5 Traditional Foods
You Have To Try in Iloilo City

The hearty batchoy is a popular Filipino soup consisting of pork offal, chicken or beef stock, and fresh round egg noodles. Generously seasoned with shrimp paste and (occasionally) soy sauce, the soup is usually topped with pork cracklings, fried garlic, and a raw egg. Although there are numerous stories about the origin of the dish, there is no doubt that it was created in Iloilo, more specifically in the district of La Paz, from where it spread to other parts of the country to become one of the most famous Filipino soup dishes.Expand

Inasal na manok is a unique Filipino grilled chicken dish which originated in Western Visayas and became the signature dish of the entire region. It employs various chicken cuts marinated in a mixture of vinegar and numerous spices such as lemongrass, garlic, and ginger. During grilling, the meat is brushed with the annatto-infused oil which provides the chicken with an appetizing golden color and a unique peppery flavor. The dish is usually served alongside annatto-flavored garlic rice and spiced vinegar. In 2022, the city of Bacolod declared the dish an important cultural property. Expand

Espasol is a soft, chewy Filipino rice cake prepared with a combination of toasted glutinous rice flour and grated green coconut that is slowly cooked in coconut milk. The mixture turns into soft, pliable dough that is shaped into long cylinders or triangles before each cake is coated in rice flour. Espasol is associated with the Laguna region, where it is a hailed as a local specialty that is usually bought at various restaurants, stores, and street stalls.Expand

The lightly sweetened puto are popular Filipino steamed rice cakes traditionally consisting of finely ground soaked rice that is steamed in round containers and served sliced. The popularity of these versatile cakes has caused the development of many modern puto varieties, which often vary in texture, color, shape, size, and flavor. Because of their neutral flavor, they can be enjoyed as a quick snack or a dessert, but they are also served as an accompaniment to savory dishes such as hearty Filipino stews.Expand

Kinilaw is a Filipino appetizer made with raw, cubed fish in a dressing based on vinegar. The appetizer is typically garnished with onions, ginger, chili peppers, and garlic. Fish should be washed in vinegar, not soaked in it, turning the pink flesh into white and slightly opaque in the process. Although kinilaw is usually consumed as an appetizer before a big meal, it can also be eaten as finger food, when it’s traditionally consumed with alcoholic beverages on the side.Expand