Oh my goodness. Like, WHOA. Could there be anything better than a dinner filled to the brim with big, bold flavors, unbelievably creamy sauces, and amazing fatty proteins?
Answer: Yes, obviously – it’s Filipino food on a plate, transforming your dinner from just okay to something seriously memorable. Highlight of the week right there. Highlight. Of. The. Week.
So, if your weeknight rotation is feeling a little sleepy, let’s wake it up! Here are 30 traditional Filipino dishes that you just have to try. YUM!
1. Sizzling Sisig
A get-together in the Philippines just isn’t complete until a platter of sizzling sisig hits the table. We’re talking about different pork parts, all chopped up and fried with onions and chili peppers until they’re sizzling hot.
It’s one of the most delicious things you’ll ever taste. And what makes it a total showstopper? The use of grilled pig face, ears, and brain.
I know, right? It might sound wild, but it’s this ingenuity that turns what some might see as scraps into a dish that is just mind-blowingly good.
2. Filipino Spaghetti
Alright, gather ’round, because this isn’t your average spaghetti. The Filipino version is so much sweeter, meatier, and cheesier, and it’s a must-try!
Ground pork or beef gets cooked in a sweet tomato-based sauce and then loaded up with cheddar cheese. The sauce is just ridiculously rich and so addictive.
And for a move that kids absolutely love, some people even add sliced hot dogs into the mix. Seriously, it’s a winner.
3. Beef Pares
Get ready for beef that’s so unbelievably tender it just melts in your mouth. That’s Beef Pares for you! The brisket is marinated in brown sugar and soy sauce, giving it this wonderful sweet and savory flavor that is just so good.
But it’s not just about the beef; that broth is absolutely to die for. It’s got a special mix of spices and seasonings that will have you wanting to slurp every last drop right from the bowl.
Fun fact: “Pares” means “pair,” because this dish is just perfect with a side of rice.
4. Buko Pie
Say hello to the ultimate tropical pie! Buko Pie is made with tender, young coconut milk and a sweet filling, all wrapped up in a flaky, buttery crust.
Coconuts, or “buko,” are everywhere in the Philippines, so they’re used in tons of recipes. This pie is one of the absolute best ways to enjoy that sweet coconut flavor. It’s just pure magic.
5. Pan De Sal
Filipinos really, really love their bread, and Pan de sal is one of the most popular rolls in the country. Pan de sal actually means “salt bread” in Spanish, which is funny because these rolls are actually sweet.
Whether you fill them with jam, butter, or even meat, they make for such a hearty and satisfying breakfast. After fried rice, it’s the go-to breakfast side for a reason!
6. Pineapple Coleslaw
If you haven’t caught on yet, Filipinos love a touch of sweetness in their savory dishes, and this coleslaw is no different. It’s mixed with pineapple tidbits and raisins and coated in mayo, making it so much sweeter than the coleslaw you might be used to.
But don’t worry, there’s some vinegar in the dressing too, so all the flavors are perfectly balanced. Give this one a try; you might just find yourself making it this way for good!
7. Leche Flan
Leche flan is hands-down the most popular dessert in the Philippines, and for a very good reason.
It’s the Filipino take on crème caramel, with a custard that is so smooth and velvety, all topped with a luscious caramel glaze. You can eat it all on its own or pair it with other desserts like halo-halo.
And the best part? It’s surprisingly easy to make. All you need are milk, sugar, eggs, and a steamer!
8. Adobong Balut
This dish brings together two Filipino favorites to create something extra special. Okay, brace yourself!
When you visit the Philippines, one of the first things people will offer you is balut, which is a fertilized duck embryo that’s been boiled and is eaten right from the shell.
I know it sounds a little out there, but this delicacy is actually really tasty. In this recipe, the balut is marinated in soy sauce and vinegar and cooked adobo style, with the shells removed so the eggs soak up even more flavor.
If you can get past the idea of a hairy duck embryo, this dish is seriously yum.
9. Taisan (Filipino Chiffon Cake)
Taisan is this unbelievably soft and fluffy cake that gets smeared with butter and then topped with grated cheese and sugar. The combination is sweet, buttery, and just divine.
Unlike other cakes, taisan doesn’t need a bunch of frosting to be amazing. That simple mix of butter, sugar, and cheese is all it takes to make this cake a total knockout.
