Top Asian Restaurant in National City
Zarlitos Family Restaurant
505 E 8th St, National City, CA 91950, United States
In my beloved Filipino centric National City sits a changing view on traditional Filipino cuisine, giving established traditionalists like Conchings a run for their money. Though not as old, they arent new, but theyve adapted to a true local flair and modern flavor vehicles.For those who know of the mythical beast called Carne Asada Fries, but you grew up like me and wanted to throw our islander style meats on their (long before the words Asian Fusion or the Korean Taco truck) westernized palate. This isnt as crazy as it sounds.Tonico, longonisa, adobo, sisig mixed with fries, thrown in tacos or wrapped in burritos are any Filipino foodies childhood dream. To me the menu is very clear, many add ons. if they have it then they can do it. To those in the know GFR is Garlic Fried Rice, a staple for any islander diet. The next level was the garlic French fries. So instead of the classic plate they offer garlic style French fries with all the fixings you would have on a plate item . Very Carne Asada Fries-esque from an Ertos.I usually come here in the day time, unlike most of my food escapes for Mexican in the area, this is my peoples cooking. Its really more of the family spot, order up and share, fast food though. The hours also dont quite appeal to the nocturnal foodie bachelor as I often need the fix well after midnight, except on weekends. They open pretty early.Call ahead and it will be ready for a swoop, especially when I do sneak attack stealthmode trips from Oceanside. Parking sucks carabao hooves. Do not go here on Sundays its fam bam central for pre-post church eats. They need a freaking drive thru for my pickups.They have longanisa fried rice, loco moco chorizo fried rice, bistek torta, all excellent mixes of traditional and modern gluttony.Its a must visit for anyone who is adventurous enough to try a taco food truck, but traditional enough to cook at home.
Hanaoka Restaurant
1528 Sweetwater Rd #C, National City, CA 91950, United States
I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. Staff was courteous and handled our large party well. We went in at about 2pm. Place was filled to about 2/3rds capacity.I had the bento box (14.95); it had quite an expansive amount of food. The chicken and beef teriyaki was thinly cut, ok but a little dry. Teriyaki sauce was just a tad salty, but most places do that. I suggest if you want leas salt ask for half the portion. Salad was fesh ams crisp with a thousand island dressing. Rice is the short graim variety, done well. The piece of shrimp tempura was fried lightly, yet crisp.There are sashimi pieces of tuna and salmon included (2ea). Very well cut and fresh.This was preceded by a cup of light miso soup that was one of the best I ever had. I know it is just soup, but its all in the preparation.California Rolls pieces in the bento were good. Rice had well defined grains.One thing that bothered me was that mangolemonade (5.00) had the syrup settling on the bottom. Asking partons to shake themselves is a no no for obvious reasons.Another thing is the restrooms lack privacy partitions (Mens urinal and one the ladies toilets). That has to be fixed right away.As for the server with the high tone pitch he wasnt annoying, and catered to all our requests. Have those that complain about his voice even consider that a personality trait, and something that should be not made fun of?He service and that of the kitchen was prompt.Go to this place, it has the right people preparing the dishes if reading between the lines. Hint Hint.
Cho XO Asian Fusion
1420 E Plaza Blvd Suite D-05, National City, CA 91950, United States
Chao Xo Restaurant Vietnamese Asian Fusion Delights! It’s a very delicious lunch with friends, we crave eating Asian foods. The food and ambiance are so extra-special! Luckily, we got a good recommendation to try CHAO XO Restaurant located at 1420 E Plaza Blvd Suite D-05 National City, California. Thank you to Berlan for the friendly and accommodating service! Superb!Chao Xo Restaurant Grand Opening March 21, 2024
Bonchon National City
1420 E Plaza Blvd Suite D-04, National City, CA 91950, United States
Was super excited to find time to come here. They werent too busy and we were seated right away. Started off wth a 6 piece Takoyaki appetizer and they came out nice and hot. But after a few bites found that the fried octopus ball only contained a sliver of meat. I ended up eating a giant fried dough ball which was overwhelmingly covered in a sweet sauce over cabbage. Put more meat and less sauce and they would have had something Id come back for, but as it was, pretty disappointing.We also had the chicken sliders for an appetizer, honestly, all i can say was that it was very dry and lacked any flavor. We had chosen the soy garlic. The only flavor that peeked out was the cole slaw.Main entree was the Bulgogi dish and the Chicken Fried Rice. The Bulgogi was average. The Bulgogi was on a bed of onions that were freshly cut and provided a nice contrast to the Bulgogi. It werent for the super oiliness of the Bulgogi, I felt it could have tasted better. The Chicken Fried Rice felt like food you could get at a buffet, precooked rice sitting in a chafing dish, and a choice of meat mixed in when ordered. It did not come out hot, which was a bummer. Any fried rice, imo, taste better hot. Just underwhelming.We really came to try the chicken wings and ordered the small 50/50 boneless wings in sweet red chili and soy garlic. For a place proud of their chicken, I found it truly disappointing. The chicken may have been prefried and sitting in a chafing dish, because there was zero crunch, the texture was hard, and the chicken was not juicy or tender. The sweet red chili sauce felt like a last minute brush on, taste was bland, and the soy garlic flavor was practically missing.Overall, came in with high expectations and left wondering if Id ever come back. For the prices, I think Id be better off getting fried chicken anywhere else. The only real positive, if I can say it, is the food was definitely IG ready. Imo a solid 3 star eatery.
Ginza Sushi
925 E Plaza Blvd #108, National City, CA 91950, United States
My favorite Asian fusion restaurant. It is a family favorite and Ive thrown a few parties there. They take very good of me and my family.
