Our Story
The kitchen behind the pink tent.
Meet Philicia Saephan
La Chinita’s Cocina is the work of founder Philicia Saephan, who has spent 17 years in the food industry. Her cooking brings together two comfort traditions — Mexican and Mien — in one joyful kitchen: conchas next to pandan cookies, tacos next to noodle soup.
Everything she serves is halal. That is the promise in her kitchen — comfort food everyone at the table can share, made with love.
Known for the sweets
Philicia is known for her conchas, the pillowy Mexican sweet breads with their signature shell topping. Her ube cookies and signature stuffed cookies — like the brown butter cookies-and-cream halal s’mores cookie — have built a loyal market following of their own.
Around Seattle
You can find La Chinita’s Cocina at farmers markets across Seattle each week, and Philicia is also a baker in residence at Anh Ơi Bake Shop in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District. Her cookies were even featured in The Stranger.
Giving back
Alongside the baking, Philicia runs a fundraiser for lupus research. You can support it here: La Chinita’s Cocina lupus fundraiser.