New Jersey’s diverse culinary landscape wouldn’t be complete without the cuisine of The Philippines, especially as the state’s growing Filipino population now tops 118,000 residents.

In 1960, the U.S. Census only counted 1,451 Filipinos in New Jersey. But the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which ended the cap on how many immigrants were allowed to enter the country, changed all that.

At the time, New York and New Jersey were short on nurses — one of Filipinos’ leading professions — and towns in North Jersey served as a prime relocation spot due to its proximity to several hospitals, including those across the Hudson River, but with cheaper rent and inexpensive train rides.

As Filipino families settled in, their culture began to inject new flavor into the the Garden State. Chains like Jollibee or Max’s Restaurant may sound familiar but aside from that, there are more than 60 authentic Filipino restaurants in New Jersey today. Many of them are found in the state’s two most Filipino-populated towns: Bergenfield and Jersey City.

At Filipino restaurants, diners can expect to find everything from Filipino barbecue, to chicken or pork adobo (which are first browned in oil, and then marinated and simmered in vinegar, salt, soy sauce, and garlic), to lumpia (spring rolls), and desserts like ube (purple yam) and leche flan.