Since both TC and I were on fall break, I figured, hell, we'll go out everyday for lunch AND have dessert...and use up some coupons from that entertainment book before it exires.
After several years, I finally decided to go to this place...because of this here post from Cathy (a Friend of Yoso) that kept nagging me at the back of my mind. It's so close by...but not really. I've never been to that part of town, so why not, eh.
At the corner of Paradise Valley Road and Worthington is this little Filipino place...The name comes from the owners (a husband and wife team, Leo and Cynn). As you can see, they've been here seven years. When Cathy went, it was four years.
Since TC and I got there around 11:30 (and the dude opened at 11:00), it was kinda dead. There was nothing in the steam tables yet. I placed our order of 8 shanghai lumpias ($3.50) and had a seat at one of the two tables.
So while we were waiting for the owner, Leo, to fry up our lumpias, we engaged in some conversation. Of course, he asked the inevitable, "Where are your parents from?". I dutifully told him their province while he shared where he was from, which was Marinduque in the Philippines. In fact, he was quite the chatty fellow. It was like talking to one of my dad's friends, an uncle if you will. At one point, he told me, "I am not listening to you because I am frying the lumpia in the back". He wasn't trying to be rude, mind you. Then he'd go in the back, check on it and then continue the conversation.
He did this several times because he was also starting up his adobo and kept checking on that too. "Okay, I am busy right now, I cannot talk to you!". I guess if I wasn't used to how older Filipinos are kinda tactless, I could see how one could interpret him as being rude but I didn't see it that way at all.
Here's their menu - it's just lumpia here folks. Nothing fancy. We just wanted a small snack before our real lunch. You can see they have other lumpia fillings as well as "jumbo" size. If you don't want lumpia, you can also have pancit bihon (he spelled it with a "j" which is incorrect, unless he was trying to be "Spanish") or adobo. Ooh check it out...They have SARSI - a Philippine soda which tastes like root beer.
I made a mental note to try the combos next time. They are about $1 more than at other places, I noticed. Oh yeah, he also told me that he was "proud" of his food and that he concentrates on the food that he makes the best. "If you want more selection, then go to Tita's or Conchings!" Seriously, he said that. Ha ha!
On the other side of the place was a small map of the Philippines so I showed TC the province where Bert's parents were from as well as my parents province (Batangas and Nueva Ecija respectively). See the guy in the lower right corner? That's Lapu Lapu, the Chieftan of Mactan (an island in the Visayas) - there is a statue of him in Cebu commemorating him as a hero because he was the first Asian to successfully repel foreign invasion by KILLING MAGELLAN. Thank you Lapu Lapu for stopping the devil colonizer from circumnavigating the world and from further trying to indoctrinize the natives, rape the women, and spread diseases.
Here's another sign...
The view of other end...there's TC playing with my iPod...
Judging from the quote at the bottom of the calendar, and also this figurine of the Santo Nino in the corner, I figured that Leo was a religious man. In fact, I got an earful later about how he hated divorce and felt that marriage should be forever and all that. I just bit my tongue. It was kind of like a little anti-divorce rant. Heck if I know how this came about, but he brought it up! Don't get me wrong, this dude is just being your normal Filipino uncle. They all have their pet peeves, so I wasn't insulted or anything.
Hey, I want this sign so I can get a Prime-A spot 'cuz this place is usually packed.
After chitchatting with Leo, I found out a lot about him. His place is named after him and his wife. He did NOT retire from the US Navy (like I assumed). Rather, he retired as a health care worker while his wife (Cynn) still worked at a hospital up north. His three kids all graduated from Morse but he didn't know their exact ages, just that they were 20 and 30 something. I'm still older than his kids tho'.
The lumpia was hot, crispy, and fresh - not greasy at all. I like the carrots in the lumpia too, just like how my mom makes it.
Here are some of the sauces he sells on the counter (you can also find these at Seafood City, Ranch 99 etc). I like the Jufran banana sauce and sometimes use it to marinate chicken. That sweet chili sauce for chicken is also quite good with fried chicken!
So there you have it, Leocynn's. For some homecooked food and/or lumpia, this is the place to go.
Leocynn's Lumpia
8360 Paradise Valley Rd., Suite C
Spring Valley, CA 91977
(619) 2678-8210
There is no website but here are a few reviews:
Here are a few more reviews about this place:
Yahoo travel and Yelp
8 comments:
Ive driven by Leocynn's a few times if I feel like a slurpee before I head home. I was curious to stop by but now youve convinced me. I LOVE lumpia!
hi darwin - check it out next time. the shanghai lumpia is pretty good. i want to try the shrimp ones next time plus his combos. see if his adobo is really that good.
hey lady! i too drive by here daily... but have never tried it. im tempted to try the veggie ones since those are my usual faves. Have u tried the other filipino bakery place diagonal corner to this place? They sell combos, lumpia, baked goods, etc.
hi dd - i'll have to try that bakery next time i go there. that is an area i don't frequent too often, but if i take my husband to leocynn's, we have a reason to go to the bakery.
i usually don't like vegetable lumpia. if you try it, blog it! :)
Oo, a lumpia place! Definitely have to check it out. I usually only love my mom's, but since it's a pain in the butt to make, I don't get to have it a lot.
hi mary - yeah, this place is a little out of the way but it's all right. of course, nothing beats homemade lumpia, right!
You know, nothing has changed in all these years. I never realized how long ago since I posted. Leocynns is amazingly consistent.
hi cathy - i remember reading your post about that anniversary sign. i guess they must make one every year! i plan to go there again and try the actual food as well as the shrimp lumpia. i wonder if he'll remember me! :)
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