Roger Lingal at his Cringila-based Filipino restaurant Atin Ito. Photos: Atin Ito.
Timing and hard work played roles in the opening of Cringila’s Filipino restaurant Atin Ito, but as a man of faith, owner Roger Lingal credits only one thing.
“Our restaurant is closed on Sunday because we dedicate that day to church,” he says. “I believe it’s God who will bring success to our business, not our hard work. If not for his grace, we wouldn’t be here today.”
Whether divine intervention played the starring role, one thing is certain – it’s not down to experience.
Roger immigrated from the Philippines in 1986, first living in Nowra for three years before moving to Wollongong where he worked first as a technician for the local ten-pin bowling alley before becoming a steward at Novotel Wollongong North Beach.
When COVID lockdowns hit, he started cooking for family and friends.
“I surprised even myself,” he laughs.
“When I was young I lived with my uncle and aunty and they had a catering service in the Philippines. I picked up on some of the operational side of things, but definitely not the cooking.
“We were all so limited in our options, though. We couldn’t go out to restaurants and have big meals with extended family, so I did some research and started cooking authentic Filipino food. Sinigang, adobo, panict, sisig … it was more and more popular, and people started asking for catering in greater quantities and more variety. So we started to look for a commercial kitchen.”
Atin Ito which means “This is ours” – a firm nod to the authenticity of the food – opened in July 2023.
The site was once a restaurant, so when Roger put through his application to the council, he decided to check “dine in” as an option. If it was approved, a restaurant would be appended to the catering business.
Roger says the restaurant has been embraced by the local community, but a surprising number of patrons come from far and wide.
“I have had people come from Canberra, the Southern Highlands, interstate – as far as Western Australia – and even patrons from New Zealand. They obviously come to Wollongong because it is a beautiful place, but many come especially to my restaurant because they want authentic Filipino food,” he says.
“Many of my Filipino customers say it reminds them of their childhood memories, their grandma’s cooking … that’s a big compliment to me.”
A lot of Filipino food is characterised by a punchy balance of tangy, sweet and salty flavours, and is influenced greatly by Spanish cuisine – unsurprising, given the Philippines was part of the Spanish Empire for 300 years and was the sole Spanish colony in Asia.
The menu at Atin Ito is varied, but the restaurant is perhaps best known for its lechon kawali (deep fried pork belly) or the crispy pata (deep fried pork hock).
“We try to keep it all as authentic as possible,” Roger says.
Atin Ito is located at Shop 2/7-9 Lake Ave, Cringila and is open Wednesday to Saturday 10:30 am to 2:30 pm and 5:30 to 8:30 pm.
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