I ordered a whole small lechon (around 30-35 lbs) from Pinoy Pam's and honestly, it did not disappoint at all. The meat was super juicy and flavorful, you can really tell it was well-prepared and not dried out like some lechon I've had before. What really stood out to me is how meaty it was, there was actually a lot of meat inside, not just skin and fat. And the skin... wow!!!! It was crispy. That crunch when you bite into it is exactly what you want from lechon. Although it would have been better if they provided a home cooked sauce for it, not just the typical bottled commercial sauce. Pinoy Pam's has honestly become my go-to whenever I don't feel like cooking but still want something that tastes like a home-cooked meal. There's just something comforting about their food. Plus, the staff are always so nice and welcoming, which makes the whole experience even better. read more

Pinoy Pam's Best - Small Whole lechon - Filipino Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I've been a customer here for a while, which makes this even more disappointing to write. This time, I ordered arrozcaldo for my 3-year-old, and I thank God that I was the one who opened it first. Mixed in the food was a small piece of aluminum foil. If my toddler had eaten that, it could have ended much worse. This is a serious food safety issue. No establishment should be serving food like this. Proper food handling and quality control clearly aren't being followed and that's concerning. This needs to be looked into, OC Health should seriously check this place. Please be careful if you're ordering from here. read more

Pinoy Pam's Best - Filipino Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Well, you better bring your appetite when you come here! There is Something for everyone here. All combo entries plus rice, less than $10 ! So much to choose from too. Service is always quick and professional. The environment is always, for me educational and a wonderful multicultural experience. read more

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Friendly staff. Women owned. They remind me of my Filipino in laws and friends/their family lol. I tried the 2 item combo which came with rice and two entrees. They give a generous amount. I will definitely come back to try the lumpia and Turon when I am not tryna cut haha. The business also is built into a grocery store so you can even shop for other essentials. Ambiance was chill. Whoever handled the playlist catered to anyone who loves to karaoke and dance IYKYK ! Lol read more

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Our def atf go-to spot when we're both in town in Lake Forest. We like to come here to fill our Filipino craving --and they even sell Porto's danishes in boxes along with Pam's own baked goods and pastries. We always get the ube jam bread that's absolutely phenomenal! Our faves are the pancit bihon, lumpia Shanghai and we literally LUV her pork sisig that's over-the-top delish! ***** 5 stars also because she has fridges at the back of the grocery store section where there's a collection of super yummy ice cream with flavors like ube, mango and buko pandan....but most are only in gigantic Costco sizes. read more

Pinoy Pam's Best - ‼ - Filipino Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Egg rolls, pancit and chicken adobo are my go to's especially for catering . 100/100. Haven't tried everything but definitely will come back

Incredible food and great service! A family favorite! So many favorites and get there early so they don't run out.

Sooooo.... Reading over these reviews.... I get a strong sense that the low ratings are an effort to just be ridiculous. If people writing these posts cannot even write Tagalog or English... I doubt the authenticity. I have been coming to this place since they were at the mall. They have done all kinds of upgrades to the building. They have also made great strides in food supplies and vendors. It's cafeteria style - waiting in line like EVERYONE else. It's busy. Hold your horses. Wait in line. They have great new tables, a grocery store on the side.... Just be sure to grocery shop and bring it with you to the food line. Yes the food is not junk food cheap. It's not McDonald's it not Taco Bell....if buying huge cute of slow cooked beef.... scares you... be sure to thank the ones who brought these new prices. It's probably my fav place because if I get large containers I have food for weeks. I'm a huge fan of their sisig and crispy Chicharron. I love the ox tail singigon (?) sinigong soup. And a few others. The staff are fun and friendly. Try a smile and hello. Oooooh. Their macaroni salad is bonkers delicious. I'm not Filipino but I just love it. Absolutely love it. The variety of chippy chips are great. The tosino is homemade. Their BALUIT is full on chicken goodness - if you like that. I think they even sold century eggs before. My genuine opinion as a non Filipino person is that at its lowest rating - a 4 star should be the lowest. My experience is always good. They crip up my calamari every single time.... Use that spicy Cebu style vinegar- HEAVEN! No. I never bought the roasted suckling if. But have had bits and chunks. Marvelous. They also sell fresh bakery items from the same shop we got stuff from in the Cerritos area. Also. Their HALO HALO is a monster sized cup. It's a gosh darn whole meal. They also sell fresh veggies and desserts and frozen stuff like smoked fish, wrappers... those stuffed fish... read more

