One of the most delightful ways to experience the heart and soul of Bohol is through its food. Boholano cuisine is a flavorful reflection of the island’s rich resources, cultural history, and warm hospitality.
While sharing many staples with broader Filipino cooking, Bohol offers its own unique twists and local specialties that visitors and new residents quickly come to love.
Here’s a taste of the must-try dishes and snacks that define the Boholano table.
Savory Main Dishes & Meals
Kalamay: Often called Bohol’s signature sweet treat, Kalamay is a sticky, glutinous dessert made from coconut milk, brown sugar, and ground glutinous rice. It’s traditionally cooked in a clay pot called a kulon and is a staple during fiestas and special occasions. Its rich, sweet, and slightly gritty texture is uniquely satisfying.
Ube Halaya (Ube Jam): While popular nationwide, Bohol’s version of this vibrant purple yam jam is exceptionally creamy and flavorful. Made from boiled and mashed purple yam, coconut milk, and condensed milk, it’s a beloved dessert on its own, a spread for bread, or a filling for pastries. A jar of homemade Ube Halaya is a classic pasalubong (souvenir gift).
Fresh Seafood Kinilaw: Bohol’s surrounding seas provide the freshest ingredients for Kinilaw, the Filipino version of ceviche. Raw fish (often tuna or marlin) is “cooked” in vinegar or calamansi juice, then mixed with ginger, onions, chili, and coconut milk for a refreshing, tangy, and creamy appetizer that bursts with flavor.
Humba Boholana: Similar to the Visayan classic, Bohol’s Humba is a savory-sweet braised pork dish. Pork belly is slow-cooked in soy sauce, vinegar, bay leaves, and spices, but the Boholano touch often includes the addition of saging saba (saba bananas) or pineapple, creating a wonderful balance of salty, sweet, and tangy notes.
Binagol & Suman: These are classic Filipino rice cakes with a Boholano touch. Suman is glutinous rice steamed in coconut milk and often wrapped in banana leaves. Binagol is a richer, denser treat from the nearby Leyte region but is widely enjoyed in Bohol, made from grated taro, coconut milk, and sugar, cooked and served in a coconut shell.
Hearty Soups & Stews
Tinolang Manok sa Bohol: The classic Filipino ginger-chicken soup gets a Boholano make-up with the addition of fresh coconut milk (gata), making the broth richer and more fragrant. Loaded with chicken, green papaya, and chili leaves, it’s a comforting and nourishing meal.
Linugaw: This is Bohol’s beloved congee or rice porridge. It can be simple and plain or cooked with chicken, ginger, and garlic (Lugaw na Manok), or flavored with cocoa for a unique, slightly chocolatey breakfast porridge.
Street Food & Merienda Snacks
Puto Maya & Sikwate: A classic Boholano breakfast or snack. Puto Maya is steamed sticky rice, often lightly flavored with ginger and coconut milk. It is traditionally dipped into Sikwate, a thick, rich, and bittersweet hot chocolate made from pure cacao tablets (tablea) whisked with water or milk.
Proben: A popular street food, Proben is chicken proventriculus (a part of the gizzard) that is battered and deep-fried to crispy perfection. It’s a flavorful, crunchy snack best enjoyed with a spicy vinegar dip.
Okoy: These are savory Filipino fritters. In Bohol, you’ll often find them made with small shrimp or hibe (dried shrimp) mixed with bean sprouts, carrots, and a crunchy batter, then fried until golden brown.
Buko Pie & Buko Juice: No visit to Bohol is complete without enjoying fresh buko (young coconut). Drink the sweet, refreshing water straight from the shell, and then savor the tender meat. Buko Pie, a creamy and sweet coconut meat custard in a flaky crust, is also a popular take-home treat.
Sweet Treats & Pasalubong
Peanut Kisses: Perhaps Bohol’s most famous edible souvenir, these are dome-shaped peanut butter cookies that are light, crumbly, and delicious. Their name and shape are a playful nod to the iconic Chocolate Hills.
Broas (Ladyfingers): Bohol produces exceptionally soft and delicate broas. These sponge cake fingers are perfect for dipping in coffee or tea and are a staple in local bakeries.
For a savory souvenir, danggit (sun-dried rabbitfish) is a popular choice, often fried crisp for breakfast with rice and eggs. For something sweet, Philippine dried mangoes, known worldwide for their quality, are always a hit.
Exploring Bohol’s food scene is a journey of comfort, discovery, and sweet indulgence. Each dish tells a story of the island’s bounty and its people’s generosity. Welcome to a place where every meal feels like home.
Love the sound of a life filled with these flavors? At Move 2 Bohol, we help you settle into a community where food is celebration, connection, and daily joy. Let’s talk about making Bohol your home.