For a truly authentic experience, there’s no better place to have street food than by the side of a busy road. Vendors offering different types of street food often congregate in urban areas with a lot of foot traffic. In Manila, busy areas like Quiapo and Divisoria Market are hotbeds for street food. The noise, smells, heat, and grit are all part and parcel of a true Filipino street food experience. But as authentic an experience as these places give you, they aren't for everyone. These areas are crowded and aren’t always the most pleasant or hygienic. Thankfully, street food has become so mainstream that you can find it in less gritty venues as well, like bars and food parks. Food parks are like outdoor food courts, comprised of many vendors selling different types of food. Nearly every food park we’ve been to has one or two vendors specializing in street food.
Go to any Filipino bar and the chances are you’ll find street food being offered as bar chow. For travelers getting their first taste of Filipino street food, then this may be the more attractive option.
You’ll find street food snacks all over the Philippines, and in Manila, you can’t walk more than a few meters in many areas of town without seeing something being served.
However, you do have to choose wisely the street food you decide to eat. Some of the street food is not always too fresh looking or hygienic. So try to choose street food that appears to be fresh, and that has a high turnover rate, and be more cautious with street foods that use water or ice in the preparation.
That being said I’ve been to the Philippines a number of times, and eaten plenty of street food and never had a problem.
The best places to eat street food in Manila, in my opinion are both local markets, and really local neighborhood streets.
Markets in Manila like Quiapo Market and Divisoria Market, are great places to start, and you’ll find an abundance of Filipino street food to try.
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