One of the joys of visiting the Philippines is getting to sample its delicious and sometimes exotic street food that will have your taste buds in raptures of joy! Here are some of the most popular dishes.

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Adobo

An iconic dish in the Philippines, adobo is derived from the Spanish word “adobar” or “to marinate”; thus, it’s no surprise that it features pork or chicken marinated and stewed in a mixture of ingredients that generally include soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, black peppercorn and bay leaves. Usually eaten with rice, it’s easy to enjoy be you staying in Cebu at properties like Citadines Cebu City or the capital, Manila.

Isaw

Another street food favourite, isaw is the name given to deep-fried or barbecued chicken or pork intestines skewered on a stick; don’t worry, the intestines are thoroughly cleaned and boiled before being grilled! The meats are marinated in a mixture generally consisting of garlic, soy sauce and seasonings and can be dipped in a spicy vinegar-based sauce before eating. If looking for where to stay in Cebu, choose a centrally located property so you can easily find vendors or eateries offering isaw.

Fishballs

Known for being a great snack that’s reasonably priced too, fishballs are not to be missed on your culinary discoveries of top Filipino street food. True to its name, this dish features fish (generally cuttlefish or pollock) that is ground and made into a small ball coasted in flour; it’s then deep-fried and served on a skewer accompanied by various dipping sauces that can be spicy, sweet or a sour and sweet combo!

Banana Cue

Those with a sweet tooth will love banana cue which is ideal for a yummy snack; relatively easy to make, it consists of deep-fried bananas that have an outer coating of caramelized brown sugar for the perfect combination of tastes. It’s generally sold on skewers making it easy to have on the go and you can even try some variations of this dish like camote cue which substitutes banana with sweet potato.