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The Best Filipino Food in Raleigh-Durham

The Best Filipino Food in Raleigh-Durham

We put our heads (and bellies!) together to find the best Filipino food in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. The Triangle offers a small but mighty selection of restaurants and food trucks offering traditional Filipino cuisine to the mashups inspired by the Philippines' storied history.  Are we missing your favorite Filipino food spot? Let us know in the comments!

The Best Filipino Food in Raleigh-Durham

Lumpia and baklava at MediterrAsian Bistro, a Filipino fusion restaurant, in Durham North Carolina

1. MediterrAsian Bistro

With a name like MediterrAsian there’s bound to be an interesting fusion of flavors from around the world, and this little Durham bistro does not disappoint. This restaurant offers a buffet where patrons can find a vast array of foods from the Philippines such as lumpia, spring rolls, chicken adobo, fried plantains, and teriyaki chicken, as well as foods from the Mediterranean such as gyros, shawarmas, and baklava. These foods pack a powerful flavor by themselves, but together they create an entirely new blend of sweet and savory. MediterrAsian also hosts boodle fights, which are a Filipino custom started by the U.S. Army in which a large group gathers around a table to feast with their hands and banana leaves.

  1. http://www.mediterrasianbistro.com/index.php

  2. (919) 484-0505

  3. 105 W North Carolina 54 #225 Durham, N. C. 27713

2. Filipino Express

Filipino Express is a hidden gem in the back of an Asian market with a vast array of beloved snacks and treats. While the restaurant itself is small, the food makes a big impact. Filipino Express is a turo turo, or point point, style eatery, which is exactly what patrons do when ordering. Simply point to the traditional Filipino foods on the buffet such as lumpia, pork or chicken adobo, or halo-halo and prepare to be amazed by these mouthwatering dishes.

  1. https://www.filipinoexpressnc.com/

  2. (919) 876-6911

  3. 3601 Capital Blvd Ste 101 Raleigh, N. C. 27604

3. Adobo Joe

Owner and Philippine-native, Ron Blancaflor, started Adobo Joe in 2016 after 25 years in the Army and a return to the Philippines to brush up on his cooking. His food truck offers a twist on classic Filipino dishes such as adobo chicken by offering it on a sandwich as a Filipino sloppy Joe. Adobo Joe also offers classic appetizers such as lumpia and pork on a stick as well as banana rolls and halo-halo for dessert. Ron is always on the move with his food truck, however, you can find their upcoming stops and grab a delicious bite to eat on Street Food Finder.

  1. https://www.facebook.com/Adobo-Joe-Food-Truck-1496999187293585/

  2. (919) 909-1928

  3. Food Truck based out of Raleigh, N. C.

4. The Bamboo Cookhouse

The Bamboo Cookhouse is a food truck run by a husband and wife team, both of whom are Philippine natives. The pair offers a wide variety of traditional Filipino foods, in addition to unique mashup cuisines from countries that influenced the Philippines’ history, like their Filipino Picadillo. No matter how hungry you are, The Bamboo Cookhouse will satisfy your cravings with popular street foods with their bites, chowdown plates, and desserts. You can find this food truck and fill your belly with some Filipino favorites by checking out their online calendar. Don’t forget to give their Windy City-inspired hot dog, made with Chicago style Giardiniera and Filipino sisig, a try!

  1. https://www.thebamboocookhouse.com/

  2. (919) 349-9366

  3. Food Truck based out of Durham, N. C.

5. Filipino Cuisine: 

Filipino Cuisine is a small family-owned Filipino restaurant just south of Raleigh offering traditional food in Angier. This buffet-style restaurant is an expansion of Bitter Melon Asian Market, which sells many classic Asian goodies, including those from the Philippines. For those wanting to get a taste of a few traditional Filipino foods, Filipino Cuisine offers a combo platter consisting of lumpia, pork on a stick, and pancit noodles. They also cook other classics like milkfish, which pairs well with the Filipino pale lager, San Miguel.

  1. https://www.facebook.com/filipinocuisine.nc/

  2. (919) 639-2422

  3. 9629 Bitter Melon Dr Angier, N. C. 27501

Turon filled with Plantains, Jackfruit and Hot Brown Sugar

Turon filled with Plantains, Jackfruit and Hot Brown Sugar

Jenn de la Vega

Jenn de la Vega