Sari Sari Store

Insight from a born-and-raised Filipina...

Decently-paced service, very over-priced, but nice Filipino ambiance- I enjoyed seeing all the little details, like the Skyflakes box on display and the little Filipino flags they put in their food.

Let's cut to the chase: Their halo-halo really disappointed me :( this dictates my 3-star review. It might be unfair since I haven't tried any other items on the menu, so it's possible I edit this review if I find myself in the area again.

In all 18 years of living in PH, I have never seen or even heard of blueberries and pineapple in halo-halo. It was so weird that I couldn't finish. Such a small amount for the price you pay, too. Maybe they're trying to make it more American to appeal to more FilAms, but come on... so hard to find authentic Filipino food out here.

Will come back and *hopefully* find redemption lol

I'm a fan of Chef Margarita Manzke, glad she finally got her recognition as a James Beard Award Winner. Though this may not be the items of the JB recognition, it's still in the same presence in my opinion. Here was my experience.

AMBIANCE:
Parking: Street parking, plaza parking, garage parking. It can get pretty competitive and pricey. There's also pick up parking in the garage too.

Seating: They have about 10 bar chairs. It's in an open market thus most tables are free for all but there are scenic areas where you can chill and eat.

Vibes: Welcome to the famous Grand Central Market! A lot of eateries and shopping vendors. There's entertainment here and there so be sure to follow their social media for events. It's also close to a lot of scenic gems too. The spot itself emulates the sari-sari setup with quality/delicious Filipino Food. Great for pick up or chilling.

FOOD:
Pinoy BBQ Ribs (Recommend)
A comforting and delicious dish. For those new to Filipino food, this is a good start. I enjoyed the mix of sweet and umami flavors. The ribs were well-marinated in sweet sauce. The meat was soft and the pickled pepper, onions and green onions complemented this bowl very well.

CUSTOMER SERVICE:
Awesome! Oscar was a friendly dude that was quick with my order.

TL; DR OVERALL:
4.5 Stars. Awesome! My family cooks a good comforting meal but this spot gives a good run for its money with a little extra dazzle. A reasonable price especially for Los Angeles, delicious food and great choices. I'll be sure to come back to try more of their bowls. #FilipinoFoodMovement

TIPS:
* Check out their other locations! Chef Margarita co-owns three others, her award winner is RepubliqueLA
* "Sari Sari" means "whatever" - used to describe small stores that sell everything from candy to skewers.

I really wish this place was better. I really liked the shishito peppers, but that was the best of what we ordered. We also go the Sisig fried rice, the arroz caldo and the Turon.
The arroz caldo was really lacking that garlic chip flavor and some seasoning. Same with the sisig. I guess I always compare the sisig to the one at Magic Wok and am always disappointed. The sisig is never crispy and lacks flavor. The turon was also just sad and flavorless.
The workers were super cool but didn't make up for the food.

was craving a bowl of good Filipino food and been following their social account for a while so I was really stoked when we were around the area to finally try it

Got myself the lechon bowl. It's not bad -- maybe I just hyped it up waay to much in my head. Not going to lie Justified BBQ (if you're in the VTA area) does the lechon way better. It was a little tough, and a little dry. Was hoping for that jooocy pork goodness that would require an aspirin or 2 after

I have to unfortunately agree with their version of halo halo -- I missed the madness. The saba, sweet potato, sweet beans, jackfruit. It was just sago and some fruit. Should be named sago con yelo instead.

A friend told me that it's the same people behind Republique -- I mean the prices are same but the flavor and overall soul behind Filipino food was amiss.

If you're in the VTA area, you're not missing out. Lola Betty def serves it up

I'm half Filipino, so naturally I'm drawn to try out new Filipino spots! Keep in mind, this review is only based off desserts as I didn't buy a meal.

Staff? Friendly.
Wait time? Pretty quick.

I got an Ube slushie & Turon (2 for $6). Ube slushie was good. The ube flavor overpowers the coconut. The turon was also good, but I have a sweet tooth and even this was far too sweet for me. Turon is sweet as is, and they added brown sugar on top and condensed milk as a dipping sauce.

Came here for the first time to do a little food crawl. We tried the Sisig Fried Rice which I had high expectations for since sisig is my favorite savory Filipino dish, and the place had a packed bar seating and line to order.

Honestly, it was good, but not great. The flavors were pretty good, but the head meat didn't have a good chew to it, it was super tough. For $16, I felt like what we got was overpriced. I would go back to try other items like the Halo-Halo and BBQ Ribs since they looked so good coming out of the kitchen, but wouldn't get Sisig Fried Rice again.

This is the best Philippine food shack ever. The halo halo is delicious. The service is good. Note inside the central market so expect busy during rush hour. But it's not bad at all 15 min wait. It's always loud because it's a central market in DTLA but definitely worth the visit.

Overall, pretty decent spot for some grab and go filipino food. Friendly service, although it can take a while for the food to come out. Adobo bowl was very flavorful and hearty, and super tangy even before adding the sauces on the side. Ambiance is really nice, especially since it's located in Grand Central Market!

While the rest of my party had burgers or chicken, I was a bit more ambitious and chose Sari Sari Store. The chicken plate and lumpia were delicious. The meal was a bit expensive for my taste from a food court restaurant but the food was really good. Most likely go back some time.

This is located on a side of the Grand Central Market near Angel's Flight.

Sari Sari is my go-to spot, and it never fails to impress! I've dined here multiple times, and their pork belly bowl is an absolute showstopper. Flavorful and packed with ingredients, it's a must-try.

I also highly recommend their adobo rice; it complements the pork belly bowl perfectly. And during happy hour, you can enjoy a $4 beer, which is a great bonus.

Sari Sari has a convenient self-serving water station, and you have the option of seating at the bar or in the bustling general market area. While it's on the pricier side, the accessibility and the consistently delicious food make it worth every penny. Sari Sari is a true gem!