There is no better way to celebrate what makes us proudly Filipino than by enjoying the flavors that have always brought us home.
Long before food trends filled our feeds, Filipino snacks were already part of our everyday stories. They were merienda after school, afternoon treats shared with family, street food enjoyed with friends, and simple bites that somehow made an ordinary day feel special.
From classic kakanin to creative twists on beloved favorites, these familiar flavors continue to remind us of our roots. And for shoppers looking for a taste of home, SM City Valenzuela and SM Center Sangandaan have plenty of Pinoy favorites worth discovering.
Here are eight Filipino favorites worth savoring, not just on National Heroes Day, but any day you feel like having a taste of home.
1. Turon: The Ultimate Pinoy Favorite
Few snacks say Pinoy merienda quite like turon. Crispy on the outside, sweet and satisfying inside, this humble banana snack has earned its place among Filipino favorites. At SM Supermarket in SM Center Sangandaan as well as SM City Grand Central and SM Hypermarket in SM City Valenzuela, shoppers can discover delicious twists on the classic, including turon with Choc Nut, langka, and ube. It is a familiar favorite with just enough surprise to keep every bite exciting.
2. Cheesy Ensaymada: A Favorite Worth Sharing
Soft, buttery, sweet, and generously topped with cheese, ensaymada is the kind of pastry that needs little introduction. Enjoy this well-loved Filipino bakery classic with a freshly brewed coffee or a comforting cup of hot chocolate. Shoppers can pick up perfectly moist and cheesy ensaymada from Red Ribbon at SM Center Sangandaan and Classic Ensaymada from Mary Grace at SM City Valenzuela. It is the kind of merienda that feels right whether enjoyed on your own or shared with family.
3. Binatog: A Sweet-and-Salty Trip Down Memory Lane
For many Filipinos, binatog is more than a snack. It is a delicious trip down memory lane. Made with tender corn and enjoyed with a combination of sweet and salty flavors, this familiar street food brings back childhood memories with every spoonful. Mang Binatog at SM City Valenzuela and SM Center Sangandaan serves up this classic Filipino favorite for shoppers craving a simple but satisfying merienda. Sometimes, the best snacks are the ones that remind us where we came from.
Bibingka is deeply woven into Filipino food culture, traditionally associated with Christmas mornings and family gatherings, but its comforting flavors are worth enjoying any time of year. At BBK Bibingka & Coffee in SM City Valenzuela and SM Center Sangandaan as well as SM City Grand Central, shoppers can savor this Filipino favorite topped with cheese and salted egg. Soft, fragrant, and unmistakably Pinoy, bibingka is a delicious reminder of how food can carry traditions from one generation to the next.
Filipino rice cakes have always had a place at the Filipino table, and Kuya J Restaurant gives these traditional favorites a delicious modern touch.
At Kuya J Restaurant in SM City Valenzuela, shoppers can enjoy a variety of kakanin, including sapin-sapin topped with coconut and milky kutsinta drizzled with ube and caramel sauce. The Kakanin Trio is a must-try for anyone who wants to sample several Filipino favorites in one go. Kuya J also gives maja blanca a flavorful twist, with its rich and creamy coconut pudding topped with cheese and sweet corn kernels. It is a comforting Filipino dessert that makes a perfect merienda or sweet ending to a family meal.
Few Filipino snacks bring back childhood memories quite like taho. Traditionally served warm with silky-soft tofu, sweet arnibal, and chewy sago, it remains a beloved merienda across generations. At Hap Chan in SM City Valenzuela, shoppers can enjoy chilled taho with sago, perfect for those looking for a cool and comforting Pinoy treat. For a more playful take on the classic, Taho Story at the SM Foodcourt of SM City Grand Central gives this childhood favorite a modern makeover. From the comforting Ube de Leche and indulgent Oreo-holic to the fruity Mango Graham, each cup puts a fresh spin on a familiar Filipino favorite. Taho Story offers taho hot or chilled, with creative toppings and even ice cream for an extra indulgent treat.
Chewy ube bilo-bilo, sweetened saba, tender sweet potatoes, sago, langka, and pinipig come together in this comforting Filipino classic. Available at Kuya J Restaurant in SM City Valenzuela, ginataang bilo-bilo brings the familiar flavors of coconut milk and Filipino root crops into one warm, satisfying treat. It is the kind of dessert that feels homemade even when enjoyed during a mall day with family.
No list of Filipino favorites would be complete without halo-halo. At Bebang Halo-Halo in SM City Grand Central, SM City Valenzuela, and SM Center Sangandaan, this classic gets a delicious twist with creamy leche flan hidden at the bottom and layers of sago, ube, pandan jelly, nata, corn, and more. Try the bestselling Presidential, or enjoy refreshing flavors like Mango, Melon, Buck Pandan, and Ube.
National Heroes Day is a time to remember the Filipinos who helped shape our nation, but it is also an opportunity to celebrate the everyday things that continue to make us proudly Pinoy. Our food is one of them.
From the humble turon and binatog to the colorful halo-halo, these snacks tell stories of family, tradition, creativity, and home. They remind us that being Filipino can be found not only in history books and monuments, but also in the flavors we grew up loving and continue to share with the next generation.
This August 31, celebrate National Heroes Day with a taste of home. Discover your favorite Filipino snacks at your most loved SM City Valenzuela and SM Center Sangandaan, where familiar Pinoy flavors are always worth coming back to.
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