Why Istorya?

Many Filipino Americans today feel disconnected by their own cultural roots. It’s a sad reality that many of us experience given what our families carried throughout the diaspora. Our founder Walbert Castillo traveled to the motherland to retrace his ancestral roots. Learning his own origin story motivated him to tell the origin stories of our people. 

Istorya is a Las Vegas based pop-up restaurant that serves culinary journeys inspired by Philippine history. Under the direction of Chef Catherine Carlucci, we encourage guests to travel back in time and rediscover Filipino cuisine with menus inspired by different cultural influences through our pop-up dinners. Istorya was awarded Best-Pop Up Restaurant in Las Vegas by The Las Vegas Weekly.

Istorya started as a passion project for Filipinos who felt disconnected from their own cultural identity. We want to provide food experiences that inspire joy, drive exploration of Filipino identities, and rekindle a connection to our roots. We’re energized by Filipinos who carry knowledge about the rich culture, and we aim to ground ourselves in their stories to take our craft to the next level. We invite everyone to partake in this joy. 

Our team is composed of foodie-obsessed storytellers who are actively working to pay respect to the culture and history of the Philippines. We invite you to gather with us to honor shared history and pay homage to Philippine heritage over delicious food. Meet our team below!


Meet Team Istorya!