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Food in the Philippines: What I ate in The Philippines.
I ate so much food in the Philippines in my month traveling around the country it’s a wonder I still fit in my pants when I got to back to Thailand. With Chinese, Mexican, Spanish, and American influences, Filipino cuisine is richer and meatier than much of the food I ate around the rest of Asia and a far cry from Thai food and Vietnamese fare. The Filipino dishes I ate were were so rich, in fact, that one of my final meals in the country was a much-desired salad.
I was lucky enough to spend my first and last few days in Manila with my friend Jackie, who I had met on a trip to Amsterdam years ago. She introduced me to some of the most popular Filipino dishes that we ate both out and homemade in her apartment.
Popular Food in The Philippines
I was introduced to many typical Filipino dishes while traveling around the country. Here are ten of the best Filipino meals I tried.
Adobo Adobo is probably one of the most famous Filipino recipes. It is a meat dish (usually made with chicken or pork) stewed in a thick, tangy sauce made from garlic, soy sauce, and vinegar.
Sinigang Sinigang is a tangy, sour soup made from tamarind, vegetables, and meat
Lechon Pork Lechon is an entire pig, fully spit roasted, to produce tender, juicy, meat and a crisp, rackling skin.
Tapa Tapa is a typical Filipino breakfast food. Tapsilog is made of thin slices of dried marinated beef served with garlic rice and topped with a fried egg.
Kare-Kare Kare-kare is a rich stew made from peanut sauce and meaty cuts of oxtail or beef.
Sisig Sisig is a seasoned Filipino dish made from parts of pig most cooks would throw away, like the head and liver.
Pancit Pancit is a popular sautéed noodles dish mixed with sliced vegetables and meat and cooked in broth, soy sauce, and fish sauce.
Halo-Halo Halo-halo (Haluhalo) is a popular Filipino dessert made from crushed ice, evaporated milk and various toppings like sweetened beans, seaweed gelatin, and fruit slices.
Jollibee Fried Chicken Jollibee is a popular fast food chain in the Philippines. Their fried chicken is one of the reasons to go, though I admit I was a bit too scared to try their other popular dish: Pinoy-style spaghetti topped with sweet tomato sauce and hot dogs.
Fresh Fish on the Beach Though not a “traditional Filipino food,” fresh fish is triditional anywhere in the world there is a beach. There were many delicious prepared means on our tours around Palawan.
Of course, you can’t ignore some of the more…unique…Filipino food. (And unique Filipino restaurants…like Hobbit House in Boracay, a Lord of the Rings themed restaurant complete with “Hobbit” waiters…) I also ate a tamilok worm (which is actually a type of clam) in Puerto Princesa and the ever popular balut (fertilized duck egg) in Manila, because, well, when in the Philippines…
Everything I Ate in The Philippines
Here are photos of everything I ate in The Philippines. Yes, it does include a lot of Western food, like pizza and fish and chips, because, as amazing as authentic food in The Philippines is, when you’re traveling long term, you often need a taste of home and some variety. And, obviously, some ice cream. Because, well, ice cream.
Tapa in Manila, Philippines.
Greek food in Manila, Philippines.
Gyro in Manila, Philippines.
Pork bun in Manila, Philippines.
Coconut chicken in Manila, Philippines.
Pork sinigang in Manila, Philippines.
Breakfast in Manila, Philippines.
Breakfast in Manila, Philippines.
Breakfast in Manila, Philippines.
Breakfast in Manila, Philippines.
Breakfast in Manila, Philippines.
Adobo in Manila, Philippines.
Cheese ice cream in Manila, Philippines.
Shakey’s pizza in Manila, Philippines.
Shakey’s pizza in Manila, Philippines.
Shakey’s pizza in Manila, Philippines.
Shakey’s pizza in Manila, Philippines.
Red hot dogs in Manila, Philippines.
Lechon Pork in Manila, Philippines.
Pancit – Noodles in Manila, Philippines.
Lechon Pork in Manila, Philippines.
Peanut stew in Manila, Philippines
Mango in Manila, Philippines.
