Sushi, ramen, and pho are just some of the Asian dishes you’ve probably tried –what about Filipino food? Their cuisine is seriously underrated. It’s been influenced by many cultures, but most notably China, Spain, and the US. The Filipino palate is sweet, savoury, and sour. The main proteins you’ll find are fish, chicken, and pork. For those who are curious about the cuisine, here are five dishes that are an absolute must-try! Let’s dive in!

1. Chicken/Pork Adobo

Chicken adobo is the national dish of the Philippines. Each region will have its own version of the dish but essentially, the meat is simmered in vinegar, soy sauce, black peppercorns, garlic, and bay leaves. It’s an incredibly easy dish to make and a huge staple at get-togethers. It is always served with rice. I would suggest chicken adobo for anyone who’s trying Filipino food for the first time.

2. Pork Sinigang

Sinigang (sin-ah-gung) for Filipinos is what chicken noodle soup is for Canadians –comfort food. The name of the dish comes from the Tagalog word “sigang” which means “to stew.” It is a sour pork soup but other proteins can be used such as fish or beef ribs. What makes it sour is the unripe tamarind (pods of fruit grown from trees) but others may choose a different souring agent like mango or pineapple. It also features vegetables like bok choy, egg plant, okra, and long beans. Like chicken adobo, there are many variations. It’s perfect for a rainy day or when you have a cold.

3. Lechon

You’ll find lechon at big Filipino celebrations like weddings or Christmas. It’s stuffed with tamarind, onions, garlic, and then slowly roasted over a fire. The end result is a super crispy skin. Almost the entire pig gets eaten!

4. Pancit

These are Filipino noodles. Chinese immigrants introduced Filipinos to noodles during the 16th century. Pancit noodles are stir fried with soy sauce and vegetables like green beans, carrots, snow peas and cabbage. There are different types of pancit but the two main ones are Pancit Bihon, which is rice stick noodles and then pancit canton, which is egg noodles. They also have meat (pork chop, chicken breast). They can be garnished with green onions, sliced boiled eggs, or peanuts. It is also served with calamansi, a Filipino lime. It can be made vegetarian by leaving out the meat or subbing in tofu.

5. Lumpia

Who doesn’t love spring rolls? As an appetizer, lumpia (loomp-ee-ya) is always a huge hit. Meat -usually pork- and veggies get wrapped in a rice wrapper and then deep fried. The only problem with lumpia is that they’re super addictive. You can never have just one.

…And those are the top five Filipino dishes you have to try. What are you waiting for? Find your local Filipino restaurant or Filipino friend and get eating! Just to be sure to bring your stretchiest pants.

Photo: Lechon (middle), lumpia (bottom right) and pancit bihon (bottom left).

Stefanie Velichkin is a young actor and writer from Ottawa, ON. She is a graduate of the University of Ottawa’s Theatre program and a student of Algonquin College’s Professional Writing program. Her interests include true crime, cats, and drinking bubble tea.