A vibrant bowl filled with Filipino cuisine, highlighting a mix of savory meat and fresh vegetables.

8 Best Filipino Foods to Try in London

Best Filipino food London includes smoky chicken inasal, crispy lechon belly, sizzling sisig, and rich kare-kare, all offering a genuine taste of the Philippines. 

This list covers 15 dishes worth trying, from savoury mains to sweet finishers, whether you're new to the cuisine or already know exactly what you're craving.

What Makes Filipino Food in London Worth Trying?

A vibrant dish of Filipino cuisine with assorted meats and vegetables served on a rustic table setting.

Filipino food in London stands out for its bold, layered flavours, blending sour, salty, and sweet notes in ways few cuisines attempt.

Vinegar, calamansi, and fish sauce show up again and again, giving even simple dishes real depth. 

It also reflects a growing community, with more restaurants and delivery options appearing across the city each year, from East London to South West postcodes. 

This is exactly why it's become worth actively seeking out, for curious eaters and homesick Filipinos alike.

For a wider look at why this cuisine deserves more attention, Sainsbury's Magazine's Filipino food feature is a solid introduction.

Top Filipino Dishes to Try First

These eight dishes are the essential starting point for anyone new to Filipino food in the capital.

Chicken Inasal

Close-up of chicken inasal grilling, highlighting its golden-brown color and smoky aroma, representing Filipino cuisine in the UK.

Chicken inasal ranks among the top favourites. Its citrus marinade and charcoal grilling create an unmistakable smoky aroma that's hard to forget once you've had it.

Bring bold, citrus-marinated flavour with Uncle Pinoy chicken inasal.

Uncle Pinoy citrus-marinated grilled Filipino chicken inasal

Lechon Belly

A plate of lechon belly, showcasing crispy skin and tender meat, representing popular Filipino cuisine in the UK.

Lechon belly is a centrepiece of any proper spread. Crispy skin and juicy meat make it perfect for celebrations, and it rarely lasts long once it's served.

Make any gathering unforgettable with Uncle Pinoy lechon belly.

Uncle Pinoy crispy Filipino lechon belly with golden crackling

Crispy Pork Pata

A plate of crispy pork pata, showcasing tender meat and rich sauce, representing popular Filipino cuisine in the UK.

Crispy pork pata brings crackling texture to the table. Deep-fried pork leg delivers crunch in every bite, with tender meat underneath that fork right off the bone.

Papa Cook's crispy pork pata

Enjoy crackling, golden crunch with Papa Cooks crispy pork pata.

Pork Sisig

Plates of pork sisig accompanied by rice, highlighting a beloved Filipino cuisine in the UK.

Sisig is sizzling, spicy, and an absolute must-try. It pairs perfectly with rice and something cold to drink, and it's often the dish that converts first-timers into regulars.

Pork Dinuguan

Close-up of pork dinuguan in a white bowl, featuring a dark chocolate and chili sauce, highlighting Filipino cuisine in the UK.

Dinuguan offers deep, savoury comfort unlike anything else on this list. Rich and dark, it's best eaten with warm rice to balance out its intensity.

Savour rich, comforting flavour with Chibog pork dinuguan.

Chibog savoury Filipino pork dinuguan stew

Beef Oxtail Kare-Kare

A serving of pork kare kare in a bowl, showcasing rich meat and colorful vegetables, with a spoon resting beside it.

Kare-kare is peanut-rich comfort found at every family table. Its thick sauce coats oxtail beautifully, and it's usually paired with bagoong for extra depth.

Warm up with a hearty bowl of RV's Kusina beef oxtail kare-kare.

Lumpiang Shanghai

Delicious lumpiang shanghai, a plate of golden spring rolls accompanied by a savory dipping sauce, representing Filipino food in the UK.

Crispy lumpia is a light, snackable staple that disappears fastest at every gathering, usually before anything else gets touched.

Pancit

A vibrant plate of pancit served on a banana leaf, showcasing the colorful noodles and vegetables typical of Filipino cuisine.

Pancit noodles are an essential at every celebration, symbolising a long, happy life and rarely missing from a birthday table.

Alongside these, dishes like adobo, longanisa, and pork tocino round out the everyday side of Filipino cooking, proving this cuisine isn't just about big centrepiece meals.

Where to Find Authentic Filipino Food in London

A delicious plate of Filipino cuisine with various meats and vegetables, representing the flavors of the Philippines in the UK.

Finding real Filipino food once meant searching hidden corners of the city, often relying on word of mouth to track down the right spot. 

Now, favourites like chicken inasal, lechon belly, and dinuguan ship straight to London doors without any of that legwork.

Uncle Pinoy prepares each dish using traditional methods, so the taste matches home rather than a version adapted for a broader palate. 

If you'd rather skip dining out altogether, looking to order in? We've broken down how to get authentic Filipino food delivered in the UK in an earlier guide worth checking first.

Sweet Treats and Desserts You Shouldn't Miss

Two servings of halo-halo dessert, filled with crushed ice, fruits, and ice cream, representing Filipino culture in the UK.

No list like this is complete without dessert. Ensaymada, a soft buttery bread topped with sugar and cheese, remains a firm favourite and pairs perfectly with coffee. 

Leche flan and halo-halo round out the dessert scene, offering sweet relief after a rich meal, while turon, that humble banana wrapped in a crisp lumpia wrapper, deserves a mention too for anyone with a sweet tooth and a craving for something simple.

Bringing These Filipino Favourites Home

A bowl of Filipino food featuring tender meat and colorful vegetables, showcasing a traditional dish

Enjoying the best of this cuisine is easier at home now than ever.

From chicken inasal to kare-kare, these dishes bring real Filipino flavour straight to your kitchen without needing to track down specialty ingredients yourself. 

Order once, and it has a habit of becoming a regular craving. Spoiled for choice?

Check out the full menu for everything else worth trying, or if you'd rather go with a sure thing, our most-ordered dish, try the lechon for yourself.

Filipino food in London spans smoky grills, crispy roasts, and comforting stews, each carrying real tradition behind it. 

Whether you're dining out or ordering in, it's now easier to discover than ever.

Meet the team behind Uncle Pinoy, and for everything you need to know before ordering, check here.

Join the community, follow us on Facebook. Browse our dishes on Instagram before you order. See the process, watch us on TikTok.

Frequently Ask Questions

What are the best Filipino foods to try in London?

Best Filipino food London includes chicken inasal, lechon belly, sisig, kare-kare, and ensaymada, among other traditional favourites worth trying first.

Where can I find authentic Filipino food in London?

Authentic Filipino food is available through specialty restaurants and delivery services like Uncle Pinoy, which ships traditional dishes across the city.

What Filipino dish should I try first?

Chicken inasal is a strong starting point, offering smoky, citrus flavour that's approachable even for complete newcomers to the cuisine.

Are Filipino desserts like ensaymada available in London?

Yes. Ensaymada and other desserts, including leche flan and halo-halo, are increasingly available through specialty shops and delivery services.

Can I order Filipino food for delivery in London?

Yes. Uncle Pinoy delivers Filipino food favourites straight to your door, including lechon belly, chicken inasal, and kare-kare.

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