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My favorite spot to pickup catering! They have online ordering which is really convenient and I always order the platter of 100 lumpia which is always a hit! read more

I was so overwhelmed with the freshly cooked dishes, don't know what to choose but Wendy was so friendly. She made a combo for me and my husband so I can taste all the dishes I wanted to try. Her pleasant attitude made me want to eat at the restaurant instead of bringing our food to go. I just came from working night shift and I just craved traditional Filipino . I'm glad we ended up at Pam's best. The food was sooo good. Thumbs up to the chef and Wendy. For sure, I'll be coming back read more

Pam's Best has our heart and our appetite...best filipino food...Authentic flavors..Comfort in every bite no debate...so after church mass, we go straight for brekky read more

This place is such a hidden gem! The pancit was so flavorful, the egg rolls perfectly crispy, and the kare-kare had the creamiest peanut sauce. We couldn't get enough of the kaldereta and those sweet & spicy ribs -- fall-off-the-bone good! The staff was so warm and welcoming, and the portions were just right for sharing with the family. If you're craving authentic Filipino food that feels like it came straight from a Filipino home kitchen, this is the spot. Everything we tried was packed with flavor and cooked with love. read more

Great food here, a lot of Filipino food choices, service is great. Friendly staff, ambiance is good. Check this store out..

I come here every once in awhile. Supporting my filipino food Togo/restaurant. Til I had this over charging pricey meal, manipulated order meal by their server. This is my main concern, we ordered combo meal like 2 I tems then by the time you get to pay your order, we ended up paying 2x as much of their regular combo meal. They told us "it was a large size of each entree. But clearly I said we Just wanted 2 entree/items per meal/order. And the serrver was like you save money by ordering large meal. She was manipulated our order and so we ended up paying alot of money. Wow! For all the new customers, please make sure, That you wont pay over charge on your order Definitely , loud and clear. We are not gping back here. Its like a flood control problem in the philippines" They want to steal your money l Damm I was robbed at this place read more

Great food and service. Food is always hot and fresh. Place is always clean and there's always great service

The food is always great here and friendly service with a positive attitude smiles but It's better if they play OPM or Filipino music to make it feel like back home. Be careful when placing food placed in plastic containers, possibly it will slide easily and drop to the floor. Use food trays better. read more

Pinoy Pam's Best - Breakfast 2 item - Filipino Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I must've gotten lucky cause despite not knowing Tagalog anymore I haven't gotten anything spoiled nor waited too long despite some recent reviews. I will say I love this place so far everything has been solid and value propositions everywhere. I will admit though that near none of the hot food was labeled so I also went for things I normally get like pancit, garlic rice, lumpia and longanisa. All theses have been solid as well as my snack choices so can't complain there. I will say a lot of the stuff doesn't have an expiration date so be weary and really check your stuff before buying. I do agree it should be done as well by the place but for a lightly staffed mom and pop I can understand how hard it can be to go through their extensive inventory. If those are fixed easy 5 and I'll still come back regardless unless proven otherwise. read more

First of all I go to you guys restaurant all the time I often get the bicol express and the karekare but this is the third strike. The vehicle express is bland and for the first time I'm trying you guys ballot but tell me why it's still red seems like it's undercooked read more

Pinoy Pam's Best - You guys need to cook the balot more! Also the bicol express is bland no flavor - Filipino Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Ok I'm not sure why this place has only three stars!!! They have a TON of food choices, lots of different pastries and snacks, and also lots of groceries and they give a GOOD sized portion for their hot food! The servers understand what I'm asking for. When I go to Seafood City, they almost ALWAYS mess up my order and takes longer to order take out. This place is truly a hidden gem! read more

This place will definitely make you feel as if you were back home because of its Ambiance. Food is so good as if it was made by your grandma. Quality and Taste seemed to be nostalgic. The service is good, they treat you like family. If you're in South OC and crave for Filipino food, this is the place to be. read more

Pleasant surprise! Definitely hits the spot when you have a craving for quick and delicious Filipino food! It's also a little grocery store for items you wouldn't find in a regular grocery store. read more

