By Elliot Acosta
In celebration of the Filipinos’ arrival to the United States in 1857, the Filipino American National Historical Society declared October ‘92 as Filipino American History Month. The declaration has become an annual tradition, with Filipino Americans celebrating the culture and food they contribute to the country every October.
Although Filipino food has often been heralded as the next big thing by food personalities like Andrew Zimmerman, the cuisine is still trying to get a foothold in the Triangle’s culinary landscape. Despite the cuisine’s nascent presence in the region, there are a few gems for fans of the cuisine—including the 10,000+ Filipinos who live in the Triangle—to enjoy its tangy, sweet, and savory flavor.
Southern Fried Lumpia
A frequent presence at festivals and taprooms around the Triangle, the Southern Fried Lumpia Co. food truck brings Filipino food to the people. While their marquee dish is lumpia, the Filipino’s rendition of egg rolls, the food truck dishes like turon and a beef stew named mechado are difficult to find elsewhere in the Triangle.
Filipino Express – Oriental Market
Along the busy throughway of Capital Boulevard sits Oriental Market of Raleigh—a humble Asian grocery. The market is a destination for Asian and Filipino groceries, but is also home to Filipino Express, a takeout counter serving all the hallmarks of Pinoy cuisine, including adobo, pancit, and the photogenic dessert halo-halo.
MedieterreAsian Grill
As the name suggests, Durham’s MediterrAsian Bistro brings two cuisines together that aren’t your typical pairing, Mediterranean and Filipino food. While one side of the Bull City restaurant menu is dedicated to gyros, falafel, and tabouli, the other side features Filipino favorites like lumpia and Filipino barbecue.
Beyond the Triangle
Often found at Filipino establishments are Filipinos who have traveled from out of town for a taste of their culture. For Filipino Americans in the Triangle, places like Kusinera in Fayetteville or the Kuya Bear Food truck in Winston-Salem offer a short road trip for a taste of their culture.
