Review is for phone order/to-go Bibingka. Called to order 15 Bibingkas @ 11:08 a.m. and it will be ready for pick up in 1 hr. One customer ahead of us. Took us only 3 mins to pay/pick up our order at 1230 p.m. Dining was full house. Bibingka was delicious, the sweetness and savory were balanced with the smoky aroma from the banana leaves. Only downside was the grated coconut that comes with it was frozen; reason why I deducted one (1) star since we were on our way to lunch get together. Staff/cashier was nice. No issue with parking during our visit. Our to-go spot for Filipino bibingka! read more

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Food is delicious, prices are decent and customer service is friendly. If you order in person, expect to wait a long time for your food. I recommend calling ahead whenever possible. I have tried almost everything on the menu and enjoy it all. read more

lumpia shanghai- nothing special, so small lechon- ok, crispy but overcooked dry meat pork bbq plate - tiny chunks of pork but juicy and great char read more

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Friendly service. Good variety of Filipino meals and delicacies. Today, we had the Pansit Malabo, Longanisa with fried eggs and rice, and beef tapa with fried egg and rice. read more

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i been coming to this place for 3 decades We ordered a lot and . I love the bibingka, bbq and fresh loompia. I gave 2 star for other orders we had. I ordered 2 puto bumbong i don't know what the taste like and one purple color the other one is gray and tasted old. The dinuguan is also tasteless. I am very disappointed today. Sorry i bought a friend who flew from St Louis and i bragged about the food here and we all disappointed. And other comment please clean the front areas i know its outside but still give dirty impression. Sorry read more

Manila Sunset - Gray puto bumbong - Filipino Near Me - National City, California

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Bibingka was flat, no cheese topping, it's not the same anymore like in the past years. Servings portions are small, good if you're on a diet. Not going back anymore. I'll do my own BBQ instead. Table aren't cleaned, had to clean it myself. read more

Love the Filipino vibes here and the food is super yummy! One of the best go to Filipino spots for your comfort Filipino meal It does get busy and packed at times so be prepared on waiting for a table when it does. Overall service and food is really good read more

Manila Sunset - Bibinka, Fresh Lumpia, Halo - Halo, Fried Lumpiang Shanghai, Beef Tapa, Beef Korean Barbecue - Filipino Near Me - National City, California

Look here! One of the go-to Filipino spots in National City. I've been coming to this mom & pop shop since I was a kid. This is the place for some delicious freshly made filipino food. It is a small restaurant, but it's a good place to grab to go or there's seats to enjoy your meal. Their food can be found at your Filipino parties! What do I recommend here?? Bibingka- (as per google: traditional Filipino baked rice cake, known for its soft, spongy texture and slightly sweet, coconut flavor) That is what they're known for! Second best? The bbq. Chicken or pork. They have a mini window so you can see them grill. My usual? Pork inihaw Lechon kawali Palabok. read more

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There used to be a location in Mira Mesa but it unfortunately closed. So when I was National City, I came here just for their Bibingka. (They sell traditional Filipino food, desserts and snacks too) The lady who rang me up was so nice! The Bibingka didn't disappoint and tasted like I remembered. This is not the rice kind. It's circular with a banana leaf wrapper. It's soft and slightly chewy with cream cheese topping. It's not too sweet and comes with coconut sprinkles. $6 each. I bought 2. Can't wait til next time! read more

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Big fan of Manila Sunset! I frequent the one in Hollywood and was happy to find this spot in SD. Food: the standout dishes were bangus plate, Puto Bumbong, and Bibinkang. The lugaw could be better: the whole chicken pieces were there so I kept on eating parts of the bones. I highly recommend cutting the chicken so it improves the experience. Kinda ruins the lugaw vibes when I have a piece of bone I'm chewing. Ambiance: friendly service, HOWEVER there is no air-con or even an electric fan. I was sweating on the weekend, would highly recommend setting something up just of help improve the atmosphere. read more

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I hate that the food is so good here because the service and lack of crowd control is horrendous.

