Flashes - Little Manila in Carson, CA, USA and reviews. Mostly one-half mile of Main St. between Carson St. and 223rd. St.
Newspaper Flashes are only listed on the Newspaper page.
Restaurant comparisons are mostly on the Restaurants 1-6 page.
FLASH 2001 - 8/2001 - After two years, this project ends. Input was only received from two locals, thank you - nothing from the city of Carson or from the local or international community. Input posted on the message board after this date may be included here. Thanks for trying 'Little Manila.' 7/14/01 - Chow Fun (10) did open 7/8/01. They reduced the steam-table combo prices by $1, so 1, 2, & 3 items are $2, $3, & $4. Kung pao beef was ok but was actually in a mild 'garlic sauce.' Orange chicken was ok, but beef & broccoli was bad. Beef was unchewable and broccoli was overcooked. Rice & noodles fair. A full report is in the Restaurant 7-17 section. Except for low intro price, go elsewhere. Phone 310-549-3231, Sun-Fri till 8 p.m., closed Sat. 7/6/01 - Chow Fun (10) restaurant thinks they'll open Sunday, but they should have opened months ago. We'll see. 5/30/01 - Manila Sunrise (2) was reviewed in the "Rave" magazine (the free part of the "Daily Breeze" paper) in the 5/25-31/01 issue, page K37 by Jennie Douglas. She has never said anything negative about any restaurant (I think) and she only mentioned about three of their lesser dishes. 4/17/01 - Island Foods (or Island Food Restaurant) (15) is closed and their stuff is gone. Don't know when it happened. Remember, I warned them their prices were too high. 4/13/01 - Papa John's Pizza opened about 4/11/01. 4/5/01 - What closed as Palayok (6) restaurant has reopened as Bamboo Song (6), a Vietnamese restaurant, with the typical pho, the noodle soup. NW corner of Main St./223rd. St.: What was Taco Bell is an empty lot but is expected to reopen in a new building. 3/29/01 - NW corner Carson/Main St's - In addition to Blockbuster, there is now a sign for a new(?) jewelry store and a flag for a Papa John's pizza. The fourth store is under construction, but no sign yet. Also, 77 Video, a video store one-half block west of Blockbuster, closed. 3/14/01 - Northwest corner of Carson & Main Streets: Blockbuster opened maybe two weeks ago. Before that, after they put up their sign, so did a jewelry store. A few days ago the jewelry-store sign was removed. Looks like Chow Fun restaurant (10) is almost equipped to open, but a strange, hand-printed note refers inquires to the Tambuli [they misspelled it] Market behind them. Also, in the last week or two Kim Tar restaurant (1) returned to normal (menu) prices. 2/14/01 - james thomas (email at carsoncourier@aol.com or bemmag@juno.com) at the Carson Courier says "I am looking for someone to cover the asian/phillipine community ..can you put the word out." He did the lower case. 1/29/01 - Palayok (6) restaurant closed 1/15/01 after 16 years the sign says. The space is for sale/lease. 1/24/01 - Chow Fun: that's the new name for the old China King (10) restaurant. The new sign is up. Happy Chinese New Year to all. 1/20/01 - See two new reviews of Kim Tar Restaurant B.B.Q (1). One new store on NW corner of Carson & Main will be Blockbuster (video). What was China King (10) has white tiles with red-tile band on walls. Reminds me of a chain?
