Complete Your Family Meal Experience With These 10 Chinese-Influenced Foods That Filipinos Love

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Kaugnay na larawan — *Photo credit: erinng.com*

Whether we admit or not, Filipinos love Chinese food! You can see Chinese-influenced foods in almost every Filipino gathering, may it be christenings, birthdays, weddings, or even simple occasions like family reunions. If family gatherings are without these foods, our meals feel incomplete because our taste buds search for that Chinese flare.

Never miss out on that authentic Chinese flavor in next your family gatherings! Here are some of the Chinese-influenced foods that can complete your family meal experience.

1. Lumpia

Resulta ng larawan para sa lumpia yummy — *Photo credit: Filipino Food Recipes by Yummy.ph*

Lumpia is ultimately the star of every Filipino gathering—no competition! This finger food is almost like a magic potion that we can never get tired of no matter how redundant it is in the dining table. A delectable lumpia, may it be shanghai, gulay, toge, or sariwa, is a sure treat for the family regardless of occasions.

2. Pancit

Resulta ng larawan para sa chinese food pancit palabok — *Photo credit: YUMMY Ph on Youtube*

What can ever go wrong with pancit on your dining table? Whether it is bihon, canton, palabok, habhab, lomi, or guisado, Filipinos will definitely indulge this dish that the Chinese traders brought to the country centuries ago. A well-made delicious pancit can definitely fill your family’s stomachs plus you get to win their favors as well!

3. Lomi

Resulta ng larawan para sa lomi — *Photo credit: Yummy.ph*

This filling dish is most commonly linked to Batangas, but it is almost unheard that the dish actually came from China! Early Chinese settlers in the country brought this meal for them to enjoy, but Filipinos came to love the dish as well. Make sure to serve this with your family while it is still hot to enjoy your meal to the fullest.

4. Mami

Resulta ng larawan para sa mami — *Photo credit: Kawaling Pinoy*

Unlike the rest of the noodle-base dishes that came straight from China, Mami originated here in the country. It was made by a Chinese immigrant when he started selling noodles in Binondo—even the name itself literally translates to Ma’s noodles! The hot soup in the dish is surely perfect for family meals, especially this rainy season when the weather gets cold.

5. Siomai

A food that can be served as merienda, as the meal itself, or as an addition to the meal—that’s what Siomai is. These delightful dimsums were first made during the Qing Dynastry, but was popularized all over the world due to the Cantonese diaspora. No matter how it is served, remember to dip it in soy sauce and calamansi combo before indulging this treat!

6. Siopao

A legend tells that the early Chinese community in the Philippines eats cat meat, which is maybe how the story about siopaos containing cats came to be. Whether it was true or not, these steam buns now come in asado or bola-bola variety. Just remember that the red dot on top of the siopao corresponds for asado, and yellow for bola-bola.

7. Suman

Who wouldn’t love an old yet classic suman as their treat? This may be shocking as the food has always been labeled as local, but it actually came from the Chinese Zongzi dating back 770 BC. Anyhow, slow down your munching as you can surely feel heavy from glutinous rice and coconut milk that suman contains.

8. Tofu

Resulta ng larawan para sa tokwa — *Photo credit: Yummy.ph*

Tofu isn’t just a meat-alternative for people who are regulating their diet. It is a traditional Chinese food that was said to be personally created by Emperor Liu Bang during Han Dynasty. Due to the many ways tofu can be cooked, Filipinos love to include this in local dishes such as adobo, chopseuy, tokwa’t baboy, and sisig.

9. Taho

Filipinos, especially young kids, will surely rush to catch the taho vendor during mornings. Little did we know, but this famous Filipino snack’s origin can be traced back to the Chinese douhua or tofu pudding. Don’t hesitate to ask for additional arnibal or sago, the peddler won’t charge you extra for it, but make sure to be his suki!

10. Balls and Buns

Who can ever resist the balls and buns especially when you can easily prepare it by boiling, frying, or steaming it? These treats will surely spice up your family’s taste buds, never missing out that authentic Chinese experience in every family gathering. What’s even greater is that there are endless varieties you can try from fish to meat-based! You can surely never go wrong when you serve this in your family meals!

Gather up your family now and complete your dining experience with the buns and balls from Wei Wei Cold Store! Visit our three branches (Arranque, Cubao, or BGC) or in leading groceries and supermarkets nationwide to have a wide variety of selections you can choose from. For more information, you may also visit our website at www.weiweicoldstore.com or our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/weiweicoldstore.ph.