Pinoy Pinay Filipino Fast Food

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.