The best Filipino restaurants in Los Angeles

What is it? A fast-casual storefront in East Hollywood hawking rice bowls and family-style trays that add a chef’s twist to Filipino classics.

Why we love it: Though parking remains a huge hassle and weekend lines can get long, James Beard Award-winning chef Lord Maynard Llera’s mouthwatering lucenachon, buttery hiramasa collar and garlicky prawns will leave pork and seafood lovers on cloud nine—and unlike many other award-winning places in Los Angeles, Kuya Lord is worth the hype. Whether you’re ordering off the ever-changing specials menu or sticking to the signature trays (which easily feed two), Bestia’s former sous chef knocks it out of the park with gourmet flourishes like housemade pickled veggies and flavorful palm vinegar aged by Llera himself. Although prices run somewhat high for a fast-casual meal, the quality and flavor of every dish ensure that a trip to Kuya Lord is worth every penny.

Time Out tip: For slightly easier parking on weekdays, head here right at 7pm (Kuya Lord closes at 9pm), when the rush hour no-stopping signs no longer apply on this stretch of Melrose Avenue.

Address: 5003 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038

Opening hours: Tue–Thu 11am–3pm, 5–9pm; Fri–Sun 11am–3:30pm, 5–9pm

What is it? A new-school Filipino restaurant in Chinatown’s Far East Plaza.

Why we love it: Lasita has found its groove as a relaxed, youthful spot with excellent rotisserie options and natural wine. Initially opened in 2016 as Lasa—an elevated Filipino tasting menu concept—current owners Chase Valencia and Steff Barros Valencia have since reworked the space with a more casual atmosphere. Head chef Nico de Leon oversees a menu centered around two staple dishes, chicken inasal and pork belly lechon (the latter being the standard by which most Filipino restaurants are judged). Both dishes are a showcase of why, oftentimes, simpler is just better. Leon’s spectacular atchara (pickled vegetables) pair beautifully with the flavorful, moist inasal and crispy, crackly pork belly, available by the half-pound or in a combo plate. Each of Lasita’s well-made dipping sauces is so delicious and distinctive, you’ll likely want to order a trio. Among the rotating, slightly uneven selection of starters, I also like the seasonal fish kinilaw, pancit canton and smoked pork longganisa (a chorizo-like sausage)—but you can't go wrong with Lasita's wedge salad, dredged in a refreshing coconut green goddess dressing. 

Time Out tip: Order the fruity halo-halo for dessert. Unlike most halo-halos, Lasita's version is completely vegan thanks to coconut gelato and tampico-coconut milk.

Address: 727 N Broadway #120, Chinatown, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Opening hours: Mon–Sat 5:30–10pm

Why we love it: Given the large Filipino American community in the area, West Covina is full of good Filipino restaurants. Still, Salo-Salo Kitchen manages to stand out even in the competitive local dining scene thanks to its pitch-perfect rendition of crispy pata and soulful preparations of several traditional, more homey Filipino recipes, including escabeche isda (fish escabeche) and bagoong fried rice. Many people flock here for the ihaw-ihaw, or grilled skewers, including the chicken inasal. It’s true that Salo-Salo is definitely a trek for many people closer to L.A. proper, but the restaurant is worth the day trip if you’re hoping to experience some of the finest Filipino food in greater Los Angeles.

Time Out tip: Making the drive out just for Salo-Salo? Bring a group and order one of the restaurant’s $54 build-your-own family-style platters, which come with all manner of meat and seafood items, including crispy fried chicken and grilled jumbo squid.

Address: 2530 Amar Road, West Covina, CA 91792

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 11am–8pm, Sat–Sun 10am–8pm

Why we love it: Named after the father of chef-owner Barb Batiste, Big Boi serves delicious rice and pancit combo plates that incorporate Filipino classics like pork sisig, chicken adobo, longganisa and even housemade Spam. Each combo comes with a piece of Big Boi’s pandesal—a plain dinner roll and staple carb within Filipino cuisine. Other than Jollibee, Big Boi is the only place in Los Angeles where you can regularly find Filipino-style spaghetti, a sweet, yellow cheese-covered version of the classic American dish that uses hot dogs and banana ketchup. For dessert, head a few hundred yards over to Batiste's other dessert-oriented restaurant, B Sweet, which peddles several kinds of bread pudding, ube-flavored desserts and other crave-worthy desserts.

