Merlina’s Kitchen

Reviews

• Dwayne F.

  star star star star star_border 13 July 2026

  06/30/19: Out of the way in Whitmore Village, but worth the drive. Home cooked Filipino food is really good. The silit is crunchy and cleaned well. The lechon is cooked to perfection. Generous servings and decent pricing. The lumpia has a little more wrapper than I'm used to so you get full faster. In my opinion one wrapper per lumpia would suffice. The staff is so friendly (it's like visiting your Aunty or Grandma). The eating area had only 3 tables and considering how popular this place is, they need more tables and chairs. The air conditioner wasn't powerful enough to cool the entire place so it was hot. It would be great if the dining was a place you could retreat from the heat outside. I will definitely return and stop by if I'm in the area.

• Vincent T.

  star star star_border star_border star_border 10 July 2026

  They're mainly known for their lumpia's. Lumpia's are homemade and good. Not store biught. The dishes are ok. Average at best. If you're looking for Pinoy food in the Wahiawa this is the place to go. It's out of the way of sorts in Whitmore though.

• Mychel E.

  star star star star star 9 July 2026

  This is the best Filipino restaurant in Wahiawa or close to the area. The other night I was craving some Filipino food and skipped the one in Wahiawa town to drive all the way to Whitmore for some. The best chicharon ever! The staff is always nice and the food is always good. The beef stew is my second choice but the mongo bean, pancit and the mixed veggies is so good too. I don't know the names of the dishes but everything that I've ever had from Merlina's was awesome. The desserts are even good. The prices are decent compared to the next closest Filipino restaurant. If you're craving Filipino food and driving through Wahiawā then take the drive into Whitmore for this "hole in the wall" place.

• Christine B.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 3 July 2026

  I was craving some Filipino food and looking for nearby restaurants. Compared to all the other Filipino restaurants, this one has more red stars than the ones in the area.
  I drove to Whitmore which is the next village after Wahiawā and ordered the Shanghai, banana lumpia, pancit and roast pork "Diva". I was so excited to fulfill my craving. Then all that excitement turned into I should've just drove to Waipahu. Everything I ordered was too oily, couldn't tell the difference if I was eating the banana or the shanghai lumpia. It was that bad that I tried to drench it in the sweet chili sauce to overcome the oily taste. I did the same thing with the roast pork and it still didn't help. The pancit also in the same boat as the rest of my food review. I could tell the difference because of texture but couldn't tell the difference in taste. I really don't like to waste food and that is a pet peeve of mines but this time I must waste my food.
  Next time I have this craving, I will definitely make that drive to Waipahu. I should've seen it coming since I was the only car in the parking lot.

• Rhea M.

  star star star star star_border 25 June 2026

  What can I say but... cascaron by the Pan-full! Yum!
  
  My coworkers love when I stop by Merlina's to get chicharone, fried sillet, and yes! Cascaron!