Food Guide
COME HUNGRY
Filipino food doesn’t always get the attention it deserves back home. Cebu is our chance to change that. Here are some of the dishes we think are worth seeking out—and a few you’ll probably come back for more than once.
ALLERGY WATCH
We’ve flagged ingredients that commonly show up in these dishes, but recipes vary—a lot. If you have a food allergy, always ask before ordering.
LECHON
BOURDAIN CALLED IT THE BEST PIG EVER
Whole pig slowly roasted over charcoal until the skin is unbelievably crisp and the meat is tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. Cebu is famous throughout the Philippines for its lechon, and Carcar is one of the places to get it. We’ll be stopping for lechon on our way to Moalboal, so you won’t have to go looking for this one.
ALLERGY WATCH
Onion may be used · Soy may be used
MANGOES
THE BEST IN THE WORLD. WE SAID WHAT WE SAID
Philippine mangoes are incredibly sweet, juicy, and packed with flavor. Eat them fresh, get a mango shake, or try them in dessert. And for dried mangoes, 7D is the best. There’s a reason that’s the brand we put in your save-the-date package. Stock up before you head home.
ALLERGY WATCH
Dairy may be used in shakes & desserts
SEAFOOD
START WITH THE GREEN MUSSELS
Cebu is surrounded by water, so seafood is everywhere—fish, shrimp, crab, squid, scallops, and more. But the green mussels, or tahong, are one of our favorites. They’re bigger and meatier than the mussels you’ll usually find back home, and you’ll see them grilled, baked with garlic and cheese, or cooked in a flavorful broth.
SEAFOOD SAFETY
Seafood is amazing here, but freshness matters. Stick to busy, reputable places where the seafood is fresh and cooked properly. We’ve learned this one from experience.
ALLERGY WATCH
Shellfish · Fish · Other allergens depend on preparation
FILIPINO BBQ
MEAT. STICK. ’NUFF SAID
Sweet, savory, smoky, and grilled over charcoal. Filipino BBQ is the quintessential Filipino street food—usually pork or chicken marinated in a slightly sweet sauce, skewered, and cooked until the edges caramelize. Pork and chicken are the classics, but adventurous eaters will find plenty of other things on a stick too. You’ll find grills everywhere from roadside stalls to restaurants. Follow the smoke.
ALLERGY WATCH
Soy commonly used · Onion may be used · Other allergens depend on marinade
SISIG
YOUR BEER JUST FOUND ITS BEST FRIEND
Chopped pork cooked until crispy, then tossed with onions, chiles, and calamansi and served sizzling hot. Some versions come topped with an egg or a little mayo. It’s salty, tangy, rich, and ridiculously good with rice—or a cold beer.
PULUTAN 101
Pulutan is food meant to be shared while drinking—basically the Filipino answer to bar food. Sisig is one of the classics, and a cold beer alongside it is pretty much the assignment.
ALLERGY WATCH
Onion commonly used · Egg may be used · Other allergens depend on preparation
HALO-HALO
MIX IT LIKE IT’S HOT
Shaved ice, evaporated milk, sweet beans, jellies, fruit, coconut, and plenty of other goodies—usually topped with ube ice cream and leche flan. Halo-halo literally means “mix-mix,” so yes, you’re supposed to stir all of that together. It looks chaotic. It works.
ALLERGY WATCH
Dairy commonly used · Egg may be used · Other allergens depend on toppings
START HERE. ORDER EVERYTHING ELSE LATER
PANCIT
SEND NOODS
Pancit is a whole family of Filipino noodle dishes, not just one recipe. Bihon uses thin rice noodles, canton uses thicker egg noodles, and palabok comes with a rich, savory sauce and toppings like shrimp, egg, and crispy garlic. You’ll also see guisado, which basically means the noodles are stir-fried or sautéed. Different regions and families have their favorites, so trying more than one is completely justified.
ALLERGY WATCH
Soy commonly used · Wheat, egg & shellfish depend on the type · Onion may be used
LUMPIA
GOOD LUCK EATING JUST ONE
Lumpia is a whole family of Filipino spring rolls—and there’s a lot more to it than the fried version you may know back home. A few worth knowing:
SHANGHAI Small, crispy, meat-forward, with a much higher meat-to-wrapper ratio than the typical American takeout spring roll.
VEGETABLE Larger rolls packed with vegetables and fried crisp.
SARIWA The fresh version—vegetables in a soft, crepe-like wrapper topped with sweet-savory sauce.
TURON Dessert lumpia filled with banana, often with jackfruit, then fried with caramelized sugar.
DYNAMITE A long green chile stuffed with cheese and sometimes meat, wrapped and fried. The name is your warning. 🌶️
ALLERGY WATCH
Wheat commonly used · Egg, soy & onion may be used · Other allergens depend on the type
ADOBO
THE UNOFFICIAL NATIONAL DISH
Chicken or pork braised in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, peppercorns, and bay leaves until tender and deeply savory. We can almost guarantee no two adobos will taste the same. Every family has their own version, and every restaurant seems to have another. That’s part of what makes it so good.
