Detailed Guide to Local Cuisine of the Philippines

Discover the different local dishes in the Philippines. Consider this as an introductory dive into one
of Southeast Asia’s most unique cuisines – Filipino food.
While the cuisine of the Philippines is one of the world’s most distinct, giving momentum to the
numerous culinary and food tours in the country, it had, until lately, been quite mysterious that it’s prone to
misunderstanding or misrepresentation.
To understand why it’s important to understand its background and its multiple influences.

Origins of Philippine Cuisine

Some would like to call Filipino food as, “one of the world’s earliest fusion cuisines,” and while that may be
true up to a certain point, it may also be an oversimplification.
Most Filipino dishes began with their creators making use of whatever ingredients they could find (usually
within a 1-2 mile radius) and creating a dish from those ingredients.
With the Philippines being one of the world’s largest archipelagos, Filipino cuisine is highly local and
regional.
This not only means that there are hundreds (if not thousands) of individually different dishes but also there
are some Filipino dishes served throughout the country, but often have different preparations and even
names.
Influences of Filipino Food
Philippine cuisine has several foreign influences that have successfully melded with local, indigenous
cuisine.
Indigenous Filipino food is heavily influenced by Chinese cuisine, brought along by the various traders and
later on, Chinese immigrants mainly from Fujian region of China and the Cantonese.
Filipino food is also heavily influenced by the cuisine of its different colonizers like the Spanish, who ruled
the Philippines for 300 years, the Americans, who ruled the Philippines for a number of decades, the
Japanese, who ruled a few years during World War II, and the British for a couple of years (bringing along
Indian workers with them).
There are also Mexican influences as workers and traders from the galleon trades brought ingredients and
dishes to Philippine shores. Plus, there are native food from the country’s Islamic regions, which were
influenced by the neighboring Southeast Asian countries.
By virtue of it being local, regional, seasonal and being influenced by a number of different foreign cuisines,
cataloging Filipino dishes is a little bit of a challenge, especially for foreigners.
This also means that it is difficult to truly define Filipino food in just a few sentences but there are some
basics to give you a clearer picture.
Basics of Food from the Philippines
1. Most Filipino dishes are named for cooking techniques and not specific ingredients or dishes. For
example, the dish adobo refers to the technique of stewing in vinegar with peppercorns and bay leaf.
This means saying adobo could mean a host of different dishes. When ordering, it’s better to be more
specific like chicken pork adobo or adobong pusit (squid adobo).
2. Unlike the rest of Southeast Asia, Filipino food is rarely spicy. Instead, most Filipino dishes are a
combination of salty, sour, sweet and bitter. Most of the spicy dishes are found in just 2 main regions, the
province of Bicol and in the Muslim areas of Mindanao
3. Among the flavors, sourness is the most prevalent in Filipino food. Filipinos draw sour flavors from 3 main
sources, fruits, leaves and fermentation.
4. The Philippines has one of the most varied selections of vinegar in the world. Varieties include coconut
sap, pineapple, sugar cane, palm, and banana among others.
5. The cuisine is best enjoyed with rice. Filipinos enjoy each and every meal with one form of rice or another,
even snacks and breakfast.
6. Filipinos could eat as much as 5-7 times a day. Early breakfast, breakfast, morning snack, lunch,
afternoon snack, dinner, and pulutan (small bites while drinking beer or hard liquor).
7. Filipino cuisine encourages the use of sawsawan or dipping sauces. This is usually a combination
of calamansi (Philippine lime), soy sauce, vinegar, fish sauce, onions, garlic and chilies.
8. Traditionally, Filipino food is best enjoyed using hands in place of utensils. This practice is
called kamayan.
9. Filipino cuisine employs some unique condiments, including banana
catsup, bagoong or guinamos and buro. Banana catsup was developed in light of the unavailability of
tomatoes and is used to enhance a lot of fried dishes.
Bagoong is fermented shrimp or fish paste and its strong pungent flavors are used to complement some of
the milder tasting dishes like grilled squid or Kare Kare (ox tail peanut stew).
Buro, meanwhile, is rice fermented with shrimp or fish and is a great complement to fried fish or raw greens
like mustard leaves.
10. Food is such a big part of Filipino culture that you are usually greeted with, “Kumain ka na ba?” (Have
you eaten?) and regardless of your answer, the host will usually still bring you food, especially if you visit
someone’s home.

An Introduction to Filipino Dishes

Filipino cuisine, as explained above, is both regional and local. What this means is there are literally
thousands of dishes to try which, even with accomplished gourmands, is a tall order. This is why culinary
and food tours in the Philippines are popular for travelers, especially first-time visitors. 
Here are a few from each of the 3 major regions to get you started. Take note that a lot of these dishes are
now available beyond the regions or provinces they are known for.