Massive selection of Filipino food inside a grocery store; it's complicated but it makes perfect Filipino sense. It's warm in there so bring a small fan if you run hot all the time (me). Be patient if a line forms, we're all hungry too (me, again). Now, the details... in Tagalog... translated back to English. THE FOOD ELABORATION. - Combo Plate (2 Items) | Came with white rice and two items of choice. I went with... 1. Pork Adobo | Great savory flavors, but the pork was somewhat dry. 2. Dinuguan | Extremely tender pork offal sitting in thick gravy sauce... which is pig's blood... sweet and savory with irony flavors. What I had here was the best dinuguan, ever. Highly recommend for the pig blood fans. - Combo Plate (1 item) | Rice and... 1. Mechado, Filipino Beef Stew | Hearty, richly flavored with carrots and other vegetables to balance the savoriness. The beef is tender, but some pieces were a little dry. - Lumpia | Made to order, the lumpia was fried to a golden crisp; stuffed with ground pork and minced vegetables. Comes with sweet chili sauce for dipping. Highly recommend. - Sinigang | Just the sabaw (soup) which I used to drench my rice with. Its sour and savory flavors are what to expect and usually consists of a vegetable medley with a protein component (pork or fish are popular). - Pork BBQ Skewers | Tender and sweetly flavored with charred edges for an added crunch. Highly recommend. - Halo Halo | A popular Filipino dessert, this halo halo had different types of sweet beans & jellies with evaporated milk and a thick layer of shaved ice. A scoop of mildly sweet ube ice cream tops this dish. Masarap! THE VIBE EVOCATION. Makati Manila vibes. Filipino food aromas emanate and persist throughout the store. Tables are haphazardly placed wherever room is afforded; in and around shelves of exotic Asian food. Do we still call Asian food exotic? Anyway, it feels familiar as this kind of hybrid set up is very typical in the Philippines. THE PARKING AFFAIR. Plenty of free parking in front of the store. THE RETURN QUANDARY. Definitely coming back for the dinuguan and to try other dishes too. read more

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FILIPINO FOODIES & ENTHUSIASTS, THIS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU!! If you're in Orange County and looking for AMAZING goodies, Pinoy Pam's Best has got you covered. With better prices than commercial Filipino markets, you'll be supporting a small family business that's been around since 2009. This place is 10000% more than meets the eye. I actually stumbled upon this on my way to work and the big PINOY sign caught my attention. I was immediately surprised upon entry at how much stuff was there. I'm talking white rabbit, leche flan, ube halaya, etc. ANDDD they even have more stuff on the right side of their store. If you're craving Filipino then this is it for you. They've got frozen foods like lumpia, siopao, longanisa, and you can even buy hot foods like kare kare, bistek, and if you're brave enough they also have diniguan and balut. There is a $15 card minimum but trust me when I say you'll be ordering much more than that. I'm so glad I found this gem. I'll certainly be back. (9/100--2023) read more

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Absolutely delicious! Every dish at Pinoy Pam's Best tastes like it was made with love. The flavors are authentic, portions are generous, and you can tell Pam puts her heart into everything. Filipino comfort food at its finest -- highly recommend! Hindi lang lutong Pinoy, may pusong Pinoy pa! read more

Been wanting to try this place and was a little disappointed. First, after reading some of the reviews, I definitely want to give this place another try just because supporting small businesses is my jam. If only I spoke Tagalog perhaps that would change the vibe of service I received. The selection of food was vast and none of it labeled. Also, I think covering items with cling wrap would help keep the dishes looking better than the film of dried food on top. I wasn't acknowledged until I kept looking back and forth. The only discernible item was pancit and I just opted for the empanadas laid out in front of the register. Again, disappointment. I had suggested this place to my parents for catering for a family reunion but until I give it another try (with someone who can speak Tagalog) I rescind my recommendation. Later I noticed the empanadas had a note to store in the fridge. I bought it in the afternoon and it was displayed in front of the register. Who knows if that would've made the chicken floss filling better? I am a Filipina born in the Philippines and raised in the States and I always tell my friends how proud I am to be part of a culture of welcoming and nurturing people. I hate giving lower than 3 stars because I can't rain on the hustle. However, I left this place feeling meh about how I spent my money here and unimpressed with the customer service. read more

Pinoy Pam's Best - Filipino Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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I was completely ignored for 15 minutes. Everybody else got help. But I think you have to be related to the people that work there. Also, they are very, very slow, but have lots of delicious food to look at. You just can't have any unless you're a family member? Absolutely unacceptable. :( I will never go back again read more

happy with the food purchased today but not with todays female cashier around 1230~1pm. grumpy As ever :( read more

Pinoy Pam's Best - Bananas cracked open - Filipino Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Sometimes the food is edible, sometimes not even the dog will take it. If is meat they put excessive fat, if it fish no taste low quality fish. The place is unwelcoming. Only one young lady is good in customer service. The cashier is nasty. She could be the owner or manager, nasty. read more

