Zarlitos Family Restaurant

505 E 8th St, National City - 91950
217 reviews
Filipino Hawaiian Mexican
(619) 399-5222

Food quality have improved drastically since our last visit (a little over 6 yrs ago).

Authentic Filipino food. I used to live in Cali and the Filipino food I remember eating would blast with flavor. I was expecting my taste buds to sizzle! Was flatly disappointed. Idk, maybe my memory played tricks on me or my palate changed. Probably the latter.Anyhow,,,Squid rings. They were fried and shriveled up, kinda tasted like fried chicken skin...now I like fried chicken skin, so don't get me wrong...they tasted great but was not what I expected. Expected crispy tender rings.Chicken adobo. My sister makes it better!Garlic fried rice. Now THAT was delicious! Never had it and loved loved loved it!! I'd come here just for the rice.Pancit. Well, again disappointed as the flavor fell flat for me.One thing that brighten up the night was the live karaoke. If you feel like you want to let go and don't care about embarrassing yourself, don't worry, everyone else will be embarrassed for you. But you'll have loads of fun !! ???

The service is good, friendly staff with smile. The food is sumptuous “Tapsilog”. The Tapa is tender and juicy. Soda in can is available. Short waiting time after taking my order. Clean and organized restaurant same as the Restroom. The price is affordable. Met expectations.

I bought lechon kawali because I was craving it's crispness and to my disappointment, none of the pieces are crunchy at all. And the rice was expensive, about $4.50 -$4.95 for the regular which is for 2 to 3 people. They have karaoke on weekends, so that's a us for me, but only until 9pm. I think for karaoke ot should at least be until 11pm!

Under b ew ownership since I was last there. I miss the old family innerspring. The new owners are doing g agreat job though! The food is spit on!

I was CRAVING Filipino food, but the family and friends always wants to eat somewhere else...yay!!! My wish came true. I love it when I don't have to pay the bill, too!! U want amazing authentic food? The meat was made so deliciously in my book. Beef was tender and flavorful! The vegetables, yeah...so good. The pork (baboy) had such delicious, crunchy skin. Mmmmmm. The pancit and lumpia, yes this is how you make it!!! OMG the turon (fried banana in lumpia wrapper) was incredibly fresh!I wish my family were here to enjoy it. The love karaoke ? ? music ? was such fun!Lots of room! I'M GONNA EAT HERE AGAIN AND AGAIN!!!

Food was not good — the Canton’s pork tasted like freezer burned and the Beef Nilaga could be more tender. The server also didn’t wear her mask properly and was coughing ?. It made uncomfortable since the cases are spiking due to Omicron.

Cheap, delicious and huge portions. Good value for money.

Big portion, pretty good and fun karaoke with everyone.

Big portion, pretty good and fun karaoke with everyone.