SALU SALO FILIPINO FOOD & GROCERIES

SALU SALO FILIPINO FOOD & GROCERIES: Quick turo-turo fix. Small grocery. Mixed service and cleanliness.

Restaurant Category: Casual Filipino turo-turo + small grocery, mostly takeout; ~$8–$15 per plate; skewers ~$4; desserts ~$20–$30.

Menu Highlights:
– Pancit and lumpia are commonly enjoyed.
– BBQ pork skewers are a go-to quick bite.
– Halo-halo gets “okay” marks.
– Ube hopia is decent for a snack.
– Palabok mentioned as watery/overcooked by some.
– Buko pandan salad described as bland with odd frozen texture by some.
– Bicol express was flagged once for a quality issue.

Service Highlights:
– Counter-service setup with very limited dine-in.
– Portions can feel stingy, especially close to closing time.
– Service ranges from friendly/manager helpful to curt; one report of a missing charged item.
– Cleanliness and upkeep concerns noted; ambiance feels less inviting than before.
– Washroom often unavailable or with a strong smell, per multiple mentions.

Notes:
– Food safety concerns mentioned (e.g., fly in a dish; hair found in bicol express).
– Inconsistent prep/quality (watery palabok, bland/frozen-texture buko pandan, some items not looking fresh).
– Some diners felt shorted on portions; one reported being charged for an item not received.
– One customer felt racially profiled during an interaction.
– Grocery side has limited selection; certain branded items feel pricey (e.g., Eden cheese at $10) and credit charges weren’t reversed when changing mind.

Salu Salo is a small Filipino grocery with a hot-food counter that scratches the itch for pancit, lumpia, and quick BBQ skewers. Customers come for familiar comfort food and the convenience of grabbing a few Pinoy pantry items in one stop. Some folks enjoy the basics—pancit and lumpia are often the safest bets—while others mention hits and misses like an “okay” halo-halo, decent ube hopia, and palabok that can come out watery or overcooked. Desserts get mixed feedback too; a few diners were disappointed with a bland, frozen buko pandan salad.

Service and ambiance are where experiences really diverge. Diners enjoy it when the manager or staff are in a helpful mood, but others ran into curt interactions, smaller-than-expected portions (especially near closing), and even a charged-but-missing item. A couple of customers go further, mentioning unpleasant attitudes, with one person feeling racially profiled. Cleanliness and upkeep come up repeatedly—people describe the space as not very inviting, understaffed at busy times, and with a washroom that’s either out of order or smells strong. The grocery selection is small, and pricing on certain items can raise eyebrows, with little flexibility once a card is charged.

Overall, people swing by for the convenience of a quick turo-turo meal and a few Filipino staples, but diners mention the experience can vary a lot depending on the day—food quality, portions, and service can be solid one visit and frustrating the next. Customers come for the familiar flavors and the one-stop setup, although a number of folks say the place needs more consistent portions, friendlier service, and tighter cleanliness to match the memories of earlier years.