Who says Filipino food can't be considered fine dining? Chef Josh Espinosa is showcasing how the…read moredishes we're accustomed to can be prepared with an elevated approach. Sampa is located in the Arts District near the intersection of S Hewitt St and E 5th right next to Urth Cafe. There's a parking lot directly across the street from the restaurant but you can also park around the corner by Arts District Park for $5. If it's your first time visiting Sampa, you have to be open minded towards the concept itself. Yes, the dishes here are smaller in portion and costs more than your typical fast casual spot. All the servers here are attentive and offer to help with what to order if you're unsure. For dinner, the Crispy Pasta is their take on crispy pata but served with spinach tagliatelle. The crab fat fried rice is a no brainer and depending on the night you come, I highly recommend the Sinigang xiaolongbao special. You don't have to be Filipino to appreciate what Sampa is doing for the culture, just come by and see for yourself.

Sampa Restaurant…read more This is a review for my experience having brunch at Sampa Restaurant. Sampa specializes in Filipino dishes. "Sampa" is short for sampaguita which is the national flower of the Philippines. WORDS TO DESCRIBE SAMPA: Elevated dining, speakeasy vibes, quality food and service PARKING: Parking can be difficult since it is close to the Arts District, you may want to park in the Public Parking Lot areas FOOD: Lechon fried rice: This dish was exquisite! I loved all of the colors in the rice, which include the fried pork belly, the golden egg yolks, and the pigments of the atchara (atchara: pickled vegetables such as papaya, scallions, and carrots). When I took my first bite of the fried rice, the blend of all of them together was scrumptious! Yes order this dish! 5/5 STEAKSILOG: I would order just the steak alone! The skirt steak was savory, juicy, and mouthwatering! Yummy! 4.5/5 Kare Kare Tamales: This dish was delicious! Kare Kare is one of my favorite Filipino dishes, so when I saw it paired with tamales I was immediately intrigued. The presentation was beautiful. The flavor was rich and unique. The oxtail was tender and the peanut sauce paired well with the savoriness. 4/5 CHICKEN AND PANDAN WAFFLE: This plate was their take on chicken and waffles. The pandan flavor was there, but I wish the waffle was thick, instead it had a crispy thin cookie like texture. 3.5/5 DRINKS: Bartender has skills! Beauty in the booze! I appreciated the artistry in creating our beverages. I loved the details of the flowers and layers of color. Cheers! All in all I had a great time eating at Sampa! I loved the food and service! Maraming Salamat! Sobrang Sarap!

The Kare Kare from Spoon & Pork is nothing short of a warm, comforting hug in a bowl…read more When the dish arrived at my table, I was immediately drawn to its rich, golden peanut sauce -- smooth and fragrant, with a roasted nuttiness that made my mouth water before I even took a bite. Nestled in the sauce were vibrant, perfectly cooked vegetables: tender bok choy, slightly charred green beans, and slices of eggplant that had soaked up all the savory depth of the stew. At the heart of the dish lay generous chunks of beef -- fork-tender, deeply flavored, with just enough fat to melt into the sauce and give it that rich, silky mouthfeel Kare Kare is known for. Sprinkled over the top were crunchy bits, adding a satisfying contrast to every spoonful. Of course, the small side of bagoong (fermented shrimp paste) was essential -- a modest dollop transformed each bite, balancing the sweetness and creaminess of the peanut sauce with a punch of briny intensity. Paired with steaming garlic rice, every scoop felt like the perfect blend of textures and flavors, a true homage to the Filipino classic. Eating Spoon & Pork's Kare Kare felt both nostalgic and elevated -- the heart and soul of a traditional comfort food presented with an eye for freshness and balance. It's the kind of dish that makes you slow down, savor each bite, and immediately start planning your next visit.

