Hapag Ala Eh brings Filipino flavours to historic downtown location

By Lethbridge Herald on February 11, 2026.

HERALD PHOTO BY JOE MANIO Chef Anton Mojares directs his serving team from the kitchen as he, his wife Gelai and other kitchen staff prepare both take-out and dine-in orders during the restaurant’s soft opening on Sunday.

By Joe Manio

Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge’s growing multicultural restaurant scene.
Downtown Lethbridge is getting a new taste of the Philippines with the opening of Hapag Ala Eh, a family-owned restaurant in a space with deep culinary history.
“Hapag” refers to a dining table—specifically one where people gather to eat. “Ala Eh” is a well-known colloquial expression from Batangas, often used for emphasis or pride. Together, the name roughly translates to “The Table, Wow!” or “The Table, of course!”—signalling a place of gathering and authentic Batangueño hospitality.
The restaurant occupies the historic Burns Block, long associated with Chinese cuisine in downtown Lethbridge. The space was home to the Original Shanghai Chop House—also known as Shanghai Chop Suey—a name seen for generations in the neon letters above the second-floor window and on the building’s iconic revolving sign.
While not Lethbridge’s first Chinese restaurant, the Original Shanghai Chop House was among the city’s oldest, opening in 1942 and serving generations before closing unexpectedly at the end of 2025. The transition carries a sense of continuity. The new family-owned restaurant continues the legacy of family-driven dining in the downtown core.
The owners have preserved much of the building’s visual history. The revolving sign now reads “Hapag Ala Eh” with the restaurant’s logo, while the historic neon letters remain unlit—a nod to the past and a signal of a new chapter.
Chef Anton Mojares, originally from Batangas, Philippines, brings years of culinary experience to the restaurant, having honed his skills through previous ventures and home-based cooking projects.
Hapag Ala Eh marked its soft opening on Super Bowl Sunday, welcoming diners at 11 a.m. Mojares and his wife worked in the kitchen while their daughters served customers. They were supported by a small team of friends who “just showed up” to help, Mojares said. In Filipino culture, friends are considered family, so their support came naturally.
“We start from the heart,” said Mojares. “We carefully select local, fresh ingredients and put our dedication into every dish. We hope to bring people both satisfaction and a taste of home—cooking like our grandparents’ recipes.”
Among the early standout dishes was crispy pata, a deep-fried pork leg. Ten buckets were prepared for opening day; by 3:30 p.m., only three remained, highlighting strong early interest.
Filipino cuisine, known for balancing sweet, savoury and tangy flavours, continues to gain visibility across Canada, and Lethbridge is no exception. The city’s growing Filipino population is reflected in Hapag Ala Eh, providing cultural representation through food.
“Food is the ultimate universal language and the most effective bridge for multiculturalism,” said Gerry Saguin, president of the Filipino Fiesta Society of Lethbridge. “It’s hard to have a clash of cultures when you’re sharing a meal. Cuisine lets us invite our neighbours into our heritage in a way that is sensory, joyful and accessible. In a growing city like Lethbridge, a plate of food is often the first step toward true community integration.”
Hapag Ala Eh joins several established Filipino eateries, including Sarsa Grill, Kuya Will’s & Tobits Cuisina, Raskie’s Kusina, Tambayan Ni Kabayan Bakery and Café, and Kusina Xpress, further expanding the local Filipino food scene.
Mayor Blaine Hyggen said locally owned restaurants play a key role in maintaining downtown’s character. After a short drive back from Calgary, he made a brief detour to visit Hapag Ala Eh during its soft opening.
“Historic downtown spaces evolve as owners retire and new families take the next step,” he said. “When people support local restaurants, they’re not just supporting a business—they’re helping preserve downtown’s character and keep these legacy buildings alive.”
In addition to crispy pata, Hapag Ala Eh serves steamed buns, sisig, lumpia, desserts and more, offering diners both a culinary introduction and a sense of home.
Hapag Ala Eh’s opening continues a long tradition of culturally rooted cuisine at this downtown location—honouring the legacy of Shanghai Chop Suey while adding a new chapter to the Burns Block’s story, defined by family, flavour and a changing city core.
Hours of operation: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (subject to change; updated hours are on the restaurant’s Facebook page)
Address: 610 3rd Ave. S., Lethbridge