IN THE MIX BY MIC DIAZ
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass visited Dollar Hits in Historic Filipinotown, putting a spotlight on one of the neighborhood’s best-known Filipino-owned businesses and the community that has grown around it. Members of the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office staff were also present for the visit.
Bass was welcomed by Elvira “Tita Elvie” Chan, founder and owner of Dollar Hits, along with Filipino-American community leader Jennifer Taylor and members of the local community. Taylor, a longtime advocate for Historic Filipinotown, is an entrepreneur and real estate professional who has worked with several Filipino-American organizations and is a co-founder of Baryo HiFi, a community celebration highlighting Filipino culture, businesses and artists.
Located along Temple Street, Dollar Hits has become a familiar destination for Filipino street food in Los Angeles. Chan started the business as a food stand in the same Historic Filipinotown strip mall in 2013 before expanding into a brick-and-mortar restaurant. Its communal outdoor grills and selection of Filipino street food have helped create an experience reminiscent of the ihaw-ihaw culture found throughout the Philippines.
But Dollar Hits has also become more than a restaurant. Its outdoor tables, grills, karaoke and casual atmosphere have created a gathering place where food and community intersect. Taylor has previously rallied support for Dollar Hits and other neighborhood businesses, including organizing assistance after several Historic Filipinotown establishments were victims of a smash-and-grab incident.
The mayor’s visit was especially timely as Los Angeles celebrates Filipino American History Month in October. Historic Filipinotown represents an important chapter in the Filipino American story in Los Angeles, shaped by generations of immigrants, families, entrepreneurs, artists and community organizations.
For small businesses such as Dollar Hits, that history continues through everyday experiences. Filipino restaurants do more than introduce people to familiar dishes—they become spaces where culture is shared, traditions are maintained and younger generations can connect with their heritage.
Having the Mayor of Los Angeles and members of her staff visit a Filipino-owned business in Historic Filipinotown also brought visibility to the people who continue to sustain the neighborhood. As communities throughout Los Angeles change, recognizing longstanding cultural businesses becomes part of recognizing the history they helped build.
At Dollar Hits, that history remains very much alive. What began as a small food stand has grown into a destination known beyond Historic Filipinotown, while retaining the communal spirit at the heart of its success. Mayor Bass’s visit offered another moment for a Filipino-American small business—and the community surrounding it—to be seen and recognized in the city it calls home.