The Atlas · Nº 16 ·Philippines

Most Popular Filipino Food

Filipino food chases sour, salty, and sweet all at once: a pot of tamarind-soured sinigang, whole roast lechon at a fiesta, a breakfast plate of cured tapa over garlic rice. It borrows from Spain, China, and Malay neighbors and makes it its own, big on pork, vinegar, and a serious sweet tooth.

161 dishes ranked·15 in the global top 1,000 ·5,350 diner ratings·Best rank Nº 195

Plate I — The Origins

Fig. 1 Where 161 ranked filipino dishes were born. Dish origin

Drag to pan · Double-click or +/− to zoom · Select a marker for its entry

The Signature Dishes

The twelve highest-ranked Filipino dishes, by global position.

Sinigang na baboy, meat soup from Philippines
Plate IIMeat Soup · Philippines

1 Nº 195 worldwide

Sinigang na baboy

Meat Soup · Pork Sinigang

Pork sinigang, the sour soul-food soup of the Philippines: pork simmered in a broth soured with tamarind, brightened with tomato, and loaded with vegetables like okra, radish, and water spinach. Sour, savory, and served with rice, it is the dish many Filipinos abroad miss most.

★ 4.3|88% positive |131 ratings

Inasal na manok, chicken dish from Philippines
Plate IIIChicken Dish · Philippines

2 Nº 274 worldwide

Inasal na manok

Chicken Dish · Inasal · Bacolod chicken inasal · Mang inasal

Bacolod's grilled chicken and the pride of the Visayas, marinated in calamansi, lemongrass, and vinegar, brushed with annatto oil, and charred over coals until the skin turns golden-red. Eaten with garlic rice and a dipping sauce of soy, vinegar, and chili.

★ 4.3|88% positive |66 ratings

Lumpiang Shanghai, snack from Philippines

3Lumpiang ShanghaiNº 363

Snack · Also Shanghai Lumpia

The most popular of the Filipino lumpia, thin spring-roll wrappers packed with seasoned ground pork and deep-fried into slender, crackling sticks. Descended from Chinese spring rolls, they are party and fiesta food, cut short and eaten by the handful with a sweet chili dip.

★ 4.2|89 ratings

Tortang talong, egg dish from Philippines

4Tortang talongNº 389

Egg Dish · Also Filipino Eggplant Omelet

A simple eggplant omelette, whole eggplants charred until soft, peeled, flattened, dipped in beaten egg, and pan-fried into a savory patty. Humble everyday Filipino cooking, it is breakfast or a light meal, often eaten with rice and a splash of banana ketchup.

★ 4.2|83 ratings

Sinigang, vegetable soup from Philippines

5SinigangNº 483

Vegetable Soup

Sinigang in its broadest sense, the Filipino sour soup built on tamarind and whatever protein and vegetables are at hand, from water spinach to eggplant and long beans. The souring agent shifts by region and season, but the pucker is the constant, and it is comfort in a bowl.

★ 4.2|413 ratings

Sorbetes, ice cream from Philippines

6SorbetesNº 533

Ice Cream

Filipino street ice cream, sold from painted carts and nicknamed dirty ice cream despite being nothing of the sort. Churned from coconut or carabao milk in flavors like mango, ube, and cheese, it is scooped onto a cone or, memorably, tucked into a soft bread roll.

★ 4.1|58 ratings

Lechon kawali, pork dish from Philippines

7Lechon kawaliNº 668

Pork Dish

Deep-fried pork belly, the meat first boiled tender then dried and fried until the skin blisters into glassy, shattering crackling. A stovetop cousin of the whole roast lechon, it is chopped into chunks and eaten with rice and a liver-based sauce or spiced vinegar.

★ 4.1|64 ratings

Daing na bangus, saltwater fish dish from Philippines

8Daing na bangusNº 738

Saltwater Fish Dish

Milkfish, the national fish, butterflied and marinated in vinegar, garlic, and pepper, then pan-fried until the edges turn crisp. A classic Filipino breakfast, it comes with garlic rice and a fried egg, and a saucer of spiced vinegar for dipping.

