Palabok named the best Filipino noodle dish

Christmas is almost here, and if noodle dishes come to mind when planning holiday parties, you might want to know which noodle dish reigns supreme. 

TasteAtlas, a global guide for local dishes, has recently named pancit palabok as the best Filipino noodle dish.

Updating its list on Oct. 15, TasteAtlas ranked pancit palabok as No. 1 on their list of the top 13 Filipino noodle dishes.

Pancit Malabon is No. 2 and pancit bihon clinches the third spot.

The rankings are based on a “series of mechanisms that recognize real users, ignoring bots, nationalist or local patriotic ratings,” TasteAtlas said.

What makes Palabok special? 

TasteAtlas described this traditional Filipino dish as “thin rice noodles doused in a creamy shrimp-infused sauce and complemented with various toppings such as hard-boiled eggs, pork cracklings, shrimps, pork, fish flakes, and scallions.”

Traditionally, the sauce is cooked by boiling shrimp to create a flavorful stock while some add fat, meat and juices extracted from shrimp heads and crabs.

The outcome? A richly flavored dish that’s as visually appealing as it is sumptuous.

This authentic Filipino pancit variety has ingredients assembled in layers, setting the dish apart from other Chinese-influenced versions like canton and bihon, where ingredients are tossed together.

You may also like: Your guide to the best ‘pancit’ around the South Bay

While some confuse pancit luglug and pancit malabon for palabok, it’s worth noting that these are regional versions that have their own ingredients and preparation methods.

Typically served during Christmas and other special occasions, Palabok has recently been revamped by local restaurants, presenting the dish with crispy noodles and a pour-over sauce instead of the traditional recipe with the sauce already mixed into the soft noodles.

@babidiee Super yummy Crispy Palabok by Manam 🤎 #fyp #tiktokph #foodtiktok ♬ Carrying Your Love – David Morris

Here’s the full list of the top 13 Filipino noodle dishes.

1. Pancit palabok

2. Pancit Malabon

3. Pancit bihon

4. Pancit

5. Pancit canton

6. Pancit lomi

7. Filipino spaghetti

8. Kinalas

9. Pancit Lucban

10. Pancit Bato

11. Pancit sotanghon

12. Pancit Cabagan

13. Pancit Batil Patong