'Silog' meals turn Pinoy orphan into a culinary hero in Seattle

In the hustle and bustle of the American dining scene, one restaurant in Seattle, Washington, is standing out from the rest.

With a line stretching far and wide, this is not your typical American joint offering burgers or doughnuts. Instead, it is offering a taste of the Philippines — particularly the ever-popular "silog" (fried rice and egg) meals.

Welcome to Ludi's Restaurant, a culinary gem that has garnered both local and national recognition over the past four years. The demand to dine here is so high that lining up early in the morning is a must, with the waiting time usually stretching up to an hour.

A line forming outside Ludi's Restaurant is not uncommon, as people of different nationalities crave for the distinct Filipino flavor of the 'silog' meals. Photo by JP Soriano/GMA Integrated News

While American patrons enjoy dishes like kare-kare and lumpia, it's the corned beef silog, porksilog, and the Filipino-flavored ube pancakes that keep them coming back for more.

One Filipino-American patron shared, "Actually, it wasn't just Americans in line earlier, there were Indians, Lebanese, and even Europeans. It's heartwarming how they appreciated Filipino food."

An American customer expressed, "Filipino food is so good; the more people know about it, the better."

So, what do Americans think of tapsilog and the other Ludi specialties?

"Amazing! The meat is super tender, really flavorful, rice cooked perfectly with garlic. Unbelievable!" one American customer remarked. 

The owner behind this culinary success story is Gregorio Rosas, known as "Tito Greg" by customers.

Gregorio Rosas, or 'Tito Greg,' attending to some diners. Greg was brought to Seattle from the Philippines in 1978 by a Jewish family. Photo by JP Soriano/GMA Integrated News

Having been brought to Seattle in 1978 by a Jewish family from the Philippines, Greg started as a dishwasher and a houseboy at a diner. Recognizing his culinary talent, the diner's owner promoted him to an assistant cook.

Greg, who lost his parents at a young age in the Philippines, learned his cooking skills from his foster mother, Ludi.

Speaking about his journey, Greg shared, "I didn't have parents; I was raised by Aling Ludy who owned a canteen."

Due to Greg's hard work and loyalty to his American employer, he was handed over the reins of the restaurant before the owner passed away. In 2008, with all his savings, Greg established Ludi's Restaurant in honor of the woman who taught him to cook and who cared for him.

Today, Ludi's Restaurant is not only recognized by the local government in Seattle but also praised for its contribution to world cuisine in America.

Greg never imagined that "silog" dishes would be a hit among American. He attributed his success to staying true to his Filipino heritage — bringing joy and friendliness to his cooking, a secret that he believes resonates with his patrons.

"Love what you do and be genuine to yourself because people will see that. And once they realize you are very welcoming, that's when you connect," he said. —KBK, GMA Integrated News