Considered as one of the largest archipelagos, the Philippines is nicknamed the “Pearl of the Orient” because of its natural wonders. But apart from its gorgeous beaches and majestic mountains, there is one other thing that the Philippines is famous for — food.

Filipinos are well-known for their hospitality especially when it comes to dining. They will always ask visitors or unexpected guests the phrase ‘Kumain ka na?’ (have you eaten?) or ‘kain na!’ (let's eat!) as their way to welcome you.

Despite the modern use of cutleries, Filipinos’ traditional way of eating is called kamayan, which refers to eating with bare hands.

Kamayan comes from the root word “kamay,” which means hand in English, or simply to eat with hands.

Some may see this tradition as improper and unsanitary but Filipino families often practice this old-school way of eating using banana leaves as plates, especially during local fiestas, reunions, and beach outings.

When you ask a Filipino about this tradition, they’ll probably answer that the food tastes better when eating using kamayan.

The main rule of the kamayan culture is to always wash your hands before and after eating. The foods served should not include soups and stews.

In this article, we’ll feed your imagination with the best Pinoy foods (paired with a steaming bowl of rice) to eat using bare hands.

Fried Fishand Chicken

The Filipino-style fried chicken recipe involves marinating the chicken pieces in buttermilk, citrus, and other herbs and spices. They are fried until golden and crispy.

Meanwhile, the Filipino household's most popular fried fish dishes are tilapia, galunggong, and bangus,n fermented fish sauce or patis.

Lechon Baboy (Roasted Pig)

Considered as the star of every occasion, lechon baboy is ever-present in Pinoy fiestas, birthdays, weddings, and other major festivities. It is stuffed with lemongrass, garlic, onion, bay leaves, tamarind leaves, saba bananas, and star anise. These ingredients will be sewn together inside the pig's stomach before roasting over coals.

The best way to determine if the roasted pig is already cooked is through the faintly pink juices that come out from its body.

Longganisa

One of the best Pinoy foods for bare hands eating is longganisa or pork sausages. There are various kinds of longganisa in the Philippines that are usually named after the city or province where they originated. These include Vigan, Lucban, Pampanga, Calumpit, Tuguegarao, Chorizo de Cebu, and a whole lot more.

Lumpia(Filipino-style Spring Rolls)

Another Filipino dish you can enjoy eating with bare hands is lumpia. This is a Philippine delicacy made with homemade paper-like wrappers filled with fresh veggies and shredded chicken. It is usually dipped in soy sauce to infuse its bold salty, sour, sweet, and spicy flavors.

Pancit

Pancit is a popular noodle dish in the Philippines that is easy to prepare and is budget-friendly. It also has variations including pancit bihon, pancit canton, pancit habhab, and pancit bato.

When cooking pancit bihon, Filipinos always mix it with shredded chicken and veggies like carrots, cabbage, parsley, and celery. Once cooked, serve it with calamansi or lime and squeeze it over the pancit to give the noodles a savory Asian flavor.

Pork Barbecue

Similar to fried chicken, pork barbecue is traditionally marinated in seasonings and spices then chopped into thin pieces. It is also grilled over wood charcoal and dipped in spicy vinegar to create a complex taste combination.

TortangTalong (Grilled Eggplant Omelette)

One of the most delectable Pinoy dishes is tortang talong, which is made of grilled eggplants and battered eggs. This is generally eaten for breakfast or lunch

It is easy to cook and is usually served during breakfast or lunch paired with ketchup. It is also packed with nutrients and vitamins C, K, and B6.