Flavors of the Philippines: 10 Must-Try Dishes

If you want to explore Philippine cuisine, there are a number of dishes that define the experience. This guide introduces you to the must-tries, from the most famous to local treasures.

Suckling pig

Don't let the name fool you, this dish isn't necessarily the same as lechona (although they do share some similarities). It's a whole roasted pig with perfectly crispy skin and juicy meat. While it's served at almost every major celebration, Cebu Island is famous for having the best.

Pancit Guisado

This stir-fried noodle dish is a common element at Filipino birthday celebrations, where it's served as a symbol of long life. The noodles are complemented with sliced vegetables and meat, all cooked in broth, soy sauce, and fish sauce. A touch of kalamansi is added when serving.

Palabok

Another very popular way to prepare noodles (pancit). They are mixed with a vibrant orange shrimp sauce (achieved with annatto) and topped with slices of hard-boiled egg, crushed pork rinds, smoked fish flakes, and scallions.

Sinigang

It's a classic sour soup. The broth, typically tangy with tamarind, is filled with various vegetables and your choice of meat. Popular variations include sinigang na baboy (pork), sinigang na hipon (shrimp), and sinigang na isda (fish).

Bulalo

Ideal for a cool, rainy day, this is a hearty soup. It's made by simmering beef shank and marrow (inside the bone) with fish sauce, onions, and peppercorns, then adding vegetables. The province of Batangas is especially known for this dish.

Pork Barbecue

This sweet pork skewer is extremely popular as a snack. It goes very well with white rice at mealtimes, but it's also perfect to buy from a street vendor in the afternoon.

Bistek Tagalog

It's Filipino steak. It combines salty, sour, and sweet flavors. Thinly sliced beef is marinated in soy sauce and kalamasi, fried, and topped with caramelized onions, which balance the acidity and saltiness of the meat.

Inihaw na Liempo

These are juicy slices of grilled pork belly, marinated and brushed with the sauce during cooking. The typical marinade might include soy sauce, fish sauce, banana ketchup, garlic, calamansi, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. It's eaten with your hands, with your choice of dipping sauce (sawsawan) and plenty of white rice.

Kare-Kare

It's a thick, peanut-based stew. Traditionally made with oxtail, it can also be prepared with other meats or seafood. It's served with vegetables such as green beans, bok choy, and eggplant. Bagoong (Philippine shrimp paste) is added for extra umami and saltiness.

Dressing

This is undoubtedly the most internationally popular Filipino dish. It's prepared by braising meat (usually chicken, pork, or both) in a mixture of soy sauce and vinegar, with peppercorns and bay leaves. A tip: with the leftovers, you can shred the meat and fry it until crispy to make delicious adobo flakes. Manila is one of the best places to try it.