Must-Try Filipino Delicacies You Can’t Miss

The Philippines is a foodie’s dream, where every bite tells a story of culture, history, and bold flavours. Whether you’re an adventurous eater or just looking for comfort food, these iconic dishes will take your taste buds on an unforgettable journey!

1. Lechon

Image credit: bugking88 | Canva Pro

📍 Cebu – The King of All Roasts

No Filipino feast is complete without lechon. This whole roasted pig, with its crispy golden-brown skin and tender, flavourful meat, is a staple at celebrations and fiestas. Cebu is particularly famous for its version, as Cebuanos have perfected the art of roasting the pig with a unique blend of spices, creating a flavourful meat that doesn’t even need sauce.

Fun fact: Even Anthony Bourdain called Cebu’s lechon "the best pig ever!"

Also read: 10 Best Free Things to Do in Manila in 2025

2. Sinigang

Image credit: Copperhead02 | Wikimedia commons

📍 Luzon – The Ultimate Comfort in a Bowl

Sinigang is a beloved sour soup made with tamarind, tomatoes, and various vegetables. It’s often prepared with pork, shrimp, or fish, delivering a perfect balance of savoury and tangy flavours. Luzon is known for its diverse sinigang variations because of the region’s abundant access to fresh produce and unique souring agents like green mango, calamansi, and even guava.

Did you know? Sinigang was once named the world’s best-rated vegetable soup by TasteAtlas!

3. Adobo

Image credit: bhofack2 | Canva Pro

📍 Nationwide – The Undisputed Filipino

ClassicAdobo is arguably the most famous Filipino dish, known for its savoury, slightly tangy, and garlicky taste. Meat (usually chicken or pork) is slow-cooked in a marinade of vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns. Every region—and even every household—has its own twist, with Bicol offering a coconut milk-infused version due to its strong use of gata (coconut milk), and Batangas having adobo sa puti (white adobo), which omits soy sauce in favour of pure vinegar and garlic.

Fun fact: Adobo is so iconic that it was even featured in a NASA space meal for a Filipino astronaut!

4. Balut

Image credit: JBYBIOSA | Wikimedia commons

📍 Pateros – The Ultimate Dare

Think you’re a fearless foodie? Balut is the test! This fertilized duck egg, best eaten with a pinch of salt or a dash of vinegar, is a Filipino street food legend. Pateros, known for its rich duck farming heritage, produces the best-quality balut, making this the perfect place to take on this daring delicacy.

Did you know? Despite its exotic reputation, balut is packed with protein and is considered an energy-boosting superfood!

5. Halo-Halo

Image credit: hoigs | Canva Pro

📍 Pampanga & Cavite – The Coolest Dessert Around

Beat the tropical heat with halo-halo, a vibrant shaved ice dessert loaded with sweetened fruits, jellies, beans, leche flan, and topped with purple yam (ube) and ice cream. Pampanga’s version, Razon’s of Guagua, is famous for its simpler yet creamier take, using fewer ingredients but focusing on finely shaved ice and milk. Meanwhile, Digman’s in Cavite is known for its more traditional version with a generous mix of ingredients, making it a favourite among locals.

Fun fact: The term "halo-halo" literally means "mix-mix," which is exactly how you should eat it!

6. Puto Bumbong

Image credit: Unknown | Wikimedia commons

📍 Metro Manila & Luzon – A Christmas Tradition

You’ll Crave Year-RoundTraditionally enjoyed during Christmas, puto bumbong is a purple sticky rice cake steamed in bamboo tubes, then served with butter, grated coconut, and muscovado sugar. While it is popular in Metro Manila during the holiday season, provinces like Pampanga and Bulacan are known for producing high-quality glutinous rice, which enhances the texture and taste of this delicacy.

Did you know? The deep purple colour of puto bumbong comes from a special variety of heirloom rice called pirurutong.

7. Laing

Image credit: Localpedia | Wikimedia commons

📍 Bicol – A Spicy, Creamy Delight

Hailing from the Bicol region, laing is a creamy, spicy dish made with dried taro leaves slow-cooked in coconut milk, shrimp paste, and chilli. Bicol is famous for its love of spicy and coconut-based dishes, as the region has an abundance of coconut trees and chillies, making laing a true representation of its local flavours.

Fun fact: Laing actually tastes better the next day as the flavours deepen overnight!

8. Bicol Express

Image credit: Raymund Macaalay | Canva Pro

📍 Bicol – A Fiery Coconut Stew

Another Bicolano specialty, Bicol Express is a spicy dish made with pork, coconut milk, shrimp paste, and lots of chilli. This dish was named after the train that ran from Manila to Bicol, symbolizing the fiery and bold flavours that the region is known for. The generous use of coconut milk and chillies reflects the Bicolano love for creamy yet spicy dishes.

Did you know? Despite its strong Bicolano identity, Bicol Express was reportedly created in Manila by a native of Laguna!

9. Taho

Image credit Chlod Alejandro | Canva Pro

📍 Baguio & Nationwide – A Sweet Morning Fix

Imagine waking up to the sweet, comforting call of "Tahooo!"—a familiar morning ritual in the Philippines. This warm, silky tofu drink with arnibal syrup and sago pearls is a must-try. But in Baguio, they take it to another level with fresh strawberries, adding a fruity twist that’s totally worth waking up early for!

Fun fact: The word "taho" is believed to have originated from the Chinese "douhua," meaning soft tofu!

10. Bibingka

Image credit: Ramagaspar | Wikimedia commons

📍 Laguna & Nationwide – A Warm Rice Cake Treat

Another Christmas delicacy, bibingka is a soft rice cake baked in banana leaves and topped with salted egg, cheese, and butter. Laguna is particularly known for its bibingka, as the province has a long tradition of rice cake-making and is home to some of the best rice flour producers in the country. This gives its bibingka a distinct texture and flavour.

Did you know? Bibingka is traditionally cooked using clay pots with hot coals on top and below, giving it a distinct smoky flavour!

Also read: Exploring Manila’s Traditional Markets: A Guide to the Best Bargain Spots

11. Kare-Kare

Image credit: Ymirazudis | Wikimedia commons

📍 Pampanga – A Peanut-Infused Comfort Dish

This rich and hearty dish features oxtail and vegetables stewed in a thick peanut sauce, often served with bagoong (fermented shrimp paste) on the side. Pampanga, known as the culinary capital of the Philippines, is home to some of the best kare-kare. The Kapampangan people are known for their mastery of rich, slow-cooked dishes, making their kare-kare one of the most flavourful versions available.

Fun fact: Some historians believe kare-kare was influenced by Indian and Moro (Muslim) traders who introduced peanut-based dishes to the Philippines centuries ago!

Filipino food is all about bold flavours, rich traditions, and dishes that bring people together. Ready to take on this food trip?