The Many Flavors of the Philippines: A Journey Through Regional Filipino Cuisine
For years, I’ve written about Filipino food as the heart of our culture, how meals bring families together, how celebrations revolve around shared dishes, and how food becomes a symbol of memory and identity. But one thing I’ve never explored in depth is the extraordinary diversity of Filipino cuisine across our archipelago.
With more than 7,000 islands and seven major regions, the Philippines is really a tapestry of regional food traditions shaped by geography, history, climate, and local ingredients. From the earthy and simple dishes of the north to the coconut-rich, chili-infused fare of the Bicol region, our culinary map is as varied as our languages.
Today, let me take you on a tour of these major variations, an overview of what makes each region’s cuisine distinctive and meaningful.
1. Ilocano Cuisine (Northern Luzon): Simple, Savory, and Earthy
Ilocano food is known for its simplicity and practicality. The harsh climate and rocky terrain of the north taught Ilocanos to rely on what’s available, vegetables, preserved meats, and local greens.
Key characteristics:
Salty and savory flavors, especially through bagoong (fermented fish paste)
Heavy use of leafy vegetables: saluyot, malunggay, kangkong
Dishes that highlight resourcefulness and minimalism
Signature dishes: Pinakbet, Dinengdeng, Bagnet, Poqui-poqui, Igado
Ilocano cuisine is humble but deeply satisfying, comfort food for many of us who grew up in the north.
2. Pangasinense & Central Luzon Cuisine: Abundance of Seafood and Grilled Meats
Moving south, Pangasinan, known for its salt beds, leans heavily on seafood and salted products, while Pampanga in Central Luzon is often called the Culinary Capital of the Philippines.
Key characteristics:
Generous use of salt and seafood
Pampanga’s rich, flavorful Spanish-influenced dishes
Celebration food like morcon, bringhe, and sisig originating here
Signature dishes: Pigar-pigar, Aligue pastes, Kapampangan sisig, Tocino, Bringhe
3. Tagalog Cuisine (NCR, Calabarzon, Mimaropa): The National Standard
Tagalog food is what many Filipinos abroad recognize as “standard Filipino cuisine.” These dishes dominate Filipino restaurants internationally.
Key characteristics:
Balanced sweet-sour-salty flavors
Home-cooked warmth and accessibility
Use of vinegar, soy sauce, and coconut vinegar
Signature dishes: Adobo, Sinigang, Kare-kare, Bulalo, Lomi, Laing (from Bicol influence)
The Tagalog table is varied, reflecting Manila’s long history as a melting pot.
4. Bicolano Cuisine: Coconut and Heat
No region has a stronger flavor identity than Bicol. Here, dishes are defined by coconut milk (gata) and spicy chili peppers.
Key characteristics:
Rich, creamy sauces from coconut milk
Bold spiciness that sets Bicol apart
Endless variations of dishes cooked sa gata
Signature dishes: Bicol Express, Laing, Pinangat, Kinunot, Kandingga
If you love spice, Bicol cuisine is paradise.
5. Visayan Cuisine (Western, Central, Eastern Visayas): Bright, Tangy, and Fresh
The Visayas, lying at the center of the archipelago, offers a spectrum of flavors.
A. Ilonggo Cuisine (Western Visayas) – The New “City of Gastronomy”
Iloilo was honored last year as a City of Gastronomy, and rightly so. Ilonggo cuisine is known for gentle sweetness, fresh seafood, and complex broths.
Signature dishes: La Paz Batchoy, Pancit Molo, Binakol, Laswa, KBL (Kadyos-Baboy-Langka)
Ilonggo food is both elegant and comforting, no wonder it has gained international recognition.
B. Cebuano Cuisine (Central Visayas)
Cebu is famous for roasted meats, especially the world-famous Cebu lechon.
