Amber Smithwick has put Aurora Kusina on the map in shepton mallet, where the restaurant at 29 Town Street serves a modern twist on Filipino comfort food. The business is described as one of the only Filipino restaurants in Somerset, and it has already picked up recognition from TripAdvisor alongside a five-star Google rating.
Smithwick opened Aurora Kusina with her partner Ross and said they worked to perfect the dishes of her childhood. She said, "we are excited to share the recipes with our customers," linking the restaurant’s menu directly to the family food she grew up with.
Aurora’s family recipes
The restaurant takes its name from Smithwick’s mother, Aurora, who grew up in Tondo, Manila, before coming to the UK in the 1970s. That family connection runs through the kitchen as well: Smithwick and Ross both work in the restaurant, and they also own Tondo Café in Bridport, Dorset.
For customers, the menu turns that family story into a set of specific dishes. The reviewer and a vegetarian friend tried vegan options, including Aurora’s OG spring roll recipe, vegganisa empanadas, chilli mango salad and vegan chicharron.
29 Town Street in Shepton Mallet
The spring rolls were filled with shredded vegetables and tofu, then topped with sweet chilli ketchup, spring onion, crispy onions and coriander. The vegan chicharron was described as smoky and salty tofu crisps, giving the restaurant a format that reaches both vegetarian diners and people looking for Filipino comfort food with a modern twist.
For anyone deciding where to eat in Shepton Mallet, the practical takeaway is straightforward: Aurora Kusina is already operating at 29 Town Street, has visible online approval, and offers a menu built around family recipes rather than a generic pan-Asian list. In a county with very few Filipino restaurants, that combination gives diners a clear choice that is both specific and hard to miss.
