For fans of the cuisine of the Philippines, a meal at Pinoy Handaan is like a passport to the heart of Manila without the 16-hour flight. For those who've never experienced Filipino food's succinct balance of sweet and savory, that first meal at Pinoy Handaan could be the start of a lifelong romance. Take, for instance, the pork or bangus (that's flaked milkfish) sisiq, a sizzling plate of crispy, deftly seasoned protein atop spiced rice and veggies. Or the smoky lechón (that's roast suckling pig) or veggie kare-kare (a traditional stew in a thick peanut sauce). Together these dishes add up to a culinary experience distinctive enough to earn a spot on The Filipino Channel's Adobo Nation.

The food isn't the only thing diners may find novel at Pinoy Handaan. The restaurant also hosts an unusual version of a lunch buffet. Instead of sending diners back and forth to the trough, each buffet dish is made to order, with a menu that changes every day, like the words to the chant that makes the sun rise.