Signature dishes: Lechon Cebu, Ngohiong, Puso (hanging rice), Tinola nga manok, Sutukil (sugba-tula-kilaw trio)
C. Eastern Visayan Cuisine
Known for sour and broth-based dishes influenced by abundant seafood.
Signature dishes: Law-uy, Tinola, Kinilaw, Binagol (Leyte)
6. Mindanao & Muslim Filipino Cuisine: Spices, Halal Traditions, and Malay Influence
Southern Philippines cuisine draws from Malay, Indonesian, and Arab influences. Dishes are fragrant, colorful, and deeply spiced.
Key characteristics:
Use of turmeric, ginger, lemongrass, coconut
Strong halal culinary traditions
Slow-cooked stews rich with aromatics
Signature dishes: Rendang, Beef kulma, Satti, Pianggang, Tiyula itum, Pastil, Piyanggang manok
Mindanao’s food culture deserves far more recognition for its depth and complexity.
7. The Cordillera & Mountain Provinces: Indigenous Strength and Tradition
Though smaller in population, the Cordillera region has a unique culinary identity built on tradition and sustainability.
Key characteristics:
Use of root crops, grains, and smoked meats
Minimal seasoning, letting natural flavors shine
Ritual and rice-based dishes (tapey, etag, pinikpikan)
This cuisine is a window into pre-colonial Filipino life.
A Final Reflection
As someone who has tasted, cooked, and written about Filipino cuisine for decades, I continue to marvel at how our food tells the story of our people. Each region offers a distinct flavor profile, yet they all share a common spirit, hospitality, resilience, and the joy of gathering around the table.
Filipino food is not just one thing. It is many things, woven together like the islands themselves. And that is what makes our culinary heritage truly special.
- Ilocos (North Luzon): Known for bold, savory, and sometimes garlicky food, using local produce and vinegar. Must-tries include garlic-rich Bagnet, vegetable stew Pinakbet, and crispy, orange-hued Ilocos Empanada.
- Bicol (Bicol Region): Famous for its use of coconut milk and chili, creating spicy, creamy dishes like Laing (taro leaves in coconut milk).
- Cebu (Visayas): Renowned for its grilled seafood (sutukil: Sugba/Grill, Tuwa/Soup, Kilaw/Ceviche), hanging rice (Puso), and rich Lechon.
- Mindanao (Southern Philippines): Features unique dishes like spicy curries, fresh seafood (king tilapia, giant crabs), and influences from diverse ethnic groups, often overlooked but incredibly flavorful.
- Adobo: A cornerstone dish of meat (chicken/pork) braised in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves, and peppercorns, reflecting Spanish "adobar" (marinade).
- Sinigang: A tangy, sour soup using tamarind or other souring agents, a comforting taste of home for many Filipinos.
- Lumpia & Pancit: Chinese influences are clear in these popular spring rolls and various noodle dishes.
- Kinilaw: The Filipino version of ceviche, using vinegar, calamansi (native citrus), and fresh seafood.
- Street Food: A vibrant scene with skewered meats, fried delights, and unique items like Balut (fertilized duck egg).
Filipino cuisine is a fusion of indigenous techniques with Malay, Chinese, Spanish (adobo, stews), and American (fried chicken, hot dogs) influences, creating a balance of sweet, sour, salty, and savory without being overly spicy. It's a cuisine rooted in family, fiestas, and abundant fresh ingredients from the archipelago's vast waters and fertile lands, celebrated through generations and in modern culinary explorations.
The Anguillidae are a family of ray-finned fish that contains the freshwater eels. All the extantspecies and six subspecies in this family are in the genus Anguilla, and are elongated fish of snake-like bodies, with long dorsal, caudal and anal fins forming a continuous fringe. They are catadromous, spending their adult lives in freshwater, but migrating to the ocean to spawn.
Eels are an important food fish and some species are now farm-raised, but not bred in captivity. Many populations in the wild are now threatened, and Seafood Watch recommend consumers avoid eating anguillid eels.