4.5 stars. Sorry,…read moreguys - I'm still catching up on my reviews and am kicking myself for failing to write this before Spoon & Pork permanently shut its doors. This was an unforgettable eatery. During our trip to Los Angeles in May, 2023, Wendell invited Jay, Z and me to meet up with Veda and him for a late lunch at 2 PM at one of their favourite Filipino restaurants, Spoon & Pork, on Sunday, the 7th. Spoon & Pork, which originated as a food truck, was a restaurant that specialized in Filipino comfort food with a contemporary twist. They offered a fresh, inventive fusion of the flavours of the Philippines with modern sophistication. Nestled in the vibrant heart of Los Angeles' Silver Lake neighbourhood, Spoon & Pork was a cozy boutique eatery on bustling Sunset Boulevard that greeted guests with a neon pig sign at their front entrance. No private lot on this busy street, so finding nearby parking was a bit challenging and although the charming spot offered both indoor and al fresco dining, seating was also limited. The tropical-inspired dining room with warm wood accents created an effortlessly cool and relaxed atmosphere that felt both modern and rooted in tradition. Upon entry, guests were welcomed by the aroma of sizzling meats and fragrant spices which alluded to the culinary journeys to come. The food at Spoon & Pork wasn't exactly what one's nanay (mom) or lola (grandma) would cook. Celebrating fresh takes on the richness of Filipino cuisine, the menu was an invitation to indulge in unexpected, compelling twists on a thoughtfully curated selection of traditional dishes, infusing familiar flavours into new forms. Below are what we ordered: beef tapa ($25) - MASARAP (DELICIOUS)! Of all the dishes that we ordered, this was the winner of them all as the succulent meat packed a punch of flavour. adobo tofu ($14) - One of Wendell's regular orders, this notable plant-based option, was a tasty, innovative take on the Philippine classic that balanced tradition with modern creativity. laing ($9) - From their platito, small plates section, this bowl of coconut braised taro leaves was rich and creamy deliciousness, but, yes, mini in portion size. garlic rice ($4/$7) - Ordering the garlic rice over plain jasmine rice was a no brainer. Thoroughly infused with the savouriness of the many bits of garlic, this rice perfectly paired with all of the other dishes. bistek ($28) - The skirt steak was very tender and the sauce perfectly balanced the tanginess from the calamansi juice with the savoury soy sauce. lechon kawali ($23) - Another reimagined classic dish featuring crispy, golden pork belly with crunchy skin and tender, flavourful meat inside. The dish was complemented by a tangy, pickled red cabbage that enhanced the crispy texture and added a refreshing contrast. This mastery of flavour and texture tickled Z's tastebuds and won him over. Before this day, Z was never a fan of Filipino food. Everything tasted boldly rich and every bit intensely intoxicated our taste buds. Service was quick, friendly, and attentive. What a remarkably epicurean feast and delightful experience we enjoyed! We're super bummed that Spoon & Pork permanently closed shoppe. Z and I were hoping to return for another tasty meal. Truly, a worthy spot this place was to hit up for an impressively creative taste of the Philippines in Los Angeles.

Stumbled upon this place with some friends while looking for Filipino food in the area. I don't…read moreknow exactly what I was expecting but any expectations I had were surpassed by miles. When we walked in, there was a full jazz band made up of what looked like high school students playing. Despite there only being a few families in the audience(presumably their parents), the energy was infectious with loud whoops and clapping every time someone finished a solo. I didn't know any of these kids but I was cheering the entire time. Everyone, including the other customers were very friendly. The food itself was incredible, super affordable with huge portions. Every dish we tried was so delicious, we couldn't stop talking about how good the food was. I ordered the Pork Sisig and it could've easily fed 3 people alone. Both of my roommates also ordered their own entrees and the portions were huge. Definitely a restaurant for sharing. The service was fantastic, the server was refilling my water cup every few minutes and incredibly attentive. While looking for a quick meal we came upon a Filipino feast with live music, a super positive atmosphere, and leftovers that will last us for days. Couldn't recommend this place enough.

I highly recommend this restaurant if you want to get an authentic experience of traditional…read moreFilipino cuisine. The flavors are reminiscent of dishes. I grew up eating and seem to be consistent each time I order. And they always provide friendly and professional customer service on the phone or in person. I highly recommend their Lumpia Shanghai and I am honestly pretty impressed with their Kare Kare, which is often a hit or miss at other locations, but here it is consistent both in flavor and portions. I ate here in person once years ago and usually do takeout. The ambience though is very nice and intimate and cozy... And I understand that they have live music from time to time. I highly recommend you give them a try!

