1. Bagnet
What: A favourite in the northern Philippines, pork belly is first boiled until tender, then deep-fried twice to achieve an extra crisp.
Where: Bagnet fans swear by Stoops (corner of Arellano St and Estrada St), a casual diner with multiple outlets around Manila.
2. Chicken inasal
What: This classic hails from the Negros Occidental region. Chicken is marinated with lime, pepper, vinegar and annatto spice (an orange-red condiment) before it’s grilled over hot coals.
Where: Sarsa Kitchen’s moist, flavourful chicken inasal is served with achuete oil, soya sauce, vinegar, calamansi and chilli.
3. Palabok
What: This beloved comfort dish is made of thin glass noodles and thick shrimp sauce, and topped with hard-boiled egg, deep-fried pork rind, shrimp and squid.
Where: Little Quiapo has been dishing up Filipino food since 1949, and its palabok is unrivalled.
4. Sisig
What: A platter of grilled pork parts such as liver and snout, and fried pork rind and belly seasoned with chilli, onions and calamansi.
Where: The rich, spicy and crispy version at Manam is paired with garlic rice.
5. Champorado
What: Breakfast rice porridge cooked in chocolate.
Where: Unconventional yet sensational, Early Bird Breakfast Club’s version (below) mixes dark and white Belgian chocolate, and the bitter sweetness is complemented by the tang of crispy dilis (salted fish).
6. Turon
What: This quick snack, sometimes known as banana-cue, is the Filipino equivalent of goreng pisang – essentially a deep-fried banana spring roll dusted with brown sugar.
Where: Locavore adds a layer of jackfruit into the roll, and serves it with a salted egg dulce de gatas or caramel sauce (below).
7. Tapsilog
What: A popular breakfast dish that’s a mash-up of tapa (cured beef), sinangag (garlic fried rice) and itlog (fried egg).
Where: A 24/7 all-day breakfast joint, Recovery Food offers a choice of white rice, brown rice, or rice laced with crab fat.
SEE ALSO: 6 food streets all true foodies must visit in South-east Asia
8. Halo halo
What: Literally “mix-mix”, this dessert is made of shaved ice and evaporated milk, and topped with everything from boiled sweet beans, coconut and sago to gulaman (jelly), tubers and fruits.
Where: Halo Halo fans adore the version (below) at The Peninsula Manila.
PHOTOS: SUPPLIED, MEDAL ELEPANO, GABBY CANTERO, NEIL QUINTOS
This article was originally published by Singapore Press Holdings.
