Phil-Am Kitchenette

*** Phil-Am Kitchenette has closed. It's now Homestyle Hawaiian

I'd seen a sign similar to this one countless times while waiting for the traffic light to change at the intersection of Mesa College Drive and Linda Vista Road.

And I've probably made a mental note to check this place out just as many times, only to file it in the nether regions of my grey matter......

During a recent lunch hour, I decided to grab a bowl of Pho, only to find the restaurant closed when I arrived! Somehow, two of my lonely three remaining brains cells managed to rub against each other, and produced a memory of said sign. I arrived to a little shop that looked like a small convenience store located in a strip mall on Mesa College Drive.

With some hesitation, I entered the small and dark shop, past the shelves of Boy Bawang Cornicks and other snacks, and up to the little steam table set-up. I had also snuck up on the poor lady behind the counter and scared the crap out of her in spite of the fact that I set off the entrance "chime" when I walked in. The steam table held 8 trays of various items, some of which looked pretty good, some of which looked a a bit off....in fact the heating lamps for the steam table was turned off, doing their part to conserve energy perhaps? But when the lady saw me she smiled and turned the lamps on.

I chose a 2 item and rice combination, which went for the standard price of $5.50.

Along with the huge amount of rice, I'd ordered Longanisa(Filipino sweet sausage), since I figured that if you can't make Longanisa, you really can't make anything...

The sausages done well...no burn marks, fully cooked through. You can't really go wrong with Longanisa. I also opted for the Pork Tausi.

Now if you think this looks strangely like Pork with Black Bean, you'd be right...."Tausi" is fermented black bean...also known as "Dau See" in Cantonese. Of course the similarities in name are not coincidental. The pork was tender and had a decent, not overly salty flavor. One other thing, it was not as fatty as most versions of Tausi I've eaten. Also, even though the portion sizes were not as large (obscene) as those at Tita's Kitchenette, it was more than enough food for me, in fact I shared some of the food with our Filipino Administrative Assistant, who thought it pretty good as well.

I also grabbed a handy dandy pseudo-menu....

What I really enjoyed was the daily menu portion...."great, I can plan my lunch around what's on the menu..." Until I read the bottom portion(always read the fine print) which listed "alternate" dishes that may be substituted. I think there were 15 or 16 different dishes. To me this meant that they'll make what ever they feel like...I mean they could substitute every item on the daily menu twice over if they decided, right? This really cracked me up!

The other thing on the menu that caught our eye was the coupon, a buy 2, get 1 lunch free deal. Baaaarrgain City! Which meant a few days later we were back at Fil-Am. The problem this time was that we arrived at about 1115 am, and not everything was ready. It was a Friday, but there were only 2 items that matched the scheduled "menu". We still made the best of it....$11 for 3 plates is a bargain.

This time I got the Pork Adobo. The cubes of pork was fairly tender, and the flavoring was on the milder - black pepper side. In keeping with my previous visit, it was also less fatty, and not as salty as many versions at Turo-Turo(Point-Point) places.

The Nilaga Baka had a mild flavor, but was passable.

The meat was tender, and the veggies surprisingly were not over cooked. Best of all we got another coupon!

So, being the ravenous bargain hunters we are, we returned on another day. As before, most of the items served did not match "the list". But we did manage to find items we liked....You know I can't turn down Lechon Kawali(boiled than deep fried pork belly).

The lechon was on the "tough" side, the "skin" very hard and chewy, and the meat on the dry side. What really tasted good was the Beef Mechado(Beef Stew). (And it's not even mentioned on the menu!)

The  chunks of beef were very tender, and the "sauce" was full of tomato-y goodness, nice and rich, not overly fatty. This was great with rice. No more coupons for us after this trip...I think we used up our quota!

To sum things up, the food a Fil-Am Kitchenette is a mixed bag, you never know what's on the menu for any given day(except Longanisa), but some of the dishes are prepared well, and have lots of flavor. The portion size is decent, as is the prices. I don't know if I'm the only one who noticed that the food is not as rich as most turo-turo places. For example check out this 2 item combination plate from Tita's Kitchenette:

So much food(at least 3 meals), so rich, so fatty, so good...so much guilt!

The two ladies at Fil-Am are very nice, and I'm pretty sure you'll find two items to your liking, I just wouldn't follow the listed daily menu. Fil-Am fills a void in an area filled with Pho restaurants and Taco Shops, not a bad thing necessarily, but it's nice to have choices. Fil-Am also serves breakfast, according to the menu:

So if you're in the area, and are longing for some Longsilog and Garlic Fried Rice.....

