It was still early in the afternoon. I was driving home from Fry's Electronics in Burbank and decided to drop by place a grade school kid told me about a couple of years ago: Arko Foods. Arko Foods is a Filipino supermarket in Glendale next door to Glendale High School and the Zankou Chicken. In addition to selling groceries, Arko has an onsite kitchen where (if I recall correctly) real Filipino cooks fill hotel pans full of food from the home islands.
At the kitchen, you take a number from the dispenser and wait beside the steam tables until your number is called. Then, one of the ladies with a "Server" badge takes your order.
When I arrived, I had almost no idea what I was looking at, although I had some idea of what I wanted. Thanks to a couple of customers waiting beside me, I was able to place my order. First, I ordered pork in a spicy Pepto-Bismol colored, coconut-based sauce. Next, I asked for some pork in cooked pork blood (Pork Dinuguan). I followed this with an order of rice noodles mixed with egg (and more pork?). Fourth, was one of my all-time favorite sausages: Sweet Longanisa (a pork sausage). Last, I ordered some sauteed long green beans with - surprise - minced pork. The following pictures are in order.
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Of the five items, I had tried the pork cooked in pork blood and sweet Longanisa before. I think Arko's rendition of pork cooked in pork blood could have used more vinegar to cut the blood taste.
Overall, I enjoyed the food I ordered. The Pepto-colored dish turned out to be better than what I expected: the color was so off-putting, I asked for the dish through a self-originated dare. There were chunks of pork fat in it that were somehow pickled.
On second thought, I shouldn't have ordered so much pork.
How Much I Paid: 17.01 USD. Each small container of food (8-10 oz) cost me between 2.5 and 3.5 USD. I think you can order two/three item plates of food too.
My Rating: No stars out of four stars (satisfactory). I enjoy Pinoy cuisine; however, I can't say it's one of my favorites because it's just slightly on the funky side for my tastes. Having said that, sweet Longanisa is the best! Website: http://profiles.friendster.com/30995785
P.S. Here's the "guilty pleasure" I was referring to earlier: McRib. I had one for lunch today. Pork manipulated to resemble the shape of ribs. Oh yeah.