Turo-Turo: The Authentic Filipino Dining Experience at Manila Food Mart
Filipinos are well-known for their hospitality, and one of the ways we express this is by serving Filipino home-style dishes. Aside from distinct flavors and aromas, traditional Filipino food also values its delivery and presentation on the table, trying to get your attention. The most traditional and authentic way to introduce Filipino food is through a serving style called Turo-Turo, which happens to be done in the best Filipino restaurant in Orange County. Turo-Turo is a colloquial term that means “point-point” in Tagalog. It is a combination of casual and cafeteria dining where you can simply point out your choice among several Filipino foods on a steam table, keeping the food warm and fresh.
The Significance of the Turo-Turo Style
This type of dining is an integral part of the Filipino tradition that is impossible to miss on the streets of the Philippines. It is commonly found in restaurants or karinderyas, serving rice, noodles, vegetables, meat, and seafood dishes. For Filipinos, Turo-Turo has always been about bringing the community together to value this simple yet traditional dining experience wherever we are in the world. It strives to serve a platter filled with effort, creativity, and uniqueness. Filipino dishes are also infused with foreign cuisines, allowing us to showcase our creativity in cooking as well as our rich history and culture. This is why some foreigners may recognize a few dishes when scanning the Turo-Turo. Furthermore, this preparation makes all your favorite dishes readily available to everyone, even for people with busy and tight schedules.
The History and Expansion of Manila Mart
The story of this establishment began decades ago. My father opened Manila Mart in 1996, and the store has always been located in Beltsville MD. When we first opened in 1996 the store was mainly a small Filipino grocery store and on the weekends my mom would prepare some pre-packaged food to sell. Growing up, Manila Mart was part of our everyday life. After I graduated from high school in 2011, Manila Mart had been doing well and moved down the street about a mile away to a larger location. The big move was to not only expand the grocery section but to add a commercial kitchen and small dining area to offer homestyle Filipino food “turo-turo” style. That is why Manila Food Mart has brought Turo-Turo to Orange County to serve you its authentic and delicious dishes in California.
Traditional Filipino Dishes
If your taste buds are craving Filipino comfort foods, here are some highlights from the menu:
- Chicken or pork adobo: A universal favorite prepared using soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and peppercorns.
- Arroz Caldo: A chicken rice porridge paired with aromatics such as ginger, garlic, and fish sauce.
- Sisig: A spicy-sour dish made up of minced pork, chopped chicken liver, onions, chili peppers, and calamansi.
- Chopsuey: A Chinese-American-inspired dish made of different kinds of vegetables, including cabbages, carrots, baby corn, and bell peppers.
The following table summarizes the key traditional dishes available through the Turo-Turo serving style:
| Dish Name | Description and Key Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Arroz Caldo | Famous Filipino-Spanish breakfast or merienda; chicken rice porridge with ginger and garlic. |
| Adobo | Savory Pinoy dish prepared using soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and peppercorns. |
| Sisig | Spicy-sour dish commonly served on a cast-iron, sizzling plate with minced pork. |
| Chopsuey | Vegetable-based dish including cabbages, carrots, baby corn, and bell peppers. |
| Sinigang | A traditional sour soup that will surely take you back home. |
Why Choose Turo-Turo Dining?
Now, let’s find out why Filipinos are fond of showcasing the ever-so-popular Turo-Turo everywhere. First, it offers a wide variety of traditional Filipino foods that are stewed, sauteed, braised, and fried. Second, it’s perfect for dine-in or take-out, especially for those with tight schedules and who crave home-cooked meals after a long day. Third, Turo-Turo cuisine is economical; the mission of Manila Food Mart is to regularly provide you with the finest Pinoy food in Orange County at a reasonable price. Lastly, it is perfect for any occasion. It is ideal for small or grand events such as birthday parties, social gatherings, weddings, and anniversaries. Manila Food Mart offers catering services, giving your guests a chance to experience authentic Filipino gatherings with must-haves like sweet Filipino-style spaghetti and crispy lumpiang shanghai.
