Sinigang, inasal na manok named best Filipino food; balut hailed as worst by TasteAtlas
Sinigang and inasal na manok were among the best Filipino food for September—even as balut was one of the worst Filipino dishes, according to an aggregated food guide.
On TasteAtlas's Filipino food section on its website, sinigang of all kinds and inasal na manok got a rating of 4.5 out of 5, placing first and second respectively in the Top 10 list.
Sinigang was also among its 50 best soups in the world last August, while inasal na manok was one of its best chicken dishes worldwide in October 2022.
TasteAtlas noted sinigang's key ingredients, including the sampaloc fruit and the rice washing used for the basic broth.
"Ingredients such as pork, fish, milkfish, shrimp, chicken, or beef may also be added to the soup," it said. "It's an often seen dish at special occasions such as birthdays or weddings, and over time, as the dish became more popular, there were new variations that used guava or raw mango."
It mentioned how sinigang's sour lightness "perfectly [match] the harsh tropical heat of the country," making it a "unique soup that is a true representative of Filipino cuisine."
As for inasal na manok, TasteAtlas noted its Bacolod origins, which then "became the signature dish of the entire Visayas region."
"It employs various chicken cuts marinated in a mixture of vinegar and numerous spices such as lemongrass, garlic, and ginger," it said, adding that the meat is brushed with the annatto-infused oil "which provides the chicken with an appetizing golden color and a unique peppery flavor."
The dish is usually served alongside annatto-flavored garlic rice and spiced vinegar, it added.
Other Filipino cuisine that scored 4.4 out of 5 were lechon, leche flan, bulalo, lumpiang shanghai, and tortang talong, placing third to seventh.
Lechon kawali landed eighth spot with 4.3, while sisig and adobo placed ninth and tenth with ratings of 4.2.
Balut, meanwhile, got a score 2.7 out of 5, followed by inipit with 2.9.
TasteAtlas noted that it's "popular" though an "unusual Filipino delicacy" that is served everywhere from street stalls to upscale restaurants.
"It is a duck egg that has been hard-boiled, fertilized, and incubated. Traditionally, the cooked embryo is consumed straight from the shell," it said, adding it's considered an aphrodisiac that is commonly paired with a cold beer on the side.
The dish can be seasoned with chili, garlic, vinegar, salt, lemon juice, ground pepper, and mint leaves. It can also be cooked in omelets or used as a filling for pastries, it added.
Pinipig and biko got scores of 3, kinalas 3.1, and pinikpikan 3.2.
Suman, spamsilog, kilawin, and pochero all had 3.3.
TasteAtlas has recognized Philippine cuisine several times. In 2022, it placed the Philippines in the 19th spot of its 50 best cuisines.
