The Ultimate Filipino Food List You Shouldn’t Miss
Food lies in the heart of Filipino culture. No family bonding, festival, or occasion is complete without well-loved Pinoy food. If you want to add something to your restaurant or cafe’s menu or revisit classic recipes, this Filipino food list is for you.
Filipino Food List
- Lumpia
- Palabok
- Sisig
- Balut
- Empanada
- Pinakbet
- Chopsuey
- Tokwa
- Adobo
- Menudo
- Afritada
- Kaldereta
- Sinigang
- Igado
- Tinola
- Pininyahang Manok
- Bicol Express
- Baked Tahong
- Chicken Curry
- Champorado
- Puto Bumbong
- Ube Cheese Pandesal
- Mango Sago
- Fruit Salad
- Turon
25 Filipino Food You Shouldn’t Miss
Excite your customers or loved ones’ palates with these mouthwatering dishes:
1. Lumpia
Do you love spring rolls and egg rolls? Then, the first item on this Filipino food list is for you.
Golden, crispy rolls stuffed with ground meat, carrots, green onions, eggs, and more, lumpia is the perfect finger food for Filipinos. Plus, they’re unbelievably addictive, so make sure you make a huge batch because they can disappear in minutes.
Usually paired with garlic vinegar, sweet & sour sauce, or banana ketchup, lumpia is a party favorite. Lots of street food vendors also sell it as a delightful snack.
2. Palabok
Palabok is a Filipino rice noodle dish with savory pork and shrimp sauce. The sauce is like ragu but without the tomatoes.
The noodles are boiled and topped with the palabok sauce. Cooks then garnish it with smoked fish, eggs, and chicharon. Filipinos love to serve it during celebrations, and it is one of our personal Pinoy food favorites.
3. Sisig
Another popular item on this Filipino food list is sisig. Sisig is a staple in local tables, often served as an appetizer or main dish.
Sisig contains pig parts, including pork meat, ears, and face. Cooks also add chicken liver, onions, and chili peppers.
It ticks off all the boxes with its rich, savory, and meaty taste. That, and you can pair it with drinks such as pulutan. What a fantastic combo.
4. Balut
This delicacy makes people stop at the cart on the corner during the evening or after a late night out.
If you have the knack for something unique yet delicious, your mouth will water as you take the first bite. Plus, balut contains lots of protein and other essential nutrients, giving you a healthy, rich snack that doesn’t break the bank.
5. Empanada
This crescent-shaped pastry filled with savory or sweet filling is like the Filipino version of a turnover. Or, if you want to relate it to American convenience food, like a hot pocket.
Empanadas are also easily customizable and quick to make. They make delicious party appetizers but are also great for dinners.
Just imagine that rich filling wrapped in flaky, buttery pastry. Looks so delicious, right?
6. Pinakbet
A vegetable-based dish you can eat as a complete meal or appetizer, pinakbet is one of the best vegetable dishes in the Philippines.
It often contains okra, ginger, tomatoes, eggplant, ampalaya, sitaw, pork, and prawns. Depending on the region, it might contain other vegetables and meat.
7. Chopsuey
Do you want a hearty dish that’s quick and easy to make? Then go with chopsuey.
People love having it as-is, but you can serve it with steamed rice or chow mein noodles and soy sauce.
In this sense, chopsuey can be considered a main or side dish if eaten with another entree.
8. Tokwa
Stick to this dish if you love something soft that can absorb flavor.
Tokwa (Filipino tofu) works as a sponge, so don’t be surprised if you can marinate it before it’s cooked. Since tokwa has a neutral flavor, you can use more robust flavors to make it savory.
Filipinos often use soy sauce and vinegar as a dipping sauce. However, you can experiment with flavors you like. Tokwa will easily absorb them anyway, so you don’t have to worry about messing with your desired flavor. Just make sure you let the tokwa soak up the flavors.
9. Adobo
Loved by everyone who tries it, adobo can be considered the Philippines’ ultimate dish. You can use chicken, pork, or both, depending on your preference. You can also make it saucier or thicker.