Time Out tip: Vegans, look alive—Big Boi also offers plant-based versions of lumpia, longganisa, sisig and housemade luncheon meat (a.k.a. Spam). 

Address: 2027 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

Opening hours: Wed–Fri 5–8pm; Sat, Sun 11am–9pm

Why we love it: Over the years, I can always count on Dollar Hits for a no-frills, affordable meal that takes me back to my childhood summers visiting my late grandfather and extended family in Cebu. The move, of course, is the DIY $1 skewers, which you then take to cook yourself on grills set up in the parking lot. Those who prefer to stick to more conventional meats will find plenty of pork and chicken, but where Dollar Hits truly shines is in its offal selection, from intestines to glistening hunks of pork blood. Fish balls, longanisa sausage, quail eggs and potato fritters round out the rest of the skewer selection, but the hot food counter itself is also worth a second look, especially for turon (deep-fried banana rolls) and balut (fertilized duck eggs). More recently, the Dollar Hits in Historic Filipinotown has also begun offering daily lunch combos for $12 and under, which are available before 2pm. The grill situation doesn’t start up until 4:30pm, however—so plan your visit accordingly.

Time Out tip: Skip the small strip mall parking lot and look for a spot around the corner on the street instead.

Address: Historic Filipinotown: 2432 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90026; West Covina: 1559 E Amar Rd, Ste C, West Covina, CA 91792

Opening hours: Historic Filipinotown: Tue–Sun 7am–11pm; West Covina: Tue–Fri 11:30am–10pm; Sat, Sun 10am–10:30pm

What is it? A modern Filipino restaurant in Silver Lake and Sawtelle with vegan-friendly fusion dishes and killer staple items.

Why we love it: With relatively affordable prices and a chef's attention to detail, Spoon & Pork is one of my favorite places in Los Angeles proper for a comforting Filipino meal. There are the standard pork-heavy dishes, including patita, a slow-braised, deep-fried pork shank; lechon kawali, or crispy pork belly; and a sizzling pork sisig, which delivers an ample kick courtesy of Fresno chilies and comes topped with a runny fried egg. But Spoon & Pork knows how to feed the typical Silverlake and Westside crowd—there are plant-based options on the menu, including a vegetarian-friendly mushroom salpicao and tofu adobo. If it’s your first time visiting, be sure to order their crunchy lechon kawali. 

Time Out tip: Order the food for the gods for dessert. It's the chef's family recipe and a sweet option you won't find at most other Filipino places in L.A. 

Address: Sawtelle: 2121 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025; Silver Lake: 3131 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Opening hours: Sawtelle: Tue–Sun noon–3pm, 5–9pm; Silver Lake: Tue–Sun noon–3pm, 5–9pm

Time Out tip: Order the food for the gods for dessert. It's the chef's family recipe and a sweet option you won't find at most other Filipino places in L.A.

What is it? A Quezon City-based international chain with locations in Glendale and Santa Clarita.

Why we love it: In addition to Jollibee, Max's is a go-to spot among first-generation Filipino Americans looking for a taste of the motherland. Known as “the house that fried chicken built,” Max’s has long been a household name in the Philippines for its succulent whole fried birds since World War II. For Angelenos, however, Max’s is also a great way to experience traditional Filipino cuisine—the menu offers chicken adobo, sinigang, multiple types of sisig (a sizzling, allium-rice plate) and iconic desserts like buko pandan, halo-halo and leche flan. I also like Max’s version of pancit palabok, which consists of plain rice garnished with shrimp paste and pork, plus garlic, pork cracklings, green onions and sliced egg. 

Time Out tip: The restaurant also offers takeout and delivery from satellite locations in Santa Clarita and Granada Hills.

Address: 313 W Broadway, Glendale, CA 91204

Opening hours: Mon–Sat 11am–8:30pm; Sun 10:30am–8:30pm

What is it? A homey restaurant and late-night karaoke bar in Panorama City.

Why we love it: Deep in the San Fernando Valley, Bamboo Bistro 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. 

Time Out tip: 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.

Address: 8516 Van Nuys Blvd, Panorama City, CA 91402

Opening hours: Mon 10am–9pm; Wed, Thu 10am–11pm; Fri 10am–1am; Sat 8am–1am; Sun 10am–10:30pm

What is it? A Cerritos turo-turo with a large array of affordably priced savory dishes, plus housemade desserts and a small grocery selection.

