It’s hard to dispute that the Philippines is a stunning destination. It just seems like too much of a given that it’s a lovely country to visit. The Filipinos’ tremendous passion for food, on the other hand, adds intrigue. The typical Filipino day consists of three meals, each of which includes at least a cup of rice. They still eat snacks between meals, however, and street food in the Philippines is where this comes in handy.
The concept was that street foods were supposed to be used to ease hunger or (pantawid gutom) while you’re rushing from one thing to the next. Because the Filipinos have a talent for mixing tastes and making the most of what they have, they’ve developed delectable quick dishes with a wide range of tastes.
In fact, certain restaurants have included Filipino street cuisine on their menus! But whether you prefer it on high-end dining or serve it up on the streets, these dishes are worth a try!
Must-Try Filipino Street Food to Eat in Manila
The Philippines is not only known for its beautiful islands and colorful festivals, but it’s also well-known for its oh-so-good street food that will make you want to drool. The finest street food in the Philippines is listed below!
Isaw
The isaw Philippines, often served during special occasions such as weddings or birthdays, is one of the most popular street meals in the Philippines. It’s usually barbecued or deep-fried pork or chicken intestines. You don’t need to be concerned because the intestines are cleaned thoroughly before being grilled.
Trivia: Isaw Philippines has been in operation since the 1970s. When there was a lot of livestock to be had in the 1950s, street food vendors offered more costly cuts of meat, but when the country’s economy crashed in the 1970s, scrap parts of pork and chicken became valuable, leading to their adoption of isaw as a streetfood. Isaw isn’t an option for street foods in the Philippines.
Fishball
The Philippines is known for its fishballs, which are the only thing that remains cheap despite everything else becoming more expensive. It’s really the cheapest street food in the country and costs just PHP 0.50 per piece.
Pollock and cuttlefish are groundfish, often flattened and skewered before deep-frying, which are pounded in a mortar to form fishballs.
Betamax
Betamax is a form of videotape that was originally known as Sony’s Betacam and has been produced since the 1970s. It is formed by coagulating and shaping pig or chicken blood into squares, hence the name. Although it is manufactured with blood, Betamax does not have an unpleasant odor or flavor. In fact, it has a smooth to bitter taste that needs spicy vinegar on the side.
Chicken skin
Chicken skin is another popular street food in the Philippines. It’s essentially made of deep-fried chicken skin covered in batter and crunchy on the outside. Chicken skin, which is filling and inexpensive in the Philippines, is the preferred snack of students and those who are on a budget! A cup of chicken skin costs just PHP 10! To achieve this delicious Filipino dish on a budget, buy rice at a nearby restaurant or eatery, then add chicken skin to complete your meal. You’re good to go!
Banana cue
Banana cue is a sweet on-the-go treat made of deep-fried bananas drenched in caramelized brown sugar. The bananas are skewered like the other well-known street food in the Philippines, pork barbecue. A substitute for this is camote cue, which utilizes sweet potato instead.
Balut
You’ve undoubtedly come across the most talked-about Filipino food in some street foods in the Philippines articles if you’ve been looking for a list of street food in the Philippines: Balut.
The egg is a 16 to 21-day old fertilized duck egg that contains not only a yolk but also a partially developed duck embryo that’s devoured from the shell! For some, it may be repulsive, but after getting used to it, you’ll realize that this unusual Filipino street cuisine is something you must try.
Kwek-kwek
The brightly-colored orange layer covering this popular Philippine dish is comprised of batter. Most of its flavor comes from the sauce, which street vendors create differently. Vinegar with chilies and garlic is the greatest option.
A more straightforward definition of kwek-kwek is the sound made by a chicken’s beak when it clucks. Chicken chirping sounds are also known as “clucking.” Here’s another fact about the history of kwek-kwek: According to Esquire Magazine, “a local legend explains that kwek-kwek was formed through an accident in which a Cubao balut vendor dropped her goods. She peeled off the shells and rolled the eggs in flour before frying them, not wanting to waste what remained of the balut.” Kwek-KWEK supposedly comes from bird calls.