Had lunch with a friend, and now I completely understand why this place was recommended…read more I ordered the Tocino Entree which came with grilled sweet pork, atchara papaya salad, a house salad, and garlic fried rice. It was SOOO good! The pork was flavorful with the perfect balance of sweetness, and the garlic fried rice paired wonderfully with it. Everything on the plate worked so well together. My friend ordered the Ube Waffle & Filipino Fried Chicken with Ube Ice Cream. I loved the waffle and the ice cream, but unfortunately, the fried chicken was a bit too dry for my taste. It wasn't bad, but it definitely wasn't the highlight of the meal for me. Of course, we had to save room for dessert, and I'm so glad we did. The Ube Bread Pudding with Ube Ice Cream was AMAZING. The bread pudding was warm, rich, and comforting, while the ice cream balanced the sweetness. If you are an ube fan, this place is a must-visit. There are other ube-inspired menu items. Will definitely be coming back. Hubby will love it! There are so many other dishes on the menu that I'd love to try and Tocino Entree alone is worth another visit.

I love Filipino food and I was so happy that Mount Pleasant has this little gem situated there…read more I've been to Purple Patch twice now, once for dinner and once for weekend brunch. It's a bit of a small space, but they have packed as much seating as physically possible in there. There's small tables and a bar seating area as well. Reservations are highly recommended because it can get extremely busy. In this review, I'll share about my weekend brunch experience. We came on a rainy day not expecting too many people so we didn't make a reservation beforehand. Turns out, everyone was hiding from the rain in here and it was quite lively inside. The host still graciously sat my friend and I at the bar, and we could still order from the same food menu. I love a savory brunch so I ordered the classic Filipino breakfast with Tocilog. We also got a side of their crispy pork. The breakfast was good, but I honestly feel like it could have been better. The tocilog itself and the egg were a bit cold. The flavor still tasted good, but I'm sure the whole dish would have been even better if everything was warm/hot. The crispy pork was unfortunately dry. It was difficult for me to want to finish it, and I love crispy pork! The ube cheesecake and ice cream was the perfect dessert for sharing and to end the brunch on a sweet note. Would definitely want to come back just for that.

Morena, Kayu, where to begin? I had the most delicious rice bowls and ube lattes at Morena's grand…read moreopening (Kayu's cafe). I liked that the drinks were simple yet distinct. They were all $5.50, except the bilo bilo matcha ($6). There were five options: *ube horchata latte *bibingka latte (salted egg caramel) *sampaguita latte (jasmine) *buko pandan latte (coconut pandan) *bilo bilo matcha They also have teas, cocktails, and two mocktails. I tried the burnt coconut chicken and BBQ beef rice bowls. The meat tasted as if it came right off the grill, with great marination. Both dishes also come with papaya atsara, which adds a bold pickled flavor to the mix. I'm excited to do some work here this weekend. Kayu also has great food, and becomes Morena on Saturday and Sunday (9 am-3 pm).

Kayu is a creative and tasty place to eat.  We love how they added a splash…read moreof color to both the cocktail menu with their ube drink and the hot chicken bao bun appetizer.    The purple bun was very appealing and the chicken was nice and juicy.  The sauce was good and we would have enjoyed even more of it and a little more heat.  The second playful dish was the kinilaw which was a mix of ceviche tuna and watermelon.  It was a trompe l'oiel as you tried to tell which cube was which.  The tuna was tasty and the watermelon nice and crisp.  In this dish, the sauce had a bit more zing and spice.  We also enjoyed the curry angnolotti but our favorite dish was the cashew kare kare   The meat was well cooked and the eggplant and the peas added to the tasty sauce.  We only wished for some rice to soak up more of the sauce. For dessert we ordered the  tsokolate which was a wonderful dark chocolate with a great smooth texture.  The space itself is playfully decorated as well and showcases some important mementos of the chefs' careers.  We look forward to finding out what other creative culinary treats await us on our next visit.