10. Tinolang Manok
Tinolang manok is a comforting chicken soup that’s served with rice. The broth gets its amazing flavor from salty fish sauce, ginger, garlic, onions, and a little bit of heat from chili pepper leaves.
It’s one of the easiest and most budget-friendly Filipino dishes you can make, but it’s still packed with so much flavor. So good!
11. Filipino Beef Omelet (Torta)
This dish is such a classic that it deserves to be famous everywhere. Torta, or beef omelet, is made with ground beef, diced potatoes, and carrots all mixed into an egg batter and pan-fried until it’s golden brown.
The idea is so simple, just make an omelet with ground beef, but the flavor is truly phenomenal. It’s amazing on its own, but it’s ten times better with a little ketchup!
12. Monggo Guisado
Monggo guisado is a thick, flavor-packed bean stew made from mung beans.
To get them ready, the beans are soaked in water for several hours to make them tender and easier to cook. Then, they’re sautéed with garlic and onions and simmered until they’re melt-in-your-mouth soft.
The result is a ridiculously rich and flavorful dish that you won’t be able to get enough of!
13. Arroz Caldo
Think of Arroz Caldo as the Filipino version of congee. It’s a cozy rice porridge filled with chicken, scallions, toasted garlic, and a hard-boiled egg.
This is the ultimate comfort food, and it’s the go-to dish for Filipinos on a cold, rainy day. The broth is flavored with ginger and other amazing spices, making it so warm and comforting. It’s like a hug in a bowl.
14. Kare-Kare
Kare-Kare is this incredibly rich stew made with oxtail, tripe, and veggies, all swimming in a thick peanut sauce. When you pair it with a sweet shrimp paste, you get a total explosion of flavors.
The dish uses tripe, which is the lining of a cow’s stomach, giving it a unique soft and chewy texture. Add in some tender, fatty oxtail, and the whole dish becomes even more flavorful.
It’s not the quickest meal to whip up, but with all that flavor, it’s absolutely worth the effort.
15. Sago at Gulaman
Sago at gulaman is a sweet and refreshing drink you can find being sold on the streets next to other classic Filipino street foods. Since it feels like summer almost all year long in the Philippines, a good refreshing drink is a total must.
This sugary drink is loaded with tapioca pearls (sago) and cubes of gelatin (gulaman), making it the perfect way to cool down and beat the heat.
16. Pork Chicharon
Pork chicharon is a classic Filipino snack that is seriously addictive. It’s made by deep-frying pork rinds until they’re perfectly crunchy and fatty. Seriously, there’s no way you can eat just one.
These cracklings are already amazing on their own, but they get even better when you dip them in vinegar. It’s honestly one of the tastiest snacks in the world, and I’m not even exaggerating.
17. Dinuguan
This dish might make you pause when you hear what’s in it, but I promise, it’s so good you have to give it a shot. The word “dinuguan” literally means “cooked with blood,” and the dish is black because the sauce is made mainly from pig’s blood.
It’s diced pork cooked in blood, vinegar, and spices, making for a wonderfully rich and savory meal. When you pair it with puto, a sweet rice cake, it’s the perfect afternoon snack.
18. Beef Mechado
Beef mechado is a super saucy stew loaded up with tender beef, potatoes, and carrots. The sauce itself is a fantastic combination of canned tomato sauce, soy sauce, garlic, onions, pepper, and bay leaves.
It takes a little while to make because you want the beef to get super soft and soak up all those amazing flavors from the sauce. But once it’s done, you’re rewarded with fork-tender beef in a rich, flavor-packed stew. Yum!
19. Cheese Puto
Puto is a small, round rice-based cake, or “kakanin,” made with glutinous rice. It’s so sweet and fluffy, it’s just amazing.
Most of the time, puto is topped with a few slices of cheddar cheese to add a nice salty contrast to the sweet cake. You can enjoy it on its own for an afternoon snack (merienda) or have it as a side dish with dinuguan.
20. Buko Pandan Ice Cream
Who doesn’t love ice cream? This recipe takes the classic Filipino dessert, Buko Pandan, and turns it into an amazing ice cream!
