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.

The restaurant is Filipino food with an "upscale," aka fancy, spin…read more Ok - so, I was in the area with my son, saw the grill outside. I thought it was a taco stand. It was not. It's where they grill certain items, lobster, ribeye, skirt steak, the intestinal part of a chicken (?). So, not tacos but grilled meats so we stayed. twist. First of all, it's a lovely space. In a not very obvious area of DTLA, next to Urth Cafe but no other restaurants. We didn't have reservations so we had the option of sitting at the bar or following the waitress to a back room area instead of the front room that is visible to everyone. My son is a minor, so to the back we went! Seriously, the closer we got to the back room the more I felt I had been cast in "The Chef." Scary! Lol! The back room is black. Blackout black! Black tablecloths, walls, chairs, dark, low light. Very luxurious and open space. Which - because it wasn't full at the time - felt a bit like being in the film, The Menu." A bit too upscale and empty to feel comfortable. More guests arrived later, a large table, so that was more comforting. The food: Recommended *Kara Kara Tamales: braised oxtail with a peanut butter sauce. Wow! The taste was wonderful! Hard to explain but Filipino/African food meets Latin food. It was on the "shared plate" menu, which to me means it will be a lot. But the 2 tamales were not very big. Still, they were so rich that the 2 really were sufficient to share. Quite filling. I couldn't get enough of the sauce! *Crab fried rice: Very tasty and generous portion. Plenty share! Not recommended: The street eats menu. Now, this is what pulled us in - the sights and smells of the food being grilled outside the restaurant. Most of which was on this meme. Like a tasting menu. But for price to portion ratio, it simply isn't worth it. I ordered the skirt steak. 4 oz, cut in half. Cooked down to what looked like .5 oz! Each on a toothpick sitting in a paper plate (or maybe it was cupcake holder?) IDK. I just know it wasn't a good presentation and the taste wasn't memorable. Regular. More grill smell than taste. Not at all worth $8. Service: Really nice. And mostly good. Though they did fail short by (1) Using only small appetizer size plates and (2) Not bringing a fresh plate to eat the crab fried rice on after the peanut butter sauce laced tamale appetizer was eaten. The server brought the fried rice, but didn't bother to give us fresh plates (nor silverware). My son was mortified when I grabbed a plate from one of the empty tables! (Teenager energy on full effect). But after initial attentive service, the variety of different servers whizzing by didn't stop to ask if we needed anything. And I sat waiting at least 8 minutes staring at the rice. I assured my young man that the servers would be fine with me getting another plate to save them from having to. And once I did, he suddenly started eating from my plate of my peanut butter free fried rice. And of course, when a server did attend to us and I let her know, she was glad I took matters into my own hands instead of not eating for 15 minutes. Thoughts: Go for dinner, and order from the full dinner menu, skip the skimpy street eats menu. With reservations you can sit in the main restaurant area that has some view to the outdoors. Without it - back to the black room you go! Know that it will be expensive. And it will be original. Not sure I'll go back. It's very "special occasion" upscale dining. But If I do it'll be with reservations. The meal was memorable and worth experiencing.

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.

Upscale, refined, & re-invented Filipino dishes with familiar & traditional flavors , but in a very…read morewelcoming, chill, relaxed, & casual setting. As a second-generation Filipino-American, I would be lying if I didn't say that I had rather high expectations for Spoon & Pork, but as always, I try my best to keep any biases aside & curb any + all expectations. That said, Spoon & Pork is quite the anomaly. What I mean by that is that you have the hallmarks of any typical Filipino restaurant: simple interiors with modest decor, & beyond hospitable wait staff - especially our host, but the techniques & presentations of their dishes are something that you'd find at the highest of fine dining establishments. The irony is kind of nice because I don't feel so guilty about rocking a simple t-shirt + jeans, while enjoying what I'd expect to served at an establishment along Rodeo Dr. FOOD: Appetizer Lumpia Shanghai - 8.0 / 10 Perhaps the most famous of Filipino appetizers / street foods. I pride myself of bringing trays of these myself to any gathering because who doesn't love crispy, crunchy, meat-stuffed egg rolls that you can pop into your mouth? Here, the only real difference is that the individual pieces are longer that what you'd typically find. The pork + veggie dumpling is the same as elsewhere as well as your sweet + sour sauce. Nothing exactly to write home about, but delicious nonetheless Side Adobo Rice - 7.7 / 10 I feel like I've had this before & even made it myself. Simply put, imagine mixing plain, white rice into a cauldron of adobo broth. The very small pieces of meat are nice, but again, it's we're not exactly re-inventing the wheel here. It is a very nice upgrade vs. ordering your standard issue steamed (white) rice. Entrées Tapa - 9.0 / 10 A favorite of mine growing up as a kid. But whereas my mother would fry thin strips of beef, almost to a dehydrated crisp (think thicker, moister beef jerky), their rendition is quite different. Heartier chunks of premium quality beef, generously swimming in a broth of soy, vinegar, & garlic. This was personally my favorite dish of the night & a nice interpretation of a Filipino staple. The atchara (papaya, carrots, and red bell peppers, in tangy brine) provided a nice + refreshing counterpoint. Adobo Pork Belly - 8.9 / 10 If you ask anyone who knows anything about Filipino cuisine, the word "adobo" will almost always come to mind. But "Filipino style" adobo is quite different in meaning to its Spanish counterpart. In this case, we're referring to the classic preparation of any dish in a mixture of vinegar, soy sauce peppercorns, garlic, & bay leaves. Your boy definitely love pork belly (fatty unsmoked bacon of steroids), but the delicate pieces of meat smothered in the classic sauce was something of a revelaltion. I honestly didn't know how I haven't stumbled upon Pork Belly in Adobo (sauce) sooner than now. Highly recommended if you want to they the most classical Filipino flavor but with a modern take. As far as parking goes, availability is limited to the rather small number of spaces that they share with the fish taco shack immediately adjacent. But metered parking in aplenty. PRO TIP: Having actually lived about less than 100 yards away from this very restaurant (I moved away 1 year before they opened this location), drive up Westerly Terrace & you'll likely find some non-designated residential parking spots & just walk on over. Spoon & Pork are doing some very innovative things in Filipino cuisine. Combining modern techniques to traditional flavors. This place definitely deserves your business!

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

Loved the food here! We tried the coconut beef adobo, short rib, esquite, and jasmine rice…read more Definitely enough food for 2 with leftovers. The meats were incredibly tender and flavorful. The short rib ran us about $35. The sauces that accompanied the meal were also very tasty! It looks like they had a few of their bigger tables reserved for bigger parties, so that's nice. Parking on a weekday late afternoon was not bad on the street, but I can see how it may be hard to find parking some times.

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!