PinyaFilipino Street Food - Complete Guide to Local Eats
Explore the vibrant street food culture of the Philippines. From grilled skewers to sweet treats, discover what to eat at Filipino food stalls.
Filipino Street Food Culture
Philippine streets are filled with food stalls (tindahan / karinderya).
Enjoy cheap and delicious local food everywhere you go.
Street Food Vocabulary
| English | Tagalog |
|---|---|
| Food stall | tindahan / kariton |
| Street food | street food |
| Grilled | inihaw |
| Barbecue | barbecue / BBQ |
| Fried food | pritong pagkain |
| Snack | meryenda |
| Spicy | maanghang |
| Sour | maasim |
Popular Street Foods
Grilled Skewers
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Isaw | Grilled chicken or pork intestines |
| Betamax | Grilled cubed pig's blood |
| Adidas | Grilled chicken feet |
| Helmet | Grilled chicken head |
| Walkman | Grilled pig's ears |
| Barbecue | Grilled pork skewers |
Fried Foods
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Fishball | Fish paste balls |
| Kikiam | Chinese-style meat rolls |
| Squidball | Squid paste balls |
| Kwek-kwek | Deep-fried quail eggs |
| Tokneneng | Deep-fried chicken eggs (orange batter) |
| Banana cue | Fried banana with brown sugar |
| Turon | Banana spring roll |
Others
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Balut | Fertilized duck egg |
| Taho | Sweet tofu pudding drink |
| Dirty ice cream | Hand-pushed cart ice cream |
| Halo-halo | Shaved ice dessert |
| Mais | Boiled corn |
Ordering Phrases
| Tagalog | English |
|---|---|
| Pabili po ng fishball. | I'd like some fishball, please. |
| Ilan po? | How many? |
| Sampu po. | Ten, please. |
| Anong sawsawan? | What sauce? |
| Sweet po. / Spicy po. | Sweet. / Spicy. |
| Magkano po lahat? | How much for everything? |
Sauce Types (Sawsawan)
Choosing sauce is important for Filipino street food!
| Sauce | Description |
|---|---|
| Sweet sauce | Dark, sweet sauce |
| Spicy sauce | Red, spicy sauce |
| Vinegar | Plain vinegar (sour) |
| Spicy vinegar | Vinegar with chilies |
Sample Conversation
Ordering at a food stall:
You: Kuya, pabili po ng fishball at squidball. (Sir, I'd like fishball and squidball please.)
Vendor: Ilan po? (How many?)
You: Limang fishball, limang squidball po. (Five fishball, five squidball.)
Vendor: Anong sawsawan? (What sauce?)
You: Sweet at spicy po, mix. (Sweet and spicy, mixed.)
Vendor: Sige po. Bente pesos po lahat. (Sure. Twenty pesos total.)
About Balut
The Philippines' most famous delicacy: Balut.
A fertilized duck egg that has been boiled. It's a Filipino soul food.
How to Eat Balut:
- Crack the top of the shell
- First, drink the soup inside
- Eat the contents
- Add salt or vinegar to taste
The Balut Call:
Street vendors call out "Baluuuut!" in a distinctive voice while walking around.
Taho
A morning favorite sweet treat: Taho.
What's in Taho:
- Warm silken tofu
- Arnibal (brown sugar syrup)
- Sago (tapioca pearls)
The Taho Call:
When you hear "Tahoooo!" grab a cup and head outside!
Tips for Enjoying Street Food
- Choose busy stalls - High turnover means fresher food
- Try different sauces - Mix sweet, spicy, and sour
- Bring cash - Most stalls are cash only
- Pay by the stick - Count your skewers to pay
- Morning and evening are best - Freshest options available
Learn more about Filipino culture with the Pinya app!