FLASH late 2000 - 12/30/00 - A local restaurant with a site: www.bambinos-pizza.com. Heard they can do a good super-thin crust when required. 12/28/00 - Added summary of Jollibee, Chowking, & Red Ribbon - see front of Restaurants 1-6. The old China King (10) sign is gone. 12/23/00 - New Plan at Kim Tar (1) - all Chinese, steam-table, fast-food items are 99¢ or less; make your own combo, with or without rice or noodles. Good veges. Manager gives good portions, help doesn't. 20% off after 3 p.m. is for menu only. See new review. 12/12/00 - - The old China King (10) restaurant will open as a different Chinese restaurant in January 2001. The Tambuli Market (M6) changed their sign again - open 11/20-12/31/00, Su-Fr 8:30 a.m.-8? p.m. & Sa 5-9? p.m., always call first. 11/??/00 - The old China King (10) covered their windows and is under construction. What was the empty lot on the Northwest corner on Carson St. and Main St. framed two or three stores but progress is slow. Anything ready for Christmas?? 11/2/00 - Both for-lease signs and the lock box for the old China King (10) are gone. Another restaurant? Also, the empty lot on the Northwest corner on Carson St. and Main St. shows activity after many months, maybe a few years. They're building stores. A new comment on Manila's Lechon (8). 10/21/00 - See new reviews of Tita Celia (12) restaurant dated 10/19 and 10/21/00. 10/5/00 - See updates to Kim Tar Restaurant B.B.Q (1) dated 10/1/00. 9/23/00 - See new review of Tokyo Bowl (17). 9/17/00 - Kim Tar (1) restaurant, new manager & menu, see new review. Also, Tokyo Bowl now has Filipino food, review soon. 9/14/00 - China King (10) restaurant space today says "For Lease." 9/13/00 - China King (10) restaurant is still closed with no indication why. Today even the inside menu, signs, and the grade card are gone. Looks terminal. 9/7/00 - Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture, ninth annual, this Sat & Sun, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., San Pedro, Cabrillo Beach, info at 213-389-3050, per today's LAT's "South Bay Weekly," page 3. FPAC site at filamarts.org???? doesn't work. 9/3/00 - China King (10) restaurant was closed yesterday, everything was gone, and no indication why. Popeyes next door said they're remodeling, but you know what that usually means. 8/28/00 - Kim Tar Restaurant B.B.Q. (1) mailed a new menu: says they have a new manager and menu and 20% off after 3 p.m., but don't see anything in restaurant. Fresh Fish (M2) has prepared food and removed the Korean sign. 8/26/00 - Old news but: Hoa Fong Market (M3) is now called Supreme Seafood Market. The remaining Chinese characters say 'fresh ocean' as in seafood. They and Tambuli Market (M6) are both closed every Saturday, but call for details. 8/3/00 - The 8/2/00 "Los Angeles Asian Journal" newspaper, page 18, has an ad for the D.J. Bibingkahan Restaurant with five outlets in the L.A. area. Ad says "Watch Out for our CARSON Branch." Also, S & J Palace was one of the first local stores with email. Now they may be the first local store with a web site - www.snjpalace.com. Their third store isn't listed on the site yet, call for details.
FLASH early 2000 - 6/8/00 - PR Independence Day 6/10 and 6/11 mostly at Veterans Park in Carson. Lots of free stuff. Also Jollibee (EE) fast food opens 6/12/00 at 9 a.m., and they will own (?) Chowking soon. 5/11/00 - See new restaurant review for Iba'n Express (16) which moves into a tie for second place. 3/23/00 - I had to retry my top-rated restaurant: Tita Celia (12). Went back a few weeks ago on a Saturday(?) night, and got the pork adobo and beef mechado with rice to go for about $3.80. Seems like to go doesn't include the soup. It was even better than I remembered, and with more rice or a vegetable it could have fed two. Also, the liquor store at (EE) closed 2/00. Now a sign says it will soon become a Jollibee, something with food.
More - 11/4/99 - Yesterday the Lucky market (AA) became an Albertson market. Also, the Red Ribbon Bake Shop (EE) is open. Looks like they serve food also. 10/10/99 - Check with Veterans Park for details on Philippine Independence Committee for the City of Carson and their June 10 and 11, 2000 celebration. 9/28/99 - The Los Angeles County library FF in Carson will be open on Sundays, starting 10/3/99 between 1 and 5 p.m. Jenny's (FF), which was closed from 9/22 to 9/27/99, is now open with a 'B' rating. 9/25/99 - I was in Island Food (16) today. If you want to pay $12 for lunch, rush over before they go out of business; see Restaurants 7-16. The space that was to be Sizzling Pinoy (EE) now says "space available." 9/18/99 - Check below (AA), I forgot to mention a huge Mural. 9/14/99 - I reviewed Tipanan Filipino Cuisine restaurant (14), and they're in third place. 8/30/99 - See Restaurants 7-16 for a new review of Vigan Express (13). They are now in second place among the restaurants.
Reporters Needed -- 9/18/99 - I have to move on to other projects, so I need people to sent updates and reports on this area. Anyone who lives or works in this area, local business people, someone at St. Philomena, community watch people, library, police, fire people, or maybe as a class project -- please go to Message Board, and leave reports, I'll post them here. This is your community, so give it the visibility it deserves. I just need to review two or three restaurants, fix some stuff, and I'm done.