I love the service! The workers and staff are very nice! Love the small little dining area they have, and also the Filipino cuisine is really good, especially after working out at the gym. I recommended their Adobo Chicken, one of the staple dishes they got read more

Pinoy Pam's Best - Vegetable/chicken with rice. The soup is Adobo Chicken! - Filipino Near Me - Lake Forest, California

The food was excellent tasty and it was close to having homemade food. I would definitely eat there again worth the 30 minute drive

Pinoy Pam's is a Filipino Food place. Like a turo turo from the Philippines. Food is pre-cooked and placed on warmers. They have a variety of Pinoy comfort Food! Kare kare, dinuguan, pancit, lechon. Whatever you crave for from Pinas, they probably have it. PLUS there are the desserts! Kamote que, turon and .... Magnolia Ice Cream!! A lot of Pinoy junk food available too... Parking is ample. Indoor and outdoor seating available. Credit cards accepted. Check out my YT Short @socalweekendwalkarounds https://youtube.com/shorts/hm9av5VppLM?feature=share read more

Pinoy Pam's Best - Filipino Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Pretty solid spot! Came here on a whim and didn't make a mistake. Restaurant/Cafe/Stores like this always remind me when I was a kid. So many delicious snacks and drinks to choose from when you're waiting in line for your parents. It's crazy how the tables have turned! The workers were very kind and gave generous portions. Ordered the lumpia, sinigang and kare-kare. All super delicious! When I come back here again, I'll make sure to order more. Thank you! read more

My boyfriend and I come to Pinoy Pam almost every week to have lunch/dinner here. The employees are so sweet and the food NEVER disappoints. Almost taste as good as home cook filipino meals made by your Mama!!! Recommend read more

First time I had them and I Love Love Love the TURON! had to order more 12 was not enough for husband and I.

the best in the west! the best in west! the best in all the way in the wild wild west !!! read more

Pinoy Pam's Best - Filipino Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Make sure you bring a fan because this place is hot as sh!t. Kinda like actually being in the Phillipines. But, if you want a massive selection of filipino and other South East Asian food...it is kind of the place to be. It's not fancy, or anything like that. But the store is a lot bigger than it looks from the outside. I was finally able to find calimansi extract so I can use it on all of my food and pretend I'm more cultured than anyone else in my office!! My only disappointment was that they didn't have fresh calimansi. But that is hard to find anywhere, so I can't blame them. They have in house cooked meals like Machado, Adobe, etc...and they have all of the staples of filipino cuisine. Very cool shop. read more

There's a lot of Filipino food selections here, from oxtail kare kare to ampalaya, all kinds of fried fish, chicharons, stews, soup, desserts, kakanins like suman, puto, cuchinta, halaya, leche flan, you name it they probably have it! There's also a mini grocery inside and some tables and chairs for dine in. There's also plenty of chip selections and all kinds of pinoy breads to choose from. $15 minimum for credit card purchases, plenty of parking spaces. read more

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Today I went there with my Filipino friends and they spoke Tagalog with the servers! We ordered the pancit, pork adobo, grilled chicken leg, chicken curry and halo halo. Everything was delicious!! I always go there to get the pancit but they had never given me as much as good as they did today! lol... told my Filipino friends that I should bring them with me every time I go there. They have the best halo halo! Ambiance is very casual. read more

The ginatan halo halo has molds, the ube kutsinta is slimy , we also bought some cassava cake and halaya for New Year's Day dessert and as soon as we took it out from the refrigerator there are molds developing on top of the cassava, the halaya was slimy too, please don't sell old food, we are paying but we also deserve good quality of food, not old ones. We are considering that this is a Filipino restaurant but we can always report your place for selling old and moldy food, this is the second time that it happened. Please please remove all those moldy "kakanin" . read more

Pinoy Pam's Best - Ginatan halo halo with molds on top - Filipino Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I am from Sacramento and spontaneously stopped by (first timer) on a Monday. There was an abundant of options that day and I was told there is even more during the weekend. Wow! Check out the awesome display of food! We chose a variety of dishes, 12 entrees and 2 rice, to appease all our curiosities. They were all so delicious! We then tried out 5 different desserts and they were heavenly! Now about the staff. . .They were all so courteous and hospitable! Especially, Sam! He is a great representative for this establishment! And compliments to Pamela who was also wonderful! She chose her staff well and her produce in the market portion of the store is up to standard. I can't wait to return during our next visit to So. Cal! Till then! read more

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