Tita’s Kitchenette

Four stars. The food is great and dandy but you better know what you want otherwise they just stare you down till you feel they’re poking at your soul to hurry the hell up.
Chicken skewer is amaze-​ball, so make sure to grab one!

Grab a quick to-​go lunch from here today, pancit with bbq. It was super good, super fast and a lot of food! Definitely will go back again when in the area or craving good Filipino food!

I was so happy to find this hidden gem! If you don’t know about this place or have never been, you MUST! Man VS Food Status! This place should be known for their famous Chicken BBQ Sticks, which are worth the line and wait!
I’m Filipino and grew up eating Filipino food. I loved it growing up but as I got older and started to look at the nutritional value of food I realized that Filipino Food is really unhealthy. Living on my own, I regret not learning my moms recipes. Now, Here and there I crave it and whenever I’m in the San Diego Area I MUST go here and get the BBQ.
The Pork Sinigang (for those who are not Familiar with Filipino Food) is a soup or stew characterized by its sour and savoury taste most often associated with tamarind (Filipino: sampalok). It is one of the more popular viands in Philippine cuisine, and is related to the Malaysian dish singgang. Made with vegetables and eaten with rice, this dish is a must try!
GET The BBQ! That is usually why there is a long line and wait. If you’re there and they have plenty in stock buy extra to go, you will not regret it!

I like their big portion of pork and chicken bbq. My kids loved it.
This morning we would like to try their chopped lechon so my husband ordered 3 lbs. over the phone. He was being told that he got a little more than 3 lbs. when he picked it up at noon.
It doesn’t look 3 lbs. to me though. Out of curiosity, I grabbed one my shipping scales (I own a home-​based business and I ship orders almost everyday) and guess what I found out? Wow! really? more than 3 lbs???

For under ten dollars you can have a pile of delicious Filipino food! They made me feel very comfortable as a non-​Filipino eating there and I appreciate that as I have been to other places not so welcoming. The sisig just melted in my mouth and for a few dollars more I added lumpi a that was big and pretty bomb. Gotta try it if u can

If you don’t know about Titas Kitchenette you need to!
If anything try the 2 item combo and get 2 BBQ Chicken skewers and rice.
It’s enough for several people to eat at around $ 8

My 1^st time at Tita’s!!!
Tip #1– If you’re a non Filipino, be sure to brush up on your Filipino cuisine (Google it). There’s no labels on the food.
Tip #2 — Pointing (finger if you’re American, with your lips if you’re Filipino LoL) is ok if you’re not familiar with the food–
Tip #3 — Do not leave this place without a Kabob (They’re so damn good).
Tip #4 — if they offer you soup– say yes, it’s free.
I ordered a Pancit combo. I got Adobo and Menudo. The food was very flavorful and they give you so much.
I do not live close by, however I will definitely return!

One of the best Filipino restaurants in San Diego.
Big portions, affordable price, yummy food. This «turo-​turo» restaurant is where you pick a 1, 2, or 3 combo dish and then pay at the end of the line. There’s dessert and free cups of water available. There’s always a line at dinner.
My favorites:
— Bistek
— Barbecue
— Sinigang
— Halo Halo
— Sisig
Vegetarians and vegans should never go to this place or pretty much a majority of Filipino restaurants. Our food is made up of delicious, savory loads of meat.

Came here with the parentals after taking them to the Navy Exchange to shop and get their daily exercise. This and Lisa’s is their go to place for Filipino plate lunch or turo turo (point point). The portions they dish out are huge, enough to feed the 3 of us and still have leftovers. And that was a 2 item combo.
The taste of the Filipino dishes here are always on point. Also nice to know that because they’re so busy, food isn’t recycled to the next day. Many Filipino places have this bad habit, and that’s why some have gone out of business. Many non-​Filipinos know that this place is the joint too, you get a great meal at a very good price.
Tip, get their bbq skewers, they’re super good. Other tip, cash only.

If you want authentic Filipino food this is the place to come. Always a packed house and long lines but worth the wait.
Pros:
–BIG portions (enough to share and take home for later)
–dine-​in available
–halo-​halo and ice cream next door
Favs:
–Kare Kare
–Dinuguan
–chicken & pork BBQ sticks
–Sinigang
–pancit
–Sisig
–lumpia
–chicken adobo
Cons:
–cash only
–long lines (but moves quite quickly)
–parking
–far drive if you are not local (but worth it to come visit)
fun fact: Andrew Zimmerman «Bizarre Foods» came here in 2010

Solid 4 or 5 star for what it is, very good authentic Filipino food! I came to this place in search of good chicken adobo and pancit.
Thanks to Unilocal I was able to find this South County gem. I walked through their doors around 2:30 and the place was slammed with lots of people. I get the impression this is a usual occurrence.
So I walked right up to their ordering counter where you can see all your options right in front of you like Panda express. I went to work ordering $ 18 dollars worth of food, it easily could have feed 5 people, they give big big portions here!
The food was awesome I loved it, amazing chicken adobo! Lumpia was good, pancit was good. They have so many options you’ll likely find something you love and possibly something you really don’t like…
If your feeling adventurous, or love good Filipino food this here is a good spot to check out.
It’s a medium size place, not fancy, but also no dump. I will definitely be back, and maybe see you there
Happy eating!!!

