Philippines

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Top 8 Destinations for a Food Tour in the Philippines (plus must-try dishes!)

The Philippines, a Southeast Asian archipelago of over 7,000 islands, boasts a rich and diverse culinary heritage shaped by indigenous traditions, Spanish colonial influences, and modern global trends. From bustling street food markets to curated gourmet experiences, the country offers a culinary journey that tantalizes the taste buds.

We’ve asked our local experts for their favorite destinations and Filipino dishes to try on a food tour across this idyllic (and tasty!) country. Here are the 8 top destinations (and dozens of dishes!) you must try on a food tour across the Philippines.

1. Binondo Food Crawl: A Taste of Chinatown

We start our food tour in Binodo. Known as the world’s oldest Chinatown, Binondo in Manila is a haven for food lovers. A guided food tour here takes you through narrow alleys filled with centuries-old restaurants, hole-in-the-wall eateries, and bustling bakeries. Must-try dishes include:

Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings)
Hopia (flaky pastries filled with mung bean or ube)
Pancit Canton (stir-fried noodles)

2. Pampanga Culinary Tour: The Culinary Capital of the Philippines

The next stop on our food tour across the Philippines is Pampanga, located just a couple of hours from Manila and known as the culinary heart of the country. A food tour here highlights traditional Kapampangan dishes and innovative local fare. Key experiences include:

Visiting family-owned restaurants to try heirloom recipes.
Sampling sisig (a sizzling pork dish) from its birthplace. Ready to try something new? Typically made from parts of the pigs head (snout, ears, and cheeks), sisig is severed with onions, garlic, chili peppers, and sometimes a bit of mayonnaise or liver paste to add richness. This delicious (and adventurous!) dish is typically served on a sizzling hot plate, giving it a crispy texture on the edges while the center remains tender.
Indulging in tocino, a popular Filipino dish consisting of sweet, marinated pork, typically made from pork belly or shoulder. The meat is cured in a sweet mixture of sugar, salt, and spices, often with the addition of garlic and sometimes pineapple juice — yum!

3. Bacolod Food Trip: Sweet and Savory in the City of Smiles

Our third stop brings us to Bacolod. Bacolod City in the province of Negros Occidental is known for its vibrant Masskara Festival, a celebration of resilience and joy, featuring colorful masks, street dancing, and, of course, an array of delicious local foods. The city is also famous for its many sweet treats and savory specialties. A food tour in this city introduces you to:

Chicken Inasal: A type of grilled chicken marinated in a mixture of vinegar, calamansi, soy sauce, and lemongrass.
Napoleones (flaky pastry with custard filling)
Sugarcane-based desserts reflect the region’s history as a sugar production hub.
Masskara Street Food: During the Masskara Festival, street food becomes an integral part of the celebration. Delights include barbecue (both pork and chicken), betamax (skewered coagulated chicken blood), and adidas (skewered chicken feet). These tasty (and adventurous) treats are served at food stalls along the streets, giving visitors a taste of Bacolod’s lively culture.

4. Bohol Organic Farm-to-Table Experience

Feast your eyes on our fourth stop: beautiful Bohol. Bohol offers more than its iconic Chocolate Hills and tarsiers. The island’s food tours often feature farm-to-table experiences highlighting sustainable and organic practices. Visitors can:

Explore organic farms and learn about local agriculture
Enjoy meals made from freshly harvested produce
Discover unique flavors like ube kinampay (purple yam)
Try Peanut Kisses, a sweet treat made with peanuts often given as a souvenir. It has a unique flavor and texture, similar to peanut brittle but with a soft, melt-in-the-mouth consistency.
Sample Kinilaw, the Filipino version of fresh fish marinated in vinegar, lime, and spices.
Indulge in Calamay, a traditional sweet delicacy made primarily from glutinous rice, coconut milk, and sugar. This sticky, chewy treat has a rich, smooth texture and is often flavored with pandan leaves or sugar, sometimes with peanuts.

5. Batangas and Quezon Province: A Taste of Tradition

Get ready to taste some traditional flavors on our fifth stop! The provinces of Batangas and Quezon offer a glimpse into traditional Filipino flavors, including the iconic Sinigang na Baboy. A tour in these areas often includes:

Sinigang na Baboy: A sour soup made with tamarind, tomatoes, and vegetables. This dish is loved for its refreshing tartness, with pork as the most common meat used, though shrimp or fish can also be substituted.
Lomi Batangas: A rich noodle soup filled with thick egg noodles, meat, and vegetables, often topped with fried garlic and chicharrón.
Pancit Habhab: A Quezon specialty, this stir-fried noodle dish is traditionally eaten directly from a banana leaf without utensils.
Lucban Longganisa: A garlicky, slightly tangy sausage that pairs perfectly with rice and vinegar dipping sauce.
Coconut-based Dishes: The region’s abundance of coconuts contributes to dishes like ginataang bilo-bilo (sticky rice balls in coconut milk) and various coconut-based stews.