★ 4.1|29 ratings

Kwek kwek, snack from Philippines

9Kwek kwekNº 843

Snack · Also Tokneneng kwek kwek

Quail eggs boiled, coated in a bright orange batter, and deep-fried into little crisp orbs, a fixture of Filipino street carts. Skewered and dunked in a sweet-and-sour or spiced vinegar sauce, they are the snack you grab on the way home.

★ 4.0|35 ratings

Tapsilog, breakfast from Philippines

10TapsilogNº 878

Breakfast

A Filipino breakfast plate and a portmanteau of its three parts: tapa cured beef, sinangag garlic fried rice, and itlog, a fried egg. The template stretches to any meat, giving a whole family of silog breakfasts, but tapsilog is the original and the favorite.

★ 4.0|45 ratings

Tapa (Philippines), meat dish from Philippines

11Tapa (Philippines)Nº 880

Meat Dish

Thinly sliced beef cured in a marinade of calamansi, soy, and garlic that leaves it sweet, salty, and sharp, then fried until the edges caramelize. The star of the tapsilog breakfast, it is old preserved-meat tradition turned into a national morning staple.

★ 4.0|45 ratings

Pancit palabok, noodle dish from Philippines

12Pancit palabokNº 907

Noodle Dish

Thin rice noodles under a thick, orange shrimp-and-annatto sauce, crowned with toppings like crushed pork rind, smoked fish flakes, shrimp, and boiled egg. A fiesta noodle dish eaten for luck and long life, assembled at the table with a squeeze of calamansi.

★ 4.0|49 ratings

The Departments

Every Filipino dish in our ranking, grouped the way you'd order them.

The Complete Ledger

All 161 Filipino dishes in the world ranking. Every entry, leaf by leaf.

