Filipino food seems to be finally having its moment, after chef Lord Maynard of restaurant Kuya Lord nabbed a Best Chef in California James Beard award in June. It's a cuisine that's somehow stayed out of the culinary spotlight, despite its bold flavors and mash-up of Indigenous, Chinese, Spanish and American colonial influences.
Since the award, Kuya Lord is now solidly in the public consciousness, and getting rave reviews. If you want to continue your Filipino food exploration, here are some more places where you can experience the heart and soul of the Philippines, right here in the heart of L.A.
Dollar Hits (Historic Filipinotown)
Dollar Hits is a beloved barbecue spot in Historic Filipinotown, with its outdoor self-serve operation offering an authentic street food experience reminiscent of Manila.
Founded in 2013 as a food truck, it’s now grown to multiple locations, including one on West Temple Street. Here, you can find affordable and delicious meat skewers, including pork BBQ, chicken BBQ, and beef liver as well as non-meat options like kwek kwek (orange-battered quail eggs) and fish tofu. For the adventurous palate, try pork ears, beef intestines, and yes ... grilled chicken butt.
It also has a lively outdoor atmosphere and a communal dining setup, making it a great place for a late-night meal.
Location: 2432 West Temple St., Historic Filipinotown
Hours: Open Daily, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., closed Mondays
L.A. Rose Cafe (Hollywood)
Nestled in the heart of Hollywood since 1982, L.A. Rose Cafe has garnered a loyal following for its authentic Filipino dishes and kamayan feasts, where the food is presented on a banana leaf, and you use your hands to eat.
Its menu includes everything a Filipino lola (grandma) would know how to make, like the staple comfort foods of sinigang, a sour pork and vegetable soup made with a tamarind and tomato base, crispy fried milk fish, and pork or chicken adobo.
The menu also includes a variety of calamansi drinks, a citrus hybrid fruit native to the Philippines and other parts of Southeast Asia.
Location: 4749 Fountain Ave., Hollywood
Hours: Monday through Saturday: 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Point-Point Joint (East Hollywood)
For quick and reliable Filipino food service, look no further than Point-Point Joint. Established in 1988 by William and Rebecca Tan, this eatery brings the "turo-turo" (point-point) tradition to L.A., offering a wide array of home-cooked Filipino dishes with the convenience of fast food.
Its name is true to what happens. It's set up like a cafeteria, where you select the size of your plate and point to what you want. I put a classic Filipino favorite to the test — pork lechon. It hit the spot, perfectly combining fluffy, juicy pork meat with a crunch-fried skin crust. Served with a traditional sauce that mixes pork liver, vinegar, and various spices, it's a fried classic that's hard to deny.
Location: 4627 Santa Monica Blvd., Ste A, East Hollywood
Hours: Open daily, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Lasita (Chinatown)
A fresh and innovative take on Filipino cuisine, Lasita offers a hip dining experience with a focus on rotisserie and natural wines. Their menu features creative dishes like Chicken Inasal, (BBQ chicken flavored with vinegar, citrus juice, lemongrass and achiote) and Sizzlin’ Pork Belly Sisig, a dish served on a heated skillet with pork belly mixed in with peppers, calamansi juice, onions, garlic and a cracked egg.
There is also a vegan alternative sisig called Sizzlin' Shroom Sisig, which has the same kick as the regular sisig, minus the extra crunch and fatty bits. I recommend it as a healthy alternative option, that goes well as a side dish too. This place is pro at blending traditional flavors with a modern flair. It has a vibrant atmosphere and a commitment to quality ingredients, the perfect spot for food enthusiasts looking to explore contemporary Filipino food.
Location: 727 N Broadway #120 Chinatown, 90012
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Closed Sundays
Brandon Killman / LAist
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Brandon Killman / LAist
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Valerio's Bakeshop (East Hollywood)
Now for dessert! Valerio's Bakeshop, a family-owned bakery since the 1950s, offers an authentic Filipino baking experience, specializing in a variety of traditional desserts, like cassava bibingka, a cake using coconut and condensed milk, and ube ensaymada, a fluffy bread topped with butter, sugar, and cheese.
You can also get suman, a traditional Filipino dessert with fragrant pandan leaves and sweet sticky rice, and turon, fresh bananas wrapped in spring roll wrappers and deep-fried. It's all crafted using original family recipes, so you can taste the Phillipines in every bite.
Location: 4627 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029
Hours: Daily, 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
