Purple treats, a free Bible, and an addictive lunch combo at the Filipino Express, a restaurant tucked inside an Asian grocery store.

The most interesting thing about Sta. Maria’s Foreword is her historical revelation that as far back as 1609, the word for adobo was being sought by Spanish missionaries and other colonials.

If one were to wake up only today or be born only in this decade, Filipino food may be just a blurred memory as the dining table has been inundated with foreign influences, from MSG instead of ...

The Filipino fried chicken and pandan waffles ($11) was also a hit, featuring waffles laced with pandan (a tropical plant with a vanilla-like taste) topped with golden, savory chicken thighs.