Hawaiian chicken Boracay, Philippines.
Fish and chips in Boracay, Philippines.
Ribs and apple potato salad in Boracay, Philippines.
Ribs and apple potato salad in Boracay, Philippines.
Schwarma in Boracay, Philippines.
Mango prawns in Boracay, Philippines.
Crepe in Boracay, Philippines.
Drink in Boracay, Philippines.
Garlic calamari in Boracay, Philippines.
Mohito and margarita in Boracay, Philippines.
Fish tacos in Boracay, Philippines.
Tapa in Boracay, Philippines.
Chicken in Boracay, Philippines.
Buffet in Boracay, Philippines.
Burrito in Boracay, Philippines.
Tacos in Boracay, Philippines.
Jollibee fried chicken in Cebu, Philippines.
Pork sinigang in Cebu, Philippines.
Fried pork belly in Cebu, Philippines.
Banana shake in Malapascua, Philippines.
Adobo in Malapascua, Philippines.
Adobo in Malapascua, Philippines.
Sweet and sour fish in Malapascua, Philippines.
Pizza in Malapascua, Philippines.
Gnocchi in Malapascua, Philippines.
Caprese salad in Malapascua, Philippines.
Hamburger in Malapascua, Philippines.
Buffet in Puerto Princesa, Philippines.
Pho in Puerto Princesa.
Seafood soup in El Nido, Philippines.
Fried fish in El Nido, Philippines.
Pasta in El Nido, Philippines.
Calamari in El Nido, Philippines.
Sandwich in El Nido, Philippines.
Omelet in El Nido, Philippines.
Fish curry in El Nido, Philippines.
Mango shake in El Nido, Philippines.
Fried shrimp in El Nido, Philippines.
Shrimp in coconut sauce in El Nido, Philippines.
Pizza in El Nido, Philippines.
Fish and chips in El Nido, Philippines.
Pasta in El Nido, Philippines.
Bruschetta in El Nido, Philippines.
Pumpkin soup in El Nido, Philippines.
BBQ on Seven Commandos Beach in Palawan, Philippines.
BBQ on Seven Commandos Beach in Palawan, Philippines.
S’mores on Seven Commandos Beach in Palawan, Philippines.
Lunch on a Palawan island hopping tour in the Philippines.
Lunch on a Palawan island hopping tour in the Philippines.
Lunch on a Palawan island hopping tour in the Philippines.
Lunch on a Palawan island hopping tour in the Philippines.
Lunch on a Palawan island hopping tour in the Philippines.
Lunch on a Palawan island hopping tour in the Philippines.
Lunch on a Palawan island hopping tour in the Philippines.
Lunch on a Palawan island hopping tour in the Philippines.
Lunch on a Palawan island hopping tour in the Philippines.
Pizza in Puerto Princesa, Philippines.
Balut in Manila, Philippines.
Hamburger in Manila, Philippines.
Chinese food in Manila, Philippines.
Chinese food in Manila, Philippines.
Chinese food in Manila, Philippines.
Chinese food in Manila, Philippines.
Chinese food in Manila, Philippines.
Chili in Manila, Philippines.
Guinness chocoalte ice cream in Manila, Philippines.
Salad in Manila, Philippines.
Pie in Manila, Philippines.
Sisig in Manila, Philippines.
Halo-halo in Manila, Philippines.
Salad in Manila, Philippines.
Biscuits in Manila, Philippines.
Chicken in Manila, Philippines.
What I ate in The Philippines.
Bucket List Idea: eat sinigang in the Philippines.
Hi, I'm Val. I spent most of my 20s in a standstill, unable to pick which path in life I wanted to take. I wanted the nomadic life of a traveler but also wanted the husband, the condo, and the kitten. Unable to decide which life I wanted more, I did nothing. When I turned 30 I’d had enough of putting my life on hold and decided to start “choosing my figs.” So, I quit my job, bought a one-way ticket to Europe, and traveled for three years. Now I'm back in Chicago, decorating my apartment in all the teal, petting my cats, and planning my next adventure.
