Where To Find The Best Filipino Food In Dallas

Perhaps the most underrated food in the world, Filipino cuisine is the result of island life mixed with the country’s rich history of once being colonized by various cultures. With the growing community of Filipino expats now in Dallas, more and more Pinoy restaurants are now springing up around the metro bringing a little bit of the Philippines with them.  If you’re looking to try some awesome Filipino food, we’ve compiled a list of the top spots to go. Here they are in no particular order.

1. Cafe de Manila

Location: 2122 E Belt Line Rd, Richardson, TX

Website: http://www.cafedemanilaus.com/

Authentic home cooking a-la-Filipino style is the specialty of this noteworthy spot hidden in the corner of a strip mall along Richardson’s Belt Line Road. Expect a great deal of some of the Philippine’s most noteworthy dishes such Bulalo, Pancit Palabok and their incredibly crisp versions of Lumpiang Shanghai and Lechon Kawali. Cafe de Manila also just upgraded their menu which now includes a large, Pinoy-Style lunch buffet, called “BUJU“ in this restaurant (their own version of the Filipino “Boodle Fight”, a large buffet style serving of dishes served on top of banana leaves). Their BUJU consists of a wide variety of seafood and other Filipino comfort foods, as well as chops of their signature Lechon Kawali. The establishment has that homey- retro feel, and the staff and parishioners, mostly Filipino expats, are incredibly friendly and welcoming.

2. Palayok Filipino Cuisine

Address: 240 Legacy Dr, Plano, TX 75023

Palayok refers to a baked clay cooking pot used to cook dishes the old, traditional way in the Philippines. True enough, Plano’s Palayok Filipino Cuisine Restaurant strives to serve only the most authentic, traditional Filipino dishes in its location inside the Legacy Food Court. What most love at this restaurant is their Chicken Adobo – a sweet and sour tangy chicken dish of spices, soy sauce, vinegar, and Sinigang – a flavorful tamarind pork and vegetable soup. Palayok also serves other great dishes such as the Afritada, Dinuguan, and of course the Filipino trademark dish, Lechon. Palayok also slings out awesome Filipino desserts such as slices of Ube Cake, Puto, and Halo-Halo.

3. Trisha & Roland’s Pinoy Pop-Ups

Address: 4512 Jenning Dr. Plano, TX 75093

Website: https://www.trirolpinoypopups.com/

This Filipino Family restaurant wants to give everyone a fun, Pinoy-Eating experience

Founded by Filipino couple Trisha and Roland, this restaurant specializes in Pampagueño culinary masterpieces. Pampanga, a province in the island of Luzon, is called the Culinary Capital of the Philippines because of its rich and abundant heritage of home-grown dishes – something that this Pampangueño couple wanted to share to the world and in this case, in their small spot along Jenning Drive in Plano.

This restaurant dishes out generous portions of a myriad of Filipino Dishes. Another fun fact is that they may make you eat out of your bare hands, especially during their signature Gamatan or Boodle Fight events. During this, your table will be covered with huge banana leaves filled with lots and lots of rice, roast pork, chicken, smoked fish, shrimps, roasted vegetables, and stews. You won’t leave without a smile after eating here as the entire crew is super nice and welcoming. The restaurant is currently still in a pop-up phase but from what we know, people keep on coming for more!

4. Singko Asian Cuisine

Address: 4835 N O’Connor Rd #106, Irving, TX 75062, USA

Website: http://www.singko5asiancuisine.com/

Chicken Barbeque, Chicken Inasal, Grilled Pork Liempo, Sisig, and Bicol Express are all on the menu at Singko’s.  Located along N’Oconnor road in Irving, one can only expect authentic Filipino dishes from this establishment as well as a taste of warm Pinoy hospitality.  Although Singko primarily serves Filipino cuisine, you can also find some Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean dishes on their menu.

5. DelCiano Pinoy Cuisine

Address: 6401 S Cooper St #143, Arlington, TX

Website: http://www.delciano.com/

Modern Filipino flair is what this restaurant in Arlington does best. The dinner boasts a lot of great options to choose from, but it’s the Kamayan feast that’s the real treat! Have a taste of some of the Philippine’s best-known dishes such as the Crispy> Pata, Lechon Kawali, Adobo, Kare-Kare, Pancit Bihon,> and so much more! Complement each meal with some of their delicious desserts like ginataan, biko (a delicacy made of sticky, sweetened rice with caramelized brown sugar), and of course, the very well-known halo-halo.

6. Cocina Elena

Address: Asia Time Square, 2615 W Pioneer Pkwy, Grand Prairie

This particular Filipino joint in Grand Prairie has a special place in the Filipino community of Dallas. Throngs of hungry pilgrims seek out this place just to get a taste of home. Expect to find some truly authentic Filipino dishes here such as their Lechon Kawali, Chicken Inasal, Shanghai Lumpia and Pancit. Their halo-halo is also a definite standout. You get a generous bowl of fruit, milk and crushed ice all topped with some crispy rice sprinkles and mounds of delicious Ube ice cream.

7.  Kabayan Filipino Store and Cafe

Address: 2305 Texas 121 #165, Lewisville

This family owned restaurant and convenience store dishes out a wide selection of Filipino comfort food. Here you’ll find all the usual Filipino favorites such as Adobo, Dinuguan, and Sinigang – all served up 100% authentic Filipino style. They also have Lechon, halo-halo, and the certified must-try snack for all adventurous palates – the yummy yet occasionally revolting Balut (a 16-18 day developing embryo of either duck or chicken, hard-boiled and eaten from the shell, usually with salt and spicy vinegar). Besides their food, you can also expect to find a lot of bonafide Filipino products, from authentic preserves and seasonings to popular Filipino snacks and other foodstuffs. Great food and grocery store all in one, it’s a window to the wonders of the Philippines in the north of Dallas.