Filipino food is a delicious mix of sweet, sour and savoury flavours shaped by Malay, Chinese, Spanish and American influences. The dishes you should not miss include adobo, sinigang, lechon, kare-kare, sisig and the colourful shaved-ice dessert halo-halo. Rice is the base of almost every meal, and eating with your hands (kamayan) is part of the fun.
Which Filipino dishes should you try first?
| Dish | What it is | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Adobo | Meat braised in vinegar, soy and garlic | The unofficial national dish |
| Sinigang | Sour tamarind soup with pork or seafood | Comfort food, mildly tangy |
| Lechon | Whole spit-roasted pig | Cebu is famous for it |
| Kare-kare | Oxtail stew in peanut sauce | Served with shrimp paste |
| Sisig | Sizzling chopped pork with citrus and chilli | Great with cold beer |
| Halo-halo | Shaved ice with fruit, beans and ice cream | The classic dessert |
Everyday favourites and street food
- Pancit: stir-fried noodles served at birthdays for long life.
- Lumpia: spring rolls, fresh or fried.
- Chicken inasal: grilled marinated chicken, a Bacolod speciality.
- Taho: warm silken tofu with syrup and tapioca, sold by street vendors each morning.
- Balut: a fertilised duck egg for the adventurous eater.
Sweets, fruit and drinks
Filipino desserts lean sweet and often feature ube (purple yam), coconut and rice. Try bibingka and puto bumbong around Christmas, leche flan any time, and dried or fresh mangoes, widely considered among the best in the world. Wash it down with buko (young coconut) juice or calamansi.
Regional specialities worth seeking out
Food changes as you island hop. Cebu is the home of lechon, Bacolod and the Visayas do superb grilled chicken, Bicol loves creamy coconut and chilli in dishes like Bicol Express, and Pampanga is known as the culinary capital of the country. Plan your route around them with our Philippines travel guide and see where each dish is best in our list of the best islands in the Philippines.
Food safety tips
- Eat at busy stalls and eateries where turnover is high.
- Drink bottled or filtered water rather than tap water.
- Choose freshly cooked hot dishes over food left standing.
For more ways to fill your days between meals, see our guide to the best things to do in the Philippines.
Food-focused travellers who want tastings and island stays arranged for them often begin with curated Philippines tour packages and add their own market and street-food stops.
Frequently asked questions
What is the national dish of the Philippines?
Adobo is widely seen as the national dish. It is meat braised in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic and pepper, and every family has its own version.
Is Filipino food spicy?
Mostly no. Filipino cooking leans savoury, sour and sweet rather than hot. Bicol region dishes such as Bicol Express are the main exception, using chilli and coconut.
What desserts should I try?
Halo-halo, leche flan, bibingka and anything made with ube (purple yam). Fresh and dried Philippine mangoes are also a must.
Is street food safe to eat?
Generally yes at busy stalls with high turnover. Choose freshly cooked hot items, and drink bottled or filtered water to avoid stomach upsets.
What should vegetarians eat?
Options exist but many dishes contain meat or fish sauce, so ask before ordering. Look for fresh lumpia, pancit without meat, ensaladang talong (grilled eggplant salad) and plenty of tropical fruit.
'/%3E%3C/svg%3E)