Manila Food Tour: Introduction to Philippine Street Food
Description
When you find yourself in Metro Manila for a day or two, heading out to explore can feel daunting. The chaos, the heat, the noise—it’s enough to make even seasoned travelers pause. But that’s exactly where the real adventure begins. This isn’t just any curated food crawl. It’s not a staged night market built for Instagram feeds. No. This is a Manila street food tour as it truly is—alive, gritty, sizzling, and unapologetic. Loud. Sweaty. Deliciously chaotic. If you’re lucky, a tricycle will be your ride and the smoky aroma of grilled pork your guide. For travelers looking for authentic things to do in Manila, this experience is the perfect mix of culture and cuisine. Guided by a local, you’ll dive into a crash course in Philippine street food—from skewered barbecue and deep-fried snacks to hearty stews, soups, and sweet Filipino desserts. Bring an open mind and an empty stomach, and get ready for one of the most flavorful food experiences in Manila.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Not recommended for vegans and vegetarians
Reviews(504)
A delicious encounter with Filipino street food, visiting a variety of small street vendors. Come hungry.
Nel was my gracious guide for this food tour. She warned me to come hungry and boy was she right, lots of delicious and typical Filipino foods and flavors to try.
We enjoyed the tour so much in April that we came back with friends for a repeat. Once again, Chloe was wonderful, with a great attitude, help with all questions and terrific organization of each aspect of the tour. This time we were careful to not eat too much of each sample so as to save room for everything. Come hungry!
Chloe was a fantastic who provided us with all kinds of insights and experiences (tricycles, jeepneys) beyond just the food. I can't recommend it enough
I had a very nice food tour! This lasted three hours and after that you really don't have to eat anymore, because it's more than enough. The area is the Highway Hills in Mandaluyong City. That is a neighborhood where ordinary Filipinos live, live and therefore eat. You have to like a little bit of everything and not be afraid to try something, because there are a lot of things in between. I personally liked everything, but anyway, I also eat everything. Nel was my guide, a very nice young lady. She knew a lot about the food and customs. I was alone, there were no other attendees. That can happen occasionally, I've had that before on a tour. I don't mind; you'll have the full attention of the guide in a minute. A ride in a jeepney and one of those sidecar scooters, taxi. Just a bit in a typical Filipino bar, pub, restaurant with karaoke. Very relaxed, very cozy. We had a very pleasant afternoon. Beer with it, fine!
Chloe was a wonderful guide, knowledgeable and caring. I loved the tour!
This walking food tour was one of the highlights of our trip! Our guide, Chloe, struck the perfect balance of being incredibly knowledgeable, genuinely funny, and wonderfully accommodating throughout the experience. What really set this tour apart was the way she brought every stop to life. She didn’t just hand us food. She shared the history behind each dish, explained the local ingredients and traditions, and gave us a deeper appreciation for what we were tasting. It was also clear that Chloe had built real relationships with the vendors we visited. The mutual respect and friendly rapport she shared with each of them made the experience feel authentic and welcoming, rather than like a typical tourist stop. If you’re looking for a tour that combines amazing food, local culture, and a guide who is passionate about what she does, I can’t recommend this experience highly enough. Come hungry and leave with a full stomach and a much greater appreciation for the local food scene! Ps - bonus is that we rode in both a tricycle and a Jeepney 😊
This walking food tour was one of the highlights of our trip! Our guide, Chloe, struck the perfect balance of being incredibly knowledgeable, genuinely funny, and wonderfully accommodating throughout the experience. What really set this tour apart was the way she brought every stop to life. She didn’t just hand us food. She shared the history behind each dish, explained the local ingredients and traditions, and gave us a deeper appreciation for what we were tasting. It was also clear that Chloe had built real relationships with the vendors we visited. The mutual respect and friendly rapport she shared with each of them made the experience feel authentic and welcoming, rather than like a typical tourist stop. If you’re looking for a tour that combines amazing food, local culture, and a guide who is passionate about what she does, I can’t recommend this experience highly enough. Come hungry and leave with a full stomach and a much greater appreciation for the local food scene!
Chloe was charismatic, fun and very informative. Her tour is a well curated cross section of local Filipino foods and culture. Definitely not a “cookie cutter” tour. She created a personal, hospitable and friendly experience that gives you a real glimpse into local Manila culture through food in a vibrant neighborhood. Even if you know Filipino food there are some nice surprises. Also the food choices were delicious and you will definitely not leave hungry! Real portions with real local food. Highly recommend. Salamat po Chloe!
I had a great time with Nel. She knows the area and the people and made sure I was enjoying my time and the food. She even was accommodating when the rain prevented us from starting on time, and she moved the time till after the rain and was available for me to still enjoy the tour. This is a good tour for trying local Filipino street foods. You also get to experience tricycle and jeepny. Nel is the best and very nice and knowledgeable. The food was delicious although it was a lot for me to eat alone. Overall a great and fun experience. If you don’t have a slightly experimental taste palette or if you’re a picky eater be aware you will be trying new and different foods.
