Why don't more Americans dine in Filipino restaurants?

I noticed that, too. See how Americans and other westerners flock to Thai, Vietnamese,Chines, Korean, and Japanese restaurants. For that matter, even to Indian restaurants. I have heard Filipinos cuisine to be described by foreigners as too greasy, and the cooking style is like it is hog food. That the ingredients are simply tossed together and seemingly unrelated ingredients form part of the dish. From that point of view, Filipino cuisine is unappealing, unappetizing, and even gross. How then do you expect them to pay for an unpleasant experience?

It's probably because Filipino cuisine hasn't made as much of a large impact as other countries' dishes. Odd as Filipino Americans constitute the second largest subgroup of Asian Americans. One argument is that not as much effort is made to make the dishes adapt to American palate. Or that they don't have the same presentable look but I don't quite buy that one. Another is that the Philippines has many provinces that present their own sub-cuisine. Ilocanos have pinakbet, Bicolanos have pinangat, etc. There isn't that one unifying dish that would serve as the hook to all other dishes. Not quite like sushi did for the Japanese, the pho for the Vietnamese, the bulgogi for the Koreans. Yes, we know there's more but they're what gets you to try the other dishes. One more possibility is that there aren't enough restaurants serving Filipino fare. Could be because restaurateur is not one of the first choice of businesses for Filipino Americans going to their own enterprise. This makes Filipino cuisine stuck to home cooked fare. Combined total of Chinese restaurants outnumber McDonald's. Bad enough there are too few Filipino restaurants, even worse when there isn't enough advertisement of their presence and location. And one more argument is probably because Filipinos are able to assimilate into American culture quite easily. They adjusted so well that the next generation may be too "Americanized".

Because Pinoy food can really suck. I should know. I grew up with it. If there's not gonna be soy sauce flavoring your food, it's gonna be sugar. If it's not gonna be sugar, it's gonna be toyo. If not sugar or toyo, it's sugar and toyo. 99.9% of Pinoy have mediocre standards when it comes to eating. They were programmed to accept just about anything on the table, this being a poor country. Plus they really are simpletons. Why do you think turo-turo restos are most popular in California? Because Pinoys bring their mediocrity and kacheapan nature whereever they go. Why do you think Jollibee can't seem to gain a foothold in the US? Because they still sell cheeseless burgers in the land of cheese and honey. (WTF? And no, foreigners would never warm up to palabok. I should know. I'm not fond of the stuff. And I have superior taste just like foreigners. So I know what they like.) After almost two decades, they still have like a dozen stores there. Whereas KFC in Vietnam expanded to 55 locations in just two years. Yumburger? More like Yuckburger. lolz

Probably because Americans think it's all about baluts.

No offense, but the food isn't that good compared to other ethnic dishes. 1. It's bland. 2. Filipinos mostly cook with MSG in the Philippines (not sure in the USA) 3. It looks and tastes weird to Americans. 4. It's overpriced in the USA. (I could eat at the Chinese buffet for the same price) Don't get me wrong. I like home-cooked, fresh Filipino food. I do not like it in restaurants at all especially in the USA when I have a choice of so many types of food.

There is a Jolly Bee in Glendale near Hwy 134, near College Heights. I would say Americans don't eat at Filipino restaurants for several reasons.... 1. Bad advertising 2. The Ones who know it is good food can get the same food or better prepared by their Filipina wife. 3. I hate to say it but Filipinos just are not public orientated, always makes one feel like they are a bother.....(at least in the business world). Note the attitude of *Tomato Herb, No desire to introduce New people to New food (experience)...it is all about money...The Majority of the restaurants when first started have a desire to introduce new foods to new people and will do everything with-in their power to do so (Yes, while making money at it) Others such as these 2 mentioned will go where the easy money is and even convert to mama and grandma to get "the ethnic" crowd's money...and settle for that instead of getting people to know more about their own country and traditions by way of Good Food...

That's the brutal world of restaurant business my friend, if you try to revise or create a fusion of filipino cuisine it will be good for the white people market but bad for filipino market, your in between which market is better and it's alway's your own people to choose because theres not that much competition and there's a steady flow of costumer everyday,unlike the western market theres a lot of competition from different ethnicity and the demand is higher,it's the same thing here in Canada there's a lot of japanese,chinese,thai,malaysian,vietname… restaurant,you will see lot of western people eating there except for filipino restaurant,but all filipino restaurant are successful with it's own filipino market, most of them are still in business for more than 10yrs, but compare to other restaurant which is favorable to western market most of them are 90% failure and some are successful but will close after 3-5yrs,you should understand that restaurant business is all about 100%return of investment and 10%investment,so dont worry if western market dont go to filipino restaurant we dont need to praise them, we filipino are successful on our own way of business.

There is only one filipino store/deli in the area where i live (memphis,tn.) the cost at this place is crazy.....I enjoy visiting the store every now & then but like i said prices is way overboard and the little filipino "deli" food is really not all that good & again over priced.My filipina wife and me truely love to shop at a local Vietnam store (viet hoa) for all our fish,veggies & misc items and my filipina wife favorite restaurant is Chinese (nam king)........ Wish there were more filipino business places & restaurants in Memphis so i could visit but i truely love eating at all the local places there in Cebu city durring my times in the beautiful Philippines.

There are no Filipino Restaurants here where I live. If there were, I would most certainly eat there.