Manila Metro Manila, Philippines Travel Guide
Filipino flavors balance sweet, sour, salty, and savory elements. Rice accompanies nearly every meal, with pork, chicken, seafood, and diverse vegetables.
Garlic, onions, and ginger form the aromatic base. Vinegar, brown sauce made from fermented soybeans, and calamansi create characteristic sour and savory profiles. Coconut milk adds richness to regional dishes.
Manila's cuisine has specialties from across the archipelago due to migration. Binondo (Chinatown) features a distinct Chinese-Filipino blend.
Breakfast (Almusal: 6-9 AM), Lunch (Tanghalian: 12-2 PM), Dinner (Hapunan: 6-8 PM). Merienda (snacks) are common mid-morning and mid-afternoon.
Food served with alcoholic beverages, similar to bar light bites or appetizers, widely enjoyed in social settings.
Meat (chicken, pork, or both) braised in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and peppercorns. Savory and tangy flavors. Find it in almost all Filipino restaurants.
Considered the Philippines' national dish.
A sour and savory soup, typically tamarind-based, containing meat (pork, beef, shrimp, or fish) and various vegetables. Available in most Filipino restaurants.
A comforting and flavorful experience.
A whole roasted pig featuring incredibly crispy skin and tender, flavorful meat. Often a celebration centerpiece. Locate it at specialty lechon restaurants like Lydia's Lechon, Rico's Lechon, Zubuchon, and in food courts.
A festive and irresistible dish.
A cold dessert mix of shaved ice, sweetened beans, fruits, jellies, leche flan, ube ice cream, and evaporated milk. Widely available.
Leche Flan is caramel custard. Turon are fried banana spring rolls, often with jackfruit. Both are popular desserts.
Refined Filipino plus global dishes in upscale settings.
Abundant options having different Filipino, Asian, and Western dishes.
Budget-friendly local meals and adventurous street eats.
Availability is growing but often challenging in traditional eateries. Dedicated vegetarian/restaurants that are vegan-friendly exist in health-conscious areas.
Many modern restaurants offer vegetarian sections or can adapt dishes.
Halal options exist in areas with Muslim communities (e.g., Quiapo). Kosher is very limited. Gluten-free awareness is limited, requiring clear communication with staff due to common brown sauce made from fermented soybeans use.
Carry a translated card explaining specific dietary restrictions.
Hands-on Filipino cuisine lessons, often with market visits.
Guided tastings in Binondo and other food districts.
Buy fresh seafood, then have it cooked to your preference.
Communal, military-style dining with food on banana leaves.
A slightly salty bread roll, a breakfast staple often enjoyed with coffee.
Found in local bakeries.
Rice cakes traditionally served during the Christmas season (Simbang Gabi – dawn masses).
Available at stalls outside churches during December.
From humble carinderias to luxurious fine dining, Manila offers options for all budgets.
Throughout the year, various food festivals focus on specific ingredients or regional specialties.
At places like Seaside Dampa in Pasay, you select fresh seafood from vendors and have it cooked to your preference by nearby restaurants.
A collective, military-style dining tradition where food is served on banana leaves and eaten with bare hands.
For adventurous eaters, try Balut, a fertilized duck egg. A true local delicacy offering an unique cultural experience.
A foodie haven with many independent restaurants and cafes, popular with locals seeking diverse culinary experiences.
Discover hidden restaurant gems here.
Metro Manila's only municipality, known for its "balut" and "duck adobo," offering unique local delicacies.
Experience a taste of a distinct local tradition.
Farm visits and food producer experiences are typically outside the dense urban center of Manila.
Consider day trips to Laguna or Batangas for farm-to-table experiences, coffee farms, or fruit plantations.
These excursions offer a connection to where local ingredients originate.
Always remember to try "Pulutan" with your drinks for a full local experience. Do not miss the food markets for local flavors.
