While less well known than its more illustrious neighbors the street food scene, as well as general culinary prowess of the Philippines is seriously underrated. They got great BBQ, classic dishes like sissig and balut, not to mention some mighty fine rum.
Not all street food, much like people though are created equal? So where are the best street food cities in the Philippines? Here’s The Street Food Guy guide!
Click to see the top 5 Street Food Cities in Cambodia.
5 Best Street Food Cities in the Philippines
Ok, so while I have yet to visit all of the Philippines (such as Mindanao) I have conquered a vast majority of the country. Therefore my list only includes the places that I have been, with the 5 best street food cities in the Philippines as ways counting from 5-1. This means we save the best until last.
5) Baguio
Baguio makes the list because its cool temperate climate make it such a different vibe to the rest of the country. Here you will find lots more fresh fruit, such as strawberries, “cold” vegetables and even locally made wine. All of this makes its way down to the street food scene. Main places to eat here are the night markets which pop up in the parks, as well as Session Road. These are eclectic rather than being truly local, but offer the best of the street food cities in the Philippines.
4) Angeles City
This place often gets overlooked, because well you know there are a lot of other things going in Angeles City. This though is a mistake as Pampanga is the culinary capital of the Philippines. This means that there are often great food festivals here, which are dominated by street food. Chopped pork, chilli, calamansi and heaps of roadside offerings, particularly in places like Deca to complement the vibrant restaurant scene.
3) Cebu
Cebu is where street food really gets real and boy do they love it here. This is the home of perhaps the most famous delicacy in the country, namely lechon, or suckling pig and you will find it everywhere here. BBQ is also huge with big skewers to be found around Mango Square and of course Larsian. Being an island you can also get decent seafood, but hey you come for the lechon.
2) Manila
How is Manila number 2 you ask? Well if we were talking best food in the Philippines then Manila would obviously won hands down as the national capital. Street food wise it is also excellent, but things are a big more spread out. Spread out though does not mean bad and pretty much every genre of street food is available in the capital, with BBQ and balut being particular big hitters. Big up to Ermita and of course Chinatown as must go to places.
1) Vigan
Vigan you ask? Yep for me Vigan is the best of the street food cities of the Philippines for a myriad of reasons. Firstly this nice old colonial style Spanish city is famous for some of its street food not least the Vigan empanada, which is not just good, but iconic. Couple this is with the sausages, the vinegar, the bottled coke and the great street food market overlooking the church and you are onto a winner. And while not strictly street food, that it has good cocktails and a great drinking culture and Vigan easily tops the list.
Honourable mentions
As stated for this list I had to include only cities that I have been, which means leaving out Davao, as well as other gems in Mindanao which I am told are epic. As to places that I have been I would say that Batac would make a top 10, as would El Nido at a push.
Regardless of where you end up in the Philippines though you truly will not go hungry, even if it is out in the boonies.
Click to see my Philippines Tours with YPT.