I will quickly admit that I am not an expert in Filipino cuisine. Lumpia and adobo anything pretty much covers the extent of my interaction with it. I’ve enjoyed it thus far, and I was looking forward to expanding my horizons. Thanks to the recommendations of some of my homies, I ventured out to this trendy spot in San Bruno in search of some tasty treats.

You’ll have to excuse the terrible photo; the lighting was poor and I couldn’t get across the street for a better view. Place was packed out, though and waiters were working hard to turn the tables as fast as possible. Tagalog could be heard everywhere inside, which is always a good sign for a Filipino restaurant. I was surprised to see a lot of Filipino twenty somethings eating also, but with the huge populations of Filipinos in neighboring cities (particularly Daly City), it’s good to see locals supporting their own. The lighting was moody and the place had a lively and very vibrant feel. I was excited to eat!

I never understood the fixation on lumpia for some people. Just another take on the classic egg roll. Having said that, I ended up going for the fish lumpia; something a little different than the normal pork lumpias. Gotta try the popular stuff right?The lumpia was fried well, with a great crunch upon first bite.  Mmmm, I think I prefer the pork still. The fish wasn’t quite doing it for me.

Of course we all have to eat our veggies. I ended up trying the adobong kangkong, which featured kangkong leaves simmered in soy sauce, vinegar, and garlic – the typical components of adobo. I had no idea what the heck kangkong was, so thanks to the magic of wikipedia, I discovered that kangkong is a water spinach, which can be found in tropical and subtropical areas. Apparently it grows easily in water and is common to many Southeast Asian dishes. The sauce was a bit strong, masking the flavor of the kangkong itself, but I thought it was a good dish. Liked the pork crisps on top too. Think pork rinds, with just a bit of meat.  Delicious.

Okay, honestly, this probably wasn’t the best choice if I was looking for an authentic Filipino entree, but it sounded too good. I waited too long in line before I was seated and my duodenum started to control my desires instead of my brain.  Beef marinated with soy sauce and lemon sauteed with onions, on top of french fries? Damn, freaking awesome looking. I know I can epitomize food snobbery, but I am also a man who loves meat and potatoes. That being said, this was easily the best dish, even though I probably could have made it myself. With rice, it was great. All in all, a pretty good meal. Next time, I’m going to try a bit harder and have something a bit more authentic, instead of giving in to my inner hungry beast. Ohhh, that paella sounds great!

Patio Filipino
1770 El Camino Real, San Bruno, CA 94066
650-872-9888
Be prepared to wait.  A lot.  Especially if a bunch of entire Filipino extended families decide to eat dinner out.