Filipino cuisine has definitely made a mark in mainstream America. Over the course of the last decade, Filipino cuisine has steadily gained recognition and appreciation from Westerners as evidenced by the influx of Filipino restaurants opening their doors to curious folks and to those seeking to be reminded of the flavors of home.
We’ve asked our When In Manila readers to share with us their favorite Filipino restaurants in the United States. In no particular order, here they are:
40. Bamboo Bistro
8516 Van Nuys Boulevard, Panorama City, CA
This hidden gem in Panorama City serves true Filipino cuisine buffet-style. They’re also known for their kamayan feast, where banana leaves replace plates and your hands are used in lieu of cutlery, and their karaoke sessions! If you want to experience what fun-filled celebrations in the Philippines feel like, this is the best place to do so.
39. Señor Sisig
990 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA
Señor Sisig redefines the Filipino food staple in a variety of ways. Have it as a taco, as a burrito, in nachos, in fries, or with rice! You can even have it as a salad for those days when you want to try eating healthy but can’t seem to stay away from the porky goodness. Señor Sisig will have you falling in love with sisig over and over again until you’ve had enough (which you probably never will.)
38. Musang
2524 Beacon Ave S. Seattle, WA
Musang in Seattle is heavily driven by its sense of community which translates well to its menu of delicious Filipino comfort meals. They have a weekly rotating brunch menu but you’ve got to be there during their Lechon Fridays!
37. Whilma’s Filipino Restaurant
701 E Race Ave, Searcy, AR
When in the south, Whilma’s Filipino Restaurant offers a respite for those seeking the comforting flavors of home the way they grew up eating it. It’s one of the sought-after restaurants to indulge in simple home-cooked meals made with love that you can enjoy either on your own or with the company of friends and family.
36. Pig and Khao
68 Clinton Street, New York, NY
Pig and Khao specializes in Southeast Asian-inspired cuisine, offering a variety of Filipino and Thai food fare that you can enjoy with friends and family. Of course, don’t leave without trying its champorado and pandan custard donuts for brunch, and pork adobo, sizzling sisig, and crispy pata for dinner—with a can of San Miguel beer, of course!
35. Uncle Mike’s Place
Source: Instagram.com/agirlaboutchicago
1700 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL
In Chicago, Uncle Mike’s Place welcomes everyone with a huge appetite and a hankering for savory Filipino meals. People often come for their breakfast meals that consist of your choice of viand, garlic fried rice, and two eggs. Otherwise, they’re there for the restaurant’s no. 1 seller, the Marinated Skirt Steak!
34. Bacolod Chicken Haus
6320 N Lincoln Ave Ste C & D, Chicago, IL
At Bacolod Chicken Haus, find the flavors of Bacolod in the vibrant city of Chicago. Here you can indulge in authentic Chicken Inasal, batchoy, crispy pata, kaldereta, and more!
33. Flip n’ Patties
1809 Eldridge Pkwy, Houston, TX
Flip n’ Patties puts a spin on their gourmet burgers by incorporating Filipino flavors and ingredients. Sink your teeth into their burgers with longganisa, spam, or panko seared tilapia among plenty others, or enjoy their variety of other dishes like lumpia, lechon kawali, and empanadas.
32. Tsismis NYC
143 Orchard Street, New York, NY
Just recently opened, Tsismis in the Lower East Side of New York City is a casual Filipino bistro that serves a spin on Filipino classics that’s unlike anything you’ve ever grown up eating. Here, you’ll find dishes like Pinoy Caesar salad, pinsit fritos (fried pork dumplings), and Kale Laing. Don’t miss out on the desserts either—like maja blanca and silvanas!
31. Elena’s Restaurant
Tropicana Square 94-866 Moloalo Street #D4A Waipahu, HI
Elena’s Restaurant has been a longstanding establishment in Waipahu offering classic Filipino favorites and one-of-a-kind dishes taken out of the family’s recipe book. So well-loved by locals, Elena’s Restaurant earned a spot on celebrity chef Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives series for its Lechon Special.
30. Ugly Kitchen
103 1st Avenue #2951, New York, NY
Unlike what its name suggests, Ugly Kitchen’s dishes are hardly ugly. Here, you’ll find eclectic Filipino food that’s delightful to the tastebuds which you can eat while enjoying the vibrant atmosphere, whether you’re there during the day or unwinding during the night. Ask them what their current specials are!
29. Pica-Pica Filipino Cuisine
1214 Main Street, Saint Johnsbury, VT
Pica-Pica Filipino Cuisine proudly brands itself as the only authentic, full-service Filipino restaurant in Vermont and the only place where you can drink local beers San Miguel and Red Horse — a sought-after commodity when abroad! Find appetizers like siopao and pork BBQ, mains like tocino, bangus, caldereta, and sinigang, and desserts like bilo-bilo, turon, and maja blanca!
28. Tatang
Source: Instagram.com/scrumphsus
10829 Oxnard Street, North Hollywood, CA
Tatang is a modern Filipino bistro that brings well-loved Filipino classics to the hungry foodies of North Hollywood. It’s located at a strip mall and attracts customers with its bright space, open kitchen, and delectable food that’s easy on the wallet. Try out their chicken lumpia, chicken tinola, and pancit noodles.
27. BARKADA Edmonds
622 5th Ave S, Edmonds, WA
This quaint, unassuming restaurant specializes in Filipino and Hawaiian dishes that, just as the name suggests, are best eaten in the company of close friends. The environment’s chill vibe will help you enjoy the experience of trying out the different food on their menu — from pulutan (bar snacks) like kinilaw tuna and kilawing pusit, viands like pakbet and chicken afritada, and interesting cocktails like Ube Coconut Milk Tea and Buko Pandan.
26. Café 86
Locations in Chino Hills, Pasadena, Artesia, Las Vegas, and Chula Vista
Café 86 has taken Instagram by storm for the past six years for posting its selection of mouthwatering ube desserts every day. Almost everything in their menu incorporates the ube flavor, but you’ve got to try their Ube Leche Flan Cupcakes on your first visit.
25. D’Pinoy Joint
6820 W Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV
D’Pinoy Joint is a family-style restaurant serving traditional no-frills, no-fuss Filipino dishes at affordable prices. If you’re hoping to satisfy your craving for the flavors of home while in Las Vegas, check this place out!
24. Phil-Am Kusina
556 Tompkins Ave, Staten Island, NY
Filipino and American flavors are fused together at Phil-Am Kusina, giving its customers both an authentic and unique culinary experience. Find traditional savory dishes like the Pork Humba, Kare-Kare, and Lumpia Shanghai.
23. Kusina Filipina
4157 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
Kusina Filipino describes itself as a “down-to-earth” restaurant serving authentic Filipino dishes as if you never really left home! You can never go wrong with their chicken adobo, kare-kare, and pork crispy pata.
22. Lola’s Fine Kitchen
1615 SW Main St #106, Ankeny, IA
Lola’s Fine Kitchen fuses together the familiar tastes of home with exotic flavors to create dishes that are healthy, delicious, and 100% all-natural. Specializing in Filipino-Pakistani cuisine, this restaurant will tickle your tastebuds with build-your-own bowls featuring sisig, chicken adobo, and fried chicken. Don’t forget to try Lola’s Lumpia too!
21. Kabayan
4912 Queens Blvd, Woodside, NY
Kabayan in Queens serves simple no-frills Filipino food for those who want to enjoy them the way they remember growing up. It also offers a kamayan feast for special occasions. No matter what you order here, you’re guaranteed to remember the familiar flavors of home.
