Bamboo Bistro

Near the center of the San Fernando Valley, this homey restaurant and karaoke bar in Panorama City serves affordably priced casual Filipino cuisine, plus an impressive brunch buffet on the weekends (8am–3pm). All the greatest hits are here, from kare-kare (a peanut-rich oxtail and vegetable stew) to pancit bihon (stir-fried thin rice noodles) and pork tocino (a tender, slightly sweet sausage). On colder days, slurp up comforting soups like tinola, tamarind-rich sinigang and chicken sotanghon (a clear broth with veggies, meat and plenty of glass cellophane noodles). Bamboo Bistro even serves fried bangus, or milkfish—a quintessential fish served with spiced palm vinegar and rice that often falls by the wayside on L.A.’s Filipino menus. Best of all, this is one of the few places in town where you can regularly enjoy meals kamayan-style, where entrées are served on an individual-sized bed of banana leaves and guests are encouraged to eat with their (clean) hands.