Monday Munchies: Family-style Filipino eats in Rogers
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Left: Chicken Adobo; Right: Pancit Bihon with shrimp. Photos: Alex Golden/Axios
Consider this restaurant recommendation a public service announcement.
👏 Why it matters: Lasang Pinoy is offering NWA a dedicated Filipino restaurant, which are far and few between here, and it stands out as one of the best overall dinners I've had lately.
🍽 How it works: The true experience requires going with a group because everything is served in large portions that are meant to be shared. The half platters are still sizable, so I recommend those if you want to try multiple dishes.
- One full platter and two half platters fed four people.
😋 What to try: I tried a variety on purpose — shrimp, pork, chicken, noodles — and it was all absolutely incredible, so I'm convinced you're safe to order anything.
- Be sure to start with lumpia, a Filipino spring roll, and choose from four options. I had the Lumpia Dynamite ($12 for five rolls) with a green chili pepper stuffed with cheese in each roll.
- One of my fellow diners picked up a chicken thigh on the Chicken Adobo ($20 half-platter or $32 full-platter), and looked stunned as the chicken actually fell off the bone. It's marinated and braised in vinegar, soy sauce and spices and served with potatoes. You'll want to spoon some of the remaining sauce on the platter over the chicken and rice.
- The Pancit Bihon ($18 half-platter or $28 full-platter) is a non-greasy rice noodle dish with cabbage, carrots and snow peas. We added shrimp, but you won't miss the meat if you keep it vegetarian.
- The Humbà ($22 half-platter or $36 full-platter), a braised pork belly with beans and dried banana blossoms, was extremely tender and full of flavor.
🍹 Zoom out: The food is the star of the show, but you'll also find some stellar cocktails too, like the Chi-Chi Colada ($12), a twist on a piña colada with coconut cream and pineapple juice.
- And for those who are not driving, there's the Weng Weng ($18) with vodka, rum, gin, brandy and bourbon — all softened with fruit juices.
🇵🇭 The intrigue: Lasang Pinoy isn't just feeding us — it's educating us by allowing us a taste of Filipino culture.
- The menu includes the historical context behind some of the dishes. Diners can reserve a Boodle Fight, a traditional feast where food is served on banana leaves. The restaurant also does a tasting menu for its Thursday night supper club.
- Karaoke rooms are also available for rent. (Karaoke is exceptionally popular in the Philippines.)
📍 Stop by: 5-9pm Tuesday through Saturday plus brunch 10am-2pm Sunday at 719 W. Walnut St. Suite 104 in Rogers.