The crispy pork rice bowl is the standout super flavorful, perfectly crispy, and so satisfying. The grilled chicken is good as well, just slightly on the dry side. Service is quick, smooth, and the staff is genuinely friendly. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Max Mezger
The food is so so good and it’s excellent value for money. Get the Tapsilog
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eidmone Tagaca
4.3/5 for the tocilog tray. Java rice was okay but I really liked the longanisa and the beef. The noodles were also decent. The pork lechon was also really good. A bit overpriced for what it’s worth but it’s definitely worth a try.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
James Folsom
The food here is incredible. I’ve told everyone I know about this place
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
JB Jose
Tremendous Filipino food. It’s more elevated than home cooking; like refined versions of the dishes you’d have at Filipino gatherings. The eggplant puree in the insalata was unusual but delicious. The crab sauce on the prawns was insanely rich; you could have the sauce and yellow rice by itself. And the pork belly was delicately crispy.
The ambiance was not amazing though. Uncomfortable stool seats and a smoky odor (from the firewood) made for a functional but slightly unpleasant seating.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michael Mabanag
Great food as usual but please get rid of your cashier. He has a huge attitude. Wouldn’t want to go back to this franchise anymore to this franchise with someone you’re ordering from who doesn’t know hospitality 101.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
Donna L
Omg the food was very good!! Just a warning, portions are on the lighter side for a meal! The meat dishes are all done wonderfully and the sides are light and refreshing (cucumber tomato salad and pickled vegetable). Also seating is limited and chairs themselves aren’t big, so it may be difficult for plus-sized individuals to dine in.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Andrew L Savini
Excellent, unique food. I can see why he won a James Beard award. The food is full of flavor and love.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Raoul Tamayo
5 star Filipino Food!!! Hard to give Filipino food a five star since I think my grandmother and mom are the best Filipino cook lol.
Got lucky to get a table for lunch when we arrived at 1130 on Sunday.
Menu is limited but can’t go wrong on trying a selection. We got the Lucerna LeChon plate, special dish- eggplant and tomatoes, and hiramasa collar. All dish were cooked perfectly- the LeChon was juicy and had crispy skin with accompanying achara (pickled vegetable, garlic fried rice, chami noodles. The grilled eggplant with burrata, and tomatoes dish was excellent- the flavor combination is amazing. Love the Almond wood-grilled Hiramasa collars with pickled veggies, dipping sauces: toyemans and chile garlic oil.
Didn’t make to desert but the calamansi pie looks great. They do have a house made homey calamansi hibiscus juice- very refreshing.
The place is smallish having 5 tables but seems have access for outdoor seating infront and outside. Parking is street meter parking. They do have a restroom on the back.
Definitely worth trying. And congrats to the James Beard Award.
We were excited to try this restaurant, especially given its James Beard recognition, but unfortunately, our experience fell short of expectations.
While I understand that there isn’t traditional table service, the staff’s demeanor was quite off-putting. We stood at the counter for about five minutes, during which the staff cleared dishes without any acknowledgment or greeting. A simple “We’ll be right with you” would have made a difference.
Our party of three ordered the Lucenachon tray, and I inquired about substituting the Chami noodles with sotanghon. We received a firm “No,” which was disappointing, so we opted for a separate order of sotanghon with prawns.
Sadly, the food was excessively salty, leaving a lingering tingling sensation on my tongue long after the meal. While the lechon skin was delightfully crunchy, that was about the only highlight. The sotanghon didn’t impress either, and we struggled to finish our meals due to the overwhelming saltiness.
I also tried the honey calamansi hibiscus juice, which was so sweet that I had to dilute it with water, ultimately leading to its disposal after several unsuccessful attempts to adjust the flavor. There seems to be a pattern of heavy-handedness in the dishes, which may not align with Chef Lord’s vision. Clearly, there’s a need for better quality control.
Overly salty food and even saltier staff attitude? No thanks. I’m not inclined to return. The warmth and hospitality typically associated with Filipino culture were absent here, and I can easily find friendlier service at many other Filipino establishments in LA.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
Matt P
Great Filipino cuisine. The lechon skin is crisp on the outside and the meat is juicy and tender. The rice is so fluffy and delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Melissa Yap
We ordered lucenachon tray with chami noodles, plus the Laing. The flavors were on point. The pork belly Lechon /porchetta very tender yet flavorful, The Chami noodles had a tangy - ness which I found refreshing. We also had Laing with bonito flakes topping which was also good. Definitely worth its James Beard recognition. Kudos!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nikhil M
A little bit pricey but the food changed my life ngl, worth it. I recommend the twice cooked pork.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maz C
It always surprises me when the main dish a restaurant is known for isn’t actually the best tasting dish. The lucenachon was okay but the lechon kawali was the real winner. Service was fine as its self service in the restaurant. The trays state 2-3 people but I think personally there isn’t enough meat to say it’s for 3. Definitely 2. $5 for a can is absurd though.