ALLERGY WATCH
Soy commonly used · Onion may be used · Other allergens depend on preparation
KARE-KARE
NUT UP. PASS THE RICE
Usually made with beef or oxtail and vegetables in a thick, rich peanut sauce. It’s mild on its own, but the real magic happens when you add a little bagoong—salty, funky fermented shrimp paste—on the side. Eat it with plenty of rice.
ALLERGY WATCH
⚠️ Contains peanuts · Bagoong contains shellfish · Onion may be used
CHICKEN INASAL
GRILLED CHICKEN SO GOOD, YOU’LL WANT TO SLAP YOUR MAMA
Chicken marinated in calamansi, vinegar, garlic, lemongrass, and spices, then grilled over hot coals and basted until smoky and beautifully charred. Eat it with rice, dip it in sinamak (spiced vinegar), and don’t be shy with the chicken oil drizzled over the rice.
ALLERGY WATCH
Soy may be used · Onion may be used · Other allergens depend on marinade & dipping sauce
SINIGANG
SOUR SOUP SHOULDN’T BE THIS COMFORTING
A hot, savory soup with a bright, tangy broth usually made with tamarind, then loaded with vegetables and pork, shrimp, fish, or beef. It’s the kind of dish that makes “sour soup” suddenly make sense. Eat it with rice and spoon plenty of that broth over everything.
ALLERGY WATCH
Onion commonly used · Fish or shellfish depending on protein · Other allergens depend on preparation
GOOD MORNING
RICE IS NON-NEGOTIABLE
A classic Filipino breakfast formula: sinangag (garlic fried rice) + itlog (egg) + a meat or fish. Put them together and you get silog. Once you know the formula, half the breakfast menu suddenly makes sense.
ALLERGY WATCH
Egg · Soy & onion may be used · Fish depending on protein · Other allergens depend on preparation
WE’RE NOT SAYING YOU HAVE TO, BUT…
DINUGUAN
TRY FIRST. ASK QUESTIONS LATER
A rich, savory pork stew made with pork blood, vinegar, garlic, chiles, and spices. It’s dark, tangy, and much more approachable than the ingredient list might make you think. Traditionally served with rice or puto, a soft steamed rice cake.
ALLERGY WATCH
Onion commonly used · Other allergens depend on preparation
BALUT
THIS ONE COMES WITH BRAGGING RIGHTS
A developing duck egg and one of the Philippines’ most famous street foods. Crack the top, sip the warm broth, season it with a little salt or vinegar, and work your way through the rest. You’ve probably heard about this one already. We’re not going to pressure you. But let’s just say trying one may come with a reward.
ALLERGY WATCH
⚠️ Contains egg · Other allergens depend on seasoning or preparation
NO ID REQUIRED
MANGO SHAKE
THE BEST MANGOES IN THE WORLD. NOW WITH A STRAW
Thick, cold, creamy, and bursting with flavor. Made with ripe Philippine mangoes, it’s ridiculously refreshing in the tropical heat and one of those things that somehow tastes better every time you order one.
ALLERGY WATCH
Dairy commonly used · Other allergens depend on preparation
BUKO
STRAIGHT FROM THE SOURCE
Buko is young coconut, and the best way to drink it is straight from the shell. Light, naturally sweet, and incredibly refreshing when it’s hot. Finish the drink, then scoop out the soft coconut meat inside.
ALLERGY WATCH
None typically · Prepared buko drinks may contain dairy or other ingredients
CALAMANSI JUICE
WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU CALAMANSI
Small citrus, big flavor. Calamansi is tart and fragrant, somewhere between a lime and a mandarin. Served cold and lightly sweetened, it’s one of the best things to drink on a hot day.
ALLERGY WATCH
None typically · Ingredients may vary in prepared or bottled versions
SAGO’T GULAMAN
DRINK OR DESSERT? YES
A cold, sweet Filipino favorite with chewy sago pearls and cubes of gulaman jelly in a caramel-like brown sugar syrup. It’s part drink, part snack, and especially good over plenty of ice.
ALLERGY WATCH
None typically · Other allergens depend on preparation
RATED R
SAN MIG LIGHT
THE BEER BEFORE THE BAD DECISIONS
Light, crisp, and seemingly available everywhere. It’s the kind of beer that goes especially well with hot weather, grilled food, and a long afternoon that somehow turns into evening.
ALLERGY WATCH
⚠️ Contains gluten (barley)
RED HORSE
AND HERE COME THE BAD DECISIONS
Stronger, bolder, and considerably less interested in your plans for tomorrow. Red Horse clocks in at 8% ABV, so it hits quite a bit harder than your average lager. It’s a Filipino favorite and pairs perfectly with pulutan. If San Mig Light is for pacing yourself, Red Horse is where you start paying attention to the label.
ALLERGY WATCH
⚠️ Contains gluten (barley)
ALLERGY WATCH
None typically · Other allergens depend on flavorings or mixers
LAMBANOG
COCONUTS JUST SLID INTO YOUR DMs
A traditional Filipino spirit distilled from coconut palm sap. Don’t let the coconut part fool you—lambanog can be seriously strong. Stick with commercially bottled brands, pour accordingly, and remember: this is definitely not Malibu.
ALLERGY WATCH
None typically · Other allergens depend on flavorings or mixers