Luzon Dishes
Cuisine in Luzon vary based on the regions but they all are easily identified by the ingredients that are local
to each destination. The most popular culinary destinations in Luzon are Pampanga  or the Culinary Capital
of the Philippines that serves a mix of savory dishes. 
The Bicol region is known for spicy foods that infuses coconut milk. Here are some of the most notable
dishes that you can try in this part of the country. 
Adobo
Usually, among the first to be mentioned when talking about Filipino food, adobo refers to the cooking
method of stewing in vinegar, peppercorns and bay leaf. Most of the modern versions add soy sauce but
there are plenty of regions in Luzon alone that don’t add soy sauce.
The most common things cooked adobo style are pork, chicken (or both together), squid and even
vegetables, and these are easily available throughout the country. The earthiness of the bay leaf and
peppercorns play well with the brightness of the vinegar and it makes for a hearty lunch or dinner.
Variations include the addition of turmeric in the Batangas, fish sauce in the Cavite version, coconut milk
sometimes found in the Bicol region, annatto seeds in Iloilo or even pineapple in some homes. Adobo can
come with the braising liquid as a sauce or with the braising liquid reduced until it’s almost a glaze.
The running joke is that there are as many adobo recipes as there are islands in the Philippines (over 7000)
but actually, there could be more since almost every Filipino family has an adobo recipe they treasure.
Chef’s Tip: Adobo is best enjoyed with rice and it is also lovely with some freshness to cut through the
richness like fresh sliced tomatoes, jicama or green mangoes.

Sinigang
Sinigang refers to a soup soured by a sour fruit or leaf. Usually, sinigang can be pork, beef, salmon or
shrimp cooked in a broth with vegetables like kang kong (swamp cabbage), radish, Chinese long beans,
tomatoes, and onions.
As for the souring agent, the use of sour fruits largely depends on seasons. Most of Manila and Luzon use
tamarind or kamias, while Pampanga uses guava.
Meanwhile, to the south in Iloilo, Visayas they use libas to sour the broth. Most areas in Luzon love to cook
the broth very sour, which makes it an excellent mouthwatering appetizer.
Chef’s Tip: Locals enjoy sinigang also with rice, and some create a dipping sauce of fish sauce and
calamansi to dip the meat, seafood and veggies in.
Sisig
It has become one of the most popular dishes in Filipino cuisine, with versions of it being served
internationally to rave reviews. Sisig, which originated in Pampanga, has undergone quite an evolution
through the years and that has left it as one of the most misunderstood dishes.
The word “sisig” comes from an old Filipino word “sisigan,” which translates as to “munch on something
sour”. Early indications are that the first version of sisig could be a sour salad of chopped vegetables, onions
and chili.
Sisig “Matua” (meaning “old” in Pampanga) is a dish of pig’s ears and face (maskara) with liver, onions,
chilis all marinated in vinegar.
The most commonly enjoyed version of sisig, however, features pig’s ears and face and are boiled and then
grilled, chopped and served with onions, chili, liver and calamansi on a sizzling platter.
The dish is a celebration of the interplay of the pork’s richness with the brightness of calamansi and it is a
wonderful celebration of textures of both tender and crunchy meat. Meanwhile, modern interpretations have
utilized chicken, squid or even milkfish as a main protein while some have added egg to the dish.
Chef’s Tip: Sisig was actually first considered a pulutan (something to eat while drinking) but now it is also
enjoyed with rice. Whatever the occasion, though, it is still best enjoyed with beer.

Pinakbet/Pakbet
One of the more humble Filipino dishes, pakbet, is a vegetable stew that usually consists of eggplant, string
beans, okra, bitter melon and squash and it is usually flavored with bagoong (strong shrimp paste or fish
sauce).
As with all Filipino dishes, other vegetables may be substituted and depending on the region.
Pinakbet can be a stew which you can easily find in almost every province or it can have a more soupy
quality like the ones from Northern regions like Ilocos and Pangasinan.
With its humble ingredients, the dish is considered less glamourous, but millions of Filipino homes enjoy
pinakbet with the interplay of salty, sweet and bitter flavors mixed in with the umami from the shrimp paste.
Chef’s Tip: The addition of crunchy pork on top of the pinakbet makes it a more luxurious dish.
Pancit
Pancit refers to noodles and it is one of the many dishes influenced by the trades with the Chinese early in
Philippine history. Like the adobo, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of pancit varieties in the
Philippines, depending on the region.
The most common would be the Pancit Canton, egg noodles stir fried with vegetables and meat, flavored
with soy sauce and/or oyster sauce. Pancit Bihon (rice noodles), Cha Misua (angel hair flour noodles) or
Pancit Sotanghon (vermicelli) are similar versions using different noodles as base. 
Other well-loved varieties include the Pancit Malabon and Pancit Luglog/Palabok which are rice noodles
served with a rich anatto tinted sauce with shrimps and pork cracklings and the Lomi, thick egg noodles
cooked with meat, shrimp and vegetables in thickened broth.
Just like the Chinese, a lot of Filipinos believe that noodles represent long life and so pancit is served in
almost every birthday celebration.
Chef’s Tip: Whatever pancit variety you’re enjoying, the dish always gets better with a splash of calamansi
juice to brighten up the flavors. Meanwhile, Pancit Habhab, a version from Quezon is best enjoyed with
vinegar and eaten with no utensils! 

