Quality time makes a great Grandparents’ Day gift, and what’s a better way to spend it than bond over good food?

Thanks to Filipino’s tight-knit family culture, grandparents also play important roles in our lives. They help raise us like they’re our second parents, spoil us with gifts and treats, and serve as our go-to persons when we need words of wisdom. That’s why they occupy a special place in our hearts and deserve to be honored, too.

This September 10, celebrate Grandparents’ Day to show your love and appreciation for your lolos and lolas. For many grandparents, simple celebrations like spending quality time with their precious grandchildren are more meaningful and spark more joy than expensive gifts or lavish parties. 

Sharing a meal is one of the best ways to bond with your grandparents, and we can make it even more special by choosing food connected to memories that they cherish. Try taking inspiration from those family dinners where your lolos and lolas filled the tables with their signature dishes or meriendas where they bought you your favorite sweet treats. The possibilities are endless—and for more ideas, check this list out!

• Family fiesta meals

Crispy pata is a family favorite for special occasions, and you can expect Kuya J’s version to live up to your grandparents’ expectations. As the restaurant’s specialty dish, each bite of Crispy Pata lets you enjoy a satisfying crunch from the deep-fried pork skin, which is complemented by tender and juicy meat on the inside. 

You can even get it bundled up with other delicious local dishes to ramp up your Grandparents’ Day festivities when you order the Kuya J Crispy Pata Salo Salo meal, which already includes servings of Squid Sisig, Bagnet Chips, Pinakbet, Plain Rice Platter, four pieces of Leche Flan, and an iced tea pitcher. Each dish has enough servings for sharing with your grandparents and the whole family, so gather the fam for a nice Sunday lunch at the nearest Kuya J Restaurant in select SM malls nationwide!

Pancit represents long life and good health, which makes it a regular part of every family’s celebration table whenever there’s a special occasion. Send your grandparents this heartfelt wish and message by treating them to Goldilocks’ Pancit Malabon, which has flavorful toppings like pork, shrimp, mixed veggies, and egg. 

This staple Filipino party dish comes with six pieces of Pork Barbecue and 12 pieces of Lumpiang Shanghai in Goldilocks’ Fiesta Pack Pancit Malabon, which you can order at select SM Malls branches for Grandparents’ Day.

Bring an international twist to your Grandparents’ Day feast by treating your family to Botejyu’s best-selling Japanese dishes. Dig your chopsticks into yummy classics like their Pork Tonkotsu Ramen, Original Sauce and Mayo Takoyaki, California Rolls, Prawn Tempura Platter, and Grilled Chicken Jumbo Yakitori, which comes with rice and iced tea when you order the Botejyu – Family Bundle B. 

Save P220 when you order the Family Bundle B at Botejyu in SM Supermalls until September 30.

• Old-time favorites

Classic Savory has been around since 1950, so your grandparents would’ve probably enjoyed their timeless Filipino dishes back in their younger days. Give them a tummy-satisfying throwback with old-time favorites and menu staples like the General’s Garlic Chicken, Seafood Treasure Soup, Sweet & Spicy Spareribs, and Seafood Mushroom Stir-Fry Noodles, which you can all get when you order the Chef’s Choice Set Meal. This set meal is available at 25% off until September 30 at Classic Savory, so mark your calendar!

Another classic food treat that traces back to your grandparents’ childhood is the signature Spring Whole Chicken of Max’s Restaurant, which uses the same recipe as the restaurant’s original fried chicken from 1945. Your grandparents would surely remember its distinct flavors created by a unique blend of secret spices, complemented by its famous combo of tender meat and flavorful skin that’s been fried to perfection. 

Get Max’s signature Spring Whole Chicken from their Homecourt Bundle Meal, which also has Sizzling Tofu and Lumpiang Shanghai for sharing. Save up to P158 when you order this bundle, which is available for only P1,199 at Max’s Restaurant in SM Megamall until September 30.

• Sweet treats

What’s a better way to add a touch of sweetness to your and your grandparents’ bonding session than by treating them to a classic dessert like halo-halo? After watching a movie or shopping together like the good old times, you and your grandparents can bond over a delicious bowl of halo-halo at the mall to complete your surprise afternoon catch-up treat for Grandparents’ Day.

With Mang Inasal’s Extra Creamy Halo-Halo and Crema de Leche Halo-Halo, you and your grandparents can enjoy an indulgent blend of this sweet treat’s usual ingredients like ube halaya, leche flan, and chewy sago. Spend only P109 when you order two of these classic Filipino desserts for dine-in at any Mang Inasal branch in SM malls nationwide until September 15.

If your lolo and lola prefer pastries, make their day sweeter with a box of decadent brownies from Brownies Unlimited, which offers two Pre-Assorted Boxes of 12 for only P599! Each box includes their best-selling premium brownie flavors, such as Double Chocolate, Strawberry Sherbet, Red Velvet Swirl, and Rocky Road. Grab these delightful treats at Brownies Unlimited until October 31.

Level up your Grandparents’ Day celebration with delicious food that you can enjoy at the Grannies Food Fiesta in SM malls nationwide. For more information and updates on the latest money-saving dining deals, check SM Deals.

ADVT.