Filipino Restaurants San Diego Has to Offer

Island BBQ cravings. Big portions. Friendly vibes. Restaurant Category: Casual island/Chamorro and Filipino-Hawaiian fusion, counter-service plate lunches; fair prices noted, generous portions. Menu Highlights: – BBQ plates: beef short ribs, pork ribs, BBQ chicken – Seafood combo: crispy fried fish and shrimp – Chicken kelaguen (tangy, citrusy favorite) – Red rice and pancit as go-to sides – Lumpia and empanadas – Spam musubi – Teriyaki salmon (often served with fried shrimp) – Desserts: latiya and ube churros – Macaroni salad and cucumber salad Service Highlights: – Fast, friendly, and welcoming staff; helpful in explaining the menu – Proactive with napkins, utensils, and sauces – Many loyal regulars; consistent return visits – Portions often described as generous – Popular items can sell out early Notes: – A few diners found some meats dry or overcooked (loco moco patty, beef slices, occasional ribs) – One diner said rice was overcooked and bland once – Portion sizes felt smaller later in the day for some – Flavor is good but not a “wow” for a few folks – Extra charge when swapping in pancit as a side – Air conditioning has been noted as weak/hot inside at times – Occasional confusion with temporary … read full review

Authentic street grills. Family vibe. Late‑night hangout. Restaurant Category: Casual Filipino street food, grill-your-own skewers; pay-by-the-skewer. Typical spend $10–$25 per person, higher if you load up or add sisig. Menu Highlights: – Pork belly skewers (crowd favorite) – Chicken and pork BBQ skewers – Sweet sausage/longganisa – Sisig (small serving available) – Pork belly fat skewers – Quail egg and pig ear skewers (for the adventurous) – Soup (mentioned by diners) – Rice and vinegar/dipping sauces Service Highlights: – Warm, family-style welcome and guidance for first-timers – Staff help you cook and get a good char on the grill – Lively Manila street-food vibe with music – Communal grill that gets diners chatting – Friendly, attentive hospitality – Outdoor grilling setup; “culture-based” dining experience Notes: – Can feel a bit unorganized when busy; occasional waits for sauces (one diner waited ~8–15 minutes) – Sauces ran out for one guest – One diner found the sisig quite oily – Prices can add up if you stack many skewers – Limited operating days/hours Logistics: – Reported hours: Thursday to Saturday, 5pm–11pm (late-night option) Diners come for the legit Filipino street-food experience—open-flame skewers, lively music, and a community vibe that feels like a … read full review

Big selection. Sweet classics. Friendly service. Restaurant Category: Casual Filipino bakery/dessert counter inside Seafood City (National City); prices noted around $2.50 per piece (banana cue) and about $20 for boxed items; perceived as reasonable to a bit pricey. Menu Highlights: – Cassava cake (soft, moist, indulgent) – Halo-halo – Puto and kutsinta – Pastillas de leche – Suman and bilo-bilo – Turon – Crinkles – Sapin-sapin (popular, though quality mentioned as inconsistent by some) – Banana cue (mentioned, but mixed feedback) Service Highlights: – Friendly, patient staff who answer questions and don’t rush even when there are lines – Generally fast service for party purchases – Wide variety of traditional Filipino pastries and kakanin Notes: – A few reports of spoilage or sour smell (pichi-pichi, puto) – Banana cue called overpriced by some and served cold/too ripe – Some desserts described as too sweet or heavy on food coloring – Fried items (lumpia, banana cue) occasionally taste of old oil – Quality can be hit-or-miss; one customer felt a holiday sapin-sapin looked pieced together – Prices feel higher now to some diners – One complaint about lax social distancing during a past visit Logistics: – Located inside Seafood City in … read full review

Hidden gem. Big portions. Budget-friendly. Restaurant Category: Casual, hole-in-the-wall turo-turo/takeout; budget-friendly (around $10–$15 per plate). Party trays available. Menu Highlights: – Lumpia (meaty, crowd favorite; trays popular for parties) – Chicken adobo (flavorful, not overly salty or greasy) – Pancit/pansit noodles – Pan de sal and other baked bread – Sausages and beef dishes (varied daily selection) Service Highlights: – Mom-and-pop vibe with quick counter service, great for takeout – Many praise friendly service and fast lines – Generous portions and good value – Known locally as a small “hole-in-the-wall” spot Notes: – Phone service can be curt; a few diners report hang-ups or brusque replies – Availability varies; popular dishes may sell out and late-day selection can be limited – Occasional catering mix-ups (sizes/quantities) – Mixed feedback on taste and consistency (some found pancit bland/oily; a few called the food mediocre) – Limited space and selection compared to larger Filipino eateries Logistics: – Big parking lot – Accepts cash or card Diners come for the classics—lumpia, chicken adobo, and pancit—served in big, affordable portions. Folks describe it as a true mom-and-pop, hole‑in‑the‑wall with a changing steam‑table lineup. Many regulars say the adobo hits the spot without being too salty … read full review