Making adobo involves simmering meat in vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic. This results in a tangy, savory dish that will delight even the pickiest of people.
10. Menudo
The next item on this Filipino food list is this rich tomato-based food that highlights pork meat and liver. Considering the simple ingredients used, Menudo will wow you with its unique flavors.
Menudo also includes common vegetables like potatoes, bell peppers, and carrots. In some cases, cooks add green peas and raisins. And let’s not forget the special ingredient that makes it more unique: hotdog!
11. Afritada
Featuring chicken for the meat, afritada is another delicious Pinoy food you shouldn’t miss. Cooks stew the chicken in tomato sauce with carrots, potatoes, and bell peppers until it becomes tender.
A delicious dish that fits any celebration, afritada can also be served for everyday meals. Plus, its richness makes it a perfect pair for plain steamed rice.
12. Kaldereta
Highlighting goat meat, kaldereta includes beef or pork, carrots, potatoes, tomato sauce, and liver spread or paste. Often a regular in every Filipino cookbook, kaldereta has made its mark in people’s hearts.
Often served with plain rice, kaldereta can be enjoyed as a complete meal or as-is.
13. Sinigang
Imagine simmering beef, chicken, shrimp, fish, or pork to tender perfection with fresh veggies and aromatics. If you love that picture, you better master cooking sinigang.
Sinigang features a rich, savory, sour soup usually served with white rice and fish sauce on the side. This mouthwatering Pinoy food of epic proportions is one of the country’s best dishes.
14. Igado
Also known as higado (Spanish for liver), this Pinoy food brings pride to Filipino gastronomy.
Mainly made with pork liver mixed with pork tenderloin and innards, including the heart and kidney, igado is a hearty dish that’ll make your customers or loved ones love you even more.
Usually cooked with vegetables such as potatoes, bell peppers, carrots, and green peas, igado is one of the culinary books.
15. Tinola
Ginger and malunggay make the next item on this Filipino food list unique. Tinola is among the best dishes even foreigners don’t want to miss, thanks to its savory, warm soup.
Tinola is usually made of chicken, garlic, ginger, onion, fish sauce, sayote, red chili leaves, lemongrass, and malunggay. Some versions of tinola use green papaya instead of sayote.
16. Pininyahang Manok
Translated to pineapple chicken, pininyahang manok features chicken with vegetables cooked in a creamy sauce and chunks of pineapple. The chunks of pineapple give the dish its delightful sweetness.
Depending on the region, people prepare this Filipino dish using coconut milk or evaporated milk instead of cream.
17. Bicol Express
You should check out Bicol Express if you love spicy pork and a creamy sauce.
Named after the train that travels from Manila to Bicol and vice versa, this exceptional Pinoy food involves sauteing pork and shrimp paste with garlic and onion. Cooks will then simmer the meat in coconut milk until it turns tender. Lastly, they add chilies to make it spicy― something this dish is known for.
18. Baked Tahong
As the term suggests, baked tahong involves baking tahong (mussels).
This Pinoy food might look sophisticated, but it won’t cost much. What an excellent way to make something mouthwatering, right?
Some versions of this dish add garlic to the baked mussels, while others put other types of cheese like mozzarella and cheddar. While perfect with rice, you can pair it with other seafood like garlic butter shrimp and grilled fish.
19. Chicken Curry
The Filipino version of the chicken curry is worth staying around for. This dish is creamy, savory, and aromatic, made with coconut milk. It usually involves potatoes, bell peppers, and carrots.
In addition, Filipino-style chicken curry has a milder taste compared to other types of curry. It’s also more creamy since cooks use coconut milk.
20. Champorado
This one is the ultimate breakfast treat! In some people’s eyes, it might be just porridge, but champorado has a unique twist that’ll make you want more of it.
Usually made with only five ingredients, this delicious and comforting food boasts an intense chocolate flavor. It’s also a guaranteed hit with kids and adults alike.
This Pinoy food is made using sticky rice and tablea. Although it originated from the Mexican champurrado, the Filipino version was influenced by the Chinese. Like its Spanish counterpart, the present-day Filipino champorado also uses glutinous rice instead of corn masa.