This place serves amazing Filipino food! We ordered a bunch of dishes to share among three…read morefriends--lumpia, lechon, pork sisig, and pancit--and everything was flavorful and delicious. The restaurant has a casual, laid-back setup where you order at the counter and they bring the food to your table. While ordering, we had the pleasure of meeting the owner, Javier, who shared the story behind the restaurant. His sister runs the sister restaurant, Gwenie's, and Gwenie is actually their mom! The recipes here are inspired by their family's home cooking, which really comes through in the food. We ended our delightful lunch with desserts from Gwenie's: ube cake, an ice cream cookie, and a mango cream donut. Everything was fantastic! We're so glad we stopped by and got to experience such delicious food and a little piece of their family story. Definitely a place worth visiting!

I was finally able to try this place after hearing so many good things about them on Instagram. We…read moreordered the lechon bowl, pancit, lumpia and pork sisig. Everything was delicious. I really enjoyed the lumpia. It was crispy and loved that it was a longer lumpia rather than a short one. For dessert, we ordered Gwenie's mango donut, ube cake, and sylvana. So happy I shared the desserts with my friends. Less calories for me. Our food was brought to us quickly, less than 5 minutes. The ambiance is fast casual. There were some tables and we arrived at the right time. The place got packed quickly.

My first time here was a bit confusing, we had a reservation and walked up the stairs to the…read moreentrance and the door was locked so we were confused. So we're getting ready to leave and only then realize there's also a basement door. If you come from downhill, you don't pass the basement door first so you don't see it. They should have a sign upstairs indicating entrance is downstairs. They offer guests public wifi? I'm sorry I don't know a single restaurant in DC that does this, every single one has a password. Public wifi isn't safe. I've been here twice now, first time they were out of the Dirty Banana. Second visit I sat at the bar and ordered it but they don't make it in front of you, it's made off in the back kitchen even though they have a blender on the counter and wall of liquor. It's a frozen drink made with Jamaican run, kahlua, baileys, banana puree, and dole soft serve vanilla. Took me an hour to drink it, it was so strong! Sitting at the basement bar somehow smells like a toilet even though it's at the back of the bar. The front door is open to the street so it's not cool from a/c in the middle of the bar. By 10:30pm music is cranked up. Bill has 20% tip auto included.

An excellent tiki experience. We went at 7 and it wasn't very crowded…read more Cocktails all come in fun glasses. Service was friendly and fast. There was a bar and then a row of tables with bench and stool seats on either side.

Great traditional Filipino food and friendly service. Live in DC where there isn't much like it so…read morevery happy to stop by when I was in the area

Lechon Kawali. It was very fatty & the skin was tough & challenging to chew & not crispy=*{…read more Garlic Rice. Was enjoyable along w/ the egg. The tomato was very soggy and did not have firm consistency. The garlic rice and the egg made the dish.

Ok, so the girls have been following Toni on the gram for a while. So we couldn't conceivably leave…read moreMD and go back to OH without eating at Manila Mart. One thing that REALLY irritated me when we went on Monday is that they were closed ... bad on me for not checking their hours So we came back today. Briefly saw Toni come in for literally a minute as we were placing our orders, but she rushed back out. The mart is on the right side, while the cafe is on the left side with casual seating/tables. Order your food at the counter and they bring it to your table when ready. We ordered caldereta, sisig, dinuguan, BBQ pork skewers, fresh lumpia and for the sweets: Milo iskrambol, mango float, ube buchi, and because we spent over $40, I got a FREE mais con yelo! Heck yeah!! Of course, the kids loved all the sweets! They couldn't pick a favorite between all the frozen drinks: "all were sooo good!" Food was all good also! Their dinuguan was ON POINT... almost as good as mine! Will definitely be back next time we're in the area!

This was my first time here and the service was good & smooth! They even offered a great solution…read moreto a mistake I made while ordering! I ordered the sisig bowl & it was a 7/10. I will say that it was spicy. I found it hard to eat the whole bowl all at once. Note that it's also a grocery store but there are tables for you to dine in if you wanted to. Overall, I will be back :)

You know this place is good if my grandma and great aunt gave it their stamp of approval. They said…read morethe kare kare in particular tasted the best and most authentic. This definitely is a small, family business and you really feel that Filipino hospitality. They were very patient and communicative with my aunt ordering. The portions and prices were great. I will definitely come back to bring my parents here. I'm glad I found my new go to Filipino restaurant. One thing I will suggest is a separate menu we can take to a table or something with larger font. The menus on the screens are difficult to reach even from the counter.

