Maricar G.
Yelp
My dream has finally come true: an authentic Filipino restaurant in my neighborhood, owned and managed by some of the nicest people to walk this earth. I've seen a few restaurants that didn't last long in this same space so I pray to the restaurant gods that this place remains steadfast.
Parking is a breeze in this strip mall (located in the back, next to the post office), the location itself not being visible off the Main Street can make this an easily missed target but please please please do NOT let this gem pass you by. Make that U turn baby and take a trip to my motherland.
Being born and raised in Los Angeles, I've had my fair share of Filipino food (house parties, restaurants, catered events and in the Philippines as well). For Cleveland where the Filipino population is small but mighty, I am so happy to say that this place represents!
My usual go to item is the pork sisig (highly recommend for new visitors)
But tonight Tita Flora had two new featured specials that I could not resist. I used to abhor diniguan (pork stewed in pig blood) just knowing what it was and how dark it was such a turn off. But when I finally tried it, my eyes rolled back in ecstasy. It's savory, does not have any of that iron taste I expected in a blood stew, and atop the garlic rice: flavor explosion!
Tonight also featured another dish, an entire deep fried tilapia topped with sweet and sour sauce. I could have sworn it was actually red snapper to be honest but it was juicy, tender and easy to debone when sharing it family style.
Must also mention the pork bbq sticks we got as an appetizer, another one of my highly recommend items when I refer friends here. You get two sticks that have maybe 4-5 pieces of fatty pork. It's basted in a citrus, sweet, salty marinade that just yields this perfect protein snack. It comes with a peppery garlic vinegar dipping sauce that I just wanted to pour onto everything I ate (really enhanced that tilapia).
This place just needs a karaoke set up for the fill Filipino atmosphere. Please check out their desserts (turon and halo halo are also among my recommendations but if I had to boast any of them, buy one of their sylvanas it's like a Filipino macaron cookie!