The Best Traditional Filipino Dishes You Need To Try

Eating out in the Philippines can be a bit tricky. Filipino food is not as well known as dishes from neighboring nations, but that only means there’s more to be discovered. Locals know the best cooking is home cooking, and the dining table is almost always full of punchy flavors and fresh island produce. Here are 10 traditional dishes to order when you’re in the Philippines.

Pancit bihon

Bihon, a type of thin rice noodles, is one of the results of China’s long influence on the islands. In this light dish, the noodles are stir-fried together with meat, chicken liver, and sometimes fish balls, as well as a handful of fresh, finely sliced carrots, beans, and cabbage. Perfect for a quick lunch.

Tinola

Ensaladang talong

Who says it’s all meat, meat, meat? This Filipino salad is based around grilled eggplant, which has been peeled and mashed. The aubergine is mixed with crunchy onion and tomato, and drizzled with a mix of vinegar, black pepper, and salt. In some parts of the country, ensaladang talong is sprinkled with salted duck eggs.

Kinilaw

Easily topping many a list of favorite Filipino dishes, kinilaw is the Philippines’ answer to ceviche. Fresh cubes of fish are cured in a light vinaigrette, and tossed with ginger, onion, coconut milk, and fresh finger chilis for a mouthwatering entrée.

Daing na bangus

Bangus, known internationally as milkfish, is the national fish of the Philippines. There are many ways of preparing this silvery fish, but butterflied, marinated, and fried in hot oil is one of the favorites. Daing na bangus is often ordered for breakfast, served with garlic rice, a fried egg, and pickled young papaya.

Lechon baboy or manok

Since Anthony Bourdain’s claim that it was the “best pig ever”, lots of people have heard of Cebu’s lechon baboy (whole roasted pork.) But it’s lechon manok (chicken) that shows up a lot more frequently on local menus. Each restaurant has its own recipe for the marinade, and that makes all the difference.

Monggo

A humble soup of green lentils, onions, garlic, meat, and moringa leaves, monggo has been perfected in so many households that many Filipino chefs list it as their favorite comfort food. Regional variations may include squash and coconut milk.

Lechon kawali

A must for pork lovers! Lechon kawali is a whole pork rind – skin and all – that’s been roasted and then deep-fried for extra crunch. The rind is cut into bite-sized pieces and served with a thick, savory sauce for dipping.

Sinigang

Filipinos love sour tastes and sinigang packs a mighty sharp punch. The base for the soup is tamarind pulp, and cooks may use pork or fish as the protein. Long green beans, crushed garlic, tomato slices, and slivers of onion are added to the broth, which is topped with morning glory leaves just before serving.

Laing

Hailing from the Bicol province, where the locals like it spicy, laing is actually made from dried leaves of the sweet potato (taro) plant. The leaves, called gabi in the Philippines, are gently braised in coconut milk, along with spices and chili. The result is a dish that’s healthy, creamy, and uniquely Filipino.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.