Panda Express
1115 Highland Ave, National City, CA 91950, United States
Worse Panda experience ever. Me and my fiancee had just got done with a very busy day and we didnt feel like cooking. We decided chinese food would be nice. Our usual place was closed already and I suggested panda express to which she was hesitant about going because she already didnt have a good opinion on it. I vouched and said its not too bad. We get there and ordered 3 plates. They were out of the shrimp and told us itd just be 6 minutes. Which isnt a big deal but while they were making our plates they were going back and forth with employees and asking us what we wanted while making another plate for who knows who because no one else was there. Overall the way they took the order was just all over the place and confusing. Then they rung us up and we still are waiting on the shrimp. So they told us to go wait outside because of their covid rules even though san diego is a red tier now and we were the only customers in the store. I never seen another restaurant have the only customers in the store wait outside. I told them I have my 2 year old daughter with me and I rather her stay inside because she can get sick outside at night in the cold. They said no you have to go outside. I told them ok well we will be in the red car (theres only like 2 cars in the parking lot) and then they said no we cant do that you have to wait outside by the tree. I couldnt believe it. I told my fiancee to take our little girl to the car and wait for me. This was ridiculous I use to work and manage fast food when I got out of high school and this was not how you treated customers. The employees were terrible but I think it falls on poor management too. It was also embarrassing when my fiancee already didnt have a good option on panda. Sadly we will no longer be eating here and probably at any panda express for that matter.
Villa Manila
500 E 8th St, National City, CA 91950, United States
Seems like most of the other reviewers ate kamayan style, with the banana leaves on the table, no plates or silverware. It was our first time eating here and didnt realize that was an option, it wasnt offered either and I dont believe it would have made a difference. Let me start off with the service, my mom and aunt sat down about 5 mins before my sister and I showed up. I was told our server didnt ask for drink orders or anything until my aunt caught her attention. Once my sister and I showed up she finally came to bring the drinks after we had been there for a while already. She was NOT friendly, she didnt seem rushed but just had an attitude. Second, the food was not good at all. The oil the calamari was fried in was obviously old and dark brown. The sinigang was bland and had more baby bok-choy than anything else. The ginataang I ordered with shrimp because thats how I make it and like it, she came back with pork. When asked for it to be fixed it was obvious the kitchen just took the pork out, heated up some tiny salad shrimps and tossed it in there, it didnt even smell like coconut, it smelled like bacon. Also, WAAAYYYY more kamanyang (string beans) than anything else. Back to the service, once I asked for my food to be fixed it just got worse. She snatched up with dish with a short ok and never came back to ask how anything else was. She didnt apologize for the mixed up and didnt say anything when she came back with the corrected dish. We waited almost 20 mins to finally be able to catch her attention and even then, my aunt had to go up to the front to get her attention. This place gets one star because the other server, the one who seemed a bit older than our server, we flagged her down to ask to talk to a manager, they apparently dont have one. But she took care of us and was very friendly, she apologized for the service and the food and took care of everything. Suffice it to say I will never be back here and anyone who asks is going to get the full horrible run down.
Sushi Namu
2220 E Plaza Blvd, National City, CA 91950, United States
I have eaten here about 5x already in the past 2 months. I am so addicted to the tempura mix entree that comes with about 4 shrimp and a mix of green beans, pumpkin, broccoli and onion rings tempura, all coated in a nicely seasoned airy and light batter, just the right sweetness sauce, miso soup and a refreshingly crunchy salad.Yesterday, I decided to go to an old time favorite nearby, ordered the exact equivalent of what I get at Sushi Namu, which takes me here to.make this well deserved 4-star review. I can unequivocally state that Sushi Namus tempura is far superior. Just writing.about it makes me want to go again. I have been eating tempura for about 40 years now and I think I can say that theirs are some of the best Ive eaten this side of the equator.Their tables are very clean each time I go and their servers are soft-spoken and respectful.That other place I went to smelled old and moldy.Good to have something this good in the South Bay and not having to go to Convoy.Typical strip mall parking woes is behind the 4-star rating
Panda Express
3030 Plaza Bonita Rd Fc - 4, National City, CA 91950, United States
I was greeted in Spanish but they were not friendly after I answered in English. They assumed my race by color of my skin and asked me, why I never learned my language. These girls working the counter will also assume you are either paying together or separate if a man and woman are standing in line next to each other, but never asked this to groups of one gender standing in line before me. They asked me this 3x assuming me and the man behind me were a couple and the man said he wouldnt mind if I paid in a joking way. I asked the counter helpers and cashier why they assumed this, (out of curiousity) and they told me that is how they ask to make sure they are charging correctly. I calmly suggested they just ask people how many plates customers have and not make assumptions about peoples marital status. This clearly upset the two girls near the register and they got sassy with me stating that Im the only person to complain about that. They are rude, have no critical thinking skills, and lack empathy. I suggest to management they need more communication and customer service skills as making biased assumptions based on race, skin color and marital status is indeed discrimination. I have also forwarded this to corporate.
Ma Noodle House
3108 E Plaza Blvd, National City, CA 91950, United States
Buy 1 GET 1 FREE GOING ON (08/04/19 I dont know when the offer ends its for 12 piece fried wings and/or 12 piece shrimp!!)This place screams NOODLES its in the name.. but I think they're more known for their chicken! Cheap, Chrispy, Mouth watering Chicken! And the price is RIGHT! Its not just pulling you in its really $4.00 (6piece) for bomb simple food! spent 5.44 because I wanted rice.. WHAT A STEAL! OH and they're FAST!! 5 mins after ordering!