Filipino cuisine is a delicious blend of Malay, Chinese, Spanish, and American influences, creating a unique culinary identity that's bold, flavorful, and deeply tied to family and celebration. From savory stews to sweet desserts, here are the dishes you absolutely must try.

Kare-kare Filipino peanut stew — Filipino meals are best shared with family and friends

The Iconic Dishes

1. Adobo - The National Dish

Braised meat (usually chicken or pork) in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and black peppercorns. Every family has their own recipe.

Where to try: Literally everywhere - but Aristocrat Restaurant in Manila is iconic Pro tip: Try the dry version (adobong tuyo) for extra flavor

Chicken and Pork Adobo — Adobo - the quintessential Filipino comfort food, best served with rice

2. Sinigang - The Sour Soup

A tamarind-based sour soup with pork, shrimp, or fish and vegetables. The perfect comfort food, especially on rainy days.

Variations: Sinigang sa sampalok (tamarind), sa bayabas (guava), sa mangga (mango) Best paired with: Steaming hot rice

Sinigang Filipino sour soup — Sinigang - the ultimate Filipino comfort soup

3. Lechon - The Celebration Star

Whole roasted pig with impossibly crispy skin. The centerpiece of every Filipino fiesta.

Where to try: Cebu is famous for lechon - try CnT Lechon or Zubuchon Fun fact: The crispy skin (balat) is the most prized part

Whole roasted lechon pig — Lechon - the star of every Filipino celebration

4. Kare-Kare - The Peanut Stew

A rich oxtail stew in peanut sauce with vegetables, served with fermented shrimp paste (bagoong).

Where to try: Abe Restaurant, Manila Pro tip: The bagoong is essential - don't skip it!

Kare-kare oxtail peanut stew — Kare-kare - rich oxtail stew with peanut sauce

5. Sisig - The Sizzling Sensation

Chopped pig face and ears seasoned with calamansi, chili, and onions, served on a sizzling plate with a raw egg on top.

Origin: Pampanga - the culinary capital of the Philippines Where to try: Aling Lucing's in Angeles City (the original!)

Sizzling sisig from Pampanga — Sisig - best enjoyed sizzling hot with an ice-cold San Miguel beer

Street Food Stars

Lechon kawali crispy pork — Lechon Kawali

6. Isaw - Grilled Intestines

Chicken or pork intestines cleaned, marinated, and grilled to perfection.

Where to find: Street corners, especially near universities Dipping sauce: Spiced vinegar with chili

7. Balut - The Brave Choice

Fertilized duck egg with a partially developed embryo. A Filipino delicacy that's not for the faint-hearted.

How to eat: Crack, sip the broth, add salt, eat the yolk and embryo When: Usually sold at night by vendors calling "baluuuut!"

8. Kwek-Kwek - Orange Balls

Quail eggs coated in orange batter and deep-fried.

Dipping sauce: Sweet & sour or spiced vinegar Also try: Tokneneng (same thing but with chicken eggs)

Regional Specialties

9. Laing (Bicol)

Taro leaves simmered in coconut milk with chili peppers. Creamy, spicy, and utterly addictive.

Spice level: Can be very hot - Bicolanos love their chili!

Laing Bicolano dish with taro leaves — Laing - creamy, spicy taro leaves in coconut milk

10. Pinakbet (Ilocos)

Mixed vegetables stewed in fermented fish sauce. Healthy, flavorful, and distinctly Ilocano.

Key vegetables: Squash, bitter melon, eggplant, okra, string beans

Pinakbet Ilocano vegetable dish — Pinakbet - authentic Ilocano mixed vegetable stew

11. Kinilaw (Visayas)

Filipino ceviche - raw fish "cooked" in vinegar and citrus with onions and ginger.

Best with: Fresh catch from local fishermen Where to try: Any coastal town in the Visayas

Kinilaw Filipino ceviche — Kinilaw - fresh raw fish cured in vinegar and citrus

12. Bulalo (Batangas)

Beef shank and bone marrow soup that's rich, hearty, and perfect for cold mountain weather.

Where to try: Tagaytay - overlooking Taal Volcano The best part: Scooping out the marrow

Bulalo beef bone marrow soup — Bulalo - hearty beef shank and bone marrow soup

Sweet Endings

13. Halo-Halo - The Summer Essential

Shaved ice with sweet beans, jellies, leche flan, ube ice cream, and evaporated milk. Mix it all up!

Where to try: Razon's or Chowking for classic versions Best time: Hot summer afternoons

Halo-halo Filipino shaved ice dessert — Halo-Halo - the ultimate Filipino summer treat

14. Leche Flan

Filipino-style caramel custard - richer and denser than Spanish flan with a caramel top.

Texture: Dense, creamy, and eggy Perfect for: Dessert after any meal

Leche flan caramel custard — Leche Flan - rich Filipino caramel custard

15. Bibingka - Christmas Treat

Rice cake cooked in clay pots lined with banana leaves, topped with salted egg and cheese.

When: Best during Christmas season after Simbang Gabi (dawn mass) Where to try: Church courtyards during December

Bibingka Filipino rice cake — Bibingka - traditional Christmas rice cake

Food Trip Tips

Eating Like a Local

Use your hands: For dishes like fried fish and chicken
Say "kain tayo": An invitation to eat together
Expect rice: Every meal includes rice - usually unlimited
Share family-style: Dishes are meant to be shared

Where to Find the Best Food

Palengke (wet markets): Freshest ingredients and local eats
Carinderia: Small eateries with home-cooked food
Jollibee: Yes, the fast food chain - it's a cultural experience
Night markets: Street food galore

Food Safety Tips

Start with cooked food if you have a sensitive stomach
Drink bottled water
Build up to street food gradually
Look for busy stalls with high turnover

Final Thoughts

Filipino food spread — Filipino food is best enjoyed with great company

Filipino food is more than just sustenance—it's a window into the warmth, hospitality, and rich history of the Filipino people. Don't be afraid to try new things, ask locals for recommendations, and eat with your hands when appropriate. The best food experiences often happen at humble carinderia stalls and family gatherings, not fancy restaurants.

Hungry to explore the Philippines? Let Lakbay AI plan your food-focused itinerary!

Filipino Food Guide: 15 Dishes You Must Try

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