Elvie’s Turo-Turo
214 1st Ave
BTWN 12th & 13th Street
New York, NY 10009
212.473.7785
The Scene
Behind the often-fogged windows at this small restaurant is a homey atmosphere, full of smiling employees and Filipino families crowded around simple red tables. The menu (which changes daily) is scrawled on a blackboard above the glass counter, where food is served cafeteria-style.
The Food
Satisfied exclamations of “Masarap!” (Tagalog for “delicious”) vouch for the authenticity of the food, including the highly addictive lumpiang shanghai, small, crispy fried spring rolls filled with a zesty mix of ground pork, carrots, soy sauce and garlic. For the entrees, the adobo, tangy chicken or pork swimming with vinegar, soy sauce and garlic, is a perfect addition to a mound of fluffy white rice. The fiercely pungent tinola matches chicken in a sinus-clearing ginger broth littered with spinach. For dessert, try the halo halo, a drink mixing crunchy shaved ice with a creamy mixture of milk, sugar, sweet beans and cold ice cream. – Citysearch
My friend, Aileen was quite surprised when I told her that I’ve never had Filipino food before (I think she thought I was Filipino that’s why), she recommended to go to Elvie’s Turo-Turo. We met up there earlier this month and I was excited to have it for my first time! She said its one of the only few spots she knows that serves authentic Filipino food (anyone else have recommendations?), I was surprised that it was a small restaurant – but even better b/c its basically like a buffet, point point (Turo Turo) your food and they’ll add it to your plate. The food pretty much tasted and looked like Chinese food, everything seemed familar to me – even the desserts. The service was really good and the owner was very nice too, that’s the perk in eating at a homey atmosphere – great prices also. Its a great spot if you’re looking for an authentic Filipino restaurant, the food was great…I’ll def go back for more. Peep the pics after the jump…
Me: Left – Adobong Baboy Chicken Dish Seasoned with Fresh Garlic, Vinegar, Soy Sauce, Bay Leaves, Pepper and Anise $4.50
Right: BBQ Pork $2.25
BBQ Pork $2.25
Adobong Baboy Chicken Dish Seasoned with Fresh Garlic, Vinegar, Soy Sauce, Bay Leaves, Pepper and Anise $4.50
Aileen: Top – Sinigang Na Baboy Pork Ribs with Assorted Vegetables in Tamarind Broth $4.50
Bottom – Longanisa Sweet Pork Sausage $1.25
Sinigang Na Baboy Pork Ribs with Assorted Vegetables in Tamarind Broth $4.50
Longanisa Sweet Pork Sausage $1.25
Me: Halo-Halo A Mixture of Sweetened Tropical Fruits with Crushed Ice and Leche Flan Topped with Exotic Flavored Ice Cream $4.50
Aileen: Top – Suman Steamed Sweet Purple Rice Wrapped in Banana Leaves $1.25
Bottom: Banana-Q Fried Plantains $1.25
It’s really purple haha…
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