• dried fish store image by Antonio Oquias from Fotolia.com
  
  Filipino cuisine looks as good as it tastes; the recipes are the result of a combination of flavors from different cultures such as Korean, Italian, Arab and Spanish, among others. This rich gastronomic tradition that has passed on for generations in the Philippines is available in New York City through a great variety of restaurants.
  
  

Grill 21

• The food at Grill 21 is an American-Asian fusion of flavors. The menu has a variety of Filipino dishes; you may be able to choose fried calamari, curry over chicken or dinuguan (pork liver) with rice from the main menu. Grill 21 has Filipino specialties such as those you will see in its pork, beef, seafood and vegetable menus; you may choose dishes such as tocino (boneless pork) or "bulalo (boiled beef and vegetables) from these menus. The restaurant is open (as of March 2010) from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. from Tuesdays to Saturdays. On Sundays, Grill 21 opens from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
  
  Grill 21
  346 E 21st St,
  New York, NY 10010
  212-473-5950
  grill21.biz
  
  

Purple Yam

• At Purple Yam, there is a brunch and dinner menu to choose from. In the brunch menu, you will find dishes such as ukoy (vegetable and shrimp fritter), pancit bihon (Filipino rice noodles with pork, rice and vegetables) or somen (thin wheat noodles with mushrooms and vegetables) as well as Filipino desserts such as pandan leche flan (milk pudding) or buko pie (coconut and ice cream). In the dinner menu, you will find lechon kawali (fried pork with papaya) or desserts such as champorrado (sweet rice in chocolate ice cream). Purple Yam opens for dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday, from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturdays and from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays. Purple Yam serves brunch from noon to 3:30 p.m. on weekends. "The New York Times," "New York Magazine" and "Time Out New York" have praised Purple Yam in reviews.
  
  Purple Yam
  1314 Cortelyou Rd
  Brooklyn, NY 11226
  (718) 940-8188
  purpleyamnyc.com
  
  

Kuma Inn

• Chef King Phojanakong, known for his success in the Filipino food industry in New York, opened the Kuma Inn restaurant in 2003. Kuma Inn serves Filipino, Thai and Southeast Asian food. You will be able to taste dishes such as pancit bihon (stir fried noodles with pork, sausage, bean sprouts and carrots) or arroz valenciana (rice, chicken, sausage, shrimp and mussels). There is coconut rice and mango coulis and caramel for dessert. The restaurant is open Sunday to Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, it is open from 6 p.m. to midnight.
  
  Kuma Inn
  113 Ludlow St., 2nd floor
  New York, NY 10002
  (212) 353-8866
  kumainn.com