Laing
One of the more iconic dishes in the Southern Luzon region of Bicol, Laing is stewed taro leaves cooked
with pork, shrimp, chilies and coconut milk.
The intense heat of the labuyo chilies is mellowed by the coconut milk and the taro leaves that are dried first
before being stewed is made even richer with the addition of the pork. Pieces of cooked taro root may also
be added to make the dish more substantial.
Chef’s Tip: As with most Filipino dishes, Laing is best enjoyed with rice and it makes a great tag team with
some grilled pork belly.
Halo Halo
“Halo” is the Filipino word for mix and as the name suggests, this sweet treat is a mix of preserved and
sweetened fruits, legumes and gels served with crushed ice and usually, evaporated milk. Halo could also
refer to how to best eat this dish as you are expected to mix all the ingredients up as you enjoy them.
Debating the exact ingredients of Halo Halo can lead to controversy, but it really depends on the maker.
Most versions would have multiple sweetened fruits or legumes like saba (cardava bananas), sweet potato,
chickpeas, white beans, nata de coco (coconut gel), kaong (sugar palm), sago (tapioca pearls), halayang
and ube (purple yam jam).
Modern versions also include a scoop of ice cream (usually ube flavored). Some popular versions in
Pampanga have as little as three ingredients underneath the ice while a version in Cavite boasts of 12.
Whatever the number of ingredients, Halo Halo is an excellent mixture of sweetness and creaminess and
never fails to be the perfect antidote to harshly hot Philippine summers.
Chef’s Tip: Make sure to mix the ice quickly as the warm Philippine weather can melt the crushed ice into
one large, unwieldy piece.

Visayas Dishes
Some of the tastiest and most iconic Filipino dishes can be found in Visayas. When you think of lechon or
roasted whole pig, Cebu's lechon comes to mind as the best in the country. 
The majority of destinations in Visayas are islands or are located near coastlines, that's why fresh seafood in
this island region is also a must-try. Check out the most iconic dishes in this part of the Philippines: 
Lechon
A celebration dish, lechon is found on almost every feast and party in the Philippines. Lechon refers to the
method of cooking meat on a spit over an open flame, so it can refer to a whole pig or just the belly, calf,
goat or even chicken.
The most common version enjoyed by Filipinos remains to be Lechon Baboy or whole roast pig. While a lot
of countries do whole roast pigs, Filipino masters called “Lechoneros”, have mastered the art of cooking
them.
Mastering both hand turning the spit and moving the charcoal constantly throughout the cooking process,
they are able to achieve an even, smooth browning of the skin, giving it a beautiful caramel colored sheen
and keeping it crunchy (even 8 hours after they are cooked) while the meat inside is moist and tender.
There are many regions that boast of making delicious lechon but the lechons from Cebu are enjoying the
most publicity now, and with good reason.
Whole pigs have heaping amounts of lemongrass, onions and garlic sewn into the belly with sea salt rubbed
all over the pig, making it a fragrant and flavorful dish that does not need any sauce. If one absolutely has to
insist, it can be enjoyed with a spicy vinegar dipping sauce.
Chef’s Tip: Outside of the pig, many regions in Visayas (and Mindanao) do Lechon Karnero (whole roasted
lamb) which is also best enjoyed without sauce.

Batchoy
Batchoy is one of the Philippines’ most popular noodle soup dishes that features egg noodles, beef and pork
meat, liver, marrow and intestines, in a pork and beef broth with a hint of guinamos (shrimp paste). As if
that’s not rich enough, fried garlic and chicharon (fried pork rinds) are added.
The broth is an exercise in rich umami flavors with the tender meat adding substance to the freshly made
egg noodles. Naturally, the best place to try batchoy is in its birthplace, Iloilo, particularly in La Paz.
Chef’s Tip: Batchoy is best enjoyed with puto (steamed rice flour bread) or breads like Pan de Sal or Pan
de Leche.
Inasal
The most popular version of Inasal is chicken marinated in ginger, vinegar and lemongrass, skewered and
then grilled over open flame. As they are grilled, they are brushed with oil flavored with garlic and annatto
seed.
With inasal places, you can enjoy not only the traditional meat of paa (thigh and leg) or petso (breast and
wing), but also the other parts including the baticolon (gizzard), corazon (heart), atay (liver) and isol (butt).
The vinegar ginger marinade infuses the chicken with lots of flavor and the smokiness that is imparted by
the charcoal flame make this dish more flavorful than normal grilled chicken.
Bacolod is the ultimate place for inasal lovers as they even have a row of inasal restaurants affectionately
called, “Manukan Country.” (chicken country).
Chef’s Tip: Inasal is best enjoyed by making a sawsawan (dipping sauce) which can be a combination of
soy sauce, vinegar, chilies, calamansi and minced garlic.