Celebrated Father's Day 2026 Here at The Park's Finest! Amazing food on right here. One of A kind…read moreBBQ Filipino LA Style Dishes!!! We'll be back

*Chefs Kiss* Living in DTLA, it was extremely hard to find any Filipino restaurants let alone…read moreFilipino food besides cooking at home. When we discovered The Parks Finest, we were so happy to finally get our fix. The usual dishes we ordered was the: -- Adobo -- Beef Tri-tip -- Cornbread bibingka -- Mac & Cheese (occasionally) All of it, 10/10. I do wish we got to try the ube alcoholic drinks though! The service was good. My boyfriend likes to ask servers what they usually recommend when it comes to ordering and given their answers, they're trustworthy on what's good and what to order.

This is long overdue, but I wanted to finish what I started with this incredible place. I always…read morelove checking out Filipino spots in the area and saw that this was on the way home from work one day. I ordered the Patita, which was a slow-cooked-deep-fried pork shank that came with chili garlic glaze, along with garlic rice. The presentation was sensational and I love the name of the restaurant. Looking at the photos I took makes me want to order the same thing again because this combination was truly amazing! Next time I go to this place, I will have to check out other options on the menu.

Spoon & Pork's Lumpia Shanghai, Eggplant Ensalada, Chicken Inasal, Garlic Rice, and Patita were…read moredelicious. Great Filipino comfort food.

The best part about restaurants is when culture and community are together under one roof. When you…read morecome to Dollar Hits, that is exactly what you're going to experience. Dollar Hits is a street food-style restaurant located in Historic Filipinotown at the corner of West Temple and Carondelet St. Since they're in a small strip mall, it's either going to be street parking unless you're lucky and find a spot inside. The food here is authentic and the fun part is that whatever skewer you decide to order, you're going to be grilling it yourself. Theres plenty of chairs and tables outside to eat and hang out. Each time I come by, it's always a good time and the staff here make you feel at home. If you haven't been recently or at all, you're missing out on what makes Filipino culture so fun.

No nonsense, grill your own Filipino barbecue spot. You pick out the skewers you want inside, pay,…read morethen cook your skewers outside. I believe the skewers are priced at like $2 or $3 now. They accept card too, though there is a cash discount. My favorites were the longanisa, pork intestine, pork skewers, and chicken skewers. The cantaloupe drink was my favorite out of the 4 options. The line picking out your skewers can get quite long and snagging a table can be competitive. Overall a good value meal and fun experience.

Quick response from Johanna! I left a message and she text back almost immediately and was able to…read morehave them ready for the next day. Timely and seamless pickup, clear instructions. I got the pork and my guests enjoyed it! I picked it up in the morning but reheated in my air fryer that evening for like 6min on 400 and it was crispy perfection. Great if your in need of catering and great value comparatively to other lumpiang bulk prices

Absolutely delicious, highly recommend ! The packaging was…read moreperfect and the communication was on point. Thank you Lumpia Ladies !

Tita Lina's is like coming home. Food was delicious!! Legit. Like the dishes served at a big ol'…read morePilipino family party. Good ingredients and generous portions, unlike some other Pilipino places. Very friendly staff. Now my go to spot for Pilipino food. Salamat, po, Tita Lina!

This place is such a gem. Tita Lina's truly feels like a classic mom-and-pop spot: the kind where…read moreyou're greeted warmly the moment you walk in and instantly feel taken care of. I came here for breakfast, and it absolutely did not disappoint. I've only had Filipino breakfast a handful of times, but this is hands-down my favorite that I've tried so far. The portions are huge for the price (seriously generous), and everything is packed with savory, comforting flavor. What really stands out, and something I see echoed in so many reviews, is how welcoming the staff is. They're patient, kind, and happy to help explain dishes if you're newer to Filipino food, which makes the whole experience feel relaxed and approachable. You can tell a lot of care goes into both the food and the way they treat their customers. I'll definitely be back!