Spoon and Fork

Lechon Kawali

Twice-cooked crispy pork belly with crackled skin and fatty interior, served with liver sauce for dipping — the dish this type of kitchen does best

Sinigang

Tamarind-soured pork or shrimp broth loaded with vegetables — bracingly sour and deeply comforting, a Filipino benchmark dish

Kare-Kare

Slow-braised oxtail and tripe in a thick peanut sauce, eaten with fermented shrimp paste — rich, nutty, and polarizing in the best way

Pancit

Stir-fried rice or egg noodles with vegetables and protein — a reliable crowd-pleaser and a good barometer of kitchen consistency

Lumpia Shanghai

Tightly rolled crispy spring rolls filled with seasoned pork — addictive as a starter and frequently cited in Filipino restaurant reviews

Halo-Halo

Shaved ice dessert layered with sweetened beans, jellies, ube ice cream, and leche flan — the definitive Filipino summer dessert