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| - Being Filipino myself means I'm hypercritical of most Filipino restaurants. This place exceeded most of my expectations. They have all the standard Filipino dishes but have elevated them in taste and presentation.
We ordered lumpia shanghai, a longanisa breakfast platter, pork belly sisig, and the braised bulalo.
The lumpia was standard but the presentation made it worth ordering. The dipping sauce was watery - I think it was a vinegar sauce and not the thicker chili sauce that is typically eaten with lumpia. The longanisa dish came out on a sizzling platter, which made the sausage extra crispy and delicious. I don't know if it's made in-house but, if it's not, I need to know where I can buy some for home. The sausages were flavorful and juicy, with a hint of tocino flavor. Unlike any other longanisa I've had, in the best way possible. The pork belly sisig also came out on a sizzling platter, topped with a raw egg that cooked after being mixed into the piping hot pork belly. Flavor explosions everywhere! A little bit spicy, tangy, and the richness from the egg yolk made it so savory. My favorite dish was the braised bulalo that came out in a hot pot. Unlike the usual bulalo in a broth, this dish had a brown gravy with potatoes, carrots, and the beef shank. The gravy was amazing. It was rich and so complex in its flavors. My only gripe was it only came with one shank and the menu said the gravy was a mushroom gravy but I didn't see any sign of mushrooms. Still delicious, though.
The service was good and staff was friendly. I love that they're taking some of the best Filipino dishes and really presenting them in a way that appeals to everyone. It's a great way to share our cuisine with those who may not be as familiar. Looking forward to coming back and trying more of their menu.
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