Filipino Street Foods
Like it's Southeast Asian neighbors, the Philippines offers a wealth of street food. But before we explore further about Filipino Street Foods, let me ask you a question. Did you ever tasted or ate
Filipino Street Food?
Filipino Street Foods
Filipino Street Foods are the most common dishes here in the Philippines. It is found everywhere, in the streets of cities, outside the mall, outside the school campus and even outside the church. It is part of our culture as Pinoy's. It gives uniqueness to our culture.
If a traveler asked me what street food dish they should try first in the Philippines. I'd say inihaw.
It's less intimidating than more exotic dishes like the infamous balut, and it refers to a family of dishes not just one.
Inihaw means "grilled", typically refers to a group of skewered meat dishes, usually offal, that are basted with a sauce and grilled over charcoal. Commonly used cuts of meat include marinated pork, chicken or pork intestines, and pig ears. Savory and smoky, they're typically served with a vinegar chili dip and go well with beer.
Other recommended dishes include kwek kwek (hard-boiled quail eggs dipped in orange batter and deep-fried till crispy), and lugaw (rice porridge). Fish balls are among the most iconic Filipino street foods and consist of skewered balls of flour made with flaked fish meat. They're served with a savory sweet sauce or a spiced vinegar dip.
On a rainy day, there's nothing better than a bowl of lugaw. Served plain, or with chicken or pork offal, it's a comforting dish that warms your soul. For dessert, try bananacue, which is a skewered deep-fried sweet plantain coated in caramelized brown sugar.
Best Places to Try Filipino Street Food
For a truly authentic experience, there's no better place to have street food than by the side of a busy road. Vendors offering different types of street food often congregate in urban places with a lot of foot traffic. In Manila, busy areas like Quiapo and Divisoria Market are hotbeds for street food. The noise, smells, heat, and grit are all part and parcel of a true Filipino street food experience.