6. Cebu Lechon Tour: The Best Pork in the World

A food tour in the Philippines wouldn’t be complete without Cebu. Cebu is synonymous with Lechon, a roasted pig dish Anthony Bourdain once declared the best in the world. A lechon-focused food tour takes you to the city’s finest lechon purveyors, where you can sample different styles and flavors of this iconic Filipino delicacy.

Lechon is one of the most iconic Filipino dishes. It is a whole pig roasted over an open flame, typically served during celebrations. Cebu is especially famous for its lechon, which is known for its crispy skin and tender meat. Beyond its culinary fame, Cebu is also a hub of cultural and historical attractions, including Magellan’s Cross, the Basilica del Santo Niño, and beautiful beaches like those in the Mactan and Bantayan Islands.

7. Davao’s Exotic Flavors and Durian Delights

Calling all adventurous eaters: this stop is for you! Known as the Durian Capital of the Philippines, Davao food tours showcase the city’s exotic flavors and its famous fruit: durian. A large, spiky fruit full of fiber and minerals, Durian is a polarizing fruit due to its pungent smell, yet creamy and sweet taste.

The region is also a leading producer of high-quality cacao beans, earning its reputation as a hub for artisanal chocolates. Malagos Chocolate, an award-winning brand, hails from this region. Highlights of a food tour in Davao include:

Tasting durian candy and ice cream
Sampling fresh seafood dishes like kinilaw (Filipino ceviche)
Visiting cacao farms and trying locally made chocolate

8. Iloilo’s Heritage and Food Walk

Last but certainly not least, it’s time to eat our way through Iloilo. As the first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in the Philippines, Iloilo is a must-see on any food tour in the Philippines. With its numerous historical sites, including Miag-ao Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site from the Spanish era, this city in the center of the Philippine archipelago on Panay Island is known for its unique combinations of history and gastronomy. While walking through heritage sites, you can savor these delectable dishes:

La Paz Batchoy (noodle soup with pork and chicharrón)
Biscocho (butter-toasted bread)
Fresh seafood like oysters and blue crabs
Vigan Longganisa: A garlicky, tangy, and slightly sweet sausage made from pork. Typically served with rice and egg, it’s a local specialty that’s a must-try.
Vigan Empanada: These crispy pastries are filled with a mixture of meat (usually sausage or beef), vegetables, and sometimes an egg. The crust, made with rice flour, provides a unique texture.
Bagnet: A deep-fried, crispy pork belly dish often paired with a vinegar-based dipping sauce or served atop rice.
Kaleskes: A flavorful soup made from beef shank and other cuts, cooked with corn, vegetables, and native spices—a comforting dish, perfect for a rainy day.
Tapuey: Traditional rice wine from the region, ideal for toasts and as a complement to hearty meals.

Tips for Enjoying Food Tours in the Philippines

Pace Yourself: Filipino food tours often involve several stops, so it’s best to sample small portions to fully enjoy the experience.
Stay Hydrated: Tropical heat can be intense, so drink plenty of water.
Engage with Locals: Food tours are a great opportunity to learn stories behind the dishes from local chefs and guides.

Final thoughts

Embarking on a gourmet and food tour in the Philippines is more than just a feast; it’s an exploration of the country’s rich history, welcoming culture, and warm hospitality. Whether you’re navigating the busy streets of Binondo or savoring fresh produce in Bohol, each bite tells a story. Prepare your palate and book your tour to experience the Philippines like never before.

Asia Bespoke Tours creates custom tours and experiences in the Philippines and beyond. For more information, explore our unique services and a sample itinerary for 12 days of Cultural and Culinary Exploration in the Philippines.

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What’s New for Philippines Travel in 2022

Known for its pristine white sand beaches, delicious food, and friendly locals, the Philippines looks to reopen its borders this year to international travelers. With the daily reported COVID-19 cases drastically reduced, the Philippines has done an outstanding job controlling the spread of COVID-19. Tourism plays a huge role in the economy of the Philippines, accounting for almost 15 percent of the nation’s revenue. Since the pandemic started almost 2 years ago, tourism has been down 75 percent. But Philippines travel is looking bright for 2022.

The Philippines has taken adequate measures to prepare for the return of international tourists, such as targeted mass vaccinations for hospitality staff in the tourism industry and implementing new cleaning and sanitization processes to ensure utmost hygiene safety. There have also been talks of a green lane tourism initiative similar to other Southeast Asian nations that would provide a much easier and streamlined entry to the country for vaccinated travelers.

While it is too soon to say when the international borders to the Philippines will fully reopen, what we do know is that the country has an exciting year ahead and has taken great strides to position itself to welcome back travelers. Here’s what the country has going on in 2022 that tells us the Philippines will open very soon.

World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) comes to Philippines

One of the first major announcements of 2022 is that the World Travel and Tourism Council Global Summit will be held in Manila from April 20 – 22. This is critical for the Philippines because it will bring key representatives, executives, and other high-level decision-makers in the travel industry to witness the changes implemented since the borders reopened. If combining business and leisure on a beautiful exotic island isn’t enough, these delegates will also have the firsthand opportunity to experience the safety measures taken by the government and tourism sectors.

