When you hear the words “Manila, Philippines,” what comes to mind?
Tropical weather? Colorful streets? Delicious food?
Or maybe you’re thinking, “Hmm… but is Manila safe?”
That’s probably one of the first questions many travelers have before visiting the city.
Like any major city around the world, Manila has places and situations where travelers need to be careful. But with a little research, some common sense, and up-to-date local information, Manila can be an incredibly fun and rewarding city to explore.
And one of the things that stood out to me most?
The people.
Filipinos are warm, cheerful, friendly, and incredibly welcoming. Add in the relatively short flight from Japan, and Manila starts to feel much closer and more accessible than you might expect.
Now, I could spend this entire blog talking about sightseeing and the city itself…
But who am I kidding?
This is going to be mostly about FOOD.
So, welcome to my Manila food adventure!
Off to Manila with My Travel Buddy
This trip took place in August 2026, and joining me was one of my oldest friends — my childhood friend and longtime travel buddy.
We flew from Chubu Centrair International Airport to Manila with Cebu Pacific.
Before departure, there was still some last-minute research to do.
Where should we go?
What should we see?
And, perhaps most importantly…
What should we eat?
Yes, I work in the travel industry.
And yes, I still sit at the airport reading a guidebook before my own trip!
That’s part of the fun.
Soon enough, we were on our way to Manila.
And the eating began almost immediately.
First Stop: Sisig!
Our first proper meal in the Philippines had to be something local.
So we started with sisig, one of the country’s most famous comfort foods.
Chopped pork, served sizzling hot with rice and egg.
Simple?
Yes.
Delicious?
Absolutely.
The pork was savory, rich, and slightly crispy, and it went perfectly with the rice.
It was exactly the kind of meal I wanted after arriving in Manila.
One meal in, and this trip was already looking promising.
A Light Start to Day Two
After the heavier flavors of the night before, breakfast on Day Two was much simpler.
We had a light noodle soup with a mild, comforting broth.
Nothing fancy.
Nothing complicated.
But sometimes that’s exactly what you need in the morning — especially when you know you have another full day of eating ahead of you.
Speaking of which…
We did something slightly questionable next.
Dessert before lunch.
No regrets.
You Can’t Visit the Philippines Without Halo-Halo
If there’s one Filipino dessert almost everyone has heard of, it has to be halo-halo.
And just look at those colors!
Ice, ube ice cream, jelly, sweet toppings and all kinds of different textures packed into one bowl.
The name “halo-halo” basically means “mix-mix.”
So there’s only one correct way to eat it:
Mix everything together!
It may look slightly less photogenic afterwards, but that’s when the magic happens.
Cold, sweet and refreshing — exactly what you want in the Manila heat.
I’ve had halo-halo-style desserts in Japan before, but eating one in the Philippines just hits differently.
And Then… Jollibee!
Now we need to talk about an essential part of any Philippines trip:
Jollibee.
If you’ve never been to the Philippines before, imagine a hugely popular homegrown fast-food chain where you can get fried chicken, burgers, spaghetti, rice meals, hot dogs and more.
Basically, there’s something for everyone.
For my first visit of the trip, I went with the spaghetti.
Filipino-style spaghetti is sweeter than the spaghetti many Japanese or Western visitors may be used to, which makes that first bite quite a surprise.
But that’s exactly why I enjoy trying local chains when I travel.
Fancy restaurants are great.
But sometimes you learn just as much about a destination by eating where everybody else eats.
And in the Philippines, Jollibee is definitely one of those places.
Just a “Small Snack” at Potato Corner
Next up: Potato Corner.
The plan was simple.
Get some fries.
Have a few.
Move on.
That plan did not last very long.
We ordered the cheese-flavored fries, which arrived hot, crispy and covered in seasoning.
One fry became two.
Two became five.
And suddenly I was just mindlessly shoveling cheese fries into my mouth.
Dangerously snackable.
Sometimes the simplest food becomes one of the most memorable things you eat on a trip.
Okay, Let’s Eat at a Proper Restaurant
At some point, we decided we should probably sit down and have a slightly more civilized meal.
So, for a change of pace, we went to a restaurant and ordered pork steak.
Grilled pork, rice, salad and fresh bread.
No surprises here.
It was simply really good.
One thing I enjoyed about eating in Manila was the variety.
You can grab inexpensive local comfort food, stop at a fast-food chain, snack your way through a shopping mall, or sit down for a relaxed restaurant meal.
Whatever mood you’re in, there’s probably something nearby.
