Dining in the Philippines

Local Cuisine

Filipino cuisine is generally quite simple.  Rice is the staple of every meal and is often covered with a thin stew or accompanied by a flavorful side dish.  Tropical fruits are in abundance with the local mangoes and durian being extremely popular.  Even the seafood in the Philippines tends to be larger than in most other parts of the world.  Although chicken and pork tend to dominate most dishes.  

If your palate seeks spicy titillation, there isn’t a variety of dishes to choose from.  Try the chicken Adobo, Pansit Canton (sautéed noodles), Turon (fried bananas), Lechon (roast pork), Gambas (shrimp in chili garlic sauce), and Lumpia (spring rolls).  These are all Filipino versions of international dishes.  While mildly flavored, they are still more enjoyable than other traditional dishes, which can taste sour or bitter.  Some of the local culinary masterpieces include animal parts that are commonly thrown away in other countries.  Everything from pig skin and chicken gizzards to blood and bile are used in Filipino cuisine.  If munching on chicken intestines doesn’t appeal to you, stick with grilled sea food.

Dining Out

With the presence of major hotel chains throughout the Philippines, visitors have access to great restaurants offering both local and global cuisine.  Restaurants, food courts, and fast food outlets pepper most shopping areas, and prices tend to be reasonable. The capital of Manila has a number of Thai and Japanese restaurants, and seafood specialty eateries are to be found at every street corner. Jollibee is the Filipino version of McDonald’s although it dishes up food that is more geared towards the local population. A typical Filipino meal will include a round of drinks after dinner.  Sharing a drink is considered sociable in Filipino culture, especially among the men.