Being away from home and being in a foreign land, the thing that really got me was missing my native food or Filipino food. Thank God for Asian stores because at least I get to prepare some familiar dishes whenever I feel the craving. Unfortunately, the goodies that they sell are limited. I still don’t get to eat everything that I used to have back home. So I was overjoyed when I found out that there is a Filipino restaurant in a town close to Charlotte, North Carolina. We made our trip to the restaurant after visiting the Carolinas Aviation Museum on Sunday, and I was in heaven.
Joel’s Asian Grill is the name of the restaurant and it is located in Mooresville, North Carolina (30 miles from Charlotte and 126 miles from here at home). The restaurant not only offers pure Filipino food. They also serve Japanese and other Asian food.
Lumpiang Shanghai (Spring Rolls)
My appetizer. This is one of the appetizers that we always have during parties at home. I tried to make these once here at home, but no luck. I may try to do it again and hopefully, it will be right next time.
Calamari
The little one’s chosen appetizer, as always. Calamari is not really Filipino, but a Mediterranean dish. But this dish is served as appetizer in restaurants with different cuisines.
Pinakbet (Meat Vegetable Stew with Shrimp Paste)
My main course with rice (not shown). I haven’t had pinakbet in years. The last time I had it was when I was still in the Philippines so I was really over the moon when I saw it on the menu. The vegetables are available at the Asian store, but not the pork belly that you can see on top. I had to carry some leftover home which I had for breakfast and lunch the following day.
Bangus Sisig (Milkfish Sisig)
The little one’s main course. He loves bangus or milkfish so as soon as he saw it on the menu, his decision was firm. He had it with rice. It was sizzling and was served on a hot plate.
Lechon Kawali (Deep Fried Pork Belly)
The husband’s main course. He had this back when he visited me in the Philippines a few years ago and he loved it.
Bibingka Latik (Rice Cake)
The husband’s dessert. I had a little bite because I haven’t had this in ages too.
Turon (Banana-rama with side of ice cream )
My dessert that the husband also had a bite of. Turon is one of my favorite snacks. How it was served at the restaurant was something new to me though because I haven’t had turon with ice cream.
My rating for that dinner was absolutely a FIVE STAR! And I’m not being biased here. 🙂 I had a taste of everything and they were all delicious. Talking and thinking about those good food is making me want to have it again. If only the restaurant was close. For certain, that will not be the last time that we’ll eat at that restaurant. We’ll definitely go back!
So, if I ever make it to North Carolina, I definitely need to eat there. The food looks amazing.
That food looks amazing! I’ve never had Filipino food before, and I had no idea it was so fancy!
I love Asian food. Your photos make my mouth water and hungry. I do not find much to offer where I live for Asian food. I must travel if I want it. Mainly Mexican or American dishes.
The food looks really good! I have never tried filipino food, but I might actually be willing to give some of these a try. Your desert looks incredible!
Pretty sure I would love to go to one of your gatherings for supper. The food all looks SO good.
Okay, so that calamari looks good and so does that pork belly. YUM!!! I could eat a plate of that right now.
I have not had many of these dishes but they all look so good.
That calamari looks so good! It’s making me drool. I’m a huge foodie and spend most of my money exploring food. lol
This all looks amazing. I am pretty sure I’ve never had actual Filipino food before. Im really picky with food and clearly I’m missing out! Yum
I LOVE lumpia, and pancit. I have a few friends here that are from the Phillipines and make homemade lumpia and pancit and oh my gosh, it’s like heaven! I wish I could eat it daily. I haven’t explored too much more into Filipino food but I am sure it is delish!
These look like some pretty tasty dishes!!! That pork belly omg!!! Looks too yummy! If I’m ever in the area I know where I will be heading for dinner!
These dishes are very unique to me. I would love to try them though. Looks good.
I think I would have been pretty in love with the turn with ice cream too. That looks mighty incredible!
I have never tried Filipino food before, but I would love to sometime. The food that featured looks really good!
Now I am craving filipino food. The calamari dish and the spring rolls look delicious
Looks sooo yummy! I’ve never had Filipino food before. Definitely would like to give it a try.
These foods look and sound amazing! I’ve never tried Filipino foods before!
Each of those dishes looks so delicious! I would love to try any one of those!
I never had filipino food but this looks good, I would try it.
Everything looks so good. I’d love try the stew and the rice cakes. Those looks delicious!
All of this food looks so delicious! I especially would love the spring rolls and calamari!