Best Pinoy Food Recipes to Make Your Carinderia or Restaurant Stand Out

Starting a carinderia or restaurant in the Philippines is a great way to earn money, but standing out from the competition can be challenging. The key to success? Offering authentic and delicious Pinoy dishes that people crave daily.

Whether you are planning to start a food business or want to level up your existing one, this list of best-selling and popular Filipino food recipes will help you attract more customers and increase your profits.

Top Pinoy Dishes That Can Make Your Food Business a Hit

Here are some of the most searched, highly popular, and best-selling Filipino food recipes that can bring customers to your carinderia or restaurant:

1. Pork Adobo (Best-Selling All-Time Favorite)

A classic Filipino dish made of pork stewed in soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and bay leaves. It’s affordable, easy to cook, and perfect with rice.

Ingredients:

• 1 kg pork belly (or pork shoulder), cubed
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 cup vinegar
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 pcs bay leaves
• 1 tsp black peppercorns
• 1 cup water
• 1 tbsp sugar (optional)

Instructions:

1. Marinate pork in soy sauce, vinegar, and garlic for at least 30 minutes.
2. Heat oil in a pan and sauté marinated pork until browned.
3. Add water, bay leaves, and peppercorns. Simmer for 45 minutes or until pork is tender.
4. Serve hot with steamed rice.

👉 Pro Tip: Offering variations like Chicken Adobo, Adobong Pusit, or Adobong Kangkong can attract more customers!

2. Beef Bulalo (Best for Cold or Rainy Weather)

A comforting beef soup with bone marrow, corn, and vegetables that Filipinos love to enjoy in roadside eateries and restaurants.

Ingredients:

• 1 kg beef shank with bone marrow
• 8 cups water
• 1 onion, quartered
• 1 tbsp whole peppercorns
• 2 pcs corn, cut into halves
• 1 small cabbage, chopped
• 2 bunches of pechay
• Salt and fish sauce to taste

Instructions:

1. Boil beef shank in water for 10 minutes. Discard water and replace it with fresh water.
2. Add onion and peppercorns. Simmer for 2-3 hours until meat is tender.
3. Add corn and continue cooking until tender.
4. Season with salt and fish sauce. Add cabbage and pechay before serving.

👉 Pro Tip: Serve with soy sauce, calamansi, and chili dipping sauce for extra flavor.

3. Crispy Pata (Crispy, Juicy, and Irresistible)

A deep-fried pork leg dish that’s crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside. It’s a popular Filipino pulutan and a great profit-maker for restaurants.

Ingredients:

• 1 whole pork leg (pata)
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 6 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 tbsp vinegar
• 3 cups water
• Oil for deep frying

Instructions:

1. Boil the pork leg with salt, pepper, garlic, vinegar, and water until tender.
2. Drain and air-dry the pata for a few hours or overnight.
3. Heat oil and deep-fry until golden brown and crispy.
4. Serve with vinegar-soy sauce dip.

👉 Pro Tip: Pre-order system for Crispy Pata can help minimize waste and maximize profits!

4. Lechon Kawali (Crispy Fried Pork Belly)

A deep-fried pork belly dish that’s crunchy yet juicy, often served with rice and liver sauce.

Ingredients:

• 1 kg pork belly
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tsp black peppercorns
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• Water for boiling
• Oil for deep frying

Instructions:

1. Boil pork belly with salt, peppercorns, and garlic until tender. Let it cool.
2. Dry the pork belly, then deep-fry until crispy.
3. Slice into serving pieces and serve with lechon sauce.

👉 Pro Tip: Serve with spicy vinegar or liver sauce for extra flavor!

5. Chicken Inasal (Bacolod’s Famous Grilled Chicken)

A savory grilled chicken dish marinated in calamansi, vinegar, and annatto oil.

Ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken, cut into serving pieces
• 1/2 cup calamansi juice
• 1/2 cup vinegar
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp annatto oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Marinate chicken in calamansi juice, vinegar, garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper for at least 2 hours.
2. Grill over charcoal while basting with annatto oil until fully cooked.
3. Serve with garlic rice and soy-calamansi dipping sauce.

👉 Pro Tip: Offering Chicken Inasal with unlimited rice can boost customer traffic!

Why These Recipes Work for Your Carinderia or Restaurant

1. Affordable Ingredients – These dishes use common, budget-friendly ingredients.
2. Easy to Cook in Bulk – Perfect for high-volume sales.
3. Pinoy Favorites – People always crave these dishes, ensuring repeat customers.
4. High-Profit Margin – You can sell them at a competitive price while making a good profit.
5. Great for Takeout & Delivery – These dishes travel well and remain delicious.

Final Tips for a Profitable Carinderia or Restaurant

• Offer Meal Combos – Pairing popular dishes with rice and drinks can increase your average order value.
• Keep Your Food Fresh and Hot – Customers love freshly cooked food.
• Maintain Good Hygiene & Cleanliness – A clean restaurant builds trust and attracts more customers.
• Engage on Social Media – Promote your menu online to reach more potential customers.
• Experiment with New Variations – Offering something unique can set your food business apart.

Start Cooking and Make Your Food Business a Success!

By serving these best-selling Pinoy dishes, you can attract more customers and make your carinderia or restaurant profitable. Try these recipes today and watch your sales grow!

👉 Which dish will you try first? Let us know in the comments!

Originally posted 2017-08-04 07:06:42.