Why we love it: Since 1992, Pinoy Pinay has served Cerritos—home to a substantial portion of L.A.’s Filipino population—affordable combo plates and traditional sweets like biko (brown sugar sticky rice cake), kakanin (brightly colored sweet rice snacks), hopia (red bean pastries) and turon (deep-fried banana rolls). Icy sweet desserts like buko pandan, mais con hielo (a corn ice cream) and the country’s famous halo-halo round out an inexpensive meal here, which might include arroz caldo (chicken rice porridge), freshly wrapped lumpia and beef kare-kare. On my most recent visit, I particularly enjoyed the ginisang munggo (mung bean stew), mixed vegetable pinakbet and the delightful ginataang bilo-bilo, a warm dessert that consists of sticky rice bowls, assorted fruits and tapioca pearls in sweet coconut milk. Each meal also comes with a complimentary bowl of tangy sinigang soup.

Time Out tip: Need to feed a crowd, fast? Head here. You can get a three-item combo meal at Pinoy Pinay for under $20 after tax and tip. 

Address: 11900 S Street, Ste 107‑108, Cerritos, CA 90703

Opening hours: Mon–Wed 11am–7pm, Thu–Sun 11am–9pm

What is it? A casual Filipino-inspired barbecue joint in Historic Filipinotown right next to the award-winning bar Thunderbolt. 

Why we love it: For generations, the Concordia family has been mastering the art of barbecue—and the Park’s Finest is the happy result. At this casual eatery in Historic Filipinotown, chef and co-owner Johneric Concordia spices up Southern barbecue with Filipino flavors. The smoky-sweet barbecue sauce mixes cane sugar, pineapple, soy sauce, chili peppers and spices atop traditional cuts like pork ribs, hot links, pulled pork and tri-tip. While the fare here is by no means traditional, the flavors of the Philippines shine true here in dishes like the coconut beef adobo, which combines cubes of 16-hour smoked chuck in a stew made of coconut cream, vinegar, chili and fish sauce and the must-order cornbread bibingka. 

Time Out tip: On Wednesdays, the Park’s Finest offers the $18.50 Worker Wednesday plate. This midweek smorgasbord meal includes portions of coconut beef, a medley of hot links, pulled pork, candy-coated chicken, vegetables and rice, plus a hefty piece of cornbread bibingka. It’s a hearty meal for the tired and hungry masses, in the best way possible.

Address: 1267 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Opening hours: Tue 5–10pm, Wed–Sun 11am–10pm

What is it? An affordable Long Beach lunchtime staple that has served the area’s sizable Filipino community for over three decades. 

Why we love it: Down in Long Beach, Edna’s offers an alluring assortment of turo-turo dishes which can be ordered as multi-item combo plates. (Turo-turo literally translates to “point-point” in Tagalog, which might clue you into just how you'll be ordering a meal here.) There may not be much in the way of atmosphere here, but the soulful cooking shines through in shades with a pinakbet (a quintessential vegetable dish) rich in bagoong (fermented fish paste) and crisp chicharon bulaklak served with a spicy palm vinegar. The lip-smackingly sour sinigang (tamarind-rich soup) and other staples don’t break the bank either—just note that Edna’s closes its doors at 3pm most days of the week, and 2pm on Sundays. 

Time Out tip: Similar to Cantonese barbecue joints, you can also order chicharon, fried smelt, lechon and fried chicken skin by the pound to eat on the premises or take home.

Address: 2540 Santa Fe Ave, Long Beach, CA 90810

Opening hours: Mon–Sat 10am–3pm, Sun 10am–2pm

Why we love it: With everyday, reasonably priced staples and karaoke nights on the weekends, Kusina Filipina dutifully serves two parts of L.A. that many Filipinos call home. The menu features all the country’s increasingly recognizable dishes, plus a handful of harder-to-find delicacies like dinuguan (a savory pork blood stew) and bulaklak (deep-fried pork ruffle fat) served with a bright garlic vinegar. For a homey, vegetable-rich dish, opt for the tortang talong, a grilled eggplant and meat omelette or the ampalaya (bitter melon) with scrambled egg. The all-day breakfast menu includes various forms of silog, which refers to the combination of garlic fried rice and egg.

Time Out tip: If you’re rolling in with a large group, order one of the appetizer or seafood platters.

