The Philippines’ colorful culture has always been reflected to its flavorful food. To get to know the Pearl of the Orient down to the core, one must not only seek to explore its mountains and oceans—one must also take a dive into its gastronomy. Get ready to plunge straight into some of the most sumptuous and adventurous Filipino street food!
Kwek-Kwek
To the unaware foodie, these brightly colored treats could be quite deceiving. They look like deserts being round and a vibrant shade of orange—but they are not sweet. They also do not taste like the Cheetos even though they match in color. Kwek-kwek are actually quail eggs covered in orange batter, and then deep fried. It is usually dipped in a sweet sauce mixed with a little vinegar.
Isaw
Chicken intestine cleaned thoroughly, coiled onto a bamboo barbecue stick, and then grilled—that is what the infamous isaw is. Dare yourself to find out why a lot of Filipinos love this street food!
Turon
Slices of saba banana and jackfruit enclosed in egg roll wrapper, deep-fried in a liberal amount of brown sugar, the turon is a classic Filipino favorite!
Taho
Run outside as soon as you hear the neighborhood taho man, making his rounds and shouting, “Tahoooooooooooooooo!” This Filipino favorite is made of tasty combination of silken tofu, sago pearls, and arnibal (brown sugar syrup). It’s ideal to drink it warm first thing in the morning, before your dive!
Halo-Halo
Multi-colored food frenzy in a glass! Halo-Halo is layers upon layers of beans, jelly, milk, ice cream, flan, toasted rice, purple yam, tapioca pearls, sweetened fruits, and crushed ice. Mix it up and enjoyed! This cold treat is perfect on a scorching summer day.
