Food · Manila · Philippines
What to eat in Manila
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Manila, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Start with Adobo, Sinigang and Lechon. Walk Ongpin Street and its alleys sampling dumplings, hopia, fried siopao and noodle soups; guided walks explain the Chinese-Filipino history behind each stop. Rice comes with almost every meal; 'unli rice' (unlimited rice) is a common promotion.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Adobo
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 2
- Tipping
- Many restaurants add a 10% service charge; where they do not, leaving about 10% is…
- Food experiences
- 4
10 foods to try
Dish
1.Adobo
Chicken or pork braised in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves and black pepper until tender and glossy; the unofficial national dish, cooked differently in every household.
Where: Filipino restaurants and carinderias (canteens) everywhere, served with rice.
Dish
2.Sinigang
A sour soup soured with tamarind, with pork, prawns or fish and vegetables such as kangkong, radish and long beans; a comfort dish on rainy days.
Where: Filipino restaurants and home-style canteens.
Dish
3.Lechon
Whole roast pig with crackling skin, served at fiestas and celebrations; in Manila it is usually eaten with a sweet liver sauce.
Where: Lechon specialists and Filipino restaurants; whole pigs are ordered for parties.
Dish
4.Sisig
Chopped pork face and ears, grilled then fried with onions, chilli and calamansi, served sizzling on a hot plate, often with a raw egg stirred in. It originated in Pampanga, north of Manila.
Where: Bars and Filipino restaurants, especially in Poblacion; a classic with beer.
Dish
5.Kare-kare
A rich peanut stew of oxtail, tripe and vegetables such as aubergine and banana flower, served with salty shrimp paste (bagoong) on the side.
Where: Filipino restaurants, often as a weekend family dish.
Dessert · Vegetarian
6.Halo-halo
Shaved ice layered with sweet beans, jellies, fruit, ube jam and leche flan, topped with evaporated milk and ice cream; you mix it all together before eating.
Where: Dessert shops, fast-food chains and mall food courts; best in the hot season.
Breakfast
7.Silog breakfast
Garlic fried rice (sinangag) and a fried egg (itlog) with a meat such as tapa (cured beef), longganisa sausage or tocino (sweet pork); tapsilog is the best-known version.
Where: 24-hour silog joints, canteens and diners all over the city.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
8.Taho
Warm silken tofu with brown-sugar syrup and sago pearls, sold from aluminium buckets by vendors calling 'Tahoooo!' through the streets in the morning.
Where: Street vendors in residential neighbourhoods early in the morning.
Street food
9.Balut
A fertilised duck egg boiled and eaten from the shell with salt or spiced vinegar; a famous, challenging street snack.
Where: Evening street vendors, often near bars and parks.
Snack
10.Hopia and Binondo dumplings
Hopia are flaky pastries filled with mung bean, ube or pork paste; Binondo is also known for steamed and fried dumplings and Fujian-style lumpia.
Where: Bakeries and dumpling houses along Ongpin Street and its side alleys in Binondo.
Food experiences
Binondo food crawl
Walk Ongpin Street and its alleys sampling dumplings, hopia, fried siopao and noodle soups; guided walks explain the Chinese-Filipino history behind each stop.
Weekend markets in Makati
The Salcedo Saturday Market and Legazpi Sunday Market gather regional Filipino dishes, kakanin (rice cakes), fresh produce and street food under park trees.
Boodle fight
Some Filipino restaurants serve shared 'boodle fight' meals: rice, grilled meats, seafood and fruit laid on banana leaves, eaten by hand.
Modern Filipino dining
Chef-led restaurants in Makati and BGC reinterpret regional dishes such as kinilaw, sinigang and lechon in tasting menus.
Quick bites and street food
- Silog breakfast — 24-hour silog joints, canteens and diners all over the city.
- Taho — Street vendors in residential neighbourhoods early in the morning.
- Balut — Evening street vendors, often near bars and parks.
- Hopia and Binondo dumplings — Bakeries and dumpling houses along Ongpin Street and its side alleys in Binondo.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 2 are usually vegetarian: Halo-halo and Taho. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Rice comes with almost every meal; 'unli rice' (unlimited rice) is a common promotion.
- Calamansi, vinegar, soy sauce and chilli are on the table to season dishes to taste.
- Malls have large food courts and many of the city's best-known restaurant chains.
- A service charge of about 10% is often added to bills in sit-down restaurants.
- Many restaurants are busy at weekends with families; book ahead for popular places.
Tipping
Many restaurants add a 10% service charge; where they do not, leaving about 10% is appreciated. Round up taxi fares and tip hotel porters and guides a small amount.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Salamat po | Thank you (polite) |
| Magandang umaga | Good morning |
| Magkano po? | How much? (polite) |
| Para po | Stop here, please (on a jeepney) |
| Ingat | Take care |
| Masarap | Delicious |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Manila famous for?
Adobo, Sinigang, Lechon and Sisig. Chicken or pork braised in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves and black pepper until tender and glossy; the unofficial national dish, cooked differently in every household.
+Is Manila good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Halo-halo and Taho.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Manila?
Many restaurants add a 10% service charge; where they do not, leaving about 10% is appreciated. Round up taxi fares and tip hotel porters and guides a small amount.