Filipino Food Guide — Must-Try Dishes 2026

Filipino cuisine is a rich blend of Malay, Chinese, Spanish, and American influences. Must-try dishes: Adobo (chicken or pork braised in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic), Sinigang (sour soup with tamarind), Lechon (whole roasted pig — Cebu is famous for this), Kare-Kare (oxtail peanut stew), Lumpia (Filipino spring rolls), Halo-Halo (shaved ice dessert), and Balut (fertilised duck egg — adventurous eating). Street food is safe at busy stalls with high turnover. The Philippines has many fast-food chains including Jollibee (the national favourite). Vegetarian options are limited in traditional cuisine but growing in cities. Muslim food (halal) available in Mindanao.