Kalye Hits and Exotic Pinoy Foods Like Isaw in the US

Today, I felt compelled to write this blog.

In the US, I live in a area that is densely populated with Filipinos. Well that’s California for you. As far as North of San Francisco to the Southern edge of Chula Vista right near the border of Tijuana Mexico. You will find niches of Filipino towns, Filipino malls that makes you feel home away from home.

I am ashamed to say though given my mixed Pinoy heritage that there are certain Filipino foods I strongly refuse to eat.

Number one is Adobo ( yes yes shame on me ) and the next is Lumpia. The first was due to a bad experience I had with my Nana which she feed me adobo everyday for nearly a month that I have lost all the desire to eat or even smell the meal without gagging, no matter how good the chef who prepares it.

Lumpia for me is overrated. Chinese restaurants have it, Japanese places serve it….American Buffets have them. So I’m kinda over the flood of Lumpia everywhere.

I do like though is Pork Belly or Liempo…most Americans call them giant slabs of bacon. I like em grilled and dipped in vinegar with some crushed garlic and soy sauce. Then there's the other favorites like Sinigang, Nilaga, Pancit… which if you live right next to a Goldilocks in San Francisco or San Diego…you have no problem of running out of your Pinoy food craves.

However, if you are craving for old school Filipino exotic street foods like Isaw ( barbecued pork or chicken innards). Kwek-Kwek ( deep friend quail eggs ), Addidas ( barbecued chicken foot), Fish balls and Kikiam ( Filipino Fishsticks ), then you have better luck in just buying a plane ticket back to the Philippines because not all Filipino restaurants here serve these.

Ironically the ingredients to make the above mentioned are inexpensive and easy to make. In the Philippines alone, they are called "street food" since you can see any person at a corner street, roadside or sari sari store barbecuing them by mid-day till late night in a makeshift coal grill. They are also called Pulutan food…food that you normally eat when you are having some beers with friends. Its funny because my dad would warn me how dirty some of them are yet I still eat them anyway..the thrill of meal, plus a quick and inexpensive lunch when you are on a tight budget back in High School and College.

I was lucky enough that a friend showed me recently the possibly ONLY place in California and surrounding states that serve these. Seriously Google it and this is the only name that comes up.

The place is called Kalye Hits. Its located in National City, CA in a literally hole-in-the wall location right next to another Pinoy restaurant called Point Point Joint ( or in Tagalog Turo Turo). Their hours are awesome, open till late and they are always busy:

Mon - Thurs: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

Fri - Sat: 11:00 am - 3:00 am

Sun: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

In addition to the street foods, they also sell other Pinoy favorites like Shawarma, Goto, Arroz Caldo, Pork and Chicken Barbecue even birthday cakes. The isaw and barbecue sticks are sold per stick and its not a small serving either. I have friends from as far as Oxnard ( that’s a nearly 3 hours drive) that venture to this little shop in a weekly pilgrimage for a taste of their old favorites.

The place is popular but doesn’t get that much web buzz….YET. So hence me posting this article to inform my other Pinoy foodies in the US.

Also to other Filipino Entrepreneurs in the US this may be a great idea for you as a start up business. Seriously.. if there is only one Pinoy Street food restaurant in the whole of California serving this that is doing good business..think what it can do for you.

Links to the place are as follows

http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Z8dDAvsbWjcdYiaaYJHU8g?select=VfjYi8DfKrF7MPxjNiFglg
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