Must-try dishes in the Philippines

Cuisine in the Philippines is delicious, diverse and super interesting. It reflects the colonial history of the islands, with an added dash of local influences. There’s a whole host of must-try dishes in the Philippines, that range from the familiar to the adventurous, even bordering on absurd! Of course, the best recommendations are those that come from personal experience. We’ve curated our own list of must-try dishes in the Philippines, so you can tick them off your foodie list when you visit these islands for a holiday.

Fine-dining to street food, the must-try dishes in the Philippines can be experienced in many ways. Photo Credit louis-hansel-shotsoflouis

LECHON

Lechon is a whole roasted suckling pig that boasts deliciously crunchy skin and juicy meat. No festival in the Philippines is complete without lechon, especially the Noche Buena feast of Christmas. There’s delicious lechon to be had on the island of Cebu; the stomach of the pig is stuffed with numerous spices like pepper, star anise and lemongrass. Definitely drop in to the La Loma district in Quezon City, as it is considered to be the lechon capital of the Philippines. In other parts like Manila, it’s usually enjoyed with a cold beer. 

Another version of the Lechon is made using chicken, marinated in a mixture of garlic, bay leaves, onion, black pepper, soy sauce and fish sauce. It is then stuffed with lemongrass and roasted over charcoal. It’s usually dipped in a toyomansi or silimansi mixture of soy sauce, calamansi, and labuyo chilis.

Most popular dish in the Philippines- Photo Credit WikimediaImages

ADOBO

The mighty Adobo is considered to be the unofficial national food of the islands, giving it a spot on our must-try dishes in the Philippines. It is made by stewing meat (usually chicken, pork, or a combination of both) in soy sauce and vinegar with loads of black pepper and crushed garlic. The dish is eaten with plain steamed rice and is the most common dish you’ll find in every Filipino household. You’re bound to find many variants of the dish, as every family has its own method of cooking it. Don’t miss out on trying Adobo if you’re someone who enjoys savoury meaty dishes, or simply if you’re a foodie. 

Delicious and flavorful, Adobo is definitely one of the must-try dishes in the Philippines- Photo Credit Pulaw

SINIGANG

Not everyone can enjoy all the must-try dishes in the Philippines; vegetarians and vegans may have to skip out. But everyone can have Sinigang, a Pinoy classic that can be found across the country. Sinigang is a sour stew which is usually filled with pork as the primary meat. And of course, different vegetables like spinach, eggplant, tomatoes, onions, ginger, and fish sauce are tossed in. What we love about the dish is how versatile it can be, as you can also add a meat of your choice to the dish, or even tofu if you don’t eat meat. While the dish is mostly consumed by itself, some choose to have it with rice. 

A hearty and traditional dish, it is often associated with tamarind, its main souring agent. Some people even use guava, green mango, tomatoes or kalamansi (Filipino lime) as alternate souring agents. The sinigang na baboy (pork), sinigang na hipon (shrimp), and sinigang na isda (fish) are popular variants. This is some scrumptious Filipino comfort food, and locals believe that it makes for a hearty hangover breakfast too!

Vegetarian? Simply replace the protein in Sinigang with tofu or veggies to enjoy a delicious meal- Photo Credit VirtualWolf

KARE KARe  

Kare Kare is a dish famous throughout the whole country. It is believed that the word ‘Kare-Kare’ is derived from the Filipino word for ‘curry’. It is a thick stew that is generally made from oxtail and vegetables. Some people also incorporate pork hocks, pig feet and offal, amongst other things, to use as the base of the stew. The various vegetables thrown in include banana blossom, eggplants, and string beans, making its texture more unique. 

The stew is incorporated with a  delicious sauce made from ground toasted rice and crushed peanuts. It is usually served with shrimp sauce (‘bagoong’) or steamed rice. Our love for the Indonesian dish Satay means we personally enjoy Kare Kare. While both these dishes are different in their own ways, the peanut based curry is something these dishes share in common. 

Incorporated with delicious peanut sauce, make sure you try Kare Kare in the Philippines – Photo Credit Jonathan Valencia

FRIED LUMPIA

This is one of the must-try dishes in the Philippines that has a Chinese influence. Lumpia is the Pinoy version of the Chinese egg or spring roll. They are deep-fried rolls, filled with minced meat and vegetables. This is usually served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce. It is extremely easy to make and coupled with yummy sauces, it’s sure to change your view of the traditional spring roll!

Lumpia is the Filipino version of the spring roll- Photo Credit kbmars

BALUT

This is one of those must-try dishes in the Philippines that is not for the faint-hearted! Categorized as an adventure food by international outlets, balut is a developing duck embryo boiled and eaten as a snack in the shell, with a splash of vinegar. Its popularity is rapidly growing, with backpackers viewing it as a must-have adventurous, quick dose of protein. Near the University Of The Philippines Diliman, Ms. Lisa’s Balut is quite famous. This balut vendor has been in the business for more than 10 years. If you’re one of those adventurous foodies, this is something you should definitely try. 

Commonly sold as street food- Photo Credit Jerick Parrone

HALO HALO

This famous Filipino dessert is a recent addition to their mouthwatering cuisine. “Halo-halo” in the literal sense of the word stands for “mix-mix” in Filipino. As the name suggests, it’s a mixture of several sweet treats. This could include boiled kidney beans, chickpeas, chewy sweet palm, jackfruit, tapioca, purple yam, sweet potato, sweet beans, etc. Sometimes this colorful yummy mixture will be topped with delicious ice-cream. 

Wondering who puts chickpeas and kidney beans in a dessert? We’re not saying that it’s acquired taste, but beach please, it’s the perfect summery treat by a beach! This dessert is definitely one of our must-try dishes in the Philippines.

Popular Filipino cold dessert- Photo Credit Joey Parsons

CASSAVA CAKE

One of the most traditional Filipino desserts is the Cassava cake. This Pinoy dessert is made with freshly-grated cassava flour or cassava root and coconut milk. Also known as cassava bibingka, the cake is traditionally baked on coals. They usually have a layer of custard on top coupled with tender cakey texture at the bottom. The custard is traditionally coconut based. You might not want to miss this yummy bliss, as it is one of our favourite sweet must-try dishes in the Philippines!

Delicious Cassava cake is a traditional Filipino dessert to have – Photo Credit Elivelton Nogueira Veto

It’s near impossible to cover every dish this country has to offer, but these 8 make it to our final list of must-try dishes in the Philippines. It is one of the ways to truly experience this fantastic country, apart from other things like partaking in their festivals and going scuba diving – both great things to do. Whether it’s island hopping or adventuring, we can help you plan the ideal Philippines itinerary. Hit Plan Your Trip to know more.