The Philippines was awarded the “Safe Travel Stamp” by the WTTC in September 2020, which recognizes destinations and businesses around the world that have adopted health and hygiene protocols that meet globalized standards.

By holding such an important summit in Manila, the Philippines will have the opportunity to show tens of thousands of attendees that the country has put effective safety measures in place to reopen safely and aid its much-needed recovery in the tourism sector.

Expanded Domestic Flights with low-cost carrier AirAsia

Another change for the coming year is that the Philippines’ low-cost carrier, AirAsia Philippines, has increased its domestic market share to almost 20 percent. Looking forward to January 2022, AirAsia Philippines is adding more domestic flights to handle the expected demand, especially to its popular tourist destinations such as Kalibo, Caticlan, and Puerto Princesa. This alone shows that AirAsia is ramping up its flight schedules to not only handle the increase of domestic travel among Philippine nationals but also the increase of international passengers traveling amongst the islands.

In January 2022, the scheduled flight frequency will be up over 40 percent, compared to previous years, to handle the increased number of travelers on top of the holiday traffic. Also, as 2021 came to an end, bookings were almost at capacity during the holiday season – a much different story than during the pandemic and a much more positive outlook. Bookings are also now being made months in advance compared to during the pandemic when the average booking window was 3 days in advance, and reserved primarily for essential travel only. This is a clear indicator that travel confidence is well underway and travelers intend on booking in advance as opposed to last-minute trips.

To take advantage of the AirAsia expanded flights; check out some of the signature Asia Bespoke Tour guaranteed departures.

The New Clark City

The ground-breaking development started in 2016, and this year will start the much-anticipated project of creating a new, sustainable, and fully integrated city. New Clark City, previously known as Clark Green City, is located about 70 miles north of the capital, Manila, and was the host site of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

With help from various investors and urban planners, this new city will provide its residents with fully sustainable and controlled utilities, transportation, and environmental protection like none other in the Philippines. Electric vehicles, modern technologies, and lots of green space are just a few of the things to look forward to in this new city. The city has also been geographically established in an area less prone to floods due to the elevation and earthquakes based on the location. This provides safer and more livable conditions making it an attractive relocation to those debating moving.

The new city also comes with a new railway system that connects New Clark City to Manila as well as other cities along the way. Currently, most visitors to the Philippines use privately hired car services, so the rail system will be a major improvement to the commute times and will provide a new and up to date rail system to travel amongst major cities.

Sustainability Efforts

For the third consecutive year, the Philippines has won the World’s Top Dive Destination in the World Travel Awards (WTA) in 2021. Honored for its magnificent Coral Triangle, home to 600 species, 2,000 reef fish species, and six out of the world’s seven species of marine turtles, the country’s rich marine ecosystem is among the richest on the planet. For these reasons, Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat says that it is, “our great responsibility [to protect] and [conserve] our underwater resources so that these will also be enjoyed and experienced in their pristine natural state by future generations.”

In the past few years, the Philippines has been putting a great deal of effort into sustainability efforts throughout the country focusing on specific areas one at a time. Starting in Boracay back in 2018, the Philippines closed a major part of the island to major issues in correcting the waste management issues and implementing strict measures to avoid overtoursim. After the reopening of Boracay, hundreds of electric vehicles were donated to the island to reduce the carbon exhaust. Strict waste disposal protocols were also implemented to control the waste entering the sea.

Another popular destination is El Nido, which has also gone through rehabilitation efforts to preserve its ecosystem and reduce the degradation of the island. Through cleaning up waste, properly disposing of trash, and understanding how the impact decisions today make on the future, the Philippines strives to pave a brighter future for the nation as well as protect the islands and preserve the natural resources for greater periods of time.

Taking strides toward a better future

The year 2022’s annual budget is over 10 percent greater than previous years, meaning more funding for the country and more funding for the recovery of the impact of the pandemic on travel. Funds are now being allocated towards reaching their targeted vaccinated population as well as expanding and upgrading their current hospital facilities and equipment. Implementing modern technology and processes will allow not only the country to thrive but also to be prepared and capable of handling the return of travel.

As of December 2021, roughly 50 percent of the target population was vaccinated and over 80 percent of the tourism sector workers were vaccinated. In the first quarter of 2022, there are several initiatives to reach their desired figures bringing the country closer to herd immunity greatly reducing the risk of spreading the virus.

At the end of the day, while there is no set date for when this pandemic will be over, it is clear the Philippines is doing what is necessary to be prepared for tourism to resume. The new year looks promising as more people are vaccinated and initiatives are put in place by the government and tourism sectors to bring foreign travelers back into the country and preserve the islands. With new and increased protocols for cleanliness, hygiene, vaccinations, and new cleaner and sustainable initiatives, the Philippines will prevail in the coming year.

Get ahead of the curve and learn how Asia Bespoke Tours can help create a unique travel experience in the Philippines in the future. Contact us today and follow along on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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