I was craving Filipino food, but one thing I've noticed is that a lot of Filipino spots close…read morepretty early. It's located in a strip shopping center, so parking is super easy and accessible, and the restaurant itself is very easy to find. Walking in, the space is extremely clean, well-lit, and nicely decorated. Now let's talk about the real highlight: the variety. They have dinner plates, bowl options, and à la carte items. I went with one of my favorites, the lechon. They were out of the roasted version, but the staff recommended the fried pork instead, and it did not disappoint. I came in around 7:30, and they close at 8, so I was trying to be mindful and not hold them up. But the woman at the counter was incredibly kind and told me not to rush at all--"you're already inside, take your time." That level of hospitality really stood out. She even took the time to walk me through the menu, which I appreciated, even though I'm already familiar with Filipino food. The food itself? Amazing. The lechon was perfectly crispy, flavorful, and cooked just right. The portion size was generous, and it came with two Lumpia that were hot, fresh, and delicious. It also included a soda, which made it feel like a complete, satisfying meal. Overall, this place is a 10/10. Great food, great portions, and even better customer service. I'd highly recommend stopping by.

Brand new restaurant in DC and this is hands down the best food on H Street. This is my first time…read morehaving Filipino-Italian fusion and Chef Mang Eton does not miss! I absolutely love the idea of ordering lumpia with my aperol spritz in one place. We started with some focaccia and lumpia. The lumpia was made to perfection with a nice crunch and a delicious sweet chili sauce to dip in. My brother and shared a pasta and an entree: Chicken Cannelloni With Cream Sauce and Lechon Porchetta With Peppercorn Sauce. The Cannelloni was rich in flavor and I can taste the Filipino influence in the sweet and savory combo of the chicken along with the cheese and cream sauce. The lechon was my absolute favorite. The meat melted in my mouth with a nice crunch from the fried skin. The rice had some flavoring on it that complimented with the lechon. Chef shared how he had 100+ people in line at his Annendale restaurant that morning waiting for his lechon so I was so ecstatic to experience it right here in DC. I mentioned it was my brother's birthday and Chef came out with a candle on our tiramisu. This was a traditional tiramisu and was soaked and delicious. Cannot wait to be back to try their happy hour and more items on their menu!

Filitali I recently opened at Hiraya's old location on H St as a Filipino-Italian restaurant. With…read morea wide range of options, you can order lumpia and lechon as well as pasta and cannolis. The service is great and the owner is friendly and personable, and each dish I've tried has done a great job of blending Italian and Filipino cuisine. The lechon porchetta and the chicken cannelloni were a couple of my favorites.

BOMB DOT COM FILIPINO FUSION EATS!…read more Looking for something yummy to fuel you, before enjoying the history Washington DC offers? Lapu Lapu (named after THEE Philippines Legendary Warrior) is definitely worth considering if you enjoy the Filipino Cuisine! This eatery isocated nearby, in Pentagon City, in the outskirts of Washington DC proper. We drove by car and yelp directions were on point, coming from Foggy Bottom. Street parking only, unless you wanna use the Costco parking area across the street. Luckily we scored a space (note.there is parking fees by QR code)! The interior has a modern motif, and the staff is friendly and helpful. Lapu Lapu actually shares the location with Gwenie's Pastries, which is convenient to indulge in more Filipino inspired yummies! Enough chismis! Let's EAT! CHORIZO SANDWICH (aka FILIPINO LONGANISA): Thee BEST sandwich we had during our visit to DC!!! BEST-EST!!! Our family loves Filipino longganisa and a sammie is a great way to enjoy this! This Longanisa Patty hits just the same as a sweet Pampanga Longanisa Sausage. Love the perfectly runny egg that made the sandwich a lil messy, so it's a good thing we ate it in the eatery! I wouldn't eat this while driving, but for sure as a passenger! Yummy stuff! The pepper jack cheese was not spicy, but rather flavorful. And the Lapu Lapu Sauce?!? Oh Yeah! We even re-ordered one to take away to test the messiness theory... yup, a delightful mess so bring lots of napkins, it's worth the risk if you have no time to sit! BISTEK SANDWICH: Hefty amount of Bistek between the buns. Not the traditional bistek where you need a knife to cut each piece. This thinly sliced Ribeye was more like a Philly cheesesteak but hyped up Filipino Style! The Garlic Adobo Mayo creates a flavorful addition to hype up this Sammie even more! Deliciousness for sure! Got one to take away too! PAKSIW SANDWICH: This was the least familiar of the available protein options to me, but my wife was excited to sample it! Paksiw in this instance is pork, and this Braised Pork is very similar to pulled pork, with a touch of sweetness. I'm not much of a pulled pork person, but she enjoyed it! UBE SOFT SERVE: Lovely purple hue that Ube is associated with. Tall serving and Tasty! No fake aftertaste with this one. Great way to start and/or finish a meal! VERY EASY RECOMMENDATION! Nom Nom Level is high! We would totally hit this spot on the daily, the food was that good! Service is friendly. Definitely worth a visit if in the Washington DC area! Enjoy ;)

