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8 menus to try for the holidays

Gatherings are a big deal in the Philippines no matter what the occasion is. Christmas, New Year, birthdays — you name it. Friends and family from all over the globe make an effort to get together and celebrate. Each of these parties comes with a large “handaan” or feast. Food brings everyone closer and gives us a chance to relish hearty meals, laughter, and conversations.

Of course, these big festivities call for big preparations. Thankfully, buying food for your loved ones is made easier with foodpanda.

With just a few taps, you can find countless yummy goodies and amazing deals on food and more – all in one pink app. Plus, all these will be delivered straight to your doorstep!

Cool, right? It gets even cooler! Here are some restaurants in the Philippines you might want to check out for your holiday spread.

8 must-order yummies on foodpanda for big parties

Ineng’s Special BBQ

Photo credit: Ineng’s Special BBQ

Must-order: Super Value Combo – Large (starts at ₱3,194)

Sharing is caring, and Ineng’s Special BBQ has plenty of options to share.

Everything you might want for a Filipino party: BBQ, pancit, and many more! These easy-to-eat food are always everyone’s favorite and will quickly be gone before you know it.

That’s why ordering the Super Value Combo – Large is ideal. You get 20 pieces of Special Chicken BBQ, 20 pieces of Special Pork BBQ, and a bilao of your choice of pancit: Bihon, Canton, or Mixed.

This deal is good for 20 pax, or maybe a dozen of really hungry people. Either way, it’s a convenient order that’s large enough for a crowd. No need to go to different restaurants just to buy or prepare different kinds of tasters!

Rico’s Lechon

Photo credit: Rico’s Lechon

Must-order: Bilao Lechon Baboy Platter (3 Kilos) (starts at ₱4,455)

Did someone say lechon? Count us in!

Rico’s Lechon is one of the few restaurants in Manila and beyond that offers quality lechon. With ultra crispy skin, juicy meat, and incredible stuffing, it ticks all the boxes you might have for this fiesta special.

If you and your family and friends are a big fan of this roasted suckling pig, the Bilao Lechon Baboy Platter (3 kilograms) is not to be missed. You can choose between regular or spicy to match your taste. 

It is also already chopped up into pieces, so it’s easier and ready to eat the moment it’s delivered to your home. Everyone would surely come running to take a piece of its crispy skin!

Don’t forget to pair it with the Filipino special lechon sauce, Mang Tomas.

Giligan’s

Photo credit: Gilligan’s

Must-order: Crunchy Pork Sisig, Sinigang na Baboy, Kare-Kare Beef, Crispy Pata (dishes start at ₱283)

Moving on to the mains, Giligan’s has always been a go-to barkada restaurant for a lot of Filipinos. It’s a great place to celebrate wins with big portions and an even bigger taste profile.

We’re talking crispy sisig, sinigang, inihaw and many more. More than the “pulutan” or bar chows, this is where you get your Filipino cravings fixed paired with your favorite drink of choice.

You really can’t go wrong with any orders here, but if it’s your first time ordering, try the classics. It includes the Crunchy Pork Sisig, Kare-Kare Beef, Sinigang na Baboy, Crispy Pata, Inihaw na Liempo, Pinakbet, and more.

This is what Filipino food is all about: savory goodness that is incomparable to any other cuisine!

Manam

Photo credit: Manam’s

Must-order: House Crispy Sisig, Sinigang na Beef Short Rib & Watermelon, Crispy Pancit Palabok, Munggo at Chicharon (dishes start at ₱200)

Another option for savory dishes is Manam. If you frequent Bonifacio Global City (BGC) or Makati City, you might have passed by this vibrant restaurant or even saw it on your friend’s Instagram story.

The restaurant name derived from the word “Malinamnam,” which means savory or filled with umami. That’s exactly what they offer here: Filipino food that will surely indulge your savory senses.

They transform traditional food and add a modern twist to it. For instance, they elevate a regular sinigang into something more gourmet by adding watermelon into it. It makes it a bit sweeter and gives an amazing texture, which overall complements the sour, clear soup that Pinoys are often used to.

