Maharlika Cafe & Grill

*** Maharlika has closed

Sisig......isn't that a lovely word...say it again...Sisig..... There are very few things that will increase my pulse rate than the phrase, "really good Sisig." And I've received a few emails, and have been told that Maharlika in National City made the best Sisig bar none, in the San Diego area.

My previous experiences with Maharlika had not been very successful, but now with the possibility of Sisig dangling in front of me, I was hooked. Just to be clear, most Sisig in San Diego is not the traditional Sizzling Pig Head dish, but simply leftover Lechon Kawali stir fried with chili peppers, vinegar, onions, and green onions. Motivated by Sisig possibilities, I headed on down to Maharlika. If you've ever taken the 805 freeway south, and have gotten off at the Plaza Boulevard exit, and drove west, Maharlika is hard to miss.

On this visit, I found Maharlika to be much cleaner, and free off the abundant amount of Musca domestica encountered on my previous visit. I had arrived at about 1030 in the morning, on the prowl for Sisig. But as I headed for the steam table, no Sisig was to be found. When I inquired, the lady behind the counter clucked in disapproval, "no, no Sisig, until 11." Making me feel like I was the only person in San Diego County who didn't know that Sisig wasn't available until after 11.

Not quite knowing what to order, I decided on a 2 item combo($5.75). And because I had a steaming pot of rice waiting at home, I started with some pancit.

Which I thought were on the dry side and pretty bland.

The two items I selected?

The choices were pretty large and varied, but I settled on Ampalaya(Bitter melon) and Eggs, and Pork Adobo.

The portion sizes were quite generous, each taking up it's own container, which I found to be nice....no sauces overlapping, and less of a mess overall. I'd had Chicken Adobo at Maharlika before, and the pork suffered the same fate......waaaay to greasy, even for me. The Adobo was very mild in flavor, and lacked the sour-salty-peppery points that I enjoy. I could only handle a few pieces. Usually the oil from adobo is great over rice, but this version was too mild even for that.

And though the Ampalaya was also heavy on the oil, I enjoyed the bitter and salty flavor provided.

Not a very successful visit......so knowing how obsessed I get about these things, a few weeks later I found myself on the doorstep of Maharlika once again......looking for that Sisig.

I walked in, and surveyed all the items in the steam table......and no Sisig! But being under the watchful eye of the young lady manning the counter, I knew I had to order something, and went with the Lechon Kawale.

This version of Lechon was also on the "heavy" side, and the skin was not as crisp as I would like. The flavor was also very mild. What was good was the Lechon Sauce, just the right amount of sweet that I enjoy. A combination of guilt, fat induced dizziness, and waxy richness made me unable to eat more than 2-3 pieces.

So that's how the story ends, right?????

Well not so fast, you see, after the young lady had piled the lechon kawale on my styrofoam plate, I spotted a pan out of the corner of my eye (isn't peripheral vision wonderful?). And there it was Sisig. So I ordered Sisig, which caused the young lady to purse her lips and frown, "you want lechon and sisig....together?" Which when I come to think of it, is sort of like ordering French fries with your baked potato, since the Sisig here is made with lechon kawale. Still I did get me Sisig......

In the end, I was a bit disappointed with the sisig, first, the lechon had been cut into large chunks, that didn't go well with the smaller chopped onions and green onions. Though the sisig wasn't as greasy as I thought it might be, the flavor was very mild...not enough vinegar, and not spicy in the least bit. I added my own dose of vinegar at home.

Still, I did finally get my Sisig!

As you probably noticed Maharlika is a Turo-Turo(point-point) steam table joint. Though the place is never full, there is a steady stream of customers, and the portion sizes are rather generous. The Ladies working the front are very nice and accommodating. I still think the food at Maharlika is a bit too greasy for me....in spite of the sign which says, "We use no transfat." Which I found to be a bit ironic......

Maharlika Cafe & Grill
1819 East Plaza Blvd
National City, CA 91950

Comments

[cheese cheese]

they can use plenty of lard and still be able to say "no trans fat"! ;)

I've been following your blog for a couple of years. Thanks for sharing your eating adventures with us.

If you're ever on yelp look for me =)

[nhbilly]

WoW talk about asking for coronary attack I would too. To bad the skin wasn't crunchy and I'm very surprise you like bitter melon. I like mine stuff with ground pork and shrimp mixture with soup base.

[Reynila]

Thanks for posting on Maharlika.

You know, I've always wondered what their food was like. This place is one of the first things I notice getting off the 805 onto Plaza Blvd. Mmm, that Lechon Kawali looked pretty good to me. I just looove bittermelon. I can never make pinakbet (one of my fave Filipino dishes) because my husband hates bittermelon, okra and eggplant which are some of the main vegetables in that dish. Bittermelon is an acquired taste. It's cool that you like it, being non Pinoy. Most people don't like it.

[santos.]

i'm officially inviting you to our office christmas party this saturday (road trip, ha! ;)) when i asked the girls what they wanted on the menu, the first thing they said was "lechon" immediately followed by "sisig". not only that, they want dinuguan and camarones (tiger prawns wrapped in bacon). it may not be the sisig you're looking for but i think you'll make do!

[minote]

Hi Kirk,
Try Manila Seafood in Mira Mesa Blvd (same complex with The Coffee Bean, Rite Aid, Popeyes) and order Sisig and/or crispy pata. Let me know if you like it.

