A Casual Ambiance Makes Sari Sari Store an Eminently Approachable Stop for Savory Filipino Rice Bowls at Grand Central Market
James Beard-nominated chef Margarita Manzke and husband-slash-business-partner Walter Manzke had tossed around the idea of an authentic Filipino fast-casual restaurant serving silog (rice, fried egg, and a protein) for years, so when the stall opened in Grand Central, it felt like fate.
Margarita Manzke, who grew up in the Philippines, had long dreamt of bringing the concept and design of a Sari Sari Store—a typical Filipino convenience store selling all manner of sundries—to the states.
“We wanted to make it as real as it could get,” she says of the stall’s easy-going ambiance. “It just fits the market.”
With chef Don Dalao, also a native of the Philippines, Margarita Manzke keeps the menu steady with a variety of silog dishes and sweet treats such as halo halo, plus some original twists like Spam Silog and the Filipino Breakfast Sandwich.
The selection revolves around Margarita Manzke’s personal favorites, with an eye to making each dish approachable regardless of a diner’s cultural familiarity with Filipino cuisine.
Silog, which Margarita Manzke grew up eating, forms the basis of the menu, with most items featuring garlic fried rice, eggs, and local proteins and vegetables.
Margarita Manzke’s current favorite mirrors the biggest crowd-pleaser: the Adobo Fried Rice, deep fried pork belly with pickles, and, of course, garlic rice and fried egg. Each expertly-prepared dish is a chance to savor Filipino flavors at their fast, fulfilling best.
Sari Sari Store
Grand Central Market
317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013
323.320.4020 | sarisaristorela.com
Photography Courtesy of Sari Sari Store