What Is Filipino BBQ?
Filipino BBQ typically refers to skewered, marinated meats grilled over an open flame. It’s commonly sold by street vendors and served at gatherings. "The key to Filipino BBQ is its signature marinade," Valdez says. "It is sweet, garlicky, tangy, and full of umami."
How Do You Make Filipino BBQ?
While each Filipino may have a different combination of ingredients, there is a common formula Valdez says to follow when preparing this marinade for a perfect juicy result: soy sauce for umami flavor, calamansi (key lime-like Philippine citrus fruit) for tang, lemon soda for tenderizing the meat, and banana ketchup (a condiment made from bananas that's commonly tinted red) for additional sweetness, color, and caramelization when it hits the grill," he says. The chef's go-to marinade is a combination of calamansi juice, lemon soda, soy sauce, and a lot of chopped garlic.
Valdez recommends marinating the meat overnight for the best results. When grilling, he says to "control the heat and keep it in medium-high heat to get the perfect caramelization."
The Best Meats to Use for Filipino BBQ
The most common meats you'll find in this dish are pork and chicken. "Street vendors serve the off-cuts of the animals, like the offal and innards, which are my favorite," Valdez says.
What to Serve with Filipino BBQ
Filipino barbecue can be enjoyed with any of your favorite cookout sides, but if you're joining Filipinos for a meal, you'll usually find dishes such as garlic rice, atchara (pickled papaya), buro (fermented rice sautéed in aromatics), and spiced vinegar.
"Filipino food is trending now because people are finally discovering how bold, comforting, and deeply personal it is," Valdez says. "It’s the kind of food that tells stories of family, resilience, and celebration. More Filipino chefs are proudly sharing their roots, and the world is ready to taste something real, soulful, and unapologetically flavorful."