The crispy pork rice bowl is the standout super flavorful, perfectly crispy, and so satisfying. The grilled chicken is good as well, just slightly on the dry side. Service is quick, smooth, and the staff is genuinely friendly. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food is so so good and it’s excellent value for money. Get the Tapsilog
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
4.3/5 for the tocilog tray. Java rice was okay but I really liked the longanisa and the beef. The noodles were also decent. The pork lechon was also really good. A bit overpriced for what it’s worth but it’s definitely worth a try.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
The food here is incredible. I’ve told everyone I know about this place
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tremendous Filipino food. It’s more elevated than home cooking; like refined versions of the dishes you’d have at Filipino gatherings. The eggplant puree in the insalata was unusual but delicious. The crab sauce on the prawns was insanely rich; you could have the sauce and yellow rice by itself. And the pork belly was delicately crispy.
The ambiance was not amazing though. Uncomfortable stool seats and a smoky odor (from the firewood) made for a functional but slightly unpleasant seating.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food as usual but please get rid of your cashier. He has a huge attitude. Wouldn’t want to go back to this franchise anymore to this franchise with someone you’re ordering from who doesn’t know hospitality 101.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
Omg the food was very good!! Just a warning, portions are on the lighter side for a meal! The meat dishes are all done wonderfully and the sides are light and refreshing (cucumber tomato salad and pickled vegetable). Also seating is limited and chairs themselves aren’t big, so it may be difficult for plus-sized individuals to dine in.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Excellent, unique food. I can see why he won a James Beard award. The food is full of flavor and love.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
5 star Filipino Food!!! Hard to give Filipino food a five star since I think my grandmother and mom are the best Filipino cook lol.
Got lucky to get a table for lunch when we arrived at 1130 on Sunday.
Menu is limited but can’t go wrong on trying a selection. We got the Lucerna LeChon plate, special dish- eggplant and tomatoes, and hiramasa collar. All dish were cooked perfectly- the LeChon was juicy and had crispy skin with accompanying achara (pickled vegetable, garlic fried rice, chami noodles. The grilled eggplant with burrata, and tomatoes dish was excellent- the flavor combination is amazing. Love the Almond wood-grilled Hiramasa collars with pickled veggies, dipping sauces: toyemans and chile garlic oil.
Didn’t make to desert but the calamansi pie looks great. They do have a house made homey calamansi hibiscus juice- very refreshing.
The place is smallish having 5 tables but seems have access for outdoor seating infront and outside. Parking is street meter parking. They do have a restroom on the back.
Definitely worth trying. And congrats to the James Beard Award.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Soooo good- a must try!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
We were excited to try this restaurant, especially given its James Beard recognition, but unfortunately, our experience fell short of expectations.
While I understand that there isn’t traditional table service, the staff’s demeanor was quite off-putting. We stood at the counter for about five minutes, during which the staff cleared dishes without any acknowledgment or greeting. A simple “We’ll be right with you” would have made a difference.
Our party of three ordered the Lucenachon tray, and I inquired about substituting the Chami noodles with sotanghon. We received a firm “No,” which was disappointing, so we opted for a separate order of sotanghon with prawns.
Sadly, the food was excessively salty, leaving a lingering tingling sensation on my tongue long after the meal. While the lechon skin was delightfully crunchy, that was about the only highlight. The sotanghon didn’t impress either, and we struggled to finish our meals due to the overwhelming saltiness.
I also tried the honey calamansi hibiscus juice, which was so sweet that I had to dilute it with water, ultimately leading to its disposal after several unsuccessful attempts to adjust the flavor. There seems to be a pattern of heavy-handedness in the dishes, which may not align with Chef Lord’s vision. Clearly, there’s a need for better quality control.
Overly salty food and even saltier staff attitude? No thanks. I’m not inclined to return. The warmth and hospitality typically associated with Filipino culture were absent here, and I can easily find friendlier service at many other Filipino establishments in LA.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 1
Great Filipino cuisine. The lechon skin is crisp on the outside and the meat is juicy and tender. The rice is so fluffy and delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We ordered lucenachon tray with chami noodles, plus the Laing. The flavors were on point. The pork belly Lechon /porchetta very tender yet flavorful, The Chami noodles had a tangy - ness which I found refreshing. We also had Laing with bonito flakes topping which was also good. Definitely worth its James Beard recognition. Kudos!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A little bit pricey but the food changed my life ngl, worth it. I recommend the twice cooked pork.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It always surprises me when the main dish a restaurant is known for isn’t actually the best tasting dish. The lucenachon was okay but the lechon kawali was the real winner. Service was fine as its self service in the restaurant. The trays state 2-3 people but I think personally there isn’t enough meat to say it’s for 3. Definitely 2. $5 for a can is absurd though.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
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