Fiesta Filipina Cuisine
Lumpiang Shanghai
Fresh Lumpia
Pancit
Chicken Adobo
Lechon Kawali
Boneless Daing Na Bangus
Beef Tapa
Ube Bibingka
The third location of an established local brand, Fiesta Filipina Cuisine took over a 2,600-square-foot space at the Desert Marketplace retail center in early 2016, and although nearby Glazier’s has been replaced by Smith’s the Filipino Restaurant at 8545 West Warm Springs Road continues to do good business even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Liked by natives for low prices and “authentic” flavors, “Your favorite lutong Pampanga” one of Fiesta Filipina’s long-held marketing slogans, it was at 11:30am on Saturday that the Restaurant was found sporting an eight-patron queue, all staff in PPE while guests both seated and standing followed safe social distancing guidelines.
Known for dishes from the Philippines’ Central Luzon region, many familiar but some less commonly seen on the menus of other like-Restaurants, Fiesta Filipina is currently serving guests from 10:00am until 8:00pm daily, the cafeteria-style service and price-per-weight allowing for quite a lot of Food at prices comparable to most quick-casual chains.
Also found at 3310 South Jones Boulevard and 2980 St. Rose Parkway, meals for most begin with Lumpia, the “Fresh” version also known as Lumpiang Sariwa a rolled Flour Pancake filled with Vegetables and topped with Peanut Sauce while Lumpiang Shanghai are about the size of a half-cigar, crispy and upgraded with Meat in portions ranging 7 for $4.99 to 100 for $39.99.
Incorporating both Canton (thick) and Bihon (thin) Rice Noodles in Pancit, a Chinese-inspired dish with subtle sweetness and Soy, Chicken is the focal point of many plates at Fiesta Filipina, though in the case of Adobo that was overwhelmed by Vinegar the better choice may be Pork such as the crispy skinned chunks featured in Lechon Kawali.
Extensive with Condiments and Sauces, a station near the register offering tiny cups for everything from Ketchup to Lechon Sauce or Toyo’t Kalamansi, fans of Milkfish will find fried Bangus well-seasoned, tender and best with Skin-on while Beef Tapa is an unanticipated surprise softening Sirloin with a simple Cure that is part-salty but brightened by acid and Sugar.
Not expecting Halo-Halo to travel well, and briefly entertaining Banana Rolls, it was from a small selection of Cakes and Confections that Ube Bibingka was gathered, the texture akin to Angel Food agreeable while flavors including Purple Potato and Coconut gave the Glutinous Rice Flour its characteristic taste and color.
THREE AND A HALF STARS: Quick, casual, convenient and popular with Las Vegas’ sizable Filipino population there is plenty to like about Fiesta Filipina Cuisine, but given the intrinsic issues of batch cooking and cafeteria-style service the bargain prices are unlikely to yield anything quite so elevated or complex as Food made-to-order.
RECOMMENDED: Fresh Lumpia, Pancit, Lechon Kawali, Beef Tapa.
AVOID: Chicken Adobo was far too sour, and approximately 1 in 4 Lumpiang Shanghai was frankly greasy.
TIP: No website despite three locations, so check postmates, grubhub, seamless, or doordash for menu.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor.
www.facebook.com/pages/Fiesta-Filipina-Cuisine-Durangowarm-Spring/444582789066019
