Elvie’s Turo-Turo
214 1st Ave
BTWN 12th & 13th Street
New York, NY 10009
212.473.7785
The Scene
Behind the often-fogged windows at this small restaurant is a homey atmosphere, full of smiling employees and Filipino families crowded around simple red tables. The menu (which changes daily) is scrawled on a blackboard above the glass counter, where food is served cafeteria-style.
The Food
Satisfied exclamations of “Masarap!” (Tagalog for “delicious”) vouch for the authenticity of the food, including the highly addictive lumpiang shanghai, small, crispy fried spring rolls filled with a zesty mix of ground pork, carrots, soy sauce and garlic. For the entrees, the adobo, tangy chicken or pork swimming with vinegar, soy sauce and garlic, is a perfect addition to a mound of fluffy white rice. The fiercely pungent tinola matches chicken in a sinus-clearing ginger broth littered with spinach. For dessert, try the halo halo, a drink mixing crunchy shaved ice with a creamy mixture of milk, sugar, sweet beans and cold ice cream. – Citysearch
My friend, Aileen was quite surprised when I told her that I’ve never had Filipino food before (I think she thought I was Filipino that’s why), she recommended to go to Elvie’s Turo-Turo. We met up there earlier this month and I was excited to have it for my first time! She said its one of the only few spots she knows that serves authentic Filipino food (anyone else have recommendations?), I was surprised that it was a small restaurant – but even better b/c its basically like a buffet, point point (Turo Turo) your food and they’ll add it to your plate. The food pretty much tasted and looked like Chinese food, everything seemed familar to me – even the desserts. The service was really good and the owner was very nice too, that’s the perk in eating at a homey atmosphere – great prices also. Its a great spot if you’re looking for an authentic Filipino restaurant, the food was great…I’ll def go back for more. Peep the pics after the jump…
Me: Left – Adobong Baboy Chicken Dish Seasoned with Fresh Garlic, Vinegar, Soy Sauce, Bay Leaves, Pepper and Anise $4.50
Right: BBQ Pork $2.25
BBQ Pork $2.25
Adobong Baboy Chicken Dish Seasoned with Fresh Garlic, Vinegar, Soy Sauce, Bay Leaves, Pepper and Anise $4.50
Aileen: Top – Sinigang Na Baboy Pork Ribs with Assorted Vegetables in Tamarind Broth $4.50
Bottom – Longanisa Sweet Pork Sausage $1.25
Sinigang Na Baboy Pork Ribs with Assorted Vegetables in Tamarind Broth $4.50
Longanisa Sweet Pork Sausage $1.25
Me: Halo-Halo A Mixture of Sweetened Tropical Fruits with Crushed Ice and Leche Flan Topped with Exotic Flavored Ice Cream $4.50
Aileen: Top – Suman Steamed Sweet Purple Rice Wrapped in Banana Leaves $1.25
Bottom: Banana-Q Fried Plantains $1.25
It’s really purple haha…
I love Halo -Halo!!!!
When I visit NY, I will visit this place….Thank you for eating there!
hahaha i have to tell you after looking at your friend’s meal that would be pretty much exactly what I would eat
I love sinigang its soooo damn good! i was actually planning on making some tomorrow or sunday 
its so easy to make too just dump everything in a pot and let it boil away! and longanisa yum! my aunt made some herself and sent it to us! my favorite filipino food by far though is pancit palabok!!! if you’re ever there at that restaurant again you and they have it you should try it 
one thing i love about living in vancouver is the amount of authentic ethnic food restaurants you can find all over the city! 
i love halo halo & sinigang & bbq
The best Filipino food in New York City can be found in Woodside, Queens:
Ihawan – 40-06 70th St, Woodside – Amazing Filipino BBQ at even more amazing prices.
Engeline’s – 58-28 Roosevelt Ave, Woodside – I think this place is fairly new, but I was there last weekend and the food is pretty close to a home-cooked meal. The halo-halo here is excellent.
Hey that’s neat cuz I have never had Filippino food before either (although one of my best friends is Filippino) and I am dying to try Halo Halo! I heard about it a few months ago and it sounds awesome. I heard everyone makes it differently.
I miss home!!!
But, thanks for posting this! I’m glad you liked Filipino food!
haha it looks like Chinese Hispanic food. Looks yumm though!
I am opening a filipino restaurant in phoenix and I’m going to get some ideas from this place. I’ll be in NYC this month and I’ll definetely check this place out!
I haven’t really tried Elvie’s, but the best Filipino restaurants can be found in 69th St. – Queens. This is the place where you can basically find all things Philippines. The restaurant “Perlas ng Silangan” (Pearls of the East) has the best Krispy Pata (crispy pork leg), and as mentioned above “Ihawan” has the most delicious Pork Barbeque I’ve ever tried. Also, Rene’s (along that area too) has the best Avacado shake in town. Go on down to Queens and try the most authentic of all authentic Filipino foods in New York.
P.S. For Manhattan Filipino Cuisine, I heard Dragonfly (47-49TH Ave S Ste 1, New York City) also has some great food for great prices.
Hope this helps.