Buko pandan is made by combining young coconut meat with pandan-flavored gelatin, and it’s seriously addictive. And the best part? You don’t even need an ice cream machine for this one.
You can whip up this delicious treat without any churning at all!
21. Beef Pochero
Pochero is a dish that’s usually saved for special occasions, and it’s made with tender beef, potatoes, carrots, chorizo, and chickpeas all in a rich tomato-based stew.
But what makes it extra special is the addition of saba banana!
Saba, or sweet plantain, is a type of banana native to the Philippines. It’s shorter and fatter than a regular banana with a milder flavor and is usually used in desserts, but it works so well in this savory dish.
22. Pininyahang Manok
Pininyahang manok is a sweet and savory dish that is just downright delicious. The chicken is marinated in pineapple juice, which gives it that perfect balance.
After marinating, the chicken is cooked in milk and loaded with pineapples, carrots, and bell peppers to create the ultimate comfort food.
This dish is best served with rice, which soaks up that rich, milk-based broth so beautifully. You’ll definitely be going back for seconds.
23. Iskrambol
Every kid in the Philippines knows about the sweet and captivating Iskrambol, also known as “ice scramble.”
It’s a street food made from powdered milk, shaved ice, pink food coloring, and who knows what else, but it’s amazing. That mesmerizing pink color makes it impossible for any kid to ignore.
Even though its true origins are a bit of a mystery, this recipe totally nails the oddly satisfying flavors of this sweet drink. Give it a try, and I’m sure you’ll fall in love with it too.
24. Lumpiang Shanghai
Lumpiang Shanghai is a Filipino favorite that was inspired by the Chinese. It’s all about ground meat mixed with carrots and onions, stuffed into egg roll wrappers, and then deep-fried until they’re perfectly golden.
Just a heads up, these rolls are insanely addictive! Trying to stop at just three is a real challenge. Whether you dip them in ketchup or a sweet and sour sauce, Lumpiang Shanghai is the ultimate party finger food.
25. Filipino Coconut Macaroons
These little mounds of pleasure are a classic Filipino treat. Coconut macaroons are made from sweetened condensed milk, eggs, and desiccated coconut, and they are so sweet and chewy!
The coconut adds this wonderful toasted, nutty flavor that goes perfectly with the sweetness of the cakes. They’re totally irresistible.
26. Sinangag (Filipino Garlic Fried Rice)
Sinangag, or garlic fried rice, is the ultimate Filipino breakfast side dish. It’s made with day-old rice that’s been fried in oil and garlic, and waking up to that aroma is just the best.
The basic recipe is simple, but often you’ll find it jazzed up with more ingredients like peas, carrots, corn, and even bits of ham to make it even more flavorful.
It’s most often served with a fried egg and a traditional meat dish like tocino or longganisa, the Filipino sausage.
27. Banana Fritters
Banana fritters, also known as maruya, are another classic Filipino snack that you have to try. Mashed saba bananas are mixed into a flour batter, deep-fried to perfection, and then coated in sugar.
They’re sweet and crunchy, making them the perfect treat for breakfast or in the afternoon. So simple and so good!
28. Eggplant Omelet
Have you ever thought about putting eggs and eggplant together in one dish? It might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but in the Philippines, it’s a common weeknight side.
Tortang Talong, or eggplant omelet, is a savory dish made by frying an eggplant that’s been battered in egg. Before it’s coated, the eggplant is grilled to give it a nice smoky flavor. It’s usually served as a side dish with rice and a meat dish.
29. Filipino-Style Chicken Adobo
The Philippines was a Spanish colony for over 300 years, and a lot of their food has Spanish influences, including adobo. The name comes from the Spanish word “adobar,” which means “to marinade.”
The Filipino version features browned chicken cooked in soy sauce and vinegar, and seasoned with garlic and peppercorns. This marinade gives the chicken a savory flavor with just the right amount of acidity.
As it cooks, the sauce thickens into a golden glaze, which is what makes this dish so perfect with a side of steamed rice.
30. Ginger Tea (Filipino Salabat)
Salabat is a hot tea made from ginger and sweetened with just a bit of sugar. The ginger gives the tea a really soothing flavor, which is why it’s so popular for helping with a sore throat or laryngitis.
It’s simple, comforting, and perfect for when you need a little pick-me-up.