With more and more people trying out Filipino Food, it is now being recognized in the international scene. There are several reasons to account for this, one is that Filipinos are basically found all over the world, second, is that Filipino restaurants are being introduced globally, and third, the tourism in the Philippines has boomed in the past decade. But aside from all these reasons, I believe that the main reason is that Filipino food really taste good! For me, Filipino cuisine provides dishes with balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy. The different cultures that colonized the Philippines, infused with the traditional local cooking created one of the best cuisines in the world.
Though some may be unique and exotic, then some our local version of some international dishes, the Filipino food still proves to be worth tasting. Here are some of the Filipino dishes that every Foreigner must try:
LECHON
Lechon is one of the Philippines' well known dishes. It is the Filipino version of the Suckling Pig. The Lechon is a symbol of celebration and festivity in the Filipino community. It is a whole pig that was in the rotisserie for 3-6 hours depending on the size of the pig. The inside cavity of the pig is stuffed with herbs and spices that will be infused with the pig while cooking. What separates the Lechon from other dishes like it is the skin. The skin is in a whole new level of crispiness and it is to die for. Many claim that the best Lechon can be found in Cebu City Philippines. So, it is best you try Lechon in these parts.
ADOBO
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Adobo is probably the most popular Filipino food specially for foreigners. It is the most common cooking style in the Philippines. Not only that it taste good, but the dish can last for several days without being spoiled. The dish is basically based on a soy sauce and vinegar mix. You can use any meat to cook this dish but the most popular ones are the Chicken and Pork Adobo. Over the years, many chefs develop new versions of Adobo, some fused with pineapples, mixed with coconut milk, still, it remains to be one of the top Filipino foods and a must try when visiting the Philippines.
PORK SISIG
Pork Sisig originally is served as a beer match or an appetizer. But now, it has become a main dish for some restaurants. Pork Sisig is comprised of pig's face and ears. Chopped to small bits and usually served in a sizzling plate garnished with onions, chilies, and an egg on top. Lately, several versions came out like the tuna sisig, chicken sisig, and many others but still, the Pork Sisig is still number 1. It was believed that the Sisig originated in Pampanga in Northern Luzon. But due to it's popularity, it is available anywhere in the Philippines.
PORK SINIGANG
The Sinigang dish has many versions. It may vary to Seafood, Beef, or Chicken. But the most popular is the Pork Sinigang. The dish is actually a sour soup with meat and local vegetables. They used local fruits to form the sour base. Tamarind, guava, calamansi, or kamias are the most commonly used fruits to make the Sinigang sour. This dish is more popular in the Luzon area and can be ordered in most restaurants.
BULALO
Bulalo is a bone marrow soup wherein the main meat is the beef shank. The beef is boiled with spices for several hours creating a flavorful and savory broth that is topped with vegetables. Filipinos love to eat dish dish specially in cold weather. It also a perfect combination to fried or grilled dishes while eating it with rice. One of the best places to get Bulalo is in Tagaytay City in Cavite which is a 2 hour drive from Manila. There are a lot of Bulalo restaurants along Tagaytay overlooking the Taal lake and volcano. Or you may opt to get it from the source in Mahogany market also in Tagaytay where Bulalo stalls also line up there.
DINUGUAN
Dinuguan is a pig blood stew with pork meat and intestines. Although the dish might be somewhat intimidating, it's still a very savory dish and very highly recommended to try. It is not widely available in restaurants, but some traditional Filipino restaurants cater it. It is best eaten with puto (rice cake) or with steamed rice.
CRISPY PATA
Crispy Pata is a deep fried pork leg usually trotters or knuckles. The skin is crispy on the outside and tender meat on the inside. It comes with a soy-vinegar dip to balance out the fattiness of the pork. This dish is usually for sharing good for 3-4 persons. Crispy Pata is widely available in most Filipino restaurants all throughout the country.
KARE-KARE
Kare-Kare is a meat stew with a savory sweet peanut sauce and topped with vegetables. The most popular meat parts used in this cuisine are, ox tail, ox tripe, ox face, or just normal beef meat. It is also served with fermented shrimp paste to balance out the sweetness of the peanuts. Throughout the years, versions of chicken and seafood kare-kare was also introduced. It was believed that this dish was inspired by the Malays which is evident with the use of peanuts.
BICOL EXPRESS
Bicol Express is one of the popular dishes in the southern part of Luzon Island. It traditionally originated in the Region 5 of the Philippines which is also known as the Bicol Region, thus the name. It is a spicy stew consisting of pork meat with a combination of coconut milk and shrimp paste infused with long chilies for that special kick. This dish is found to be available more on the small eateries and less served in most restaurants.
CHICKEN INASAL
GRILLED BANGUS
Bangus is a local fish also known as Milkfish. The milkfish considered as the national fish in the Philippines. It thrives in both fresh and salt water, thus having abundance all over the country. The popular way to cook it is by grilling it and with a vinegar dipping sauce on the side. If you are to order Bangus, make sure you try the boneless one to enjoy the meal in fullness.
DANGGIT
Danggit is a salted and sun dried fish that originated in the Cebu province of the Philippines. It is considered a delicacy and bought in the market per kilo. The way it is cooked is pan or deep fried for crispiness. The dish is perfectly eaten with fried rice and fresh tomatoes. Mostly home cooked, only a number of restaurants include this dish on the menu.