Delicious and unique breakfast sandwiches! We ordered three sandwiches and some spuds to go, and…read moreeverything tasted great. Bistek: This sandwich had a similar taste to a philly cheesesteak. It was savory and rich. Definitely a hearty sandwich. Paksiw: This was super flavorful and reminded me of a pulled pork bbq sandwich. The runny egg yolk really complimented the flavors, and the best bites included the egg yolk in the center. Chorizo con papas burrito: This was my favorite, but I do love a breakfast burrito. The tots in the burrito were so yummy, and the tortilla was fresh and perfectly crisped on the outside. Loved the burrito! Spuds: We tried the regular and the Cajun. The Cajun tots were minimally spiced. Very similar. Equally good! We enjoyed the lapu dipping sauce. Service: easy to order online and pick up. There's indoor seating. And they share space with a bakery that has ube donuts and other pastries. The bakery side had coffees, lattes and the works.

My fiancé and I came here a few Friday nights ago, and Kel was amazing!…read moreWe loved the atmosphere and chill music playlist, as we played chess and there was a big variety of other games on the shelf. Kel had great recs: I had the Passionfruit Ginger Sour and he had the Hibiscus Margarita. I've had Binge Bar on my list for years, and as someone who really embraced and has been sober intentionally this year I am so glad we could visit. It is such an inclusive and nice place for us folks who want a night out, without the hangover and side effects. I am so glad this place exists! The vibe and energy is great. Kel even gave us some white N.A. wine which was delicious, thank you so much Kel! We wanted to try the food but the kitchen was not open. Definitely check out Binge Bar, thank you all for being an important and amazing part of the community for us folks who either don't drink alcohol, or just want a chill place to hang! Mocktail menu is large, and they also have so many N.A. beers, wines, etc on the walls to take home. Check them out!

Binge Bar is a gem. While i'm back to drinking a little, I still largely am not having alcohol and…read moremy wife is avoiding it while we're pregnant. We'd heard good things about Binge BAr, so to kick off her birthday weekend, we popped by for drinks before dinner. I'm unsure if it was the owner who greeted us--she said her name but I immediately forgot it--but she and the main bartender were friendly, super kind and an absolute delight to mingle with. The kitchen was unfortunately closed the night we went so we couldn't try any of the food, but all the more reason to come back! We both loved our cocktails--pictured below--their riff on an Old Fashioned and a gimlet and we also shared a flight of NA beers from Go Brewing (who've become a new fave in recent months). The vibe was great and the cocktails were super tasty, and I like that they had some cans and some wines to buy as well. We were the only ones in last night--it was early in the evening--so I hope they're doing alright buisness wise. We really enjoyed our time. The ambiance is super quaint. My only knock is that Binge Bar really needs branding on their door with their logo. Unless you know they're there or clock the sandwich board just off to the side out front, they're easy to miss. It's also a bit weird they don't have a phone number, but I suppose you can just message them on social media to check how busy they are. Or make a reservation on the website.