If you’re heading to the Philippines, get ready to eat well—especially on the street. Filipino street food is a flavorful mix of bold, savory, sweet, and sometimes surprising bites that locals love and travelers quickly crave. Whether you’re wandering through bustling Manila night markets or exploring beachside stalls in Cebu, these must-try street foods will give you a real taste of the country’s vibrant food culture.
Kwek-Kwek
Is it a coincidence that this street food’s name sounds like the quack quack of a duck? Probably not. This popular street food can be easily found everywhere, especially on the streets of Manila. It’s a boiled quail or duck egg, battered in an often bright orange-colored breading and deep-fried in vegetable oil. The breading has no specific flavoring. The snack tastes like a deep-fried hard boiled egg – exactly as you expected. You can dip it in a sweet and spicy brown sauce or douse it with vinegar.
Siomai
Many Filipino dishes are heavily influenced by Chinese culture. If you like Chinese food, this dish might look and taste familiar to you. Siomai is the Filipino version of a Chinese dumpling. It’s filled with a meat or shrimp and vegetable mixture in a wonton wrapper that’s steamed and dipped in soy sauce and calamansi, the local version of lime.
Ihaw-Ihaw (Grill-Grill)
Ihaw-ihaw is literally translated as “grill-grill”. Basically, ihaw-ihaw is a variety of grilled street food on a skewer. Filipinos like repeating words! This popular street food is also referred to as Isaw. Beware though, barbecue in the Philippines is definitely different from what you probably are used to. Oftentimes, eating barbecued meat in the Philippines could pass as a challenge on Fear Factor. From pigs’ intestines, blood, and ears, to chickens’ feet, head, and heart, they don’t waste any parts of the animal.
Fish Ball, Squid Ball, and Kikiam
These three Filipino street food staples – all types of fish balls – also come on skewers, and they are deep-fried. This may remind you of something you have seen before, especially in other Asian cuisines, particularly in Hong Kong, but the ones in the Philippines vary more, depending on the vendor. While the fish balls are usually round or flattened, the kikiam is in a more oblong shape. The dipping sauce also plays a big part in its overall taste. The sauce is available in sweet, sweet and spicy, and vinegar mixture, usually with chopped onion, pepper, and other spices.
Turon
This is definitely my favorite! Cheap and delicious, turon are plantains or cooking bananas rolled in brown sugar, sometimes with a strip of jackfruit, wrapped in lumpia wrapper, then deep-fried in vegetable oil. They are amazingly delicious. They are perfect for dessert, topped with ice cream, but they are more commonly eaten as street food without the topping. Turon is a much-loved Filipino snack and believe me, you won’t be able to stop at one.
Chicharon
Chicharon is the same as the Chicharrón or Chicharrónes that are also common in Latin countries, like in Peruvian cuisine. This is not surprising, given that along from a Chinese influence, the food of the Philippines will also remind you of Spanish dishes, as the country was colonized by Spaniards for more than 300 years. Chicharon is crispy and crunchy pork rinds, best eaten when dipped in coconut vinegar with smashed fresh garlic. These are commonly seen during a Filipino drinking session or ‘tagay’ session, as the locals call them. They make great Filipino snacks.
Buko juice
After enjoying a few of the different street food delicacies mentioned above, you’ll also want to try some local drinks, to complement the experience. Buko juice should be on the list, for sure. This is a drink made up of fresh buko or coconut water, with some sugar, milk, and ice cubes. This refreshing drink will help you survive the hot weather in the Philippines. If you are looking for a healthier version, you can ask if they have fresh buko juice without extra sweeteners, and drink the refreshment straight from the shell.
Sago’t Gulaman
This is probably the most popular drink on the list. It is also one of the most recreated drink in the Philippines, as you will find different variants of this from town to town. Basically, sago at gulaman, or tapioca and gelatin in English, is a sweet drinks with crushed ice, tapioca and cubed gelatin. In a hot tropical country, like the Philippines, where it is sunny 70% of the year, this sweet, colorful drink is a perfect refreshment that will help you survive the hot weather.
Laura Lynch, creator and writer of Savored Journeys, is an avid world traveler, certified wine expert, and international food specialist. She has written about travel and food for over 20 years and has visited over 75 countries. Her work has been published in numerous guidebooks, websites, and magazines.