Foods Americans Like In Philippines

Foods Americans like in the Philippines

Filipino Foods Americans Like

I have lived in the Philippines for over 5 years. Have seen a lot of Filipino food. Have tried some and liked some. But the ones I like the most are Chicken Adobo, Chicken Inasal, Lugaw, Lumpiang Shanghai, Fried Bananas, and Halo Halo. I think I am typical of most Americans. We are not accustomed to and therefor don't like strong fish taste, like Bagoong. If you are going to entertain an American it will probably be a good idea to serve some of the following foods.

Chicken Adobo

Chicken Adobo is one of my favorite main courses. Marinated in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, black pepper and optional jalapeno pepper.

Chicken Inasal as served at Mang Inasal restaurants (found in most malls in the Philippines) and at stand alone locations. It is chicken that has been marinated to perfection with salt, pepper, garlic, lemon grass, and a mixture of half lime and lemon juice.
Another favorite. Wow, what flavor! And served with unlimited rice at Mang Inasal. About $2 US for large bar-b-q chicken breast served hot with unlimited rice on a banana leaf. Additional free rice servings come wrapped in banana leaves also. On the table are vinegar, calamansi (small lemons) and more so that you may mix your own additional sauce to dip your chicken and rice in.

Lugaw

I really enjoy a bowl of Lugaw. It is a type of Congee or Rice Porridge that I find very tasty and filling.
It may have small strips of white meat chicken or pork and spices on top. Can be found in restaurants, canteens and in food kiosks inside larger grocery stores (for example: in SM Hypermarkets).

Lumpiang Shanghai - pictured with beef filling.

Lumpiang Shanghai This is another food I really like. It consists of spring rolls stuffed with and meat and some veggies. They may be stuffed with pork, beef or chicken. And they are served with a red sweet and sour sauce to dip them in. I prefer then stuffed with chicken. You can find the chicken variety at Tropical Hut in food courts in malls or at stand-alone Tropical Hut grocery stores (they have small restaurants attached.)

Mung Bean Hopia are like Hopia Dice
but are larger and round.

Hopia Dice - Mong Bean
or "Mongo" is available 

Mung Bean Hopia and Hopia Dice These are available in grocery stores and in convenience stores like 7-11 and MiniStop.
Try them and you will probably buy more. Good between meal snacks. Convenient to carry when traveling and very filling. But, the pastry dough will stick to your teeth.

Green Mango Salad

Green Mango Salad Made of slices of green mango, with lime juice and more.

"Corn on the Cob" vendor

Corn on the Cob Sold by street vendors. The corn is kept cooking in a giant pot with a top on it. In 2012 it cost 15 Pesos. The vendor sticks a bamboo skewer into the end so you can carry and eat it. I have eaten it and never got sick. The pot is kept boiling all day, as far as I can see. The vendor will brush margarine on it and shake salt on it if you choose. Yummy. Usually the corn is boiling and the top is on the pot. I think the corn is being displayed just for this picture. I would not want to eat it if it were exposed to passing people and traffic fumes and dust.

Since I last ate it I have learned about GMO. Have not discovered yet if the corn being served is GMO or not. 

Filipino Desserts Americans Like and Desserts Europeans Like

Fried Bananas

My favorite deserts are Fried Bananas and Halo Halo (pronounced "Hollow, Hollow").

Halo Halo as served at Chowking
restaurants in the Philippines.

Halo Halo (pronounced 'hollow hollow') is made with shaved ice, candied fruits and beans (red mung beans and kidney beans), milk, purple yam, coconut, banana slices, a piece of leche flan, a scoop of ube ice cream and optional scoop of another flavor ice cream. Fantastic on a really hot day!

Read about American restaurants in the Philippines. 

You will find all the foods above in most of the leading malls in the Philippines.

Go shopping at grocery stores in the Philippines.

You will be well advised to check out my article about
foods to avoid in the Philippines.

Dining at a friend's house.

When visiting General Santos City on the Island of Mindanao we were visiting a chat mate. She took us to her parents farm and there we ate outdoors with them. Dinner was served on a wooden picnic table. I was offered a small fish that had been grilled. It was an eight inch Swordfish and was very good.

Update: Since writing this page I have switched to a vegetarian diet.

Read more about why at my vegetarian article.

If you are considering buying real estate in the Philippines.

If you are an US citizen American or a European, please comment below and share your favorite Filipino dishes with other readers.

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Please check back to read more about Filipino foods Americans and European foods. This article last updated June 4, 2022.