Lilian's Filipino Restaurant and Bakery

This Northridge Car Wash Hides a Surprisingly Tasty Filipino Cafe Inside | Eater LA

"Tucked inside a car-wash gift shop since 2015, this bakery-café run by a Manila native serves some of the Valley’s best Filipino comfort food from a turo-turo (point-and-choose) counter and bakery case. Expect a modest silver “DINER” sign and a convivial grab-and-go vibe or seating at pastel-striped booths under high ceilings hung with license plates and flags. Mix-and-match combo plates ($4.99–$8.99) and a la carte items ($2.50–$10) make sampling easy: standout items include boneless fried milkfish belly, bone-in chicken adobo stewed in tangy soy-vinegar, house-made longanisa links, pancit, and a punchy Bicol express stewed in coconut milk and jalapeños. Other notable offerings are dilis (vinegar-marinated meaty smelts), mongo (spiced mung bean stew), bistek tagalog (braised beef with lemon and soy), crispy okoy fritters served with spicy vinegar, occasional kaldereta, flaky chicken empanadas ($1.99), hopia pastries (ube, mongo, or savory peanut-onion fillings), and an elaborately layered halo-halo dessert ($4.95). The kitchen also serves high-value “Rice & Shine” breakfast plates with proteins like longanisa, milkfish belly, and various silog options; the owner caters events and has plans for a larger second location, and steady customer traffic suggests a devoted local following." - Eater