10 Best US Cities for Filipino Food to Satisfy Your Cravings
Key cities in the USA with the best Filipino food include San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York, each offering a variety of traditional and modern dishes, along with multiple Jollibee locations.
There is no shortage of great places to get Filipino food in the United States. From San Francisco to New York City, the 20+ Best US Cities for Filipino Food offer a wide variety of delicious dishes and experiences. Los Angeles, Honolulu, and Chicago are just some of the cities that have a thriving Filipino food scene.
From modern takes on traditional classics to hole-in-the-wall gems, these cities provide exciting and unique Filipino restaurants. Whether you’re looking for a quick bite or an unforgettable dinner, these cities are sure to satisfy your craving for Filipino cuisine.
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20. Tampa FL
Possibly the most surprising city, Tampa Bay has a solid selection of Filipino restaurants, plus a newly opened Jollibee in Pinellas Park, just across the bridge from downtown Tampa.
19. Phoenix AZ
With its rapidly growing population from California, Phoenix has seen a surge in new Filipino restaurants plus a new Jollibee in recent years.
18. Orlando FL
Maybe not surprising given Orlando’s tourist industry and vibrant Filipino-American community, but Orlando has a new Jollibee on Colonial Drive, plus more than a dozen dedicated Filipino restaurants.
17. San Antonio TX
San Antonio has a growing cluster of Filipino restaurants plus a Jollibee off the Northwest Loop.
16. Jacksonville FL
Like San Antonio, Jacksonville has a rapidly growing cluster of Filipino restaurants and a new Jollibee off Atlantic Blvd.
15. Virginia Beach VA
Given the area’s Navy population, Virginia Beach / Norfolk / Newport News is not surprising. The metro area has more than 20 restaurants and a Jollibee.
14. Sacramento CA
With its Filipino-American community, Sacramento has had an established Filipino restaurant culture for years. Despite the metro’s size, Sacramento has two Jollibee locations on either side of town.
13. Dallas TX
Dallas has had a rapidly maturing food scene with almost two dozen Filipino restaurants and two Jollibees adding to their list of new restaurants.
12. Washington DC
With 3 Jollibee’s and over a dozen Filipino restaurants, Washington, DC, does quite well for an East Coast city. Until their recent closure, PogiboyDC was a huge hit (hopefully coming back as a pop-up?).
11. Riverside / Inland Empire CA
In some ways, Riverside / Inland Empire is an extension of Los Angeles. But the Inland Empire does have its own scene and independent vibe. In addition to the 15+ restaurants, there are 4 Jollibee’s conveniently located throughout the Inland Empire.
10. Houston TX
Houston, Texas, holds an up-and-coming place in the culinary world, especially when it comes to Filipino cuisine. The city is ranked the 10th best metro area in the United States for Filipino food, boasting an impressive variety of more than 26 Filipino restaurants scattered across its metro area. Additionally, Jollibee, the famous Filipino multinational chain of fast food restaurants, now has 3.
9. San Jose CA
The San Jose metro area is rich with culinary diversity, boasting over 32 Filipino restaurants that offer a variety of traditional and modern dishes, each reflecting the unique flavors of the Philippines. Additionally, fans of the popular Filipino fast-food chain Jollibee will be pleased to know that the metro area houses two Jollibee locations, further contributing to the robust Filipino food scene in San Jose.
8. Honolulu HI
Honolulu’s 8th place is a testament to its large Filipino-American community, whose rich culture and traditions have greatly influenced the local food landscape. In fact, the Honolulu Metro area boasts over 16 restaurants specializing in Filipino dishes, offering a wide range of flavors catering to both traditional and contemporary tastes. Furthermore, the city is home to four Jollibee locations, the highest per capita presence of Jollibee in any metro area, further underscoring Honolulu’s deep connection to Filipino food and culture.
7. San Diego CA
San Diego is recognized as the 7th best metropolitan area in the United States for Filipino cuisine, demonstrating its vibrant and diverse food scene. This Southern California city boasts over 39 restaurants specializing in Filipino dishes, providing locals and visitors with an array of options to experience this unique and flavorful cuisine. Additionally, the San Diego metropolitan area is home to three Jollibee locations.
6. Las Vegas NV
Las Vegas, renowned for its vibrant nightlife and entertainment scene, also boasts a rich culinary landscape that is particularly notable for its Filipino cuisine. It ranks as the 6th best metro area in the United States for Filipino food. The Las Vegas Metro area is home to over 47 Filipino restaurants, providing both locals and tourists with a wide range of dining options. Among these establishments, you’ll find four locations of Jollibee, a popular Filipino fast-food chain known for its delicious fried chicken and spaghetti.
