Walk into Nita’s in Carson to find all the classic trappings of an old-school Filipino “turo-turo” restaurant: bright lighting, utilitarian wooden tables, and most importantly, an inviting steam table brimming with homestyle soups, savory stir-fries, tender braises, and grilled skewers. Turo-turo, a Tagalog phrase that means “point-point” in English, refers to casual cafeteria-style restaurants where diners point to prepared dishes along a hot bar to build combination meals. This staple way of dining emerged in the early 1900s to feed working-class Pinoys affordably.

Founded in 1998 by siblings Marilou Santiago, Imelda Mendoza, and Ferdinand Mendoza, along with their spouses, Nita’s is named after their grandmother Nenita “Nita” Mendoza. The restaurant has been serving Carson’s 20,000 Filipino Americans ready-to-eat, reasonably-priced comfort food for 26 years.

“When we first opened, we had four tables and six food warmers, but with the love from our community we were able to expand,” says Krystine Santiago, Santiago’s youngest daughter who helps manage the restaurant. “[My parents, aunts, and uncles] worked six days a week, sometimes seven, and their days consisted of working 12-plus hours. As children, my siblings, cousins, and I always knew how important the restaurant was.”

The steam table’s selection of Filipino comfort dishes changes daily. The menu can include munggo, a savory rice and mung bean stew fragrant with garlic, onion, and patis (fish sauce), wok-tossed pancit noodles with cabbage and carrots, and Filipino-style spaghetti with an umami-rich meat sauce balanced by the sweet tang of banana ketchup. Charred pork barbecue skewers wrapped in aluminum foil are a staple item, along with piping-hot sinigang served in styrofoam bowls. The banana-and-jackfruit-filled turon are deep-fried, caramelized with sugar, and stacked on metal trays.

“We’ve used the same recipes since the day we opened — our dishes have always been consistent, and I think that’s why so many people keep coming back,” says Krystine.

Nita’s

Apart from popular Filipino dishes like lechon and adobo, Nita’s also serves Ferdinand’s wife Lita Mendoza’s Ilocano specialties, including igado made with strips of liver and pork tenderloin braised in soy sauce and vinegar, and pinakbet comprised of stewed okra, green beans, and bitter melon flavored with bagoong (shrimp paste) and spices.

Though Nita’s is an institution for Carson’s Filipino community, the restaurant also attracts many non-Filipinos trying the cuisine for the first time. “We love the city of Carson and how it’s allowed us to connect with both people within and outside of our culture,” says Krystine.

The family’s unwavering commitment to affordable prices while maintaining quality cooking has made Nita’s a word-of-mouth sensation, with lines regularly snaking out the door even after a quarter century. “They know they can come and be greeted with a traditional meal that tastes like home,” says Krystine.

Nita’s is located at 22028 Avalon Boulevard, Carson, CA, 90745, and is open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and closed Sundays.