Filipino Food Galore

Here’s some of the best local Filipino restaurants and eateries near El Camino College

Filipino food is a popular choice for students looking to eat hearty amounts of food without breaking the bank. Here are the Top 5 locally-owned Pinoy eateries near El Camino College on a student’s budget.

1. Pick Your Plate, Hawthorne

Based in a cozy restaurant on Inglewood Boulevard, Pick Your Plate has all the bases covered on traditional Filipino food. Their one item combo for $7.99, in this case a plate of pork sisig with rice, gives a great mix of flavors. The savory soft pork mixes with the snap of the onions and bell peppers and is complimented by the rice as it soaks up the flavors of the pork juices.

Address: 11943 S Inglewood Ave, Hawthorne (4.2 miles)

Phone: (424) 456-4803

2. Tita Celia’s, Carson

For 33 years, Tita Celia’s has been serving the Carson area with traditional Filipino food. The pork adobo (Combo E, $11.75) is covered in a salty, savory sauce, served in large portions. The large portions of rice act as a palette cleanser while the beef mechado, served separately in a cup to accommodate the stew, warms the body with its hearty flavor and big pieces of soft potatoes and braised beef. A large cup of sago’t gulaman ($2.75), a traditionally sweet Filipino drink, adds a nice minty touch to the meal.

Address: 621 W Carson St, Carson (5.7 miles)

Phone: (310) 834-6289

Website: www.titacelias.com

3. Manila Sunrise, Carson

A quaint restaurant, Manila Sunrise offers a good spread of budget-friendly foods that are still delicious. Their one item combo of bicol express and rice, ($6.95), offers a good combo of spice from the peppers mixed with the mild heartiness of the pork, with the rice filling in the rest. The vegetable lumpia, ($2.29), is packed full of minced veggies to get your greens in your meal time.

Address: 21828 S Main St, Carson (7.1 miles)

Phone: (310) 835-2800

5. Pinoy Big Mouth, Wilmington

Located in the parking lot of a church, this food stand offers a more traditional feel of Filipino cooking. A skewer of raw pork costs only $1.50, which you can cook yourself on the woodfired grills provided by the stand. For those who want a snack on the go, you can buy a six-pack of crispy pork lumpia, with accompanying sweet and spicy sauce, and a cup of homemade pineapple juice for $4 each.

Address: 444 E Lomita Blvd, Wilmington (8.6 miles) Phone: (310) 408-1551

4. Manila’s Lechon, Carson

This strip mall restaurant is convenient for people in a rush to eat. In lieu of a full plate, Manila’s Lechon fast service offers skewers of meat at a reasonable price. Their skewers of barbecued chicken and pork ($3.50 each) are filling and flavorful, and the turon (a desert-style lumpia, $1.25 each), adds a sweet touch to the savory meat.

Address: 118 W Carson St (6.2 miles)

Phone: (310) 935-2209

Website: manilaslechon.com