Pre-ordered the Bibingka, pick up was fast. A little bit of a wait to pay for my order. Tables available for you to enjoy the meal. Eat in, why not? Place is decorated, Filipino ambiance. Lots of parking. Enjoy your weekend everyone. 4 Star just bec I bought the party tray that has 12 pcs of Bibingka in one order and only comes with a small container of grated coconut ( just not enough, really). I had to ask for additional container and was told thats what it come with. Was given additional few small bags ( which was also nice of them ). Bibingka tastes better with a lot of coconut sprinkled on top. read more

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Manila Sunset has gotten so greedy. Before, the combos came with three sticks of barbecue since they stopped using sticks the amount of meat they give you can barely and it looks like they even got a smaller scooper for their Their combination barely even fills the box. read more

Manila Sunset - The combination pork bbq plate with literal scraps of meat - Filipino Near Me - National City, California

Yikes. I'd give them negative stars if I could. Food looks nothing like the pictures on their menu. Example their bbq meal doesn't come with 3 sticks of bbq but a handful of cut up beef that lack flavor without the vinegar. For the price you pay, the taste of the food sucks. Honestly better off going to Tita's Kitchenette or Grill City inside Seafood City. The serving size is small especially for what you pay. We went here for the bibingka since that's what they used to be known for at Filipinos parties IYKYK. But yikes. The quality and taste was NOT IT. Valerios has better bibingka. At this rate, they'll close like their Mira Mesa location. read more

I only tried once, so, this review is for this experience only. First time trying bibingka. There was no available puto bungbong. Very long line and you need to wait if you have specific orders. Loved that they have a certain taste of this in the area. But I dont taste anything so special with the bibingka other than I liked the smell of the banana leaf. We were given a pre-prepared bibingka next to the counter. Twas not hot anymore, though there is heating instructions in the box. The coconut is not enough for a 12 pieces cheese bibingka. Dont expect that there is a salted egg or visual big chunk of cheese on too but, can be tasted as good.Otherwise, glad they have this store all year round. They have points reward system if you are loyal customer. read more

Manila Sunset - Filipino Near Me - National City, California

Disappointed with the service This was our first time eating here, and unfortunately, the service was very disappointing. We waited at our table for a long time while watching other customers who ordered after us receive their food before we did. It seemed like our order had been forgotten completely. If I hadn't asked how much longer our order would take, I don't think anyone would have realized that we were still waiting. We understand that restaurants can get busy, but being overlooked and having to remind the staff about our order was frustrating, especially for our first visit. read more

No air conditioning too hot to eat. Halo halo is not what it is as per casher said. You will dehydrated while eating. I feel sorry for the employees working in a hot environment. Not healthy and safe place. Hope management will act on this matter ASAP read more

We were craving Filipino food so we came here for lunch. We ordered pork plate, Pancit, lumpia, and bibingka. Most of the food tasted good. The Pancit Malabon was made in a way I didn't have before with egg. It was still good but not as flavorful as I remember. The pork plate was good. The lumpias were a bit on the small side and they were okay. And the dessert was good- not too sweet. The portion sizes were average and the two of us finished everything. We did come in hungry. Service was good. It was crowded when we got there and all the tables were full. There were about 12-14 tables. So when one opened we took it. The table was still dirty and when I told one of the staff, they took care of it right away. The place itself was casual. You order at the counter and wait for your name to be called. read more

Fried Filipino food, beer, wine, karaoke. I pretty much summed up the place in first sentence. Packed to the gills the night I rolled by. It's like a large Filipino family party here. The chicharron bulaklak and saucy sisig were good too. read more

I really wanted to like this place but I was sadly disappointed. I cook Pancit at home sometimes with so many vegetables, and I add a lot of spice to give the dish significant flavor. But, when I ordered this Pancit called "Pancit Malabon" it was not what I had imagined and hoped for. It had egg pieces in it which I never noticed on the menu. The menu also said it had vegetables, but I saw none in mine. It was a small plate (bigger prices) of odd-tasting noodles with a lot of egg and two tiny shrimp that looked like they were so tiny! The shrimp looked like it had been cut in half which I don't understand. It did not taste good. Two miniscule shrimp in the dish like they just did not seem to care about making this dish plentiful with vegetables and shrimp the way it should be. So hardly any vegetables and two half-cut shrimp pieces. There, however, seemed to be plenty of egg which just all around did not taste good. I also ordered lumpia which was another disappointment. They were like egg rolls with the Pancit noodles inside. The flavor was not pleasant to me. What happened to the traditional lumpia with seasoned ground beef inside? I feel like I wasted my money today! That is what happens when you roll the dice going to places sometimes. In conclusion, , the workers did not seem friendly either which is a must for me spending my hard-earned money. An all-around unpleasant dining experience. read more

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First time coming and definitely our last. The prices and portion of their 'plate' is a joke. Waited 55 minutes for my plate to come. My family were already done eating. The cashier young lady (Ma Delisa was on the name on the receipt) who doesn't smile became abrasive and defensive when I followed up my food. She had the audacity to tell me if I am willing to get my rice first and wait for my chicken bbq. What?!? So I told her, to box it as we are leaving. My hubby said the dinuguan was good but the bbq was meh. Oh and the size of their lumpia shanghai, is like a toddler's little fingers- I'm not even kidding! read more

