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#ThrowbackThursdays: Recalling Filipino Monikers for Indian Food That I Ran Into Before

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I was thinking about how Cherry's the Spice won awards for the best Indian restaurant. So far, three branches have opened in total from its first place in Talamban, its second branch in Lapu-Lapu (which I believe will make good seafood masala), and the third branch in Busay. I remembered how difficult (at times) it can be to memorize foreign names. It becomes a simple solution among Filipinos to give monickers or nicknames to Indian food for easy reference. So far, some waiters and waitresses can easily get it unless there's a variation of a certain dish. These might be very common especially if the dishes can be "close to home". I still feel Cherry's the Spice similarity with Bicolano food might be why Filipino customers are so abundant there.

Now let's get down to these dishes...

Goat samosa from Bharat Spice

Samosas were often referred to as empanadas. Samosa, like an empanada, is fried dough with filling. I've observed Filipino customers tend to order chicken samosa the most. It's probably because chicken samosa can be considered a spicier version of the Filipino favorite, chicken empanada. There's also mutton samosa in some South Indian restaurants such as Bharat Spice. Somebody may even say that they want the empanada served with chickpeas. Chickpea is the English word for garbanzo.
Bindhi masala from Bollywood Tandoor

Bindhi masala is another commonly-ordered dish. I remembered ordering bindhi masala a lot in Bollywood Tandoor. I remembered calling it pinakbet which is a Filipino vegetable dish.

Dosa from Bollywood Tandoor

Dosa is a pancake in itself. It can be called lumpia wrapped in spicy potato. Some restaurants offer chicken or paneer dosa. So far, I enjoy Bharat Spice's chicken dosa to is the best I've tasted in Cebu City so far. Little India Healthy Cuisine's vegetable dosa is the best for me so far. It might also be best to also call this an Indian pancake. 

Little India's palak pakora

Palak pakora is referred to as crispy kangkong. Kangkong is called water spinach. Palak is the Indian word for spinach. It makes sense to call it crispy kangkong. It's fried with chickpea flour and added with a spicy twist.

Little India's bhaingan bharta

Bhaigan bharta is called tortang along or eggplant torta. Technically, it's a tortang talong--Indian style. The way it's cooked (which is by grilling) may remind some of how Pinoy-style torta is made.


Idli sambar is often called puto with vegetable soup. Puttu is a term for rice cake used in many regions of Asia. Google the origins of puto and you may find how it also has origins in Malaysia, Indonesia, and India. It's appropriate to call it puto which is literally rice cake.

Little India's mixed vegetable biryani

Biryani can often be called "steamed fried rice". Compared to Indian fried rice (which feels like Chinese fried rice x masala)--biryani is cooked in layers and by steaming. It would really look like steamed rice on the surface. Ordering the biryani set from Little India Healthy Cuisine almost reminded me of a dimsum bento box. For non-vegetarian Indian restaurants--you may find chicken, mutton, fish, and prawn are fan favorites. I've observed how shrimp biryani tends to be ordered frequently by Filipino customers.

Little India's mango lassi served with crispy kangkong

Mango lassi is often just referred to as mango shake. I think mango lassi is often served because of the Filipinos' love for mango. I noticed how mango lassi gets that popular. This is highly ordered by Filipino customers too. 

Vegetable curry from Little India

Vegetable curry may be called chop suey. Some restaurants, though, may offer different varieties so they'll have to look at the menu. Some varieties may go from vegetable curry, vegetable makhani (which uses tomato sauce and milk), and vegetable korma. 

Tandoor chicken from Bharat Spice

Tandoor chicken is also called lechon manok. Some may want to call it lechon manok cooked in a clay oven. A clay oven may give it the more roasted look than what the grills used in the Filipino lechon manok outlets would.

Bharat Spice's goat curry

Goat curry dishes are often called calederata. Caldereta is also a popular Filipino dish. It's often to see Filipinos order goat dishes in Indian restaurants. Some may even call mutton biryani as caledereta steamed rice.


Payasam may be referred to as binignit. Some versions of payasam are purposely made with coconut milk instead of dairy milk. 

Just some fun post for Throwback Thursdays!
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