Cool authentic homemade local Filipino eatery with casual relaxed Hawaii island ambiance....complete with smiles.
We not only lived in Hawaii for many years, but have Filipinos as friends and family for decades, so we do know both Hawaiian food, as well as, Filipino food.
While I have eaten Lumpia for well over 1/2 Century, I did not have them every other day until I moved from NYC to Hawaii. I tend to adore almost any sort of crunchy treat that is endemic to many Asian cuisines. Some may know these are Spring Rolls in Vietnamese or Chinese foods, but the Filipino versions can be different. While they are all called Lumpia, the fillings can vary, and at this place, there are at least two variants. One is filled with beef and are thicker, and the others are perhaps more Chinese, and are filled with pork and are skinny.
The Skinny pork ones are my favs and are termed Lumpia Shanghai...and these are the ones to get IMHO.
Of course, no menu is complete with Pancit, Adobo, and Lumpia all coexisting on the same Plate Lunch plate...as we enjoyed in Hawaii. One can save on the pricey flight and hotel, grab a Plate Lunch here and head over to Grover or Pismo Beach to pretend one was somehow Teleported to the islands...such as Kauai.
To complete the Filipino experience, then one can also get the owners version of Halo Halo. It had all sorts of treats in it, such as Red Bean, Ice cream, corn flakes, Tapioca beads, a wafer straw, and even a topping of Flan. It is a refreshing and cool drink/ desert that most Americans have never tried before.
The owner is a hoot and flies back and forth to Hawaii routinely and tends to bring back new ideas for the eclectic menu. The ambiance is relaxing and customers are treated like kings. This is like a faster food place, but with a homestyle vibe. It really reminds me of some of the local places in rural Hawaii, that may have a personal touch.
They do have some weekend special options as well.
If someone is new to the Filipino food scene, this is a good introduction to it, since what is serve here are some of the homemade staples that are made by Filipinos in Hawaii and even in the SLO area.
Of course, one can also go to Debu Filipino grocery in Pismo to grab the ingredients as well, but you still would need to go here to find out how it should taste.
This little place does a fine job of creating Filipino dishes. It is also a local place that should be supported by the community.
P.S.- Do not forget to ask for the sauces to compliment your dish...such as Hot sauce, imported Asian Vinegar, Fish Sauce, etc.... In many cases, the condiments can make or break a dish. read more