TAPSILOG
Tapsilog is one of the most famous breakfast meals in the Philippines. Tapsilog stands for TAPA-SINANGAG-ITLOG. TAPA is beef marinated in soy sauce, garlic, pepper, and citrus. SINANGAG means fried rice in Filipino, in this case, it's garlic rice. Finally, ITLOG means egg in Filipino. This dish is available in most breakfast stalls and fast food chains. This meal is packed with protein and carbohydrates needed to provide you energy to start your busy day.
TOCILOG
Tocilog stands for TOCINO-SINANGAG-ITLOG. Similar to Tapsilog, onlythe main meat is Tocino. Tocino is bacon in Spanish. It is made from pork meat that is sweetly cured. It serves an additional option for tapsilog.
LONGSILOG
Longsilog stands for LONGGANIZA-SINANGAG-ITLOG. Again, another breakfast meal with fried rice and egg, only this time the main meat is Longganiza. Longganiza is the Filipino version of sausage. It has its roots from the Spaniards the colonized the Philippines centuries ago. The Longaniza has a sweet and garlicy flavor to it. Another alternative for the tapsilog and tocilog.
LA PAZ BATCHOY
Batchoy is a noodle soup with usually with pork meat, liver, crushed pork cracklings, scallions, and topped with raw egg. This dish originated in La Paz, Iloilo province in the Visayas region as the name suggests. Now its widely available across the country due to it's popularity. The dish is oftenly eaten as breakfast or as a snack.
GOTO
Goto is the congee version of the Philippines topped with beef tripe, scallions, egg, and crispy fried garlic. It is also considered one of the top breakfast options in the Philippines. Goto goes well with dumplings, fried tofu, or vegetable spring rolls.
LOMI
Another variation of a noodle soup popular in the Philippines. Lomi has a more thicker soup base and more thicker noodles. It usually contains, combination of chicken, pork, seafood and vegetables.
This dish originated on Luzon, the northern main island of the Philippines. Lomi is served as breakfast or snack. It is also a favorite during rainy season.
CHICHARON
Chicharon is deep fried pork skin from the belly or rind part. Spanish in origin, this a popular snack in the Philippines. This is usually eaten with a vinegar dipping sauce. The best Chicharon in the Philippines can be found in the provinces of Bulacan in the north and in Cebu in the south. It is available in most supermarkets and groceries all over the country. Sometimes it is also served as appetizer and a beer match.
KWEK-KWEK
Kwek-Kwek is basically battered quail eggs. It is eaten with a gravy or vinegar dipping sauce. Considered as street food, it is mostly available in street stalls near populated areas. This dish is mostly popular to students, giving them a protein packed meal needed for the school activities.
GRILLED ISAW
Isaw literally means intestines. The most popular is the Chicken Isaw as seen in the image above. Considered also as one of the top street foods in the Philippines. The intestines are thoroughly cleaned and slightly cooked adobo style before grilling it. The texture is very tender and is eaten with a gravy or vinegar dipping sauce.
BALUT
One of the most famous exotic food popular in the Philippines is the Balut. It is a boiled duck egg with a developing embryo inside. Most foreigners considers this an extreme food and challenge themselves to eat this delicacy. Also considered as street food, this egg is usually sold at night to provide a protein kick for nightly activities. This is also common to other southeast asian countries like Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand.
PALABOK
Palabok is a rice noodle dish topped with shrimp sauce and garnished with smoked fish flakes, boiled shrimp tails, crushed chicharon, scallions, fried garlic, and boiled egg. This dish is now being introduced internationally as it is included in Jollibee's menu. As we all know Jollibee is opening branches worldwide.
CROCODILE SISIG
Crocodile meat is getting popular in the Philippines. And one of the most sought of ways to cook it is by turning it to Sisig. This delicacy is mainly served in the provinces of Palawan and Davao as there is an abundance of crocodile meat here. The crocodiles that are butchered are those that are the cultured ones and not the wild ones.
BIBINGKA
Bibingka is a rice cake baked in banana leaves in clay pots. Eaten during breakfast specially during the Christmas season, the bibingka is usually sold at food stalls near churches during morning mass. It is topped with cheese, coconut shreds and salted egg.
PUTO BUMBONG
Puto Bumbong is made of glutinous rice with a distinct purple color topped with brown sugar, margarine and coconut shreds. Similar to Bibingka, it is a breakfast meal popular during Christmas season.
HALO-HALO
Literally translate to Mix-Mix, the Halo-Halo is one of the most popular deserts in the Philippines. As the name implies, it is eaten by mixing all the components together. Halo-Halo contains, red beans, chick peas, sweet coconut, sweetened banana slices, nata de coco (fermented coconut jelly), gelatin, leche flan, purple yam, shaved ice, and evaporated milk. When mixed together it is transformed to a very refreshing icy dessert perfect during hot summer days.
BOODLE FIGHT
Boodle Fight is not actually a dish. It is a way of eating that originated as a form of military style of eating. The concept is to combine everything together where in every one will eat all at once using bare hands. It is a style of eating that forms camaraderie among its members. They often use banana leaves when doing boodle fight. Now, this form of eating is adapted during family gatherings and group festivities. There is no restrictions on what type of food is to be included. You can choose any type of food. The idea is just to layout the food in a way that everybody can eat with a fare share.
There are more food not mention here but this list will definitely give you a gist of what Filipino cuisine is all about. Now, Filipino Food is getting more recognized internationally. If you haven't tried it yet, please do. There are a lot of Filipino Restaurants now being opened around the world. Or better yet visit the Philippines and have it from the source. Have you ever tried Filipino Food? How was it? Let me know by commenting below. Cheers and Bon Apetit'!
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Thank you for sharing this very informative and entertaining content.Hope you could visit our best restaurant in manila in the future.
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