Perla - Philadelphia

Right off Passyunk and Tasker and BYO! Less than $50 for the tasting menu, incredible family style food and a very hands on experience literally. We started the meal with the pan de sal and then they brought out a bed of garlic fried rice. Then a bunch of lumpia and vegetables stewed in a coconut broth which were out of this world. We were a party of three, so next they brought out one of each protein; a whole chicken, huge piece of lechon, and a whole fish. The assortment of sauces for the dishes were also SO good. For dessert we had a chocolate budino topped with honey comb crumble. I had left overs for a few days because of how much food. Highly recommend eating here! Make sure you make a reservation in advance as it?s a smaller restaurant!

We enjoyed the perfectly cooked authentic Filipino cuisine at this restaurant. The unique experience of dining on banana leaves lining the table added to our enjoyment. My wife and I both loved it.

I highly recommend Perla for a traditional Filipino dining experience. They offer a Kamayan dinner where you can enjoy a multi-course meal served on banana leaves meant to be eaten with your hands. For just $45 per person, this feast is a great value. The meal includes an appetizer, main course, and dessert, featuring rice, vegetables cooked in coconut oil, fried Pompano, half chicken inasal, fried pork belly, and lumpia. The chicken was outstanding, with crispy skin and juicy meat. The pompano fish was also delicious, but the pork belly was a bit too crispy and dry. The vegetables were good, but the rice was just average. The dessert, a chocolate coconut budino, was too salty for my liking. Overall, the majority of the meal was very enjoyable, and I would definitely return just for the chicken. I give Perla 4.5 stars.

As others have mentioned, this restaurant offers family-style dining, allows you to bring your own alcohol, and allows you to eat with your hands if you prefer. The standout dishes were the vegetables and rice, which were delicious and all devoured by our group of six. The lumpia was also a hit. We had leftovers of the rice which I used to make a tasty veggie fried rice at home. The generous portions left us all feeling satisfied. However, the meats were just okay. The chicken was the best option, while the pork was dry and needed to be soaked in sauce. The fish was acceptable. Overall, it was a fun experience but we probably won't return.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Perla. The chicken, the fish, and the pork belly was outstanding. All of it was very moist and tender and the vegetables and rice were amazing. I can't really pinpoint my favorite part of the meal because it was all so good. The dessert was very good, for those who like chocolate , it was a dessert made in heaven. For those who want to experience an authentic Filipino meal, I highly recommend it and even those who are not seeking out an authentic Filipino meal and want to try something different. I also highly recommend it.