Comments

[nhbilly]

I'm glad you're still kicking after all the food. Sounds like a bargain, wish I had a box to go ;-)

[Andy 美國土子]

that's alot of longanisa. little filipino kitchen places are awesome. they are often better than the restaurants!

If you're ever around Diamond Bar, stop by the Greenhills Market on Grand and Diamond Bar blvd. their kitchen is excellent. Paksiw la lechon is their best. I try to go there only once a week, but it's tough to be restrain oneself =)

[elmomonster]

My goodness! You guys are crawling with Flip places! Why can't we?

I need almusal and/or a turo turo place near me.

[Captain Jack]

Phil-Am's selections look interesting, but that plate from Tita's is what really caught my eye. Tita's 2 item combo might make a nice appetizer before a six burger stop at In-N-Out.

[Kathy]

you know what? you're really good at hunting down plate lunch kine spots! :) When I first saw the longanisa, I thought it was the Chinese lup cheong...and now I'm really craving both!

[howie]

What is it with Filipino places and their portions? They're insanely massive, and I have zero self-control when food is sitting in front of me.

[Ed]

What is it with Filipino places and their portions?

I think it's a holdover from the practice of sending party-goers (who have already eaten) home with a baon, or a sizable portion of food, for their respective families, almost as a party favor. (I should know - I grew up in a Filipino household.) In fact, not being generous with one's food is virtually a serious social sin.

I have a hunch that this once might have been a way to formally invite the neighbors to a big feast commemorating a significant social event like a wedding or baptism.

In Bali, anyway, this is still done. The day before a wedding, the sponsoring families send a large parcel of wedding feast food to each house in the vicinity, formally announcing the next day's festivities. (There are no RSVPs or paper invites - or if there are, they're still strange concepts to the Balinese.)

[Jack]

So how do I catch up on 6+ months of posts???!!??

Anyway, great eye...but if there is one person I know who would find a place like this it would be you Kirk!

I might have to go in tomorrow morning for breakfast. Longsilog or tocilog without having to make it myself or drive to National City. How great is that?

[toisan]

I pass by that strip mall every Monday and Wednesday on my way to the teaching gig at Mesa. Now I'll have to try Fil-Am, despite the Dr. telling me to watch my cholestrol. Oh, I see that they're open on Saturdays...

[Kirk]

Hi Billy - Yep, still alive and kicking......

Hi Andy - Once a week! Sheesh, I can barely do once a every few weeks.

Hi Elmo - This one is interesting because it's so out of the way.

Hi CJ - I think it's just enough food for a CJ appetizer.... ;o)

Hi Kathy - I'm just very curious I guess.....

Hi Howie - This place doesn't overload you, and the food is less fatty as well.

Hi Ed - Thanks for the insight. Several of my very good friends back home are Filipino...and whenever one of their parties is over it's bad form not to go home without a plate to take home.

Hi Jack - We'll catch up over lunch.

Hi Toisan - The portions are not as huge as those in National City, and the food can be hit-and-miss due to the limited variety, but some of it is pretty good!

[jeweladdict]

lechon kawali is so easy to make cant understand how they can mess it up. I personally get the liempo (bacon slab) and boil it with some spices till soft or pressure cook it (even softer) let it drip dry and put it in the fridge overnight. next day deep fry mo na lang the skin is heavenly! just make sure your oil is hot before you fry the pork tho.

[Dale]

Went there last week. Probably going back tomorrow. I got a menu but didn't notice any "Buy 2,Get 1" special on it. I may have to mention it... :)

Anyway, the price was still reasonable and the food was pretty good. The lady that was there was really nice. I mentioned that I had heard about them on this site and she apparently knew about it and seemed really appreciative.

I do try to patronize small businesses whenever I can but if I can get longanisa in the bargain, all the better!!!

[Kirk]

Hi Dale - Maybe the they don't have that offer any more??? The prices are reasonable, and the ladies working there are very nice.

[Dale]

Not a problem at all. I'd hate to think that I would be cutting into a fairly modest profit margin anyway. No sense in driving people to their place only to force them to lose money. I just think of the difference as sort of a tip.

[Dale]

Damn, keep forgetting to mention that I could really have gone for a little bagoong w/tomato & onion on the side... Then, I'd really start having flashbacks of being back home in the Bay Area.

[Kirk]

Hi Dale - I'm pretty sure they have bagoong, and would be happy to get you some in a small container if you ask.