Meet the nurse who opened a Filipino rice bowl restaurant in Historic Filipinotown
Historic Filipinotown -- From dancer to drummer, nurse to chef, Justin Foronda has done it all.
A brief stint in culinary school provided him the skills to start his own brunch pop-up Benaddictz, as a side hustle to his nursing career. Even though he rose through the ranks quickly as a nurse, Foronda felt he needed a creative outlet, so he officially opened HiFi Kitchen inspired by the Filipino dishes he enjoyed growing up.
We’re Hiring!
HiFi Kitchen in Historic Filipinotown is hiring! Since 2018, HiFi Kitchen tests the boundaries of classic Filipino Angeleno dishes while strengthening FilAm representation in Historic Filipinotown of Los Angeles, CA
From Breaking To Nursing To HiFi Kitchen
Justin Foronda was born and raised in Los Angeles’ Historic Filipinotown, where he channeled his creativity through playing music, professional breaking, and cooking. After years of pursuing a nursing career, he wanted to scratch his artistic itch. In 2019, he opened HiFi Kitchen, a Filipino-Angeleno restaurant named after the neighborhood. Foronda still splits his time running his restaurant and working as a hospital nurse in the pandemic.
Pop-up at HiFi Kitchen features Apl.de.Ap’s family adobo recipe to raise funds for typhoon relief in the Philippines
“We’re calling on the community to join us in helping the typhoon victims in the Philippines,” said Apl.de.Ap, recording artist and founding Filipino member of the Black Eyed Peas. “I’m proud to collaborate with HiFi Kitchen to raise donations through our ‘Adobo in Action’ effort.”
Celebrate Filipino American History Month at These 13 LA Restaurants
Named after the portmanteau of Historic Filipinotown, where it’s located, HiFi Kitchen takes a new-school approach to Filipino food under the helm of owner/chef Justin Foronda—who grew up in the neighborhood.
Imagining a different future for the gentrifying neighborhood of Historic Filipinotown
“We can’t tell people where to live,” Foronda said. “They’re going to move in no matter what. But we can tell them about where they live. And that’s all we can do.”
Here's how HiFi, or Historic Filipinotown, got its name - Los Angeles Times
Restaurateur Justin Foronda last year opened HiFi Kitchen in Historic Filipinotown, where he was born and raised.
Historic Filipinotown newcomer HiFi Kitchen features traditional and vegan rice bowls
WHETHER you’re vegan, have a shellfish allergy, want a quick rice bowl with ulam, or are unfamiliar with Filipino food, a new Filipino-American café in Historic Filipinotown seeks to satisfy all of the above.