Filipino merienda in Manila: 10 Snacks to Try

Last Updated on October 14, 2026 by Sang Min Kim

If you’re looking for something to eat between lunch and dinner, try Filipino merienda in Manila. It can be as simple as turon or a few pieces of puto, or something more filling like arroz caldo or halo-halo.

Merienda is usually eaten in the afternoon, but many of these snacks are available from morning to evening. For visitors, it’s an easy way to try Filipino food without committing to a full meal.

Here are 10 Filipino merienda snacks to look for in Manila, along with places where you can order them. Check current menus, locations and operating hours before visiting.

Filipino Merienda Snacks to Try

Puto

Puto is a soft steamed Filipino rice cake with a mild, slightly sweet flavor. Traditional versions are made with rice-based batter, while other recipes use rice flour.

It is often eaten on its own, but it can also be paired with savory Filipino dishes.

At Fely J’s Kitchen, you can order Dinuguan at Puto, pairing the steamed rice cake with dinuguan.

Try it at: Fely J’s Kitchen, Greenbelt 5, Makati.

Turon

Turon is made with saba banana wrapped in lumpia paper, coated with sugar and fried until crisp. Jackfruit is often added to the filling.

It is easy to eat on the go, which makes it a common merienda choice.

Try it at: Fely J’s Kitchen in Greenbelt 5 .

Bibingka

Bibingka is a soft rice cake that is closely linked with the Christmas season and Simbang Gabi. You can also find it outside the holiday season at Filipino restaurants and bakeries.

It is usually topped with butter, cheese, salted egg and grated coconut, giving it a mix of sweet and salty flavors.

Via Mare has bibingka on its current menu, freshly baked on aromatic banana leaves for an authentic, unforgettable flavor. Merienda by Pan de Manila also has Bibingka Espesyal, a moist buttery rice cake topped with cheese, salted egg and grated coconut.

Try it at: Via Mare branches around Metro Manila or Merienda by Pan de Manila in Salcedo Village.

Puto Bumbong

Puto bumbong is a purple steamed rice cake commonly associated with the Christmas season. Traditional versions use glutinous rice steamed in bamboo tubes, then topped with butter, coconut and sugar.

You may also come across versions with ube or extra toppings when finding Filipino merienda in Manila. Merienda by Pan de Manila currently serves Puto Bumbong Espesyal, while Via Mare offers puto bumbong with butter, grated coconut, palm sugar and cheese.

During the Christmas season, you will often see puto bumbong sold near churches and holiday food stalls. Outside the season, Filipino restaurants and bakeries are another option.

Try it at: Merienda by Pan de Manila or Via Mare.

Suman

Suman is made from sticky rice cooked with coconut milk, wrapped in leaves and steamed. It can be served with sugar, latik, fruit or other toppings.

There are many versions of suman, so the ingredients and shape can vary from one recipe to another.

Fely J’s Kitchen currently lists Suman sa Lihiya and Homemade Suman with Mango. Merienda by Pan de Manila offers a Trio Suman with Tablea Tsoko Con Leche.

Try it at: Fely J’s Kitchen or Merienda by Pan de Manila.

Halo-Halo

Halo-halo is a cold Filipino dessert made with shaved ice, milk and a mix of sweet ingredients. Depending on the version, you may find saba, nata de coco, gulaman, sweet beans, coconut, ube halaya and leche flan in the bowl.

The ingredients are mixed together before eating, so each spoonful can have a different combination of flavors and textures.

For a Manila stop, Razon’s of Guagua is an option. Its current menu includes halo-halo with ingredients such as ube, macapuno and leche flan.

Try it at: Razon’s of Guagua, SM City Manila.

Pancit Luglug

Pancit luglug is a filling noodle dish made with thick rice noodles and a savory shrimp-based sauce. It is usually topped with shrimp, egg and chicharon.

The sauce gives the noodles their orange color, while the toppings add extra texture.

Razon’s of Guagua currently lists Original na Luglug and Especial na Luglug. Via Mare also serves pancit luglug with shrimp sauce, chicharon, shrimp and egg.

Try it at: Razon’s of Guagua, SM City Manila, or Via Mare.

Champorado

Champorado is a Filipino chocolate rice porridge made with sticky rice and tablea, or Filipino cacao tablets. Milk is usually added before serving.

It is often eaten for breakfast, but it also works as an afternoon snack. If you want something warm and sweet, it is a good alternative to fried merienda.

Merienda by Pan de Manila currently lists Champorado made with tablea chocolate porridge and milk.

Try it at: Merienda by Pan de Manila, Salcedo Village.

Arroz Caldo

Arroz caldo is a savory rice porridge usually made with chicken, ginger and garlic. Common toppings include boiled egg, spring onions and toasted garlic.

It is more filling than many of the smaller Filipino merienda in Manila, so it works well when you want something between a snack and a full meal.

Merienda by Pan de Manila currently serves Chicken Arroz Caldo with garlic, spring onion and boiled egg. Fely J’s Kitchen also lists Arroz Caldo with Tokwa’t Baboy.

Try it at: Merienda by Pan de Manila or Fely J’s Kitchen.

Kakanin

Kakanin is a broad term for Filipino rice-based and root-crop treats. It includes snacks such as biko, sapin-sapin, puto, suman and other regional varieties.

If you want to try several kinds in one stop, Kakanin King at Shaw Center Mall in Mandaluyong sells assorted boxes, ranging from 8 slices to 16 slices of different flavors.

Try it at: Kakanin King, Shaw Center Mall, Mandaluyong.

Where to Start Finding Filipino merienda in Manila

Makati: Greenbelt and Salcedo Village are good areas to check if you want several merienda options. Fely J’s Kitchen has turon, puto, suman and arroz caldo, while Merienda by Pan de Manila offers bibingka, puto bumbong, suman, turon, champorado and arroz caldo.

Manila: Razon’s of Guagua at SM City Manila has both halo-halo and pancit luglug on its current menu.

Mandaluyong: Kakanin King at Shaw Center Mall is a useful stop if you want several kinds of kakanin in one box.

Other areas: Via Mare has branches around Metro Manila, including Makati, Quezon City, Pasay, Ortigas and Alabang. Its current menu includes Filipino merienda dishes such as bibingka, puto bumbong and pancit luglug.

A Few Easy Merienda Picks

If this is your first time trying Filipino merienda in Manila, you do not need to order everything at once.

Start with turon or puto if you want something small. Try suman or bibingka if you want a rice-based snack. Halo-halo is a cold option for a warm afternoon, while pancit luglug or arroz caldo works better when you are hungry.

You can also mix things up depending on where you are. Grab a rice cake from a bakery, sit down for merienda at a Filipino restaurant, or pick up an assorted box of kakanin to share.

Merienda does not follow one set menu, so it can fit easily into a day around Manila. Keep it quick between stops or take your time and make the food break part of the day.

Which Filipino merienda would you try first?

References

• MICHELIN Guide — Filipino rice cakes and kakanin
• Tatler Asia — June 2026 Dining Radar
• Forbes Travel Guide — Where To Try Merienda, Manila’s Delicious Afternoon Food Ritual

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