By Yong Chavez, ABS-CBN North America Bureau

Feb. 20, 2012

LOS ANGELES – There’s a sweet addition to the Los Angeles Pinoy food scene: The Tocino Burger. It’s the best-selling product of Curbside Cravings, the food truck of Neri’s Restaurant.

Co-owner Rhea Espino said, “It’s amazing how the pan de sal bread goes together that (tocino) patty.”

Espino’s cousin, the chef, reinvented the popular Pinoy breakfast fare. She made it into a burger patty and added tomato, cilantro, egg and mango-bell pepper slaw.
And instead of the usual hamburger bun, they made their own pan de sal for the tocino burger.

Other popular Curbside Cravings’ dishes include Crispy Dinuguan, Lobster Roll and Tapa Burger, reviewed by www.burgerreview.com as one of the best burgers in L.A.

At $6 dollars, tocino costs more than regular burgers at fast food restaurants, but its fans don’t seem to mind spending extra for this distinct Pinoy treat.

Customer Filizelle Catipon said, “I like it because it’s sweet.”

Another customer, Charinelle Catipon said, “It’s just like comfort food. After a day from school and you go home and eat all the Filipino food, you feel satisfied.”

Espino herself drives this food truck, one of the most popular Filipino gourmet food trucks in Southern California. Though managing a business can be tiring, Rhea said her hard work pays off when she sees even non-Pinoys patronizing their products.