[Kirk]

Hi CC - Thanks for visiting, and the kind words. 109 Reviews!!! Wow you really get around!

Hi Billy - I enjoy bittermelon, but the Missus does not. Lots of bittermelon in Chinese cuisine as well.

Hi Reynila - The lechon kawale was kinda greasy/waxy...I like the lechon sauce here. You have to remember that my Grandparents, and Parents to a certain extent worked on the plantations alongside Filipino's, so there's some overlap. The Missus hates bittermelon......

Hi Santos - That would be some "road trip".....thanks for the invitation! ;O) lechon with Sisig chaser....my kind of people.

Hi Minote - Thanks for the rec, is this a new place. I've eaten at Manila Fast Food, and thought the Pata was okay, but the Sisig was to soggy and sour.

http://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/mmmyoso/2006/04/manila_fast_foo.html

Could this be the place.....perhaps under new ownership?

[farrah]

yumm!

i LOVE sisig! have you tried it over at conchings(eighth)-i like thier sisig? we went to maharlika years ago, that is one of the few places i've seen that makes eggplant with egg. karihan(plaza by popeyes & red ribbon) has some good lechon kawali.

thanks for your blog!

[janfrederick]

I don't know the name off hand, but there's a place in a tiny strip mall on Camino Ruiz in Mira Mesa next to New York Giant that catered our neighbor's baby shower.

Guess who ate about half of their tray? Thanks for turning me on to the stuff. And if you haven't, give theirs a try. I thought it was really good. (Then again, we don't get out much.)

[Wandering Chopsticks]

Hmm. I always feel a little bad when I have to do these types of reviews. Just so-so, so I didn't hate it, but nothing compels me to go back. But obviously the person who recommended it loved it and wanted you to like it too. I guess it's the same as someone reading one of my reviews and going and not liking a place. :P

[denny]

I have to agree with you that the food from Maharlika is generally swimming in grease. I heard it through the grapevine that the people who own San Diego Rotisserie own Maharlika as well. I've done the sisig and lechon kawali there three times on three separate occasions and have struck out with really disappointing dishes everytime. I make it a point not to return. Good call on the greasy-ness of the dishes

[Kirk]

Hi Farrah - Thanks for the kind words. I've been to Conching - both downstairs and upstairs a few times, but not recently. I've heard good things about their Sisig, but it seems that they rarely have it available at the steam table....it's usually something that is ordered ahead in large quantities for parties. So to make this brief, I haven't had a pelasure of running into the Sisig from Conching yet.

Hi Jan - Nice to know you're a fellow Sisig lover. Camino Ruiz? I know of only Gemmai, and Eddel's(a post is in the works) in the general area...am I missing something?

Hi WC - I know what you mean....but the first thing I try to make clear is I don't do "reviews"...this is more of a food diary. I don't pretend to be a food writer, I'm a food eater, and I try to go into every restaurant thinking that I'm going to enjoy myself. Also, it's much easier for me to be honest about what I liked or disliked...and especially why, than not to be. I'm hoping someone can compel me to go back. There were things I enjoyed at Maharlika...the ladies are really friendly and nice, the lechon sauce was very good, and the portions are generous. Though many just fixate on what I didn't care for.

Hi Denny - I also noticed the San Diego Rotisserie Van that is always parked in back of the restaurant, so I think you're right. I agree the dishes were really heavy, and though I'm not a shrinking violet when it comes to oil........this was a bit muich for me.

[Reynila]

that's right, i forgot about your hawaiian roots! :)

[janfrederick]

I think this might be the place: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&q=Philippine+Restaurants&near=San+Diego,+CA&fb=1&view=text&cd=3&latlng=32926651,-117144020,13937152919071065877&ei=wk5hR5flD6OgrALn4IH8AQ

[Bri]

Thanks for the report on Maharlika, Kirk.

I always wondered about this place as I pass it all the time. It never looked too clean to me.

I must admit to being a bit miffed about the place. It took over the building for a Wendy's that had been there for years. For fast food chains, Wendy's has always been my favorite.

When I saw this place go in...I was kind of disappointed.

I'll stick with Conchings and Titas. As for Sisig...well, I got spoiled. When I get it, I usually get the real stuff homemade...complete with cheek bones... ;->

Good stuff!

[Kirk]

Hi Reynila - A certain friend's Dad used to invite prospective suitors of his daughter to dinner, and make pinakbet....just to see if they could handle it.

Hi Jan - That's a new one for me. I'll have to check it out.

Hi Bri - I've enjoyed Sisig made with Pig's head, though it's not for everybody. Maharlika one the last two visits has been very clean...and no more flies!

[elmomonster]

AAW. I really wanted you to say the sisig was as good as you heard.

So here it is Kirk: YOU MUST try the sisig at Magic Wok in Artesia. I know you get a lot of suggestions from people from all over...but from blogger to blogger, you HAVE to trust me.

It is perfect in every way.

I dream about this sisig. I salivate thinking about this sisig. This sisig is the reason pigs were created by God. And I hate to say it, but, this sisig is even better than their lechon kawale...

[Kirk]

Hi Elmo - I trust you, and will add Magic Wok to my list.

[ladybugcee]

Lechon - Manila on Mira Mesa in the RiteAid plaza

Sisig - Conchings off Plaza/8th

[Kirk]

Hi ladybugcee - You know, I still haven't had the sisig from Conching...they only seem to make it for catering.