Boba Licious

Home-style Filipino plates. Crowd-fave lumpia. Friendly vibes.

Restaurant Category: Casual Filipino takeout + boba shop; moderate prices; boba around $7.

Menu Highlights:
– Chicken and pork adobo (tender, homestyle flavor)
– Kaldereta (rich, thick sauce; very tender beef)
– Longganisa (comforting, “tastes like home”)
– Dinuguan (surprisingly well-liked even by hesitant diners)
– Pinapaitan (authentic Ilocano style; beloved by fans)
– Lumpia (banana and vegetable; often called the best around)
– Halo-halo (popular on hot days; quality can vary)
– Thai iced tea and assorted boba drinks (lots of options)

Service Highlights:
– Warm, welcoming crew; many mention kind, chatty interactions
– Happy to explain dishes and give recommendations
– Takeout-only; no dine-in seating
– Cafeteria/tray-style, with a rotating menu including Ilocano dishes
– Frequent praise for “home-cooked,” nostalgic flavors

Notes:
– No dine-in; strictly takeout
– Hours can be limited (closed Mondays–Tuesdays as of Nov 2023) and occasional closures/holidays aren’t always posted
– Mixed experiences with halo-halo (some say canned-tasting toppings, missing leche flan, or off fruit; others enjoyed it)
– Drinks can skew syrupy/artificial; a few reports of powdered taste or raw boba; one order-mixup mentioned
– One report of a hair in the food; big-batch cafeteria prep noted
– A couple of mentions of curt service at the counter, though most praise the team’s warmth

Customers come for the comforting, home-style Filipino cooking—think tender chicken and pork adobo, rich kaldereta, nostalgic longganisa, and even a standout pinapaitan that Ilocano diners rave about. Lumpia gets a lot of love, with folks calling both banana and veggie versions crispy and addictive. Portions are described as generous for the price, and many say the flavors feel like family cooking—some even say it reminds them of their parents’ food. The vibe is welcoming, with several diners mentioning friendly chats about the dishes and Filipino roots.

Diners enjoy the convenience of the rotating tray-style offerings and the breadth of drinks—from Thai iced tea to a full boba lineup—although experiences with beverages are mixed. Some people love the boba and smoothies as a sweet treat, while others mention syrupy or powdered flavors and occasionally undercooked pearls. Halo-halo opinions are split too: a number of customers find it refreshing and satisfying on hot days, but a few claim the toppings taste canned or incomplete. Service is usually described as sweet and helpful, yet a couple of folks mention a frowning cashier or a curt interaction.

A few caveats come up. The shop is takeout-only with no tables, which some wish were different. Hours can be limited—several point out they’re closed Mondays and Tuesdays—and a couple of customers ran into unexpected closures, possibly during vacation periods. There’s an isolated report of a hair in a dish and one of an incorrect drink order, which, combined with big-batch prep, made those diners hesitant. Still, regulars keep returning for the comforting Ilocano flavors, friendly women running the counter, and reliable go-to plates like adobo, kaldereta, dinuguan, and lumpia.