Address: Eagle Rock: 4157 Eagle Rock Blvd, Ste 1, Los Angeles, CA 90065; Cerritos: 11305 183rd St, Cerritos, CA 90703

Opening hours: Eagle Rock: Mon–Sat 10am–10pm, Sun 10am–8pm; Cerritos: Mon–Thu 11am–8:30pm; Fri, Sat 11am–10pm; Sun 11am–8pm

What is it? An East Hollywood institution with a homey, living room-like atmosphere and lunch specials.

Why we love it: For the last four decades, L.A. Rose Cafe has served a solid, consistently good menu of Filipino dishes that still fires on all cylinders today. The charming atmosphere and generous portions—Rose Cafe’s pancit palabok with salted dried fish can easily feed two—keep locals coming back for more, and dishes like the buchon (Cebuano-style roasted pig) and dinuguan (pork blood stew) rival those of restaurants in the Philippines itself. It’s also one of the best places in the city for a traditional halo-halo—the country’s answer to shaved ice, which is very likely influenced by Japanese kakigori. Here, the dessert is served in a banana split bowl instead of a plastic cup or tall sundae glass, which allows for better mixing of the bright purple ube ice cream, candied fruits, purple yam and creamy flan.

Time Out tip: Order one of the restaurant’s famous empanadas, which come with a housemade sweet mustard sauce.

Address: 4749 Fountain Ave, Los Angeles, CA  90029

Opening hours: Mon–Sat 8am–8:30pm, Sun 10am–4:30pm

What is it? A relatively new Filipino restaurant in Silver Lake serving fusion-style dishes and a standout chicken inasal.

Why we love it: It’s not my absolute favorite place in town, but this former catering operation serves a chicken inasal that actually satisfied my uncle who grew up in Bacolod, a city in the Western Visayas widely considered the birthplace of the grilled chicken dish. Unlike most places, Manila Inasal has yet to figure out how to scale down its cooking—the restaurant practically demands a group of four or more to enjoy a meal with a variety of dishes. I can award points for creativity when it comes to the slightly over-the-top fusion dishes, such as squares of focaccia bread served with a side of laing (stewed spinach and taro in coconut milk). Still, dishes here generally tend to run on the heavier side, even for Filipino cuisine. The kare-kare, for example, ran too mild and sweet for my taste, and the crab tortang talong smeared with aioli and tobiko fish roe felt downright greasy. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the chicken inasal, and vegan-friendly jackfruit and tofu adobo—so maybe stick to that?

Time Out tip: Expect live music if you’re visiting on the weekends.

Address: 240 N Virgil Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004

Opening hours: Tue–Sat 11am–10pm; Sun 11am–8pm

What is it? Another longtime turo-turo in Historic Filipinotown. 

Why we love it: There’s nothing fancy about Kubo (formerly known as Bahay Kubo), but that’s simply part of the place’s charm. You point at what you want; you pay, you eat, you leave. Despite the no-frills ambience, the quality of the food more than delivers with a peanutty kare-kare, a spicy bicol express (coconut milk stew) and inihaw baboy (grilled pork). For those who want to indulge in even more swine, try the paksiw, a soy-based hock stew made with onions and banana flowers; or the bopis, a sautéed, slightly spicy mix of lungs, heart, tomatoes, chilies and onions that’s perfect as a salty snack on the side.

Time Out tip: Kubo is also a popular catering option in the Filipino community for baby showers, birthday parties and weddings.

Address: 2330 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Opening hours: Tue–Sat 7:30am–7pm

What is it? A no-frills turo-turo joint with locations in East Hollywood and Eagle Rock.

Why we love it: Every day but Sunday, Little Ongpin serves a dirt-cheap lunchtime feast of Chinese-inflected items like miki bihon (which uses thick wheat noodles), siopao (steamed meat buns) and the Filipino version of shumai. Other Little Ongpin staples include the lumpia Shanghai and maki, a Chinese Filipino soy-based pork noodle dish whose thickness calls to mind Chinese American hot and sour soup. Be sure to check the screens up above when you’re ordering for specials—there’s always something interesting on the menu.

Time Out tip: Most people love the pancit and lumpia here, so if you’re at a loss for what to get, start with that. 

Address: East Hollywood:  5050 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027; Eagle Rock: 3756 W Ave 40 Ste 1B, Los Angeles, CA  90065

Opening hours: East Hollywood: Mon–Fri 10am–6pm, Sat 9am–3pm; Eagle Rock: Tue–Sat 10am–6pm