Must-Try Filipino Food: Teresita Razon's Halo Halo and Pancit Palabok

This is the refined (and arguably the best) version of what is typically an over-the-top Filipino dessert, the halo-halo. Teresita Razon’s take stays true to the original recipe of Lola Viring, one of three sisters who put up the original Razon’s in Guagua, Pampanga. Unlike common variants that are piled with beans, gelatin, jackfruit, banana, rice crisps, purple yam ice cream and other treats, Razon’s shaved ice dessert keeps it simple. Just macapuno, sweetened bananas, milk and two generous slices of homemade leche flan on top. Rich, refreshing, delicious. To get the real deal, make sure to visit

Another Teresita Razon specialty you must try is the pancit palabok (technically, pancit luglug because it uses the thicker round rice noodles instead of bihon or beehun). The vivid annatto-colored sauce is so thick it coats every string. The blizzard of ground chicharrón (deep-fried pork rinds) on top makes its way through every bite.