Lia’s Lumpia Filipino Restaurant Opens in Barrio Logan | Eater San Diego

"In Barrio Logan I saw a family legacy take shape at Lia’s Lumpia, run by chef Spencer Hunter and his mom, Benelia Santos-Hunter: it launched last fall as a takeout-only spot and they’re holding a grand opening on Wednesday, March 8 to welcome guests into their cozy cottage, redecorated with personal photos and nostalgic Filipino items. Their expertly-fried lumpia comes in classic beef and pork as well as creative fillings like mac and cheese and pork sisig, and monthly specials have included a Kansas City barbecue lumpia and a soul-food version made with pulled pork, collard greens, and dirty rice. The menu also includes chicken adobo tacos, a Filipino Smashburger, kalamansi wings, vegetable pancit, and a longanisa Scotch egg served with pickled pico de gallo, crispy garlic, and kalamansi mayo that ties into Hunter’s new Milagros multi-course pop-up dinners. Named after his grandmother, who ran a Filipino restaurant in National City in the 1970s, those once-a-month dinners (the next is scheduled for Tuesday, February 28) will expand to weekly pop-ups in March as a preview of the modern Filipino restaurant Hunter hopes to operate full-time; the food truck remains parked in the Barrio Logan backyard (not in use for catering or posted up at Snapdragon Stadium) and Hunter plans to convert that backyard into additional seating and event space." - Candice Woo