Best-in-town lumpia. Fast, friendly. Budget bites. Restaurant Category: Takeout/catering Filipino spot, cash-only; budget-friendly (~$8–$12 plates; party trays; 100-pc lumpia about $75) Menu Highlights: – Lumpia (crispy, crowd favorite; popular 100-piece party trays) – Pancit (often paired with lumpia for events) – Chicken adobo (tender, flavorful) – Tocino – Fresh, homemade taste with generous portions Service Highlights: – Quick turnaround (orders ready in minutes) – Friendly, caring, family-run vibe – Efficient for party pre-orders when planned ahead – Longtime consistency appreciated by loyal regulars Notes: – Phone is often hard to reach; some customers place orders in person – Hours can be inconsistent; closes early, sells out, and has occasional repair-related closures – Some diners mention the food can be greasy or question ingredient quality compared to other spots – Items (especially pancit and lumpia) can sell out early Logistics: – Cash only; no ATM inside – Takeout only; no dine-in seating – Large orders typically placed a day in advance; high-demand items may sell out early Customers come for the crispy lumpia and classic pancit, with many calling them the best in San Diego. The chicken adobo and tocino also get love for being tender and tasty, and folks appreciate … read full review

Big Filipino flavors. Hearty portions. Sunday buffet vibes. Restaurant Category: Casual Filipino–Asian fusion; typical plates around $12–$25; Sunday brunch buffet $25; dine-in, events, and catering. Menu Highlights: – Sisig (fast to come out and crowd-pleasing) – Kare-kare (well-seasoned, a standout for several diners) – Sinigang (praised as “homemade-level” good) – Crispy pata – Pancit and adobo – Longsilog and other silog plates – Sunday brunch buffet favorites: garlic fried rice, longanisa, tocino, lechon kawali, ube pancakes – Halo-halo dessert – Pork soup; small sushi selection (hours vary) Service Highlights: – Warm, family-style hospitality; many feel “treated like family” – Friendly, attentive servers; good with dietary questions (e.g., gluten-free) – Comfortable, open dining room; chill vibe – Handles large groups well; popular for private events and catering Notes: – Service can be inconsistent: long waits, delayed courses, or slow drink service during busy times or events – One report of being turned away before posted closing; another of an unauthorized tip added to the bill – Buffet selection felt limited to some; missing staples like tapa/longanisa on certain days – A few dish misses: lechon seemed reheated/overcooked to some; palabok chow fun not the expected noodle style; garlic fried rice called … read full review

Turo‑turo favorites. Big portions. Long lines. Restaurant Category: Casual Filipino turo‑turo/cafeteria; affordable plates; dine-in, takeout, and catering. Menu Highlights: – Crispy pata – Sisig and dinuguan – Lechon kawali and pork afritada – Pancit (lutong-bahay vibe) – BBQ beef – Longganisa and tocino (noted inconsistency) – Isda sa tausi and turon – Hearty sabaw/broth Service Highlights: – Friendly, polite crew; many mention professional service and a welcoming vibe – Staff engages customers, remembers names/favorites, and offers samples for first-timers – Fast, cafeteria-style line; easy grab-and-go and popular for catering – Often a queue; dining room can feel crowded with moderate noise – Generally clean, simple, homey setting Notes: – Some inconsistency: occasional cold items (eggs, BBQ beef), or overcooked/burnt tocino – One diner reports a rude male server and skimped portions; another mentioned line-cutting for acquaintances – A few find flavors less “authentic” compared to other regions (e.g., Hawaii) – Prices have increased recently, though most still find them reasonable – Popular dishes can sell out by early afternoon Customers come for the familiar, lutong-bahay flavors and generous portions—think crispy pata, sisig, dinuguan, pancit, and lechon kawali—plus sweets like turon. Folks describe it as a classic point‑point stop: affordable, filling … read full review

Crispy chicken. Comfort classics. Bustling service. Restaurant Category: Casual Filipino chain, $15–25 per entrée; party bundles $100+; desserts and drinks extra Menu Highlights: – Signature fried chicken (moist meat, very crispy skin; a few reports of undercooking) – Pork and bangus sisig (classic, sometimes with egg; mixed feedback) – Pork BBQ skewers; inihaw na liempo (one diner found it more like tocino-sweet) – Garlic fried rice; crab fried rice (one complaint of aftertaste) – Pancit bihon and palabok – Lumpia (taste varies) – Chop suey with crisp veggies – Bulalo – Halo-halo, plus ube ice cream; calamansi and mango juice Service Highlights: – Friendly, efficient team; at times a single server handles the floor smoothly – Quick seating off-peak; food comes out hot and fast – Spacious dining room good for groups; can feel lively with OPM playing – Service can be inconsistent: some felt ignored or curt; limited flexibility on special requests – Gets packed with a line at the door; occasionally short-staffed Notes: – Portions can feel small for the price; bundles called skimpy by some – Inconsistent quality vs other branches; a few bland or off dishes (e.g., lumpia, sisig) – A couple of reports of undercooked … read full review

