Reviews for Perla in Philadelphia, PA
Snug Filipino restaurant for communing with food. Two words completely summarize my experience here: "wow" and "stuffed".... Definitely recommend making a reservation in advance even if you're just seating two as the restaurant is quite small, and youmight not survive the food envy of watching others eat as you wait. Most tables are two-seaters but they can be combined for alarger group. Currently Perla is only offering their kamayan, or communal eaten-by-hand, menu but this strategy has been payingoff even despite not being the most COVID-proof dining. Between diners, the tables are wiped down, layered with plastic wrap,and then large banana leaves that serve as both tablecloth and plate. Your waiter will ask for allergies and offer utensils forfood, but I recommend the tried and true traditional experience. It'll be all you can do to stop yourself from unceremoniouslysticking your paws into the pile of aromatic coconut rice that appears on the table before the lumpia, vegetables and meat land.Yes, that is a whole-a$$ fried fish. There's a little something for everyone, especially when you can mix and match the sauces.If you pay a visit to the single-occupancy bathroom in the back you can sneak a peek into the kitchen where enticing sounds andsmells tell of the delicacies that emerge. Leave room for the chocolate coconut boudino served at the end, a perfectlysnack-sized, creamy and not-too-sweet treat to top off the meal. And the only time you'll get utensils if you haven't opted forthem already. Know that this style of eating encourages you to get personal with your food and messy dining IS encouraged. Justwash your hands before you leave. Read more
4.75/5! A unique tasty experience to phillipino cuisine! The chicken, rice, fish, and veggies were delicious! The chicken and... sauce combo owns me! The pork belly was tasty but dry! Dessert was amazing! This was an amazing experience for two and byobalways adds! Read more
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 itwas all so good. The dessert was very good, for those who like chocolate , it was a dessert made in heaven. For those who wantto experience an authentic Filipino meal, I highly recommend it and even those who are not seeking out an authentic Filipinomeal and want to try something different. I also highly recommend it. Read more
As others have mentioned it is family style, BYOB, and you can eat with your hands if you would like. What was good: The veggies... and rice were very good. As a table of 6 people we ate all the veggies that were put out for us. The lumpia was also all eaten.There was rice leftover which I took home and made a very good veggie fried rice. Large family portion left everyone full. Whatwas okay: All the meats. Chicken was the best of the bunch, and was okay. The pork was very dry and I soaked the pieces I had inthe sauce on the table. Fish was fine. Fun experience but probably will not go again. Read more
*HIGHLY RECOMMEND* *4.5 Stars* If you want to try a traditional Filipino feast eaten in the traditional Filipino way with your... hands, you should definitely check this place out. Perla offers Kamayan dinner, multi course meal with food served on bananaleaf and meant to be eaten with your hand. For just $45 per person, this feast is definitely worth the value. You get anappetizer, main course, and a dessert. The main course includes rice, vegetables cooked in coconut oil, fried Pompano, halfchicken inasal, fried Pork belly, and lumpia. The chicken was the best chicken I’ve ever eaten in my life, the skin so crispyand the meat so tender and juicy all around including the white meat. Literally every single part of this chicken was delicious.The pompano fish is pretty good too. The pork belly was too crispy and kinda dry. The vegetables were pretty good, but the ricewas just okay. The dessert is a chocolate coconut budino which I did not like, was a bit too salty for me. Overall, I love theexperience and majority of the meal was very good, minus a couple of items here and there. *VERDICT* Definitely would come backagain just for the chicken Read more
Authentic Filipino food which was cooked perfectly. You eat on banana leaves lining the top of the table. Wife and I loved it
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 bunchof lumpia and vegetables stewed in a coconut broth which were out of this world. We were a party of three, so next they broughtout one of each protein; a whole chicken, huge piece of lechon, and a whole fish. The assortment of sauces for the dishes werealso SO good. For dessert we had a chocolate budino topped with honey comb crumble. I had left overs for a few days because ofhow much food. Highly recommend eating here! Make sure you make a reservation in advance as it’s a smaller restaurant! Read more
I had an awesome experience here. Reservations are necessary. This is definitely a place you come to for the experience. The... food was super fresh and amazing. The menu is fixed. My partner and I don’t eat pork so they gave us an additional whole fishto replace the pork on the menu. It is BYOB and you eat with your hands. You do have the option of silverware, but lookingaround, most people didn’t use it. Dining here felt very personalized. The staff were all sweet and accommodating. I lefthappy that I came. Read more