People usually eat champorado for breakfast or as a midday snack. They typically pair it with tuyo (salted fish). The fish balances the sweetness of the champorado. You can also enjoy it with bread.
21. Puto Bumbong
If you see rice cakes sold in the streets at night, you know it’s Christmas in the Philippines. The food stalls near churches always sell puto bumbong, thanks to its beautiful purple color and delicious taste.
In addition, puto bumbong is slathered with butter. Then, cook it with grated coconut and muscovado. In some cases, they put grated cheese or roasted sesame seeds. Lastly, they wrap it in banana leaves.
22. Ube Cheese Pandesal
The newest twist to the pandesal world, ube cheese pandesal, has been a beloved Filipino dish people crave. It features ultra-soft, delicious bread with a creamy purple yam and cheese filling. This pandesal works well as a breakfast or afternoon snack.
Additionally, with different kinds of baked goods on social media, ube cheese pandesal is probably the hottest pick. We mean, look at how fluffy and enticing they are.
So, if you love bread, you’ll love this purple yam version. Trust us; every bite takes you to bread heaven.
23. Mango Sago
Mango sago is an easy yet delicious Filipino dessert made with mangoes, tapioca pearls, and milk. Its sweet, tangy, and creamy flavor makes it all worth it.
While it is usually seen as a summer dessert, people crave it all year. Yes, that’s how delicious mango sago is.
In addition, you only need four ingredients to make it: sago (tapioca pearls), mango, condensed milk, and coconut milk. Don’t forget, it tastes much better if you chill it for a few hours.
24. Fruit Salad
Bring colors to your table with the classic Filipino fruit salad. Usually served during Christmas, you don’t have to be a chef to whip this up. All you have to do is get the ingredients, mix them well, and let them chill in the fridge. So easy, right?
Additionally, the fruits give you nutrition that other flour-based desserts usually can’t. You can also go beyond the typical tropical fruits and add coconut and apples. Oh, and don’t forget to sprinkle little cheese cubes on top!
25. Turon
Sometimes called banana lumpia, turon is a popular street food in the Philippines. Usually consumed as a snack or a dessert, turon features sliced saba bananas rolled in brown sugar. Cooks then wrap the bananas in spring roll wraps. Next, they deep-fry the rolls while coating them with caramel.
Aside from the banana, you can add other fillings like jackfruit, coconut, mango, ube, and cheese. Plus, think about that crunch! You can also serve turon with vanilla ice cream and other side dishes contrasting beautifully with the crunchy rolls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Popular Filipino food include lumpia, chicharon, sisig, balut, empanada, pinakbet, chopsuey, tokwa, adobo, menudo, afritada, kaldereta, sinigang, igado, tinola, pininyahang manok, bicol express, baked tahong, chicken curry, champorado, puto bumbong, ube cheese pandesal, mango sago, fruit salad, and turon.
Filipino food is famous because it’s delicious and aromatic. People also love the unique twists many Filipino foods offer.
Filipino food that’s good for lunch include lumpia, chicharon, sisig, balut, empanada, pinakbet, chopsuey, tokwa, adobo, menudo, afritada, kaldereta, sinigang, igado, tinola, pininyahang manok, bicol express, baked tahong, and chicken curry.
Other Popular Filipino Food
Conclusion
Print or bookmark this Filipino food list to enjoy Pinoy food correctly. Trust us; your customers and loved ones will love you even more once you serve these dishes. Happy cooking!
About HICAPS
Over the years, HICAPS has helped bakers and businesses make delicious products by offering ingredients like ChiffonAide Cake Oil, Magic Whizk Whipping Cream, Red Velvet Flavor Emulco, and Instabake Brownie Mix.
HICAPS also provides tools and resources to valued partners, such as the free “How to Increase Your Sales Amidst the Pandemic” E-book and free dealer locator that helps look for baking ingredients near me.
Want more free tips and tutorials? Follow us on Facebook at Hicaps Mktg. Corp. and on YouTube at HicapsTV. Want to be one of our valued partners? Fill this form out. We are looking
