Famous Filipino Foods You Have to Try in the Philippines

When it comes to food, the Philippines doesn't always get as much attention as other Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Vietnam. But take some time to eat your way around this diverse archipelago, and you'll find flavourful surprises wherever you go.

The Philippines is made up of over 7,600 islands and has international culinary influences - from the Spanish to the Americans to the Chinese. The result is a national cuisine that is truly unique.

There are so many famous foods in the Philippines that you'll want to try during your big trip. From crispy and juicy lechon (slow-roasted whole pig) and spicy, creamy Bicol Express stew to tangy and savoury adobo chicken, you'll want to add each and every one of these Filipino dishes to your foodie bucket list.

Tangy, savoury, and a little bit sweet, adobo is a Filipino comfort food classic. This ubiquitous dish is typically prepared with either pork or chicken flavoured with a mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, bay leaf, and peppercorn. It may sound simple, but adobo is the beloved national dish of the Philippines, and you'll find variations being cooked up in virtually every household and restaurant across the archipelago.

How it’s prepared varies depending on the region and the chef. The meat can be marinated or simmered, served wet or dry, complemented with vegetables or rice. From sugary and spicy adobos to versions infused with golden turmeric or rich coconut milk, you’ll want to try as many preparations of this famous Filipino food as possible during your travels.

In the Philippines, breakfast is all about tucking into a hearty plate of silog. At its most basic, silog is a vegetarian-friendly Filipino food composed of a heaping serving of sinangag (garlic fried rice) and itlog (egg – or, in this case, a fried egg).

However, you'll mainly encounter meaty "silogs" in the Philippines. This breakfast staple is almost always served with some sort of meat, which dictates the name of the dish. For example, a silog served with tocino (a thick Filipino-style bacon) is called a tocilog, a silog with a side of tapa (beef) is tapsilog, and a silog accompanied by a hotdog is a hotsilog - you get the idea.

Kare-kare is not only one of the most famous dishes of the Philippines, but it's also one of the most flavour-packed thanks to its thick and creamy peanut sauce. Kare-kare is traditionally made with oxtail, beef tripe, beef slices, or ham hock - sometimes in combination - along with veggies like eggplant, bok choy, and long beans. The addition of annatto gives it its distinct reddish hue.

For a unique spin on this famous Filipino food, try kare-kare in the Philippines' Bicol region. This part of the country often enhances the dish with coconut milk and chillies, resulting in a creamy and spicy variation.

Pro tip: Do as the locals do and eat your kare-kare with a hefty dollop of bagoong alamang (shrimp paste).

Halo-halo is a beautiful mess. This is arguably the most popular dessert in the Philippines. Even if you’ve never seen it before, you’ll recognise this colourful concoction the moment you lay eyes on it.

Halo-halo translates to "mix-mix" - and that's quite literally what this elaborate sweet treat is. Expect a mishmash of shaved ice, ice cream, and evaporated milk, topped with whatever happens to be on offer. Common toppings include grass jelly, sweet red beans, jackfruit, ube (purple sweet potato), coconut, mango, lychee - the list goes on.

You’ll find many halo-halo shops around the country selling fully loaded versions with all the trimmings, which is truly indulgent.

Pro tip: When waiting in line, just keep an eye out for what the locals are ordering and follow suit.

Lechon is a time-honoured delicacy in the Philippines. Often served for family gatherings and celebrations, the entire suckling pig is skewered on a bamboo pole and slow-roasted over coal for hours.

The result is skin that's delightfully crispy and meat that's delectably juicy and tender. Lechon can be prepared and enjoyed in a multitude of ways, with a variety of cuts to choose from. However, two must-tries during your trip to the Philippines are lechon kawali (crispy fried pork belly) and crispy pata (pig knuckle).

Pro tip: Pick up some Mang Tomas All-Purpose Sauce. It's a local favourite to enjoy with Filipino dishes like lechon.

Balut isn't for the faint of heart. But if you're an adventurous eater who's always willing to try new foods, you'll want to try balut.

Balut is a fertilised duck egg that has been incubated for around two to three weeks, allowing the embryo to partially form before being boiled and then consumed. The longer the incubation period, the more developed the embryo will be.

This is a very common street food in the Philippines, so you won’t have to search too hard for this unique delicacy. When you're ready to dig in, do as the locals do - break a hole in the shell and slurp out the ultra-flavourful liquid. Inside, you'll see the embryo, complete with a head, beak, and feathers, which all add to the crunchy culinary experience.

Sinigang is arguably the best Filipino food if you're craving a hearty bowl of soup. What makes this dish stand out from the rest is its characteristically sour broth that's most commonly flavoured with tamarind. However, in certain parts of the country, tamarind may be replaced with tart ingredients such as green mango, guava, or calamansi.

Sinigang is usually served with pork, but you'll find variations with protein ranging from shrimp and fish to beef ribs and chicken. Veggies like long beans and water spinach are also commonly added to the mix.

Originating in the Bicol region, Bicol Express is unlike anything else you'll try in the Philippines. This pork stew is typically prepared with creamy coconut milk, spicy chillies, pungent shrimp paste, and aromatic onions and garlic - all served with a side of white rice.

What makes food from Bicol unique is that dishes here are commonly prepared with chillies, giving them a spicy kick you don't often find in other Filipino foods. So if you're in need of a little spice in your life during your trip to the Philippines, order the Bicol Express.

Pancit is served virtually everywhere in the Philippines, and it's a delicious option for vegetarians. While this dish is easy to find on restaurant menus year-round, it's often made for family and holiday celebrations as a symbol of long life and good health.

At its most basic, pancit is a comforting noodle dish stir-fried with veggies. However, it is commonly prepared with meat or seafood. In addition to the types of meat and veggies, the type of noodles will vary, too, with both thin rice noodles and thick egg noodles commonly used. For added flavour, pancit is topped with fried garlic, green onions, and a spritz of calamansi juice.