bit more sustainable," she said.
Now back to its mission of fine dining, the restaurant has set the standard for paying employees a livable wage.
Miranda said, "Making sure that they're taking care of themselves, that they're getting time off, so that they can show up here rested and kind of ready to go."
Musang's monthly pop-ups feature guest chefs, giving up-and-coming innovators a chance to shine.
"If you had your own space, what would it be like?," Miranda said.
For flavorful food and much, much more, you voted Musang the best.
Musang is open for dinner from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. every day but Tuesday. It's located at 2524 Beacon Ave S in Seattle.
KING 5's Evening celebrates the Northwest. Contact us: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Email.