SuToKil
SuToKil is actually not just one dish but three dishes that are usually enjoyed together. “Su” or “Sugba”
refers to grilled and it’s usually a grilled whole fish or other seafood like scallops or shrimps.
“To” or “Tola/Tinola” refers to a ginger soup, in this case a ginger and fish soup, and “Kil” or “Kilawin/Kinilaw”
refers to raw seafood marinated in vinegar and citrus.
Together, they give the diner 3 different ways to enjoy fresh seafood, giving them 3 vastly different textures
and flavor profiles. Numerous places in Cebu still specialize in serving only SuToKil.
Chef’s Tip: While places specializing in SuToKil are a little bit harder to find now, most places serving
Filipino food in the Visayas region, especially those near the water, would have all three dishes that can be
ordered separately.
Mindanao Dishes
Another island region in the Philippines blessed with access to the freshest seafood is Mindanao. Because
of its close proximity to other Southeast Asian countries like Malaysia and Indonesia, dishes in Mindanao
are also influenced by their cuisine.
Here are some must-try dishes when you're in Mindanao: 
Inihaw na Panga

Inihaw na panga refers to grilled tuna collars and it has become a staple in Mindanao, particularly in Davao,
where most Filipino grill restaurants have it on the menu. While a lot of the Philippine tuna meat is sold
internationally, a lot of the collars remain in the country and locals have taken quite a liking to them.
Grilled simply with maybe just a splash of calamansi and a touch of salt. The meat from the tuna collar is
much more flavorful and moist than regular tuna meat and the additional smokiness from charcoal flame
makes the meat even more delicious.
Chef’s Tip: Panga is best enjoyed with a cold local beer and lively conversation.

Piyanggang Manok
Although a little harder to find, chicken stewed with blackened coconut meat and a condiment called palapa
(ginger, chilies and sakurab) until tender and then grilled, is worth the adventure.
Intense flavors from the chilies and ginger penetrate the chicken while the burnt coconut surprisingly helps
bring out the natural sweetness of the chicken.
Chef’s Tip: This is an indigenous Filipino dish that is mostly enjoyed by the numerous Muslim tribes in
Mindanao but there are now restaurants in Metro Davao, Zamboanga and even Quiapo in Manila that serve
this.

Sinuglaw
One of the most curious pairings in Filipino cuisine, Sinuglaw is a combination of grilled pork (sinugba) and
raw marinated fish (Kinilaw). The smokiness of the grilled pork belly combines well with the sour vinegar
marinade of the fish, cutting into the pork’s richness.
The dish, which is widely enjoyed in Davao, also has interesting textures from the cooked pork, raw fish and
vegetables like raw cucumbers and radishes.
Chef’s Tip: The addition of sea salt makes the flavors pop up even more and it adds more texture.
Barbecue
Unlike its American counterpart, barbecue in the Philippines is meat, usually marinated pork or chicken,
skewered on sticks and grilled over charcoal.
While marinades may differ depending on the chef, it usually consists of lemon lime soda, soy sauce,
banana catsup and calamansi. The same marinade is also used to baste the meat as they are cooking.
Served in night markets in provinces like Davao and Tagum, it is one of those dishes that would be sweet,
salty, sour, spicy and bitter all at the same time, making it easily one of the favorite dishes of many.
Chef’s Tip: Barbecue is best enjoyed with atcharang papaya (pickled raw papaya) to cut into the richness of
the meat.

Discover Filipino Cuisine for Yourself

Filipino food’s regionality, seasonality and locality make it a subject that can’t be explained in a few
examples and sentences, hence its latent mystery, but that is part of its charm.
There are gems to find in every trips and experiences in the Philippines and the list above, while already
impressive, is just a mere appetizer to get people started.
Filipino food is the perfect complement to the Philippines’ majestic views and the Filipino people’s
graciousness as hosts. While it may be impossible to try every version of adobo, kilawin or batchoy, it is the
most fun journey to try.
Go on a food adventure around the Philippines. Explore Philippines culinary tours and activities that
you can add to your itinerary and taste authentic Filipino food!