This Menu Is All You Need For A Thanksgiving Dinner To Remember

When did you last express your appreciation and gratitude for all the blessings you’ve received?

This November 24, countries like the United States and Canada are celebrating an annual national holiday dedicated solely to this purpose—and it’s one of their biggest and most popular special occasions, too. This event is called Thanksgiving, which is often celebrated by gathering family and friends over a delicious feast and showing them how thankful you’ve been for their presence, love, and support. Although this holiday isn’t widely celebrated in our country, we used to practice this tradition as well—which isn’t surprising because of how tight-knit Filipino families are. And perhaps, now is an excellent time to hold a Thanksgiving dinner with your family, too.

Whether you and your loved ones want to bring back this tradition or simply dedicate a special day to give thanks, you can come together for a meaningful celebration with heartfelt conversations and good food. To help you set the mood, check out these delicious menu ideas for a Thanksgiving dinner to remember.

No turkey, no problem

A traditional Thanksgiving dinner is never complete in America without a whole roast turkey on the table. But since roast turkey isn’t a common dish here, you can opt to serve equally tasty alternatives like this whole Smokehouse BBQ Roast chicken for your Thanksgiving celebration instead. Available at Kenny Rogers Roasters, this dish has a mix of sweet and smoky flavors that perfectly complement the juiciness and tenderness of the roast chicken’s meat. It is also served with 3 different sauces that cater to every taste: Alabama for those who like tangy flavors, Applewood for a fruity taste, and Roasted Garlic for a sweet and garlicky blend. 

Since typical Thanksgiving dinners also often have side dishes served alongside the main course, the Smokehouse BBQ Roast is also offered in a group meal with 4 corn muffins, 4 side dishes, 4 cups of rice, and 1.5L soda for a complete holiday dining experience. Get the Smokehouse BBQ Roast group meal until November 30 at Kenny Rogers in SM City Clark.

A mouthwatering mix 

If you prefer having a variety of dishes to choose from instead of just one main dish to share with your family, then this Salo Salo sa Bilao from Classic Savory is for you. Filled with a selection of classic comfort food that reminds you of home, this group meal includes hefty servings of General’s Garlic Chicken and Yangchow Fried Rice. You can also choose any of the following seafood dishes to go with your meal: Creamy Mushroom Fish Fillet, Sweet & Sour Fish Fillet, or Salt & Pepper Squid. 

Lastly, you can pick between Savory Shanghai Rolls, Salt & Pepper Spareribs, or Fried Pork & Shrimp Dumplings to add more variety of dishes to your Thanksgiving dinner. From your grandparents to your little kids, everyone in your family will find a dish to enjoy at your Thanksgiving feast with this budget-friendly bundle. Order the Salo Salo sa Bilao group meal for dine-in, takeout, or pick-up from Classic Savory at SM City Valenzuela until November 28.

Ultimate grilled goodness

Flavorful and tender ribs are another popular main course substitute to roast turkey for Thanksgiving, and this versatile dish can also easily match whichever mood you set for your family’s meaningful dinner celebration. Whether it’s a simple and casual get-together or a fancier meal that matches how special this occasion is, your loved ones will surely appreciate the fall-off-the-bone goodness of these smoke-grilled BBQ Pork Ribs from Peri-Peri. 

Savor the tender meat of baby back ribs with the restaurant’s signature rib sauce in this exquisite dish, which you can get with 4 regular side dishes, 4 servings of Java Rice, and a 1L drink when you order the Peri-Peri BBQ Pork Ribs Grupo meal. This group bundle is available until November 27 at Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken Sauce Bar in SM City East Ortigas.

Warm meal for cold days

Since Thanksgiving falls on the colder and rainier part of the year, it’s also a good idea to serve warm bowls of soup and noodle dishes during your family’s dinner celebration. We recommend Botejyu’s best-selling Pork Tonkotsu Ramen, which is made of ramen noodles with delicious Char Siu pork in a tonkotsu-based broth. 

This delectable noodle dish features in Botejyu’s Family Feast E bundle, which also includes 6 pieces of the Japanese restaurant’s Original Sauce and Mayo Takoyaki. This dumpling dish is made of wheat flour-based batter, octopus bits, and spices, along with a combination of takoyaki sauce, Japanese mayo, and katsuobushi (or dried bonito flakes) for its topping. You can also get Botejyu’s Cali Rolls, a platter of 10 pcs. Prawn Tempura, and 5 pieces of Teppan Grilled Pork Gyoza in the Family Feast E bundle, which is available until December 31 at Botejyu in SM City Sucat.

Delicious dessert? Easy as pie

Pies are a staple in traditional Western Thanksgiving menus, especially classic flavors like pumpkin, apple, and pecan pie. But for a more local touch to your Thanksgiving menu, you can instead serve an all-time Filipino favorite: the buko pie. Instead of dividing slices among your loved ones, get them a 5” version that they can each savor individually—like these Mini Pies from Buko Express. This coconut pie is always served freshly baked and made of young coconut meat, a creamy custard filling, and grated cheese topping. Its flaky crust also delivers a satisfying crispiness in every bite, complementing the softness of this pastry’s indulgent but not-too-sweet filling.

Good news: You can now get Buko Express’ classic solo-sized buko pie with a choice of hot choco or drip coffee as a beverage with the Mini Pie Combo. This bundle is available for takeout and delivery until November 30 at Buko Express in SM City Butuan.

Cake: a celebration staple

Is it really a celebration without cake? This tasty confection has long served as a symbol of special occasions, and it’s also a good dessert option to consider for your Thanksgiving menu if you’re not a big fan of pie crusts. To level up your celebration of this once-a-year event, you can swap your usual cake order with special flavors like Salted S’mores instead.

Caramia’s Salted S’mores offers a combination of chocolate buttercake, light chocolate cream, lightly salted marshmallow icing, and graham crust that creates a fluffy and sweet treat perfect for any special occasion. With this heavenly delight, even a simple Thanksgiving dinner can make you and your family feel as if everyone gathered over a campfire to share stories about things you’re grateful for. Order this Salted S'mores cake from Caramia Cakes & Gelato in SM City Marikina now.

A sweet and special treat

Make it a delightful Thanksgiving dinner for your family members with a sweet tooth by filling the dessert table with decadent brownies in different flavors. From fudgy and chewy to nutty and chocolatey, Brownies Unlimited offers a wide range of brownie varieties that cater to everyone’s tastes. Enjoy these freshly-baked treats for your Thanksgiving festivities with the Merry Bundle, which includes two boxes of a dozen Pre-Assorted Brownies for only P549. Save P411 with this bundle offer, which is available at all Brownies Unlimited branches until November 27.

This Thanksgiving, express your gratitude to your loved ones with hearty meals that you can enjoy at affordable prices in SM malls nationwide. For more exciting discounts and promos, visit the SM Deals site or download the SM Malls Online app now!