161 entries
  1. 195 Sinigang na baboy Meat Soup Philippines ★ 4.3
  2. 274 Inasal na manok Chicken Dish Bacolod ★ 4.3
  3. 363 Lumpiang Shanghai Snack Philippines ★ 4.2
  4. 389 Tortang talong Egg Dish Philippines ★ 4.2
  5. 483 Sinigang Vegetable Soup Philippines ★ 4.2
  6. 533 Sorbetes Ice Cream Philippines ★ 4.1
  7. 668 Lechon kawali Pork Dish Philippines ★ 4.1
  8. 738 Daing na bangus Saltwater Fish Dish Philippines ★ 4.1
  9. 843 Kwek kwek Snack Philippines ★ 4.0
  10. 878 Tapsilog Breakfast Philippines ★ 4.0
  11. 880 Tapa (Philippines) Meat Dish Philippines ★ 4.0
  12. 907 Pancit palabok Noodle Dish Philippines ★ 4.0
  13. 916 Espasol Dessert Province of Laguna ★ 4.0
  14. 932 Bulalô Meat Soup Calabarzon ★ 4.0
  15. 971 Bicol Express Pork Dish Manila ★ 4.0
  16. 1,020 Turon Deep-fried Dessert Philippines ★ 4.0
  17. 1,057 Lumpia Snack Philippines ★ 4.0
  18. 1,063 Sinigang na hipon Seafood Soup Philippines ★ 4.0
  19. 1,094 Leche Flan Custard Philippines ★ 4.0
  20. 1,104 Atchara Pickling Philippines ★ 4.0
  21. 1,238 Maruya Snack Philippines ★ 4.0
  22. 1,262 Brazo de Mercedes Dessert Philippines ★ 4.0
  23. 1,359 Morcon Meat Dish Philippines ★ 3.9
  24. 1,390 Pichi-pichi Dessert Province of Quezon ★ 3.9
  25. 1,529 Palitaw Dessert Philippines ★ 3.9
  26. 1,601 Bibingka Cake Philippines ★ 3.9
  27. 1,806 Binagoongan Technique Philippines ★ 3.9
  28. 1,856 Tinolang manok Chicken Soup Philippines ★ 3.9
  29. 1,901 Pancit Lucban Stir-fry Lucban ★ 3.9
  30. 1,902 Pancit Bato Stir-fry Province of Camarines Sur ★ 3.9
  31. 1,991 Buko Pie Sweet Pie Province of Laguna ★ 3.9
  32. 2,072 Adobong baboy Stew Philippines ★ 3.8
  33. 2,100 Bistek Tagalog Beef Dish Central Luzon ★ 3.8
  34. 2,186 Camaron rebosado Seafood Philippines ★ 3.8
  35. 2,206 Pancit Cabagan Stir-fry Cabagan ★ 3.8
  36. 2,338 Apas Cookie Philippines ★ 3.8
  37. 2,403 Batchoy Soup Iloilo City ★ 3.8
  38. 2,505 Arroz caldo Rice Dish Philippines ★ 3.8
  39. 2,513 Pancit bihon Stir-fry Philippines ★ 3.8
  40. 2,757 Lamayo Technique Philippines ★ 3.8
  41. 2,791 Shakoy Fried Dough Central Visayas ★ 3.8
  42. 2,837 Inihaw na liempo Pork Dish Philippines ★ 3.8
  43. 2,859 Sisig Pork Dish Angeles ★ 3.8
  44. 2,944 Kaldereta Stew Philippines ★ 3.8
  45. 2,959 Sans rival Cake Philippines ★ 3.8
  46. 3,201 Kinunot Saltwater Fish Dish Bicol ★ 3.8
  47. 3,243 Pinagong Bread Philippines ★ 3.8
  48. 3,413 Adobong manok Stew Philippines ★ 3.8
  49. 3,419 Lechon Pork Dish Philippines ★ 3.8
  50. 3,461 Adobo Stew Philippines ★ 3.8
  51. 3,492 Tosilog Breakfast Philippines ★ 3.8
  52. 3,499 Sapin-sapin Dessert Abra ★ 3.8
  53. 3,786 Crispy tadyang ng baka Appetizer Philippines ★ 3.7
  54. 3,899 Binangkal Snack Central Visayas ★ 3.7
  55. 4,026 Halabos na hipon Stir-fry Philippines ★ 3.7
  56. 4,043 Lugaw Porridge Philippines ★ 3.7
  57. 4,073 Silvanas Cookie Philippines ★ 3.7
  58. 4,137 Suman Dessert Philippines ★ 3.7
  59. 4,262 Tocino Meat Dish Philippines ★ 3.7
  60. 4,269 Tinola Soup Philippines ★ 3.7
  61. 4,290 Bilo-bilo Sweet Soup Philippines ★ 3.7
  62. 4,297 Pares Stew Philippines ★ 3.7
  63. 4,325 Latik Side Dish Philippines ★ 3.7
  64. 4,429 Afritada Stew Philippines ★ 3.7
  65. 4,514 Champorado Porridge Philippines ★ 3.7
  66. 4,553 Pancit sotanghon Stir-fry Philippines ★ 3.7
  67. 4,690 Kare-kare Stew Province of Pampanga ★ 3.7
  68. 4,694 Kalamay Dessert Philippines ★ 3.7
  69. 4,748 Chicksilog Breakfast Philippines ★ 3.7
  70. 4,799 Longsilog Breakfast Philippines ★ 3.7
  71. 4,800 Cornsilog Breakfast Philippines ★ 3.7
  72. 4,821 Menudo Filipino Stew Philippines ★ 3.7
  73. 4,826 Kilawin Appetizer Philippines ★ 3.7
  74. 4,915 Adobong dilaw Stew Philippines ★ 3.7
  75. 4,992 Tinapa Rice Rice Dish Philippines ★ 3.7
  76. 5,118 Daing Fish Dish Philippines ★ 3.6
  77. 5,119 Silog Breakfast Philippines ★ 3.6
  78. 5,130 Pinakbet Stew Ilocos ★ 3.6
  79. 5,201 Adobong kangkong Stew Philippines ★ 3.6
  80. 5,211 Chosilog Breakfast Philippines ★ 3.6
  81. 5,279 Bopis Stew Philippines ★ 3.6
  82. 5,282 Ube halaya Dessert Philippines ★ 3.6
