Tropical Islands Cuisine - Merrillville, Indiana

Murry Winslett

Excellent hosts!!! The owners are very hands on, and really have a passion for their restaurant. Facility is very clean and welcoming. I'm not sure which I enjoyed more the owner/chef or the food. My wife is Filipina and gave the experience a big thumbs up.

Zyra Glee

During our vacation, we stumbled upon Tropical Islands Cuisine and decided to give it a try. It turned out to be a delightful introduction to Filipino food, despite a few hiccups in the experience.

The Food

We ordered a variety of dishes, including kare kare, Filipino spaghetti, pork barbecue, fried rice, sisig, and bulalo, among others. Everything was absolutely delicious. Each dish brought authentic Filipino flavors to the table, from the rich and savory peanut sauce of the kare kare to the sweet and tangy Filipino spaghetti. The sisig was perfectly seasoned and crispy, and the bulalo was comforting and hearty. The food truly showcased the chef’s talent and gave us a taste of Filipino home cooking at its best.

The Service

While the food was excellent, we couldn’t help but notice how long it took to arrive—especially considering we were the only customers in the restaurant at the time. However, with a group of more than 10 people, we understood that our large order likely contributed to the delay. Later, we learned that the kitchen was understaffed, with only one chef working tirelessly to prepare everything. Kudos to the chef for handling such a large order on their own and delivering such flavorful dishes.

The staff was friendly and welcoming throughout the experience, which made the wait more bearable. Their warm hospitality added to the charm of the meal.

Final Thoughts

Despite the slow service, we thoroughly enjoyed our visit. The food alone was worth the wait, and the chef’s hard work didn’t go unnoticed. If we happen to return to the area, we’ll definitely stop by again—and hopefully catch them on a day when they’re fully staffed! Tropical Islands Cuisine is a must-try for anyone looking for authentic Filipino dishes with bold flavors and a touch of heartfelt hospitality.

Sean Spriggs

Been craving Filipino food for a while and we finally found one. The chicken adobo and pancit bihon tasted just like moms, can’t say enough except that we’ll be definitely coming back for more!!

Niya Ketch

Food is fresh, authentic, and delish. The lumpia is tasty, and the pancit is perfectly cooked. The service is friendly, warm, and welcoming. Miriam is too cute and amazing. I didn't get the gentleman's name before I left, but he was so on the level. I can't wait to go back next week for more food (hopefully the buffet). This place is a gem ?❤️

Sarah Ailes

We spent the past 20 years being surrounded by Filipino food options on the East Coast and have missed it. We recently learned about this spot and stopped in specifically for the Sunday buffet. It was everything we've missed since moving here. We will be back.

kentoythe man

Casava cake is the bomb!!! Love it! Feels like I’m eating back at home.

Lechon kawali is great!
The rest of the food are great too! Worth the price.

Place is cozy. Lovely buffet..

The waiter, I believe who is also the co-owner is friendly. Thumbs up! Hope ya’ll succeed in life..

Parker Welty

My girlfriend found this place through Google and wanted some Filipino food. It was nearby from where we were so we went to go check it out. Alan, the owner, greeted us with kind, positive energy and guided us through the menu, giving suggestions if we liked anything in particular. We settled for the chicken and shrimp fried rice and pork Pinoy barbecue. While we waited, Alan struck conversation with us and we could tell he was very passionate about his business and culture. My girlfriend and her family are Filipino so it was nice to be able to support a small business. Alan’s wife even came out of the kitchen to say hello while we thanked them for our order. Food was amazing and the pork barbecue was exactly how my girlfriend describes it back home in the Philippines. Very authentic traditional delicious Filipino food!

O Caramelina

The menu has a very large selection of Filipino food! There are vegetable and fish dishes as well. The owner personally asked us what to cook for us, very friendly and accommodating, told us what we could try.
We got the grilled stuffed mackerel in banana leaves, it comes with tasty sauce, and pork with veggies.
And an amazing ube smoothie, it was so delicious!