Oriental Mart Filipino Restaurant

Another good find. Authentic Filipino fare that may be unfamiliar to US palate a la Zimmerman. Worth the adventure in Pikes. Check out the post it wall with an attitude.

I accidentally came across this place, and decided to have my first try with Filipino food - the Chicken Adobo turned out to be rather bland. Nonetheless, it tastes like home cooked food. Considering Pike Market is a major tourist trap, it's fortunate that this food stall is truly able offer home cooked food at a reasonable price and portion.

I cook Filipino food at home and come from a household of great home cooks so I wasn't expecting too much from the place. I do like the sarciadong halibut/salmon that I ordered and the rice was perfectly mushy (I like soft and mushy steamed rice). I would have ordered dinuguan (pork stewed in pork blood) or the fried smoke bangus if these were available. I'm sure the sinigang is fabulous but I'm happy to cook it at home so will have no opinion on that dish. I would say the pansit could be better. Overall the food is good, the portions are huge and prices fair. I will come back and bring my own take out containers and stainless utensils next time (because its the only way to properly eat Asian food - either wood chopsticks or stainless steel spoon and fork).