Whenever I hear a Filipino accent or Tagalog being spoken when I’m out and about in DFW, my ears inevitably perk up and it instantly feels like home. I’m Filipino-American and I grew up in the San Francisco Bay area, where Filipino cuisine, culture, and traditions are a part of the fabric of the community. Freshly baked pan de sal, sweet Turon, and crispy lumpia are available on a whim.
When I moved to North Texas over 10 years ago, I quickly realized I wasn’t in the Bay Area anymore. Filipino cuisine was not anywhere near as prevalent as it is in California, at least not in the Dallas area.
October is Filipino American History Month and one small way you can celebrate is by trying Filipino food if you’ve never had it before. I’m thrilled to know that there are multiple Filipino restaurants in Plano as well as others beyond Collin County.
Filipino Restaurants in Collin County
Mauro’s Grill and Café
2719 W 15th St, Plano, TX 75075
(972) 599-0899
Kainan Sa Laguna
909 Spring Creek Pkwy #450, Plano, TX 75023
(469) 931-2667
Luvie’s
280 Legacy Dr #300, Plano, TX 75023
(972) 468-2888
Jollibee
Jollibee is a Filipino fast-food restaurant that just opened in Plano earlier this year. You should have seen the lines in the early weeks! Jollibee has a special nostalgia for me.
1016 Preston Rd, Plano, TX 75093
(469) 333-2520
My Favorite Filipino Dishes to Order
Lumpia
Please don’t get this confused with an American eggroll! Lumpia is a Filipino spring roll made of meat and vegetables wrapped in a lumpia wrapper and fried. They are usually long and skinny and crispy, while eggrolls are bigger and have a thicker wrapper.
Tocino and Longaniza
Sweet (sometimes spicy) cured meat and sausage, respectively, often served for breakfast with eggs and rice—my favorite Filipino breakfast!
Pan de Sal
There’s just something special about Pan de sal. It’s not just a bread “roll”. Pan de sal are small buns with a crusty exterior and fluffy inside, often eaten at breakfast. You have to try some to understand.
Sinigang
Typically a seafood stew (sometimes pork or beef) made with tamarind and tomatoes.
Adobo
Probably the most well-known Filipino dish: it’s chicken or pork cooked with vinegar, pepper, garlic, and soy sauce, and served with rice. It was a staple in my home growing up.
Turon
A type of sweet spring roll made of fried banana and jackfruit sealed in a lumpia wrapper, then deep-fried.
Leche flan
This is a delicious egg- and milk-based custard, definitely denser and richer than a Spanish flan you may find elsewhere.
Filipino Restaurants in Dallas & Beyond
Kabayan Filipino Store & Cafe
Kabayan Filipino made the list of 25 Best Filipino Restaurants in the United States!
2305 S State Hwy 121 #165, Lewisville, TX 75067
(972) 798-3030
Marie’s Kitchen
11910 Greenville Ave Suite 103, Dallas, TX 75243
(972) 234-8383
Have you tried Filipino food before? Have any favorite Filipino restauraunts that we should know about?
Hungry for more? Check out Korean Restaurants in Collin County
& Afro-Caribbean Cuisine