Yup, yet another review update of my favorite Filipino restaurant in National City, South Bay San Diego. I've been dining here with my parents for as long as we've lived in SD, all through the 1990s onward when they had the smaller location a few doors down. I've moved away from San Diego many years ago, but almost every San Diego visit includes Manila Sunset. Most other Filipino restaurants in National City are comparable to the Filipino restaurants in Waipahu, Hawaii, but NOTHING matches Manila Sunset's pancit malabon and bibingka. A few things to keep in mind about National City Manila Sunset: - CALL. IN. YOUR. ORDERS. - FOOD. IS. MADE. TO. ORDER. You don't see their food just sitting around on a warmer, right? Be patient. Quality, fresh meals are worth the wait... unless you're hangry... then I'd suggest grabbing a drink from SD Boba across the way while waiting for your order. - Pancit malabon: one of a kind. - Bibingka: one of a kind. Tastes even better when reheated in the oven! If you live out of state, freeze these ASAP, freeze them at home, then bake in the oven! - Chicken BBQ: yummy. - Puto bumbong: yummy! - Keep your receipt if you prepay! Also during Christmas 2024 season, bibingka was already sold out on Christmas Eve and Eve in advance! Call. In. Your. Orders. And. Keep. Your. Receipt! They're "slow" because food is made to order AND Manila Sunset is immensely popular. I thought the workers were as nice and patient as could be on December 23rd. I would suggest creating a smooth system to separate pre-orders with those who have yet to order in person. Both groups of customers were all bunched up during the Christmas Eve Eve lunch rush and it looked so chaotic. I felt so bad for the workers! So yes, until the next National City visit, Manila Sunset! read more

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My mission this evening was for several dishes. The only one they had for me was dinuguan and added side of rice. I added puto bumbong to my order. I had hoped they had more platter options, which is what led me down the street to a competitor. No military discount. Given the economy ia driving prices up, it could be view as a good value. The visit down the street to their competitor had me regretting not going there first. However, I will say that every bite of my food was devoured and enjoyed. The place wasn't packed and it took about 15 minutes for my food to be done. It seemed a bit long but considering I stood in a long line down the street for almost the same food, it was worth the wait. Not quite sure if I'll visit again since I found the value of the competition down the street, but a nice place to introduce someone to Filipino food. read more

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The only saving grace for Manila Sunset is their bibingka but I've been served some not so fresh ones in the past. The pancit malabon is passable. It's very obvious that now that it's an established restaurant, they no longer take pride in what they're serving. It's a shame that this Filipino restaurant served the mushiest rice and it tasted burnt too. The beef tapa was tough and flavorless, the dinuguan was mostly sauce and swimming in grease. Staff was friendly and efficient but that alone will not convince me to come back. read more

3 stars- walking in you notice the same set up for a small eatery. Places to sit, counter to order and pick up, restroom. My husband and I ordered pork inahow, longganiza w egg and maiz con hello. The pork was sad. Very dry and crispy with bone pieces. The longganiza was cooked just right. Egg, good. Maiz, yum. Free bibinkga a la mode, yes and yes! My favorite! The staff are polite and smiling- says a lot about the vibe. The cons- the wait to order and wait again for seats then wait for the food was about 30-35 minutes. If you don't go during the rush or are willing/able to wait- get the stuff that's recommended on here... read more

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Very delicious food fresh, made to order. Services, pleasant and easy. Plenty of indoor seating day I visit no concern for finding a seat. It's very comfortable. Lots of customers and people take out. read more

All time Filipino favorites hit the spot at this place. Lechon kawali , pork plate, tokwa't baboy, pansit malabon, bibingka, puto bumbong and the sinigang soup... was so amazing! read more

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I hate to leave this review because my family and I have been coming here since I was a kid. Food is 10/10 and honestly the best Filipino bbq you can get in SD! But the service quality has gone down considerably over the years. Stopped in during Mother's Day for a quick meal and there was no "welcome in" or greeting at the register. Workers seemed distracted and we had to say "we're ready to order" twice before having our order taken down. The tables were really dirty as well. There was another family who came in after us who sat at the table in the pic and I handed them a napkin to wipe down the surface because they had also noticed how dirty it was too. There was sauce with food bits spilled near the trash can and at one point the garbage was taken out and the spill still wasn't cleaned up. I'd understand if it were busy but there was no line at all and most of the workers went to the back kitchen area and you could hear them having casual convos all while the dining area remained dirty. I remember coming here when I was younger and the servers used to be so warm and friendly. They would take a lot of pride in keeping the place clean and wipe down tables whenever customers were done eating. Hope I can come back eventually and give the place 5 stars because I would really really like to! read more

