While horseshoes and burgoo are the culinary staples most often associated with central Illinois, IT readers are also fans of the rich flavors of Filipino street food.
Rolando Cabral and his wife, Myrna Balabag, launched The Lumpia Truck in September 2024 while in the process of identifying a brick-and-mortar location for their new restaurant concept. The couple previously operated a restaurant in their native Philippines and then lived in New York before moving to Springfield to work in the health care industry. When Balabag decided to leave her nursing career, The Lumpia Truck was launched.
The menu originally focused on 15 core items but expanded over time. It features traditional dishes such as pork sisig – tender, chopped pork seasoned with tangy calamansi, onions and chili peppers – and lechon kawali, a deep-fried pork belly served with traditional lechon sauce and sweet chili sauce, along with breakfast items and sweet treats. If you have room for dessert, you can try turon, made from ripe banana slices, wrapped in a crispy spring roll wrapper, and fried with a caramelized sugar coating.
The Lumpia Truck could soon be found all around town, parked everywhere from car dealerships to office buildings to community events. Otherwise, it was stationed at 1731 S. MacArthur Blvd. while the owners were in the process of remodeling the space. The opening of the restaurant less than six months after launching the food truck seemed to only increase demand for The Lumpia Truck, rather than overshadowing it. At a recent Springfield Park District event, dozens of people were waiting in line to partake of the namesake lumpia and so much more. The business even offers free delivery on Mondays, so there are now plenty of ways to satisfy your craving for these vibrant flavors.
