By Brian Campued
Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay hailed the recent inclusion of chicken inasal and adobong manok among the world’s best chicken dishes for further elevating Filipino cuisine on the global stage.
In a press release Thursday, Angara-Mathay highlighted Filipino cuisine’s pivotal role in driving cultural tourism, as food has always been central in every tourism destination.
“Each dish carries the stories, traditions, and creativity of our people, offering both foreign and local visitors a deeper connection through shared flavors,” the Tourism chief said.
“These recognitions also create meaningful opportunities for those in our culinary industry, from farmers and food producers to chefs and small business owners, whose livelihoods are rooted in sharing our food traditions with the world,” she added.
According to online food and travel guide TasteAtlas’ April 2026 ranking, inasal na manok flew to the top of the list of the best chicken dishes in Southeast Asia and took the third spot in the world.
A staple of Western Visayan cuisine and an important cultural property of Bacolod City, inasal na manok is known for its smoky aroma and vibrant flavor. Various chicken cuts are marinated in a mixture of vinegar and spices and then brushed with annatto-infused oil upon grilling, giving the chicken its mouth-watering golden color.
Adobong manok, on the other hand, placed sixth in Southeast Asia and landed at the 40th spot in the world.
Widely regarded as a culinary symbol of the Philippines, adobo has always been that dish you would recommend to a foreigner trying Filipino cuisine.
Adobong manok employs various chicken cuts marinated in a mixture of garlic, onions, bay leaves, peppercorns, brown sugar, soy sauce, and white vinegar. It is then cooked in oil over medium heat until the chicken gets browned, before adding water and letting it simmer over high heat until fully cooked.
Known for its balance of savory, tangy, and sweet flavors, adobong manok is best served with white rice on the side.
Meanwhile, Filipino dishes continue to make waves on the international culinary stage, with inasal na manok once again leading the pack, ranking at Top 40 among the 100 Best Dishes in the World for April 2026.
Another Filipino favorite, sour soup dish sinigang landed at the 60th spot, while one of its varieties, sinigang na baboy, was at Top 52.
“With its sour lightness perfectly matching the harsh tropical heat of the country, sinigang is a unique soup that is a true representative of Filipino cuisine,” TasteAtlas said in its entry on the dish.
-jpv