Big lumpia. Fresh, tasty bowls. Crowd-pleasing catering. Restaurant Category: Casual Filipino bowls and party catering; budget-friendly. Menu Highlights: – Lumpia (extra-large and generously stuffed) – Empanadas (often called out as crave-worthy) – Pancit – Liempo – BBQ chicken – Macaroni salad – Signature Filipino bowls Service Highlights: – Catering for birthdays and parties praised for freshness and flavor – Strong first impressions during the grand opening – Generous portions across popular items – Consistent quality and “everything was fresh” feedback Notes: – No major complaints in these reviews – Limited mentions of dine-in ambience, parking, or wait times Customers come for the big flavors and bigger portions—those stuffed lumpia and craveable empanadas get a lot of love. Diners enjoy how fresh everything tastes, from the pancit and liempo to the BBQ chicken and macaroni salad. The bowls themselves are described as delicious and satisfying, with folks saying prices feel reasonable for what you get. Diners enjoy their catering experiences too. Several mention birthday spreads where every dish arrived fresh, tasty, and consistent, making it easy to feed a crowd. The grand opening visits left a strong first impression as well, with people calling the food phenomenal. Some customers mention they’re … read full review

Sweet-charred barbecue. Big portions. Fast, friendly takeout. Restaurant Category: Casual counter-serve Filipino BBQ (turo-turo), takeout-focused; about $10–$16 per combo, meat by the pound available. Menu Highlights: – Barbecue pork — smoky-sweet and charred, the runaway favorite – Barbecue chicken and spicy pork/chicken – Chicken adobo (often recommended by the owner) – Lumpia (fried spring rolls) – Longanisa and lechon – Garlic rice; fried rice/chow mein as sides – Occasional sweet pastry items and rotating specials Service Highlights: – Small, family-owned, with a welcoming, mom-and-pop feel – Friendly staff; the owner sometimes helps at the counter and suggests dishes – Fast line service with generous portions – Consistent “homemade” flavors over the years; new items pop up now and then Notes: – Mixed feedback on the pink fried rice and chicken curry; a few thought the lumpia wasn’t great, while others loved it – A couple of customers reported feeling sick after eating – Prices have gone up; most still feel it’s good value for the portion, though one diner wanted more sauce with the rice – One-off reports of spotty service – Allergy caveat: several dishes contain fish and/or oyster sauce; one customer reported miscommunication about seafood allergens Logistics: – … read full review

Bold Filipino bowls. Big portions. Friendly vibe. Restaurant Category: Casual Filipino–Asian fusion, quick-service; reasonably priced with generous portions. Menu Highlights: – Pork Belly Bowl with umami gravy and soft-boiled egg – Adobo Bowl (chicken, garlic rice, soft-boiled egg) – Chicken and Gravy Bowl – Sisig Bowl (crispy, a bit spicy) – Chicken Karaage Bowl (best eaten fresh) – Mushroom Adobo – Oi Fries loaded with adobo sauce and cheese – Calamansi iced tea – Oi/Angus burger, pork buns, lumpia Service Highlights: – Friendly, accommodating counter team; quick ordering and short wait times – Indoor seating plus shaded patio with views of the Coronado Bridge; casual, lively vibe – Staff made things right when an order was missed – Good for quick dine-in, takeout, or a low-key date Notes: – A few diners reported upset stomachs/possible food poisoning and mentioned undercooked chicken or egg – Flavor can be uneven: some found items bland, others said certain sauces were too strong – Fried items (sweet potato fries, fried chicken) sometimes arrive oily or dry; karaage loses crunch if it sits – Occasional service hiccups: early closure reported, a delivery mishandled via third-party app, empty water dispenser, flies noted outdoors, and music initially … read full review