Manila Sunset - Yikes - Filipino Near Me - National City, California

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Terrible service. Front of the house wouldn't even acknowledge we were there. Attended to a customer that came in after us and then just walked away. Was wondering to give them a try but after that, it will be my first and last time there. read more

Good is that Bibingka , Arroz Caldo and pork bbq still taste the same. Bad is that they priced it too high and food warm not hot maybe every 4 months to visit will be ok. We already noticed the decline of customers coming here at the national city branch. Sad ... they need to bring their price down a bit. read more

One of my all-time favorites in the SD area. Everything is excellent. I especially love the skewers, pancit malabon, lechon kawali and leche flan!! As you can see on the pics, proces are reasonable! read more

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I grew up coming here and the quality of the food just isn't the same. My family usually orders bibingka, pancit malabon, puto bumbong, and embutido. Today I ordered a medium tray of pancit malabon and a box (dozen) of bibingka. Although the catering orders were made very fast I'm disappointed in how the food came out. The bibingka batter was undercooked and the pancit malabon was salty and oily and the shrimp wasn't deveined. I might have caught them on a bad day. At the very least, the customer service was decent and the restaurant was clean. read more

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Delicious food, friendly staff, reasonable prices, cute inside and good sized parking lot. 10/10 no complaints read more

Manila Sunset - Beef tapa and egg $14.50 - Filipino Near Me - National City, California

I've been coming to Manila Sunset since it was in the inner corner unit - IYKYK!! This place will forever bring me back to all my best childhood memories. Random and not so random stops with my grandparents for their malabon and bibingka. Now that they're gone and I have my own children, we continue that tradition! Food is the same as I remember it then which is amazing because we're talking over 30 years. Believe it or not, we even see some of the same smiling faces working behind the counter. They're always busy so if you're in a rush, call in your order and take it to go. It's always packed with care so nothing leaks or spills. If you have time to wait for your food to come out fresh, find a seat and enjoy. read more

Jan. 2, 2026 - Closed today. I guess they took an extra holiday. I really wanted their bibingka because the flavor is consistent for over 20 years. Oh wells, we'll have to make another trip to National City some time this year. read more

manila sunset has a new owner now. the quality of food is no longer the same. arroz caldo tastes fishy with too much fish sauce. the bibingka is so much smaller and soaked in margarine or butter. i threw away the 2 orders if arroz caldo to ho and threw away the 2 bibingka to go. all the employees i know wjo worked there are all gone. i will never go back to manila sunset again! read more

If you plan to dine in or order to go the wait time is ridiculous. We waited for 40 minutes for order to be done. They should let the customers know ahead of time that there would be a long wait for their food. read more

Very disappointed. This used to be our favorite place, but after what happened yesterday, we won't be coming back. I ordered puto bumbong, and my sisters ordered lumpiang sariwa. When I received my puto bumbong, I separated it into pieces. There were only three small pieces, and they felt hard. At first, I thought it might be normal, but when I cut it further and asked my sisters to try it, they immediately noticed it was hard and undercooked. Both of them spit it out because it was too tough to eat. It seemed like it had not been steamed properly. My sisters encouraged me to return it and let the staff know that it wasn't cooked correctly. I brought the plate to the counter and explained the issue. The employee looked at the plate and told me she could not replace it because I had already eaten most of it. I went back to the table, collected the remaining pieces, including the portions my sisters had spit out, and returned to the counter. I showed her everything that was left. She took a picture of the plate but still refused to replace it or offer any solution. I left the counter frustrated and said, "This is disgusting." They took the plate, but I was left paying for food that I could not eat and no longer had. After my sisters finished eating, one of them asked to speak with the manager. The manager came over and said they had already heard about the issue and had seen the picture. They told us there was nothing they could do. When I said that customers should be treated fairly, the manager responded, "Not all the time." Then they asked, "What do you want me to do?" We explained that we simply wanted them to acknowledge the problem, apologize, or offer to make it right. Instead, we were met with indifference. The issue was not just the undercooked food--it was the poor customer service and lack of concern for customer satisfaction. Unfortunately, this was a very disappointing experience and not good business practice. I do not recommend Manila Sunset based on how this situation was handled. read more

I have enjoyed the food at Manila Sunset for years. I really like the halo-halo, leche flan, lumpia and several things from their grill menu. Service is good too. Overall, one of my favorite spots. read more

Manila Sunset - Filipino Near Me - National City, California

The best Filipino food and people. There are some really good singers here. I recommend making a reservation. They serve delicious food till late. Great spot for a late night meal. read more