These pandesal pieces look much bigger than they really are.

Nice to know:

The humble pandesal is a mainstay in most Pinoy breakfasts. The less humble kape is a steady companion. Some bakeries still sell pandesal for one peso per piece. Per teeny-tiny piece, if I may add.

What they say:

Iba talaga ang bango at lasa ng mainit na pandesal!

That brown dot is NOT a chocolate chip.

Nice to know:

An Ilonggo dish that combines kadios (black beans), baboy (pork), and langka (jackfruit). Fondly called KBL (and you can probably guess why).

What they say:

For someone from Manila, the combination of ingredients seems weird, but my taste buds welcomed it anyway.

Sinigang na Bangus

Steaming Bowl of Sinigang na Sugpo

Nice to know:

Sampaloc (tamarind) is the main culprit for the sour soup. And Pinoys love it! There are times when it doesn’t even matter what you put in the soup… fish, pork, shrimp, whatever.

Some historians and food experts consider this as one of the top candidates for the Philippine national dish distinction.

What they say:

I like it scalding hot and maasim!

Yummy beef drowning in a pool of onions, tomatoes, ginger strips, etc.

Nice to know:

A marriage of two delectable Pinoy concoctions: bulalo and sinigang. Bone marrow swimming in sour soup.

What they say:

I love bulalo and I love sinigang. Imagine my delight when I was introduced to a dish that combined both!

Crispy pata under attack!

Glowing, golden, crispy skin! (comment and photo by Gege Sugue)

Nice to know:

Crispy pata = deep fried pork leg, including the  knuckles. Not as easy to prepare as most people might think.

What they say:

The mere mention of those two words make me drool.

Sige, magpicture-picture ka pa diyan habang inuubos na namin ito. – Hungry Friend

The humble cornick, up close and personal

Nice to know:

Cornicks are Pinoy-style deep-fried corn kernels, usually flavored with salt and garlic. The most popular of which is Boy Bawang. This crispy, crunchy snack is an interesting alternative to nuts.

What they say:

Adik na yata ako sa Boy Bawang. Hinahanap-hanap ko lagi tuwing nanonood ng teleserye.

Go ahead, use it as a straw if you wish. (photo by Rory Alcantara)

Nice to know:

Beef bone marrow in vegetable soup. The soup should be served hot!

Tap the marrow out of the bone, but you may suck it out if that’s how you prefer to eat it.

What people are saying:

Sabaw pa lang ulam na! Kahit sa inyo na yung buto. - Alvin

I like those crispy waffle edges! - photo contributed by "a Pinay in Singapore"

Nice to know:

It’s served hot, it’s affordable and it’s heavy on the belly. Perfect combination!

The waffles are filled with any of the following: hotdog, cheese, cheesedog, ham & cheese, and even chocolate. Mmmm.

What they’re saying:

This was my favorite pantawid-gutom during college. Can’t go wrong with a 10-peso waffle-dog. Aaah, memories! – Alvin

The raw fish pieces are in there somewhere, buried under the onions and garnishings.

What others are saying:

Raw fish “cooked” in vinegar? Waiter, three bottles of beer, please!

Blushing isaw, "redder" than usual

Nice to know:

This Pinoy street food’s main ingredient is intestine from either a chicken or a pig. Brush a generous amount of barbecue sauce, and grill to desired crispiness.

What they say:

Saraaaap ng tustadong isaw na babad sa suka yuuuum! – Neva Arboleda-Santos; founder, Manila Mommy

Pwede na siyang ulam, and mura compared sa other street foods. – Tammy Sulit; blogger, I Am Tammy

I love isaw, my two-year old son eats isaw. When we walk by the street and he sees the vendor, he goes ‘Isaw! Isaw!’ – Denise Gonzales; co-founder, Indigo Baby