Home to the largest Filipino population in Florida, Jacksonville offers an abundance of Filipino owned and operated businesses like grocery stores, bakeries, and restaurants. These ten Filipino businesses are only a glimpse of Jacksonville’s rich and diverse Filipino community.

Article by Sarah Dumitrascu.

10. Jollibee

Address: 11884 Atlantic Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32225

Jollibee is a Philippines-based fast food chain serving fried chicken, spaghetti, hamburgers, and other Filipino dishes. This chain started in Manila in 1978 and has since expanded rapidly throughout Philippines, the U.S. and across the world. The Jacksonville location was the first of the chain’s two Florida locations, and is a popular spot that some customers drive hours for. The chain is known for its “Chickenjoy” fried chicken, “Jolly Spaghetti,” and “Yumburger” which are listed alongside well known Filipino foods such as palabok, longanisa, and tapa. Their sweet peach mango pies are best saved for dessert.

9. FIL-AM Eatery & BBQ

Address: 14185 Beach Blvd #3, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

FIL AM is a small restaurant serving authentic Filipino food and American BBQ. Their menu marries the best of both of these worlds, featuring dishes like Lechon Kawali, Sisig, and Pork/Chicken BBQ on a stick. FIL AM is a popular destination for many, with featured articles in both The Florida Times Union and Jacksonville Restaurant Reviews.

8. ABSTRAKT Filipino Essence

ABSTRAKT is a family-run Filipino food truck operating in and around Jacksonville. The truck is run by Chef Jojo, who believes in an “80-20” approach to food—80% traditional family cooking, and 20% innovation. ABSTRAKT can be food at The Court Urban Food Park every Thursday serving dishes like lumpia, chicken tocino bowls, or ube macapuno cake, and all other locations are announced daily on their Facebook page.

7. Maharlika Travel & Orient Mart and Maharlika Hall & Sports Grill

Address: 14255 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32250

Maharlika Travel & Orient Mart is an Asian grocery store carrying snacks, grocery goods, bakery items, and fresh food. The owners, Ed and Divine, immigrated from the Pangasinan Province in the Philippines to the US in the 1970s. After 30 years in nursing careers, they opened their first business, Maharlika Travel Agency. They then followed with Maharlika Travel & Orient Mart and Maharlika Hall & Sports Grill. Grab a bite to eat in the market or just walk next door to the restaurant. This full-blown sports grill offers an extended menu of Filipino food and cocktails. Their favorite menu items include crispy pata and grilled pork liempo, and their kare-kare or pork sinigang are only some of the traditional meal options they serve. Maharlika Hall is also a great spot for family fun, filled with music events and karaoke for all ages.

6. Cely’s Filipino Food

Image courtesy of Cely’s Filipino Food.

The first Filipino food truck in the First Coast, Cely’s has been serving up authentic street food across the region since 2015. Araceli “Cely” Adkins and her son Jaycel started the food truck after many years in the local restaurant industry, and they can be found each week at the Riverside Arts Market and other markets and events. Their traditional Filipino offerings include ground beef lumpia, chicken on a stick, pancit, fried rice and a combo deal with a little bit of everything.

Next page: More Filipino eateries to know about in Jacksonville