Dona's Hawaiian & Filipino Grill

I hate to leave a bad review but it needs to be done. I live in the area and like to come here occasionally to get some comfort Filipino food. Today was not a good food day for them. As soon as I walked in, I noticed how hot it was. In a food place I think it's necessary to keep the temperature down so it's comfortable for the customers. The food was obviously made in big batches at the beginning of the day as opposed to small batches periodically throughout the day. My pancit smelled really bad and I couldn't eat it. The other dishes looked to be sitting there all day. What is the problem with having fresh food? I almost got the sisig but that too was obviously sitting there all day. I hope I don't get food poisoning or that I'm not sick tomorrow. I won't be eating here anymore. I understand not wanting to waste food or to make it stretch but they could have more customers if the food was fresh and not sitting there all day.

Decided to try this place and REGRET sat in as soon as I walked in!
Not inviting, the food looked unhealthy and borderline dirty.
On the plus side, the portion served could have comfortably fed 2 but the food was so bad that I wouldn't dare share!
Not one to leave harsh reviews for local businesses but they MUST step up to keep up with changing demand!! We

It's homey and the food is not preheated. Fresh and not salty or overcooked. Simple ingredients and the ladies are super nice and sweet!

My mom comes here for Filipino food since she doesn't cook much anymore as she is getting older. I decided to pick up some food here since I was having a craving.

My fave is the sisig, pork adobo and lechon. Today I got garlic fried rice with pork adobo. The pork meat was flavorful but greasy. The garlic fried rice had a lot of garlic flavor and pieces of eggs. It tastes okay. Not the greatest or the worse. The lady serving your food was nice. For a one item combo, it costs me $6.00. For a two item combo, it will be close to $7 or $8. If you don't know the names of the food items, you can point it to her. Being Filipina, I know all the food that they had. They sell can sodas, pan de sal, desserts, etc. Food is descent.

There's a few tables inside with chairs. You can either dine in or take your food to go. I normally take it to go on my lunch hour. Not my fave but it's the only Filipino joint close to home for me.

I should be rooting for this place, because I'm Filipino myself. Lol but unfortunately, this place always has flys in their heaters...and something about their rice, it's always dry and hard.

When I first came here there was a piece of metal steel wool mixed in with my pancit. I tried to give it another chance, but then the second time I came here, there was mold on my pandesal and the lady was giving me a hard time giving me my refund back. So I figured whatever, tried again today, and my rice is dry as hell and there's more onions than Lechon in my lechon kawali so save your money lol and eat Filipino food somewhere in national city instead

-_-

LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. hands down the best Filipino food I've been able to buy anywhere in SD. I dont live in the south bay any longer but still have to make the drive here for their food!Its so fresh and tasty! It has become a tradition of mine and my boyfriends to eat there when we visit chula vista or imperial beach for any reason. They make so many different entrees! and I love their sweets!you must try!

My first time to buy some food here, I got menudo, dinuguan and bopis, oh my gosh!!'
It's so good, I really liked it. The best filipino food here in San Diego.. I tried other filipino resto but always disappointed,sorry to say it. I will definitely go back at Donn's. Where have you been all thus time and their dessert is yummt too. Nice

I got the Adobo, pancit and lumpia.
Adobo was sooooo good! Sad the meat was pork and not chicken but regardless, still super good.
The pancit tasted like my auntie's so very happy with that
The Lumpia was ok, but the adobo definitely was the winner
Oh, and the sweet and sour sauce- bomb.

Don't waste your time.

I arrived at this place to try it out since it is close to home. When I got there the door was wide open and was within the noted hours of operation according to their sign. I went in and started looking at the menu. I was approached by one person asking what I would like and then another person saying they are closed. Both had horrible attitudes and customer service. I will just drive to national City for good food and good service.

Decent place but not the greatest. I'm a national city native and Tita's will always have my heart.

The portions are good and reasonable. They have a selection of filipino desserts as well as Halo-Halo if anyone is craving it and wants to bring it to the beach. I had the calamari kilawin and it was okay.

The turon apparently used to be good since my Dad raved about them ... this time around I felt like they were lazily made and limp. The taste though was not lacking and maybe presentation is not a priority.


I would probably not return but the fact that it is conveniently in a good plaza and a few minutes from the beach I would think about it.