Street Food & Nightlife

Manila's food scene is one of the most exciting in Southeast Asia — from street stalls with Isaw (grilled chicken intestines) to restaurants listed in Asia's 50 Best.

Street Food Must-Tries

• Isaw & Betamax — Grilled chicken intestines and blood blocks on skewers. Sounds unusual, tastes great with soy sauce-vinegar dip. From 5 PHP per skewer.
• Kwek-Kwek — Quail eggs fried in orange batter. The perfect snack in between. 15 PHP for 4 pieces.
• Balut — The most notorious street food in the Philippines: a fertilized duck egg with embryo. The ultimate test of courage for travelers. Available at almost every street stall for 20 PHP.
• Halo-Halo — Crushed ice with beans, coconut gel, leche flan, ube ice cream, and milk. Filipinos' best dessert, perfect against the heat. From 60 PHP.
• Sizzling Sisig — Chopped pork (face and ears!) on a sizzling hot plate with egg and chili. Served with rice and San Miguel — Manila's national dish. From 120 PHP.

Nightlife

Manila's nightlife is concentrated in three districts:

• Poblacion (Makati): The hip nightlife district with rooftop bars, speakeasies, and live music. Z Bar, Oto, and Polilya are the current hotspots.
• BGC: More upscale bars and clubs along High Street and Uptown Parade. Palace Pool Club for the party enthusiasts.
• Quezon City: Local and alternative. Cubao Expo is a complex of vintage shops and indie bars, Fred's Revolucion for live music.

And of course: Karaoke. The Philippines is the karaoke nation par excellence. There is a karaoke machine on every street, and Filipinos sing with a passion and vocal power that gives you goosebumps. Singing along is a must — no matter how bad you are. The Filipinos will cheer you on.