5. Seattle WA
Despite its relatively modest population size, Seattle has made a name for itself in the culinary world, especially in Filipino cuisine. It ranks as the 5th best metro area in the United States for Filipino food, boasting around 20 Filipino restaurants that cater to a wide range of tastes and preferences. Among these eateries is Archipelago, a standout establishment that has garnered significant recognition, including a nomination for the prestigious James Beard Award. Additionally, the Seattle metro area is home to two locations of Jollibee, a popular fast-food chain from the Philippines.
4. New York NY
With over 106 Filipino restaurants, the New York metro area surpasses all other U.S. metro areas in sheer quantity, offering a broad range of options of some of the best Filipino restaurants in America. The city’s food landscape is further enriched by nine Jollibee locations, a beloved fast-food chain from the Philippines.
3. Los Angeles CA
Los Angeles, often celebrated for its vibrant and diverse culinary scene, proudly stands as the third-best metro area in the United States for Filipino food. With over 98 established Filipino restaurants, the city’s gastronomic landscape is further enriched by numerous pop-up eateries and food trucks serving this unique cuisine.
Adding to its Filipino food credentials, Los Angeles also boasts 10 Jollibee locations – the most found in any U.S. metro area. Known globally for its fast-food style Filipino fare, Jollibee’s strong presence in L.A. is a testament to the city’s love for Filipino food. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to the flavors of the Philippines, the Los Angeles metro area offers an extensive and exciting array of options.
2. Chicago IL
As the second-best metropolitan area for Filipino cuisine in the country, Chicago boasts over 57 Filipino restaurants, each offering a unique take on traditional and contemporary dishes. Among these is Kasama, a standout establishment that has earned the prestigious recognition of a James Beard Award nomination (and by far the best Filipino restaurant in Chicago), a testament to the exceptional quality and creativity of its menu. Additionally, fans of the popular fast-food chain Jollibee won’t be disappointed, as there are more than four locations scattered across the Chicago metro area.
1. San Francisco CA
With a sizeable Filipino-American population, numerous authentic restaurants, and a rising interest in Filipino food, San Francisco has become the ultimate destination for Filipino food enthusiasts. The city celebrates its deep-rooted connection to Filipino culture through festivals and events and offers various restaurants catering to Filipino cuisine.
The success of establishments like Abacá, which received a James Beard Award nomination, highlights the exceptional quality and creativity of Filipino food in San Francisco. Additionally, multiple Jollibee locations reflect the city’s appreciation for Filipino cuisine.
Methodology
Our methodology looks at four data points to determine where to find the best Filipino cuisine in the United States.
Number of Filipino Restaurants in Metro Area (Score)
The Price of Meat team manually tallied the number of Filipino restaurants for each of the United States’ 100 most populous Metropolitan Statistical Areas from Google My Business data. This number determines the base score and tells us how many options a food connoisseur has in any metro area (source example).
James Beard Nominations for a Filipino Restaurant (Multiplier)
The James Beard Awards are the preeminent food awards in the United States. The Price of Meat team tallied the James Beard award nominations of Filipino restaurants in 2023 (source). This number is a 10x multiplier and highlights the quality options in a metro area.
Number of Jollibee’s (Multiplier)
Jollibee is the global brand for Filipino food and one of The Philippines’ most famous food exports. The Price of Meat team manually tallied Jollibee locations for each metro area. This multiplier number highlights the general availability and options for Filipino food in a metro area (source).
Customer Search Interest (Multiplier)
Consumer interest is a primary driver for the future quantity and quality of Filipino food. The Price of Meat team used Google Trends to tally consumer interest in Filipino food by metro area. This multiplier number highlights how much a metro area values & searches out Filipino food. This data point is key, since restaurant closures have been an unfortunate sore point for many Filipino restaurants in recent years. (source).
What Filipino Food Dishes To Try?
Filipino food is as unique and diverse as the 7,000+ islands of The Philippines. Here are a few essential starters that many Americans love.
Lumpia
Lumpia makes for a perfect appetizer that originated in the Philippines. It is typically filled with ground or finely minced meat, vegetables, and sometimes seafood, then deep-fried until golden brown.
Adobo
Adobo is possibly The Philippines’ most famous dish. It is both a marinade and cooking process in Philippine cuisine that involves marinating meat, seafood, or vegetables in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and spices, then simmering until tender. It is most well-known when used with chicken and rice.
Pancit
For a second entree, try the restaurant’s pancit. Pancit is a variety of noodle dishes that are a Filipino cuisine staple. They can be cooked in many ways, often stir-fried with soy sauce, meat, seafood, and vegetables. Usually, every restaurant (or every lola – “grandma”) will have their own special combination of pancit.
Halo-Halo
Halo-Halo is a traditional dessert that’s a mix of crushed ice, evaporated milk, and various ingredients like sweetened fruits, jellies, sweet beans, and leche flan, usually topped with purple yam ice cream.
