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Home » Meal of the Week » Filipino Food On United Airlines: Beef Kare-Kare
Meal of the WeekUnited Airlines

Filipino Food On United Airlines: Beef Kare-Kare

Matthew Klint Posted onDecember 18, 2023December 18, 2023 16 Comments

a screen on the back of a plane

United Airlines offered a “local” Filipino dish on my flight from San Francisco to Manila called Beef Kare-Kare. How was it?

Beef Kare-Kare On United Airlines – An Attempt At A Popular Filipino Dish On New Manila Route

Since the pandemic, United Polaris business class menus have been largely standardized on flights departing the USA. But that is changing now with specialized menus based upon the destination. United recently launched nonstop service from San Francisco to Manila, which I flew on its second day of operation in business class. On the menu I noticed a unique menu option:

Beef Kare-Kare
with jasmine rice,  cilantro, fried eggplant, bok choy, and green beans

For years, the beef option has been “short ribs” when departing from the USA (with the occasional month of flat iron steaks). I had to try it…

a plate of food on a tray

a bowl of food on a tray

In my flight review, I remarked that it the dish was good. To my unrefined palate, it tasted like Indian food…but I thought it was a fine dish.

One reader responded,

You were correct on your impression of the beef kare-kare, that it seemed like Indian food. It was described on the menu as Filipino curry, but the authentic kare-kare does not have curry. Kare-kare is a peanut butter-based dish. I was not satisfied with the flavor of the dish, but the vegetables were well-cooked.

Indeed, kare-kare sauce is traditionally made with peanuts, achuete (annatto), and toasted rice. Beef or more traditionally oxtail is stewed, creating a popular Filipino dish. I really could not taste the peanut sauce, though it might have been there but dulled due to the high altitude.

I’d try it again…the beef was tender and the sauce was rather mild. But I’m pretty sure this was nothing like the sort of Kare Kare coming from Lola’s kitchen…


> Read More: United Airlines 777-300ER Business Class San Francisco – Manila Review


My Meal of the Week feature examines an airline meal from my travels over the years. This may be a meal from earlier in the week or it may be a meal served over a decade ago.

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About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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16 Comments

  1. cairns Reply
    December 18, 2023 at 4:06 pm

    It may look like cat vomit but I bet it tastes pretty good.

  2. Maryland Reply
    December 18, 2023 at 4:27 pm

    Probably they made it without the peanut butter because of potential allergies?

    • askmrlee Reply
      December 18, 2023 at 4:30 pm

      I was going to ask that too. How many non-Philipinos would know that kare-kare is made with peanuts? Did it say this on the menu?

      • Aaron Reply
        December 18, 2023 at 5:20 pm

        But if that’s the case why not just make a dish that doesn’t include peanuts to begin with?

        • Maryland Reply
          December 18, 2023 at 7:52 pm

          Just discovered there is an non allergen peanut flavoring. Never had an experience with his but I’m always wary of such products. Maybe they tried that?

    • Aztec Reply
      December 18, 2023 at 4:53 pm

      Good point. So, basically curry beef with rice. Nothing wrong with that at all. Frankly, it looks delicious.

  3. MeanMeosh Reply
    December 18, 2023 at 5:30 pm

    Doesn’t look bad, but looks more like beef with a tikka masala/butter masala sauce than anything else. Come to think of it, that probably would taste pretty good…

    • Interested Traveler Reply
      December 18, 2023 at 7:21 pm

      That does sound pretty good to me as well.

    • --- Reply
      December 19, 2023 at 1:16 am

      Butter chicken is one of the long-haul economy meals in the rotation. (Had it on SFO-MUC before, and my friend had it on SFO-TPE recently.) Was pretty good for an airline meal!

      • MeanMeosh Reply
        December 19, 2023 at 11:07 am

        They had it SFO-PPT this summer, and my son gobbled it up. That’s saying something, because he usually won’t eat anything!

  4. Gio Reply
    December 18, 2023 at 5:52 pm

    It’s typically served with a very very very pungent fermented shrimp paste called bagoong.

  5. Rey L Reply
    December 18, 2023 at 11:09 pm

    I am a Philippine born American. My Filipino fiancee and son live in the PH. I will be In Manila all of April 2024 to see them. If you are in the area and want to experience traditional Filipino dishes, let us know, we’ll take you around for an authentic experience.

  6. RAJ GROVER Reply
    December 19, 2023 at 2:17 pm

    But the origin of kare-kare is Indian! Devised by Indian soldiers stationed in Philippines many years ago who were unable to procure traditional spices.

    Google it and check the history of this dish… I know as I researched it and I live in Philippines.

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      December 19, 2023 at 2:35 pm

      Very interesting.

  7. Clint Reply
    December 20, 2023 at 1:07 am

    Im a filipino and kare-kare is one of my least fave filipino food. The taste is unappealing to me ..quite boring taste compare to some filipino foods.imho.

  8. CL Reply
    December 29, 2023 at 7:47 pm

    Where is the cilantro????

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