Must-Try Filipino Foods

As a Filipino American, I can say that Filipino food is delicious and well worth the calories you might consume while eating it. If you are traveling to the Philippines or looking to try some new foods, here are a few of my favorite Filipino dishes to eat!

1) Chicken Adobo

Chicken Adobo is a staple in Filipino cuisine. It is a chicken dish with soy sauce, vinegar, bay leaves, and pepper corns. It is typical to use drumsticks. If you go to a Filipino restaurant, you will most likely see this on the menu!

2) Lumpia

The most popular dish from the Philippines is lumpia. As some people like to call it, it is somewhat of an egg roll. You wrap ground meat, chopped vegetables (carrots, onions, cabbage), and throw in ginger, garlic, and soy sauce in a rice paper that you fry in oil. You can pair it with a sweet sauce and usually eat it with rice!

3) Sinigang

Sinigang is a sour but savory soup filled with fruits (tamarind, okra), vegetables (spinach, string beans, potatoes), and meat (usually pork). It is a great dish to have on rainy days or when you are feeling sick. However, my family would eat it all the time whenever we felt like it!

4) Kare Kare

Kare-Kare is a traditional Filipino stew with a peanut sauce. This dish can be paired with various proteins, such as ox tail, tripe, chicken, or pork. It is usually served with a side of shirem paste. The dish can be served with different types of vegetables such as bok choy, asparagus, eggplant, or green beans.

5) Bibingka

Bibingka is a rice cake dessert that is made with rice, coconut cream, brown sugar, and banana leaves. It is a delicious and savory dessert that you can enjoy during the holidays or special occasions.

6) Sisig

Sisig is a meat dish where you boil the face and ears of a pig and season it with calamansi, onions, and chili peppers. It sounds like it's a lot, but trust me, it's quite delicious! I know a few places in Los Angeles where you can replace the pig with mushrooms to make it vegetarian-friendly!

7) Pancit Palabok

Pancit Palabok is a thin noodle dish in a meaty sauce (usually a shrimp/pork) and can have a variety of different toppings. Some toppings could include crushed chiccaron, hard-boiled eggs, garlic, green onions, and tinapa flakes! Pancit is a noodle dish and can vary from region to region. However, my favorite way to enjoy this dish is Pancit Palabok!

8) Tortang Giniling

Tortang Giniling is an omelet dish that I grew up eating. It is an omelet mixed with ground meat, eggs, cheeses, and vegetables. There are many different ways to make it. If you are trying Filipino food for the first time, this is a great step into trying new foods!

9) Longaniza

One of my favorite dishes in the world is Longaniza. Longaniza is a grilled sweet sausage that has brown sugar, garlic, soy sauce, and paprika or achuete (for the color). It is commonly paired with a fried egg and some rice. I've also seen quite a few places that offer a vegetarian version of this dish in Los Angeles!

10) Pandasal

Pandasal has the literal meaning of being a bread of salt, but it is actually quite sweet. Yes, it is common to call it a dinner roll, but oh, it is so much more! If you are sensing a pattern, you may notice that my people (Filipinos) love sweet things, especially in their bread. My favorite thing about Pandasal is how fluffy it is when you bite into it! You can typically have this as a side dish.

If you are in Los Angeles, I would recommend the following places:

• Lasita - A Filipino rotisserie and natural wine restaurant located in Chinatown

• Kuya Lord - A Filipino Casual dining restaurant located in K-Town (recommend going with friends to get the Kuya tray)

• Lumpia Ladies of Los Angeles - Filipino catering located on the west side of Los Angeles - no storefront, but a great place to order if you live on the west side