Flavor-packed sisig. Homestyle classics. Friendly but hectic. Restaurant Category: Casual turo-turo/steam-table Filipino eatery; roughly $10–$20 per combo; catering available. Menu Highlights: – Pork sisig (rave-worthy; tends to sell out, especially on weekends) – Pork lumpia (fan favorite; popular for party trays) – Pancit noodles (go-to pick-up and catering staple) – Chicken coconut curry (comforting, coconut-forward with veggies) – Lechon kawali and adobo – Halo-halo and turon – Pinakbet, ginisang upo, and garlic fried rice Service Highlights: – Family-owned with generally warm, professional, and attentive service – Busy and a bit chaotic during peak times; phone and catering orders can slow the line – Popular items run out; limited hours with early closing – Clean to some diners, though the space feels a little worn to others – Strong catering presence; lumpia and pancit trays are common orders Notes: – Food consistency varies by day; a few items served room temp or seem reheated – Seasoning can skew salty; some veggies/potatoes reported undercooked – Banana Q/camoteng kahoy sometimes undercooked or fried in oil that tastes off – Portion perceptions differ; a few felt portions were stingy near closing – Prices feel high to some; occasional upcharges (e.g., kare-kare with lots of … read full review

Crowd‑favorite sisig. Big portions. Community vibe. Restaurant Category: Casual counter-serve Filipino eatery; $13–$20 per combo/plate; generous portions. Menu Highlights: – Sisig (often praised as the best in San Diego) – Lechon kawali (crispy skin, juicy meat) – Pancit (comforting, filling portions) – Pinakbet; Bicol Express; Kare‑Kare – Beef caldereta; chicken adobo Service Highlights: – Fast, efficient counter service with large portions – Friendly, family-style vibe; owner known to be very accommodating – Clean space; geared more to takeout but dine-in is available – Can get busy at peak times Notes: – Quality can be hit-or-miss; occasional overcooked meats – Some find sisig and dinuguan too sour or heavy on raw onions – BBQ pork skewers can be tough/chewy; lumpia sometimes dry/oily – Pancit flavor can feel basic; desserts called pricey – A few mention minimal warmth from staff; occasional slow acknowledgment – Prices feel high to some ($16–$20 combos), while others find them reasonable – One diner reported stomach discomfort after eating Logistics: – Plenty of parking reported – Open on Mondays – Popular dishes can sell out; arriving early or calling ahead helps Customers come for the sisig—many call it the best in town and a must‑order—while some diners … read full review

Lumpia hits. Homey bakes. Early-bird silogs. Restaurant Category: Casual Filipino bakery-cafe; plates around $10–$15; party trays available. Menu Highlights: – Lumpia (party trays praised; crisp with sweet-chili dip) – Pancit – Chicken adobo – Silog plates: tapsilog, longsilog, tosilog, lechonsilog (~$13.25 noted) – Kare‑kare – Porkchopsilog – Empanadas (chicken, beef) – Pan de sal (warm, fresh) – Desserts: leche flan, ube cheese rolls – Drinks: mango and cantaloupe juice Service Highlights: – Friendly, welcoming staff; consistent, energetic service for many – Small but clean dining area; hole‑in‑the‑wall, family‑favorite vibe – Easy to order; counter split between baked goods and ready-made items – Opens very early, good for breakfast seekers Notes: – Some complaints about long waits and receiving food cold or bland – Occasional to‑go issues: soup/juices/sauces spilling; silog eggs overcooked; meats dry – A few find dishes “just okay” or like simple home cooking – Front-of-house can feel disorganized; handwritten menu – One customer felt phone service was curt; another felt awkward about language dynamics if not speaking Tagalog/Bisaya Logistics: – Opens as early as 5:30 AM; closed on Mondays – Short lines at times; limited seating Customers come for the lumpia and homestyle plates, and many leave happy … read full review

Ube pandesal shines. Rice bowls hit-or-miss. Slow lines, good vibes. Restaurant Category: Casual counter-service Filipino rice-bowl spot; typically $15–$20 per bowl, sides and drinks $3–$6. Menu Highlights: – Ube pandesal/ube rolls with ube butter – Calamansi iced tea and ube drinks – Lechon kawali/crispy pork belly bowls – Longganisa bowl – Grilled chicken silog – Lumpia (pork and vegetarian) – Occasional specials like kare-kare bowl and pancit gulay (vegan) Service Highlights: – Friendly staff and welcoming energy mentioned by many; young crowd and a cool, casual vibe – Open-kitchen setup; outdoor seating at the market location – Reports of long waits (30–45+ minutes) and incomplete/late orders during rush – Frequent sell-outs or missing items (eggs, sisig, onions) at peak times – Mixed experiences at different branches (Liberty Station market stall vs. Adams Ave bodega) Notes: – Rice quality is inconsistent: clumpy, dry, or undercooked in multiple visits – Portions can feel small for the price; meat-to-rice ratio leans heavy on rice – Extra charge for a fried egg (~$3) rubbed some diners the wrong way – Flavor inconsistency: adobo sometimes bland; sisig overcooked or overly salty; vegan sisig too salty for several – Cleanliness concerns from a few diners (glove-changing … read full review