I loved the Filipino food here. The only bad part, it’s in National City so i’m not sure when I’ll be in the area again. The adobo was good, pancit was good and their complimentary pork soup was amazing. The line is long but moves fast and FYI, they only take cash. Portions are huge too. Great food!

Great authentic Filipino Food!
There’s Always a long line but don’t usually wait too long.
Portion size are humongous so if you’re looking to get the best bang for your buck, this is the spot. I think a two item combo is about $ 7 and you have enough to spread it out into three meals!
Staff is friendlier now than they used to be, thankful for that!
I normally come here for Kare kare. They’re apritadang kambing is bomb too. They’re sinigang and chicken adobo is good too!

Deliciously authentic Filipino food at an extremely reasonable price. We had lunch with a friend here and the three of us all ordered the 2-​item combo. Little did we know, the three meals could have fed 10-​people! The servings are enormous! I had the squid and lumpia. The lumpia wasn’t that great — the meat was pretty dry and didn’t have much flavor. The squid, however, was very tasty. The onions, chili peppers and vinegar all came together nicely to provide great flavors. The squid was cooked well — not too chewy. I was able to try their «chocolate meat» and adobo both of which were delicious and definitely produced all the flavors of the Philippines.
The whole time we were there, the line was never-​ending and the everyone who was eating all had satisfying smiles on their faces. Signs that you’re in the right spot.

Tita’s Kitchenette is a very interesting restaurant. It is served almost cafeteria style where you go in and order, hey box it up and your off. They have item combos like Asian restaurants except their portions are gigantic. Everything I have tried is good.
The combos usually come with rice but you can substitute pancit for a dollar more which is completely worth it. Then pick out your proteins and you are done. They will let you sample some items if they aren’t busy and if you elegy someone who will take the time to help.
They do not have signs over what item is what so they generally expect you to know what you want. They don’t like a lot of questions either so be prepared to irritate them if you like to know what some items are.
They have a good sized dining room however most people get heir food to go.
There can be a line but it moves fast, hence the no questions, and be prepared with cash because they do not take plastic forms of payment.
Overall this place offers amazing food for a good price. They are in a great location and have enough parking. My only reason for knocking off a star is because they really don’t like to answer questions so sometimes you can be shooting blindly as to what you are eating.

One of my Filipino faves in national city. I liked the bbq skewers, sinigang /​hot n sour soup, lumpias or egg rolls and pork sisig! I don’t cook Filipino food at all so I just come here but only to go/​take out.
This place is pretty busy so you’ll always see long lines and they only accept Cash payments.
They have another restaurant called Titas II a nice restaurant down by East Plaza Blvd heading to Paradise hills it has a karaōke bar and dance. They serve seafood platters yum! Check it out !

Last night, my sister let me have a BBQ chicken skewer that she got from this place. I heated it up along with some rice, tofu, and other veggies. The chicken skewer was huge and so good… Today, I asked my coworker if the BBQ chicken skewers she’s been sharing with me was from here. She said it was, so that’s why it had a familiar taste! I really like it and she said it usually comes with the combo, but you can also just get the skewer by itself.

Talk about bang for your buck. On a recent trip to San Diego, a buddy of mine recommended Tita’s for some legit Filipino food. Upon arriving, it seems like your typical turo-​turo style restaurant, nothing fancy or visually stimulating. However, it became the game changer once I took my first bite. The BBQ chicken and pork here is absolutely phenomenal. It’s lathered in the delicious marinate, skewered, grilled, and charred to perfection. Easily some of the best BBQ you can get around. I’ll be daydreaming about these BBQ sticks when I’m back home in LA. Their pork adobo was also an absolute winner. The perfect tenderness of the pork and the ubiquitous adobo sauce slathered over white rice is something special. Amazing flavors for even the uninitiated.
For $ 7.50 you get a 2 item combo, and at most places that’s usually enough for myself. At Tita’s, a 2 item combo is enough for 2 people and you’ll have left overs. In other words, they hook it up FAT. I ended up coming back here the next day for food for the trip back. They also cater for big parties and even do the whole roast pig. Definitely check out Tita’s for some cheap delicious food that will hit you right in the dick. And no, they aren’t family of some kind.

This place is 5 stars for sure. The food is delicious and a very generous portion. We got Pancit with 2 items which is $ 9 and rice with 2 items for $ 7.50 BBQ stick is $ 3.50 each and let’s just say it is definitely worth the money. Line can get long and bring cash because it is cash only!
We will be back!

I’m a fan of Filipino food when it is not drenched in oil! So there are only particular dishes I will eat at a Filipino restaurant. But will eat every dish my parents cook!
Tita’s Kitchennette ONE– is well known to be featured on Andrew Zimmern Bizarre Foods of America (wish I was there).
The minute you pull up to the parking lot (which btw– is horrible, parking is very limited) you already know the line is out the door! They are so popular that they recently opened up at Tita’s Kitchenette TWO, located down the street (where Manila Sunset used to be, old school).
The amount of food they give you can feed up to 3 people of a combo. I mean they have to because when you come here, they already know you are going to be rolling deep! Filipinos roll out with the parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunties, uncles, cousins cousins!