  83. 5,520 Belekoy Dessert Province of Bulacan ★ 3.6
  84. 5,566 Inipit Dessert Province of Bulacan ★ 3.6
  85. 5,606 Pochero Stew Philippines ★ 3.6
  86. 5,661 Lechon Sauce Meat-based Sauce Philippines ★ 3.6
  87. 5,721 Pancit malabon Stir-fry Malabon ★ 3.6
  88. 5,823 Adobong pugita Stew Province of Occidental Mindoro ★ 3.6
  89. 5,865 Tokwa't baboy Side Dish Philippines ★ 3.6
  90. 5,931 Pinikpikan Chicken Soup Cordillera Administrative Region ★ 3.6
  91. 5,939 Pancit Batil Patong Stir-fry Tuguegarao
  92. 5,946 Nilagang baka Soup Philippines ★ 3.6
  93. 5,977 Kutsinta Cake Philippines ★ 3.6
  94. 6,032 Maíz con hielo Dessert Philippines ★ 3.6
  95. 6,086 Ginisang munggo Stew Philippines ★ 3.6
  96. 6,263 Banana Cue Snack Philippines ★ 3.5
  97. 6,340 B Biko Dessert Philippines ★ 3.5
  98. 6,353 Rosquillo Cookie Province of Cebu ★ 3.5
  99. 6,431 Ginataang puso ng saging Stew Province of Occidental Mindoro ★ 3.5
  100. 6,451 Halo-Halo Ice Cream Philippines ★ 3.5
  101. 6,518 Cascaron Deep-fried Dessert Philippines ★ 3.5
  102. 6,617 Taho Dessert Philippines ★ 3.5
  103. 6,631 Maja blanca Dessert Philippines ★ 3.5
  104. 6,657 Adobong pusit Squid Dish Philippines ★ 3.5
  105. 6,699 Burong mangga Pickling Philippines ★ 3.5
  106. 6,854 Nata de coco Dessert Philippines ★ 3.5
  107. 7,049 Pancit canton Stir-fry Philippines ★ 3.5
  108. 7,050 Kinilaw Fish Dish Philippines ★ 3.5
  109. 7,059 Daingsilog Breakfast Philippines ★ 3.5
  110. 7,060 Spamsilog Breakfast Philippines ★ 3.5
  111. 7,123 Isaw Offal Dish Philippines ★ 3.4
  112. 7,291 Torta Egg Dish Philippines ★ 3.4
  113. 7,296 Pancit lomi Noodle Dish Philippines ★ 3.4
  114. 7,325 Pata tim Pork Dish Philippines ★ 3.4
  115. 7,346 Butsi Snack Philippines ★ 3.4
  116. 7,383 Dinengdeng Vegetable Dish Ilocos ★ 3.4
  117. 7,434 Uraró Cookie Calabarzon ★ 3.4
  118. 7,483 Filipino Spaghetti Noodle Dish Philippines ★ 3.4
  119. 7,491 Utan Vegetable Soup Cebu City ★ 3.4
  120. 7,501 Puto Dessert Philippines ★ 3.4
  121. 7,609 Proben Offal Dish Philippines ★ 3.3
  122. 7,610 Pinangat Stew Bicol ★ 3.3
  123. 7,691 Mechado Stew Philippines ★ 3.3
  124. 7,705 Poqui poqui Egg Dish Ilocos ★ 3.3
  125. 7,756 Bangsilog Breakfast Philippines ★ 3.3
  126. 7,868 Pancit Stir-fry Philippines ★ 3.3
  127. 7,870 Kinalas Noodle Dish Bicol ★ 3.3
  128. 7,885 Hotsilog Breakfast Philippines ★ 3.3
  129. 7,901 Bola-bola Meatballs Philippines ★ 3.3
  130. 7,965 Pinakbet Pizza Pizza Province of Ilocos Norte ★ 3.2
  131. 7,992 Crispy Pata Pork Dish Philippines ★ 3.2
  132. 8,073 Papaitan Offal Soup Ilocos ★ 3.2
  133. 8,127 Bukayo Dessert Province of Pangasinan ★ 3.2
  134. 8,178 Tokneneng Egg Dish Philippines ★ 3.2
  135. 8,229 Otap Sweet Pastry Province of Cebu ★ 3.1
  136. 8,288 Gulaman Dessert Philippines ★ 3.1
  137. 8,377 Lauya Meat Soup Philippines ★ 3.1
  138. 8,382 Soup Number Five Offal Soup Philippines ★ 3.1
  139. 8,441 Paksiw Technique Philippines ★ 3.0
  140. 8,502 Dinuguan Stew Philippines ★ 3.0
  141. 8,549 A Adobong labong Stew Philippines
  142. 8,550 A Adobo sa gatâ Stew Central Luzon
  143. 8,839 Balut Street Food Philippines ★ 1.3
  144. 9,028 Talunan Chicken Dish Philippines
  145. 9,154 Ginanggang Street Food Sweets Northern Mindanao
  146. 9,446 Adobong hito Stew Philippines
  147. 9,533 A Adobong pugô Stew Philippines
  148. 9,534 Adobong baka Stew Philippines
  149. 9,535 A Adobong pusô ng saging Stew Philippines
  150. 9,536 A Adobong okra Stew Philippines
  151. 9,537 Adobong isda Stew Philippines
  152. 9,538 Adobong hipon Shrimp/Prawn Dish Philippines
  153. 9,539 Adobong talong Stew Philippines
  154. 9,540 A Adobong palakâ Stew Philippines
  155. 9,541 A Adobong sawâ Stew Philippines
  156. 9,794 Pork Ginataan (Ginataang baboy) Stew Philippines
  157. 10,117 Sinanglay Freshwater Fish Dish Bicol
  158. 10,229 P Pandesal Bread Philippines
  159. 10,481 Baye baye Dessert Province of Iloilo
  160. 10,507 U Unday-unday Dessert Province of Pangasinan
  161. 10,610 K Kinilnat Salad Ilocos
Leaf 1 of 5

