Top 7 Must-Try Dishes From Iloilo, the Philippines’ City of Gastronomy

Remember when Iloilo grabbed the UNESCO City of Gastronomy crown in 2023 and the whole internet went, “Wait… Iloilo?!” Two years later, the city is still proving why it deserves that title. If Pampanga calls itself the culinary capital, Iloilo is the quiet achiever that just got global receipts.

This city doesn’t need fancy fusion gimmicks. Its food is bold but simple, influenced by Chinese traders, Spanish colonisers, and the stubborn Ilonggo way of keeping things authentic. Every bite tells you why Iloilo is now a destination for foodies, not just history buffs or Dinagyang festival fans.

Also read: Iloilo City Hailed as UNESCO’s First Creative City of Gastronomy in the Philippines

So if you’re planning a food trip, start here. These are the dishes that put Iloilo on the world food map:

Image credit: Netong's Original Special La Paz Batchoy Facebook Page

The signature noodle soup. Egg noodles, pork innards, chicharon, bone marrow, garlic, and broth so rich you’ll forget your name. Best eaten at the OG stalls inside La Paz Public Market.

Image credit: Kap Ising Pancit Molo Facebook Page

A dumpling soup born from Iloilo’s Chinese community. Fat pork-filled wontons in savoury chicken broth. Comfort food that feels both foreign and familiar.

Also read: A Foodie’s Checklist for Iloilo

Image credit: Knorr Official Website

Sour soup powered by batuan fruit, mixed with pork and jackfruit. It’s rustic, hearty, and proudly Ilonggo.

Image credit: Festive Walk Iloilo Facebook Page

Smoky, citrusy, lemongrass-marinated barbecue chicken. Bacolod may argue, but Iloilo’s seaside inasal with sinamak vinegar dip hits different.

Also read: 10 Best Restaurants in Iloilo That You Simply Can’t Miss

Image credit: tatoysiloilo | Instagram

Buckets of oysters so briny, sweet, straight from Guimaras Strait. Eat them steamed, baked and topped with lots of CHEESE, or drowned in spicy vinegar! YUM!

Image credit: Biscocho Haus Official Website

The ultimate pasalubong your mother and grandma will LOVE. Iloilo’s biscocho is crunchy and buttery, while its chewy butterscotch bars are legendary. Don’t go home without a box.

Image credit: Camiña Balay nga Bato in Iloilo Facebook Page

Thick tsokolate de batirol whisked the old-school way, paired with barquillos, biscocho, and galletas. Proof Iloilo has been doing café culture long before Instagram cared.

Also read: A Guide to Iloilo City’s Hippest Cafes

The UNESCO award wasn’t just a flex. It cemented Iloilo as the Philippines’ official City of Gastronomy, and every bowl of batchoy or plate of KBL is part of that story. For Filipino travellers, this is your sign to book that trip. Iloilo isn’t just stopover city anymore, it is the destination.

If you’re searching for things to do in Iloilo, where to eat in the Philippines, or the best food trips in Southeast Asia, this is it. Iloilo is proof that Filipino cuisine deserves a seat at the global table. And the best part? You get to taste it all for yourself.

Featured image credit: ariane02 | Unsplash