Okay so I eat Japanese, Korean and Thai constantly but I have somehow never really had Filipino food, which feels wrong at this point.
Where does a total beginner start, and what do I actually order the first time? I do not need fancy, I just want it to be really good.
Lasita in Chinatown, 727 N Broadway in Far East Plaza, that is where I would send anyone new to it!!
Get the rotisserie chicken with garlic rice, and the lumpia to start. It is a rotisserie and wine bar situation, no white tablecloths, so it does not feel intimidating, and everything comes out sooo good. Easy first Filipino meal.
Start with barbecue, it is the easiest door in. The Park's Finest on Temple in Historic Filipinotown is my pick, get the cornbread and the coconut beef, and sit outside in the back.
It is a family place that has been there for years and it does not pretend to be anything else. Prices are still sane, which is more than I can say for most of the Eastside now.
Once that lands, go get halo halo somewhere on a hot day and you will understand the whole cuisine a lot better. Sweet, sour, salty, all at once, that is the point of it. Not everything has to be an adventure your first time.
HiFi Kitchen on Beverly is the move for a first time. Order the chicken adobo or the sisig plate, get the garlic rice, do not overthink it. It is counter service, nothing fancy, and the food is better than half the places people line up for. Cheap too, which softens the drive up from Inglewood.
Aww, fun first mission ^^ Filipino food is a cuisine where the home cooking version is the best version, so go where it feels like someone's family kitchen.
Park's Finest and HiFi Kitchen are both worth the drive from my side, and I would go with someone who orders for you the first time. Ask the counter what to get, they always love that question and you end up with the good stuff, girl.
HiFi Kitchen. Sisig. You are welcome.
Manila Inasal Is by far my favorite. Their reviews don’t lie. They are that good. 
You should try the Beef & Oxtail Macadamia Kare Kare or the Crab Tortang Talong. To be honest, everything I have ever tried there was amazing.
Try Bamboo Bistro, 1714 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90026. It’s as authentic as it gets. Their Beef Caldereta is a must try.
Tita Lina's Filipino Food is my favorite and more of a hidden gem, but trust me, it’s very good Filipino food. They have different breakfast and lunch combos.
Super tasty stuff.
Looking at this made me hungry. 
Filipino food for dinner it is.
That’s for sure now. 
I appreciate all your recommendations. That food looks fabulous.
I would like to add something as well, but I also somehow never got around to Filipino food even though I live here and eat Japanese, Korean & Thai constantly. I think Filipino restaurants just aren’t as common in L.A. as Korean and Japanese places.
I barely see them to be honest. I think that was one of the reasons why I never really thought about Filipino food.
The only reason that changed was because I saw Mark Wiens trying Filipino dishes. One of my favorite YouTubers.