Also, they have the Crispy Pancit Palabok, which is exemplary in every way possible. From presentation down to taste, it makes for a fun experience for everyone on the table. You pour the special palabok sauce onto the crispy noodles, then you dig into the masterpiece.

To cap off the good meal, do order the Ube + Sago Shake, too!

Ferino’s Bibingka

Photo credit: Ferino’s Bibingka

Must-order: Bibingka Extra Super, Puto Bumbong (desserts start at ₱114)

Feel the festivities with Bibingka. This warm, aromatic charred or oven-baked rice cake will be a pleasure to behold and smell. Just a whiff of this cake-y goodness will make you head to dessert first.

Bibingka is a holiday special in the Philippines. More than the good taste, it symbolizes the Filipino resilience, creativity, and, of course, faith.

It is usually topped with butter and cheese, but some shops make it even more special. Like Ferino’s Bibingka Extra Super, they add salted egg and kesong puti to it, which gives a balance of sweet and salty in each bite.

If there’s Bibingka on the table, there’s usually Puto Bumbong around, too. This is not to be disregarded, as well. It’s essentially Purple Rice Cake steamed in bamboo tubes. It gets the earthy taste from the bamboo, then it is topped with brown sugar or even dulce de leche.

Is your mouth watering yet? It is as good as it sounds. Order it yourself to find out!

Little Flour Cafe

Photo credit: Little Flour Cafe

Must-order: Mariah Munchies Basket, Jingle Bell Basket (baskets start at ₱3,299) 

Feeling a bit fancy? Little Flour Cafe has plenty of Holiday Items that you might want to check out.

From savory to sweet, they have baskets with assorted in-house items that you and your loved ones will adore. Take the Mariah Munchies Basket for example. It includes: Loaf of Bread, Homemade Jam, Chicharon/Corn Puffs, Large Polvoron Jar, Granola Pack, 2 Cookie Jars, and Celebration Cookies.

It’s an excellent choice as a gift or even as a family treat everyone in your household can just munch on over the holidays. The price may be a bit intimidating for some, but foodpanda has got you covered.

We have plenty of deals to give you your money’s worth (minus the queuing up, traveling around the city, and carrying the big basket home)!

Eric Kayser

Photo credit: Eric Kayser

Must-order: Christmas Eclair (Vanilla or Chocolate), Banana Loaf (desserts start at ₱200) 

Want to switch things up? Order western favorites this holiday season from Eric Kayser! This worldwide pastry shop has amazing bread and desserts that people from all over the world love. If you haven’t tried their products yet, now is the time.

For starters, get the Christmas Eclair. It’s a choux pastry that is elongated and filled with cream of your choice. There’s vanilla and chocolate, which are both satisfying.

Order the Banana Loaf if you don’t like your desserts too sweet. It’s warm, dense, and absolutely delicious. You can DIY a dessert and order Vanilla Ice Cream on pandamart to use as topping.

That’s a #foodpandaprotip for you!

Goldilocks

Photo credit: Goldilocks

Must-order: Frosty Cherry Choco Cake

Last but not the least, let’s not forget the cake shop that everyone knows and loves: Goldilocks.

This year, they have a holiday special called the Frosty Cherry Choco Cake. It’s layers of moist chocolate cake and cherry whipped cream frosted with buttercream and topped with white chocolate ganache.

It’s definitely a centerpiece that you would want to have on your dining table. It looks good and tastes good, which will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression for you and your guests.

It can also be a good gift if you don’t have the time to buy something for your party. You can add a greeting note for free, which makes it more personal and sincere.

They’ll appreciate the good thoughts (and good cake!), plus it’s enough to share with people.

Why order with foodpanda?

Aside from the good roster of restaurants on the app you can order from at the comforts of your home, you can also find unbelievably good deals that you can take advantage of for the holidays.

Want another #foodpandaprotip? Be a pandapro subscriber! You get exclusive deals up to 40% off and free delivery on top of the vouchers you want to use.

What are you waiting for? Try these holiday menus and see how they’re made better with foodpanda.

Be sure to read the fine prints before ordering. Limited redemptions only for selected vouchers, so don’t miss out. T&Cs apply.

By John Sium | Content Creator

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