Jollibee… Again?!
Yes.
We went back.
Jollibee: Round Two.
This time I ordered corned beef with rice and egg.
Which would have been plenty.
But apparently, I looked at that meal and thought:
You know what this needs?
A hot dog.
So I ordered one of those too.
Was I hungry afterwards?
Absolutely not.
Was it necessary?
Probably not.
Do I regret it?
Also no.
This is vacation.
Street-Side Ice Cream? Why Not!
While walking around Manila, we came across a cheerful local vendor selling ice cream on the street.
Now, this is the kind of moment I love when traveling.
You didn’t plan it.
It wasn’t in the guidebook.
You just see something interesting and think:
“Let’s try it.”
The cone came loaded with several different flavors and colors.
On a hot day in Manila, it was perfect.
Sometimes the best travel memories aren’t reservations or famous attractions.
They’re the random things you discover along the way.
Don’t Forget the Chicken
You can’t talk about food in the Philippines without eventually getting to fried chicken.
So naturally, we had to make room for that too.
Crispy coating.
Juicy chicken.
A mountain of fries.
At this point, I began to notice a theme developing in this trip:
Pork. Chicken. More pork. More chicken.
There had been quite a lot of meat.
So before flying home, I decided it might finally be time for something different.
One Last Meal Before Flying Home
For my final meal before leaving Manila, I went with fish.
And not just a little piece of fish.
The whole fish.
Served with rice and a fried egg, it was a fitting final meal after several days of eating my way through the city.
After all that meat, the fish was a very welcome change.
From sisig on arrival to fish before departure, Manila had kept us very well fed.
Maybe too well fed.
And Don’t Forget the Filipino Beer!
Of course, food isn’t the whole story.
There’s also the beer.
This time I had Red Horse Beer, one of the well-known beers you’ll find in the Philippines.
There’s something special about sitting down after a long day of traveling, eating local food and drinking a local beer.
It’s a small thing, but somehow it makes you feel that little bit closer to the place you’re visiting.
Just remember:
Red Horse is stronger than it looks!
What About Food Hygiene?
This is another question some first-time visitors may have before traveling to Manila.
And it’s a fair one.
From my experience, restaurants and food outlets inside modern shopping malls were clean, comfortable and easy to use.
So if you’re a little nervous about food on your first trip, there are plenty of places where you can ease yourself into Filipino cuisine.
Street food is a different kind of adventure.
Personally, I enjoy trying something local from time to time.
But everyone has a different comfort level.
So when it comes to street food…
The choice is yours!
You don’t need to be adventurous every second of your trip.
Travel your own way.
Manila Is More Than Just Food
I know.
After everything you’ve just read, that heading may be difficult to believe.
But it’s true!
One of the things I enjoyed most was simply looking around while walking through Manila.
And you can’t miss the jeepneys.
Colorful, distinctive and completely different from anything you normally see on the streets of Japan, they are one of those sights that immediately tell you:
You’re definitely not at home anymore.
The traffic, the sounds, the people, the tropical heat and the energy of the streets all become part of the experience.
Not every great travel memory needs to come from a famous tourist attraction.
Sometimes it’s simply about being somewhere different and taking it all in.
And Finally… The Cats of Manila
Before I finish, there is one more very important part of this trip that deserves its own section.
The cats!
We came across so many cats while walking around Manila.
Some were quietly relaxing in the shade.
Some wandered around restaurants and street-side tables.
And some were surprisingly friendly and curious.
Naturally, I took photos.
Lots of photos.
They weren’t on our itinerary.
They weren’t mentioned in the guidebook.
But somehow, these little unexpected encounters became part of my memories of Manila too.
And that’s one of my favorite things about traveling.
So… How About Manila?
Before visiting, it’s completely understandable to have questions about Manila — whether that’s safety, food, getting around or simply not knowing what to expect.
And yes, it’s important to do your research, stay aware of your surroundings and check the latest local information before you travel.
But don’t let the unknown stop you from discovering somewhere new.
What I found in Manila was a city full of energy, warm and welcoming people, great food and everyday scenes that felt completely different from Japan.
It’s not a beach resort.
It’s not a perfectly polished tourist destination.
And that’s part of what makes it interesting.
If you enjoy food, local culture and cities that feel alive, Manila might surprise you.
So, when you’re thinking about your next overseas trip, why not add the Philippines to your list?
And if you do decide to visit Manila, I have one final piece of advice:
Come hungry.
Very hungry.