A wide array of mouthwatering dishes will surely pervade your dining table for Noche Buena this holiday season. To complete your feast, one thing that should not be missing is Christmas ham! Whether in a ball, sliced, deboned, or bone-in, the Christmas ham is one of the most popular traditional staples of Christmas Eve. Even weeks before Christmas, you'll spot balls of ham in supermarkets and grocery chains, as well as the iconic quezo de bola (ball cheese) in red boxes.
As many will be clamoring for sweet-and-salty ham this season, it's best to know where to get some of the best of them. Here are some places you should check out in Metro Manila for the best Christmas ham!
Cocina Murriel
Quezon City-based Cocina Murriel is a family-owned local business that has been around since 2009. It's known for its special heirloom smoked ham, which takes five days to cure and spends another eight hours in the smoker with local woodchips.
This Christmas, you can try out its whole smoked ham (P1,000 per kilogram), smoked sliced ham (P580 for 500 grams), or its bone-in smoked ham leg, which was slowly smoked for 18 hours with local woodchips (P1,400 per kg, with each weighing approximately four to five kilograms). The heirloom smoked ham arrives to you chilled and is ready to eat, but you may also reheat it by following the instructions on its pouch. To order, fill out the order form and send it to Cocina Murriel!
Location: Cocina Murriel, Milton Hills Subd, 13 St. Joseph, New Era, Quezon City
China Mommy
This Chinese restaurant takes pride in its authentic Filipino-Chinese food. Its Christmas ham is back once more, with pickups having already started on Nov. 30. This succulent ham comes with a sweet, sticky sauce, perfect for drizzling over a slice or two or three.
You can get China Mommy's Christmas ham for P1,650 for approximately 900 grams to a kilo. You may order by submitting this online form and waiting for the confirmation email. You may pay via Bank of the Philippines, Banco de Oro, or GCash.
Location: China Mommy, 200 M. Paterno St., Brgy. Pasadena, San Juan City
Adelina's Ham
Adelina's is one of the most famous places you can get ham for the holidays or any special occasion of Filipino families, having been around since 1955. Based in Mandaluyong City, Adelina's is known for its ham that has a perfect balance of smoky meat and succulent fat, made more sumptuous by its sweet glaze.
You may order by contacting its Viber number at 0922 819 6113 or visit its Mandaluyong branch or Christmas kiosks until Dec. 31 at Market! Market! in Bonifacio Global City, Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City, and V-Mall, Greenhills, in San Juan City.
Location: Adelina's Ham, Unit 2 G/F Gomega 1 Condominium, 353 P. Martinez St., Mandaluyong
The Plaza
The Plaza has also long been a name in the local catering scene for its culinary excellence, having been established in 1965. Its irresistible premium baked whole leg of ham is known for its sweet and savory flavor, with a mild, smoky aftertaste. It’s the perfect dish and scene-stealer for Christmas and any other special occasions!
If you want something easy and convenient, The Plaza also has a Hamwich Kit, which comes with its premium baked ham slices, a dozen of baked pandesal, and four different sauces. To order, you may reach them by phone at 7729 0001 - 03 or 0917 718 2200, or through their website.
Location: The Plaza, GF, BJS Compound, 1869 P. Domingo Street, 1207, Makati
Excelente
Who hasn't heard of Excelente Ham in Quiapo? It's one of the go-to destinations of Filipinos during Christmas since 1972 precisely because of its delicious ham that has become a household staple in many Filipino homes. Excelente is famous for its Chinese cooked ham with syrup, but it also has other offerings like bone-in ham, deboned ham, pineapple sweet ham, pear-shaped ham, scrap ham, and American sweet ham.
Expect to spend at least a thousand pesos or more per kilo for its ham. You know it's good because while Excelente doesn't have an active social media page, people still flock to it. We suggest you just head to Palanca Street to check out its prices. Just make sure you're ready to brave the long lines! Tip: go early in the morning.
Location: Excelente, 155 Carlos Palanca St., Quiapo, Manila