Gazetteer

A Regional Tour of Filipino Food

Where Philippines's ranked dishes were born, and what to order there.

Questions, Answered

Filipino food, frequently asked. Answered from the data.

What is the most popular Filipino food?
Sinigang, the sour tamarind soup, is the country's most-rated dish and its top-ranked, with the pork version Sinigang na baboy leading at #195 worldwide. The whole roast pig Lechon and the deep-fried pork knuckle Crispy Pata are the other favorites, feast-day food across the islands. All 45 Filipino soups & stews →
What food is the Philippines known for?
Sour soups, roast pork, and a big sweet tooth. Sinigang and the beef-shank Bulalô lead a deep field of soups and stews, while whole-hog Lechon and the fried Lechon kawali show the national love of pork. Breakfast is its own institution, built on silog plates like Tapsilog.
What is the Philippines' national dish?
Adobo is the unofficial national dish, meat braised in soy, vinegar, garlic, and bay until tangy and tender, though it sits outside our top ranks. Others crown Lechon, the spit-roasted whole pig at the center of every fiesta. In our data the sour soup Sinigang na baboy ranks highest.
What is the most famous Filipino dessert?
Halo-halo is the icon, a tall glass of shaved ice, sweet beans, jellies, fruit, and ube crowned with ice cream, mixed into a cool, colorful mess. Simpler sweets rank well too, from street-cart Sorbetes ice cream to Turon, a crisp fried banana-and-jackfruit spring roll. All 36 Filipino desserts & sweets →
What should I eat in Bicol?
Bicol cooks with coconut milk and serious chili heat. The signature is Bicol Express, pork simmered in coconut cream with fistfuls of long green chilies and shrimp paste. Pinangat wraps taro leaves around fish and coconut, steamed until rich and tender.
What Filipino dishes do locals love that tourists miss?
Regional specialties beyond adobo. From Bicol, the fiery coconut Bicol Express simmers pork with green chilies and shrimp paste. Laguna makes Espasol, a chewy rice-flour log dusted in toasted flour, and Bulalô, a clear beef-shank soup rich with marrow, is comfort in a bowl.